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Justices For All

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Get involved and help put a stop to the exploitation of our incarcerated citizens in NYS prisons.

NYS Prisoner Justice Conference – Albany, New York 2010

On March 27, 2010 the New York State Prisoner Justice Network organized a meeting to help prisoners who were being mistreated. This meeting was held in Albany, New York and the  main objective was to form a single and cooperative power to confront and modify New York’s criminal justice system.

“The Network’s purpose is to explore, plan, strategize and implement organizations and individuals working collaboratively to change the criminal injustice system, to bring our collective strength to bear on changing the intolerable system of mass incarceration, injustice, and disrespect for the lives of our loved ones and the survival of our families and communities, that now prevails, and to reverse the culture of racism, inequality, and scapegoating that sustains it.” New York State Prisoner Justice Network (2012).

For more information on the New York State Prisoner Justice Network you may click on the link below. Please check out the website and help us put a stop to prisoner exploitation. In today’s society every voice counts especially yours! Thank you for checking out my blog and stay tune for more updates and blogs entries!

http://www.nysprisonerjustice.org/about-us

Whether the death penalty should be abolished or used  as a form of punishment still lingers in debates today. In my opinion the act of taking someone life can never be repaid by giving someone the death penalty. I say this because the lost of a life in all situations are perceived as horrible events. On the one hand we seek justice by giving someone the death penalty for horrible crimes but on the other hand the judicial preform horrible acts by taking someones life. Thus killing someone for committing a horrible crime is not the answer, the death penalty will never bring about justice for anyone.

If we consider the pros and cons for having the death penalty on the books it is resemble to say viscous criminals are punished, but in-return the judicial system ends up being the lawbreakers. When the legal system takes someone life by administrating the death penalty someone is being murdered and this is a crime. Although families and people being harmed by cold-blooded killers get to witness justice, heartless murderers become prey for the legal system. The cons out weight the pros in this case, thus the death penalty should be abolished.

As an alternative for giving the death penalty the legal system can put a program together that deals with the specific issues causing someone to commit murder and allow homicidal individuals to partake in this program. Also establishing an area with expert doctors and researchers working on solutions to resolve homicidal tendencies would help both the community and the murderers. Killing someone for merciless crimes won’t solve the issue but rehabilitating and offering support may decrease the chances of someone committing murder. It is our society and we decide the rules and regulations to live with so leave a comment and get involved. Thanks for checking out this post.

Down below is a video that gives an account of information on the death penalty, check it out and post a comment thanks for watching and reading this post.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1htDY230jx4

 

 

I have just read an article about how prison’s isolation violate basic human rights. I am pertly sure that this is a real fact. “Think Outside The Box.” A New York campaign for alternatives to isolated confinement. This is a group of activist who have dedicated their time and life to fight against the 22 to 24 hours isolation without any kind of human contact, programming or therapy. This group of activists show with specific examples how cruel and inhuman the inmates have been treating it. PIC 2

They also, speak about how inefficient,  counterproductive, unsafe, and inhumane, and it causes people detained in these conditions to deteriorate psychologically, physically, and socially. They pointed out that New York State use isolated confinement at rates well above the national average.

Another idea that resonates with me is how this group of activists is trying to encourage family and friend of the prisoners to protest and speak up about the routine use of extreme and prolonged isolation in New York’s state prisons and city jails.

It seems impossible to believe  that in this new 21 century society (“civilized society”)   this non human practices are still happening. According to the   Campaign for Alternative to Solitary Confinement “New York’s prison and jails use solitary and other forms of isolated confinement far too broadly and routinely, and for periods of time, namely months and years, that far exceed the 15 day-limit recommended by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture”. HUMAN RIGHTS DAY VIGILS WILL CHALLENGE THE TORTURE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN NEW YORK

There is further information about inmates abuses in New York City and some other states at this link: http://nycaic.org/2014/05/05/news-hundreds-lobby-against-solitary-confinement/ 

If you like this post and you interested in helping the world, but in a more “Green” way. Visit my blog  Becoming “Green”  and you will find excellent topics about how to save energy, helping the environment and  how to reduce your carbon footprint from the world. 

 

 

It was a Friday night in Canarsie, Brooklyn around 11:30 pm when I was on my way home from work. Directly across from me on the train was a beautiful lady with long legs. My mystery woman wore a cut off shirt with black diamonds, her hair in a bun, high heels, and tasteful makeup. She must have been heading to a party and I was mesmerized. We got off at the same stop and exchanged innocent silent glances then we went our separate ways.

