“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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVcQEQj9mSc
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.”
