In America, as soon as we are old enough to put our right hands over our hearts, we are force-fed three “fundamental” truths: that the system is fair, everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and honesty is the best policy.
But everything you know about the American Criminal Justice system is a lie. And it is not until someone or a person they love is directly tangled up with the system that the truth is revealed:
- The system is almost completely built on plea bargains and very few people have their day in court, even though it’s constitutionally guaranteed.
- Due-Process is severely lacking. Many lawyers over-promise and under deliver.
- Silence is better than honesty; because whatever you say will be used against you, good or bad.
Just this week, Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Attorney General Andrew Bailey allowed, arguably fought hard for, the state sanctioned murder of an innocent man, Marcellus Williams.
Even after public outcry, politics prevailed over humanity. An innocent man was put to death, all paid for by taxpayers.
It’s vile.
It’s rotten.
It’s America.
I hear complacent judges and lawyers claim, “the system isn’t perfect, but it’s the one we’ve got.” And that phrase just makes my stomach churn.
As a criminal justice professional, I’m having a crisis of conscience. I’m sure I’m not the first. Day in and day out, I meet people who know the very real pain of losing a loved-one to the criminal justice system. I’m studying for my LSATs and will be taking those in October. Right now, it’s hard to get excited about that.
Because I don’t trust the system as it stands. I’m afraid I will end up part of “the problem.” I’m terrified that I care too much for people. That I will grow bitter watching the system destroy and kill people.
Many people smarter and more experienced than me know, based on available data, that there are better ways of doing things, but many prosecutors, judges, attorney generals, have little interest in actually healing the communities they work in, because it would stop the big machine.
I’ve been distraught over this all week. I’m not sure where we go as a country.
I’m not sure what’s next. If I told you I had an inkling, I would be lying. But I’m hopeful that there’s something that can be done about this nightmare system that’s been created. That there are people that are just as saddened by this as I am, who want to change the world.
That one day, maybe justice and equity will prevail. But today…I’m not holding my breath.