Walking up the block, blasting my music the summer breeze brushed pass me. It’s about four blocks from the train station to my apartment. In between my apartment and the train station, lies a labyrinth of public houses with a police station inside the main building. Back in the day, there was a lot of crime  in this area and that’s why the police were station inside one of the buildings. Today, cops are always lurking around corners in these projects looking to nab anyone who “looks suspicious”.

After walking for awhile my building came into view. There was a gate between the side walk and the parking lot and sometimes I would hop over  this gate instead of walking out of my way as it was a straight shot from the parking lot to my building. However, on this night as I jumped the gate, out of the blue a car pulled up and cuts off my path.

Three doors flew open and three hulking plain clothes officers charged out their car, flashed badges, strobe lights assailed me as I was overcome.  “Take your hands out your pocket” one roared, “Got any weapons on you” a second one questioned and “Where are you coming from”. Each question was a bullet aimed at me. I ask the detectives why I was being stopped and they replied “Shut-up we ask the questions, do you live over here?” I was worried but I replied, “Yes”. One asked for ID and I handed it over. They said I fit the description of someone who had just got into a fist fight. I pleaded with the officers, “I’m just going home from work and I haven’t done anything.” After searching me for weapons, they gave back my ID,  got in the car and drove off. To this day I wonder how many people, like me, fit their description.  

 

   

 

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When I first saw this painting on a side of a building, it capture my attention and intrigued me. In this painting, a man was shackled in chains, but gained the strength to break free. Instantly, after looking at this painting, I thought about African Americans breaking free from our chains. In 1876 Jim Crow Laws were enacted and African Americans have been fighting with institutionalized oppression. These laws were designed to keep Minorities away from equality based on the color of their skin.

 “After the end of Reconstruction, which followed from the Compromise of 1877, the new Democratic governments in the South instituted state laws to separate black and white racial groups, submitting African-Americans to de facto second-class citizenship and enforcing white supremacy. Collectively, these state laws were called the Jim Crow system, after the name of a stereotypical 1830’s black minstrel show character. ” (Remembering Jim Crow – Minnesota Public Radio)

Today we see Jim Crow Laws being implemented through mass incarceration. There are more African Americans in prison today, then ever before. Viewing the painting on the side of the building brought this idea to mind that it’s time for African Americans to break free from these chains. To me the man in the painting represents hope for African Americans that one day we will gain the strength to break free from our chains. One day we will be able to fully live the American dream and pursue happiness as a progressive community.

Chapter 4 the Cruel Hand discuss what happens when a prisoner is released and reenters the society.   Michelle Alexander points out how society strategically cast out ex-offenders once they are released.Upon being released ex-offenders are  ineligible for federally funded programs including public assistance, housing, and they are denied political rights. The lost of these rights and privileges often come as debilitating shock to ex-offenders. “In addition to this legalized discrimination, criminals face social… (rejection)…, and are often distrusted and ostracized in their communities and families.” Watch the video below for the full chapter on the Cruel Hand. 

 

 

 

In 2012, the United States Censors Bureau reported that 78% of America’s population was Caucasian while 14% were Black. According to the NAACP “African Americans now constitute nearly 1 million of the total 2.3 million incarcerated population, and African Americans are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of whites.” Michelle Alexander does a great job of pointing out how law enforcement is targeting the Black community. Chapter 3 The Color of Justice investigated the ways that a supposedly race-neutral Criminal Justice system ended up focusing on disproportionately “black and brown men.” From these findings we can conclude that something is inherently wrong with the Criminal Justice system. 

 

In my opinion, the real consequence set in when Blacks are denied the rights to vote or receive public housing because of convictions. Theoretically prisons are made for rehabilitation but ex-offenders return to society without the assistance they need to turn a new leaf. The war on drugs is hurting the community, people are suffering and something needs to be done about it. Post a comment and let me know how you feel. See you in the next post covering the Cruel Hand.

“The Lockdown describes the structure of mass incarceration, focusing on the “War on Drugs.” Alexander discusses the expanded powers and incentives of the police and the fate of those who become ensnared by the system. She points out that those arrested seldom receive meaningful legal representation and are pressured into plea bargain deals that involve extended control by the penal system, from which they have a slim chance of freeing themselves.”

