When The Justice System Doesn’t Work----What Then?
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
It is a sad fact that the American Justice system has so many holes in it that the criminal has more rights than their victims. Crime rules our cities, towns, rural communities and their streets. We're so often told that "crime doesn't pay"; yet, the criminal seems to have the very laws that they have broken supporting them all the way.
Because our prisons are full to over-flowing, the governors of many states have granted clemency to certain prisoners; giving them early releases. What is the criteria for releasing a prisoner sentenced to 108 years in prison? Good behavior? Hasn't committed any new crimes lately? Picks up after himself? What?
And now with four dead police officers to notch his gun handle, Clemmons has met his own fate-live by the gun; die by the gun'. How well will Mr. Huckabee sleep at night, knowing that he could possibly have contributed to the deaths of four public servants?
A psychological evaluation of Clemmons in October had reported him as being a threat to society, but not enough to have him committed. I wonder what that psychologist thinks now?
The get-away-driver for Clemmons was an ex-con sentenced to twenty-five years in 1990 and paroled in 2004---that's little more than half the time of his sentence---another person who should not have been on the streets so soon. When a criminal is sentenced to a certain amount of time, they should have to serve their full sentence. Good behavior while in prison, doesn't guarantee good behavior on the streets. And what message are we sending when friends and families of known criminals support and encourage them?
But when our justice system doesn't work, what do we do? We can't turn to witch-hunting' and vigilantism; that would only make us one of them-a criminal. And we all know that justice seems to be much harsher for those who take the law into their own hands.
We can, however, write our Congressmen and strive to get our laws modified; possibly make it harder for criminals to be released before their sentences have been completed. Our politicians should be forced to better explain their actions and stamp of approval that allow such atrocious acts to be committed by people who should never have been released on an unsuspecting public!
All too often, the news is filled with horrific crimes committed by people who have been released from prison early for some reason or another. We can't keep accepting this as the norm. Our laws have to be changed and criminals should get their just deserts!
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Good article, Sandra. Unfortuntely I, and I believe, many other people have lost most, if not all, our faith in getting our elected officials to listen to us, then ACT.That too, is sad but true. They smile and nod and agree with our complaints, then close their doors and forget us. As long as it doesn't come into their backyard, they don't want to be hasseled. Thanks for commenting, Joyce.Sandra
Sandra I just read your article and as always it was very well done and an interesting read. I don't know if you saw the interview Mike Huckabee did with Bill O'Reilly but this is a link to it. I hope you will take the time to view it. It helped to clear up some of my thoughts.Linda DI could not sent the link but you can find the interview under Bill O'Reilly.Thanks, Linda. No, I haven't heard or read the interview. I will check it out, though.Sandra
This is going to happen in a society where smoking a natural herb like marijuana and murdering cops land you in the same place. What we need to do, first and foremost, is get rid of these victimless crimes and get those "criminals" who hurt no one out of jail.Instead, we're releasing cop killers. Brilliant.
As usual, though, good article.Thank you, Anthony. Yes, too often in many cases, "true" criminals are released on technicalities while misdemeanors go harshly punished. "The American Way"!Sandra
Really pensive piece. thanks for sharing it with your readers. MarijoThanks Marijo for reading and commenting.Sandra
"A psychological evaluation of Clemmons in October had reported him as being a threat to society, but not enough to have him committed. I wonder what that psychologist thinks now?"*** Yeah, and it just goes to show Sandra: Some Psychologist and Mental health therapist are about as competent as those they evaluate. When things like this happen how come THEY aren't evaluated? It's obvious Governor Huckabee isn't all that sound of mind. What psychiatrist office is he sitting in now?Once again a person in a position of authority in America doesn't have to answer. Somehow they're always infallible and off limits for the rest of us to ask the tough questions too.Often times those who are in institutions don't belong there, and those who think they are sound of mind belong locked up. Those officers weren't killed by Clemmons. They were killed by Huckabee!Good article Sandra.Thanks, Kenny for reading and commenting---and I totally agree with you.Sandra
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