“Those who have been swept within the criminal justice system know that the way the system actually works bears little resemblance to what happens on television or the movies.” On October 15 2008 Michael Mineo was arrested for inhaling marijuana near a train station, following the arrest three NYPD officers proceeded to sodomized Mr. Mineo with a policy radio antenna. We rarely get to see this type of story on T.V. programs advocating Law & order. Television programs like “Law & order Criminal Intent,” “CSI: NY,” or “Cops” that romanticize drug-laws, portray certain imagery that lead viewers to believe detectives or cops conduct legal investigations on suspects, but victims like Michael Mineo experiences a different story. For more information on Mineo case watch the video up below.

 

 

 In the Lockdown chapter Michelle Alexander addressed the war on drugs  by discussing the motives of this law followed by it’s influence on society and how it targets a certain audience. Alexander gives an account of how police officers side step the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution under a policy  called the Terry Stop . Under the Terry Stop police may conduct a Stop and Frisk with a reasonable suspicion of illegal activities. A large amount of the Stop and Frisk victims are not formally charged or even see a court room. The few charges which ‘stick’ give the false impression that this procedure is effective and doesn’t cause a disparate impact on society. Alexander also point out the financial incentive giving to police in the form of federal grants to conduct mass search and sizer operations. Watch the video below for the full “Lockdown” chapter.

 

One question to my viewers is what will you do about this post? Please leave a comment below and thank you for stopping by at Justice for All.

The next post for this series will be “The Color Of Justice.”

 

In 1988, Jonathan Fleming and his family took a trip to Orlando, Florida. While on vacation in Disneyland a murder was being committed hundreds of miles away in Brooklyn. A single witness with a drug addiction facing unrelated charges to the incident accused Fleming  of the deed. Mr. Fleming was arrested and stood trial. During the proceeding NY Prosecutors failed to provide Fleming’s defense team with all the evidence and covered up the truth. He was later found guilty by a jury and served 24 years in New York State prison for a murder he did not commit. On Tuesday April 8th,2014 Fleming’s  defense team was able to force prosecutors to acknowledge their gross miscarriage of justice and dropped all charges against Jonathan Fleming and expunged the 1990 murder conviction from his record. Prosecutors withheld evidence prior to Jonathan Fleming conviction that could prove his innocence. According to Josh Saul of the Daily News “Fleming’s maintain that prosecutors chose to ignore the evidence that would have exonerated him. Included in that was a receipt from Orlando hotel that showed Fleming paid for a phone bill there just hours before the murder.”  

 

 

Now a free man, one question remains : “Will Mr. Fleming sue the District Attorney’s office and the City?”

This question was answered YES by Mr. Ronald Bozeman who is currently suing District Attorney Charles Hynes for 15 million dollars for a similar circumstance. Mr.Bozeman 66, was charged as the mastermind of an armed heist outside a bank on Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn. Mr. Bozeman served 1 year before his conviction was overturned. Similar cases have arisen against the City and the DA’s Office such as Jabbar Collin who served 15 years for a murder he did not commit. Mr. Collin is now suing the City for 150 million dollars. For more information on this case just click on these words New York Post  and check out the whole story.

In our next post we will be going over “The lockdown” chapter in Michelle Alexander book entitle “The New Jim Crow Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.” See you soon.

Posting on Chris Brogan 100 Blog Topics: Book Shopping- Buy These Books

  1. Under the quilt of night by Deborah Hopkinson
  2. To Be a Slave Julius Lester
  3. Monster by Walter Dean Myers
  4. Day of Tears by Julius Lester
  5. The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron 
  6. The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson
  7. The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
  8. Beyond Bars Rejoining Society After Prison  by Jeffrey Ian/ Richards Ross
  9. Addicted to Incarceration Corrections Policy and the Politics of Misinformation in the United States by  Travis C. Pratt
  10. Arrested What to Do When Your Loved One’s in Jail by Wes Denham

Chris Brogan “After the Event- Carrying the Conversation Forward ” blog entry inspired me to re-post his topic and discuss carrying the conversation forward for Justice for All. In the next couple of post a blog series will take place on Michelle Alexander book entitled “The New Jim Crow Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.” I think it’s fair to evaluate the terms and conditions for African Americans being targeted for mass incarceration in order to carry the Justice for All conversation forward. This series will be centered on three chapters from Michelle Alexander book. The first entry will cover “The Lockdown” chapter, the second entry will cover “The Color of Justice,” the third entry will discuss “The Cruel Hand.” For more information on Michelle Alexander book and how you can join the movement click the picture blow. I look forward to bringing a great series and seeing you at the next post.