by Bobby Walker

Created on: June 03, 2009

As the saying goes people fear what they don't understand. That saying can be true for many African Americans as well as the people who run the justice system. From street cops walking the beat to lawyers (many of them court appointed who work for the state) to judges the name of the game is supply and demand.

I must say that the frustration with the justice system is that the term Innocent until proven guilty is used selectively. In short you have to pay to play. Most of the time I find that young African American males are either fighting for a justice or in justice. Whether you are guilty or not it makes no difference to to the court system you are just one of the many faces they see coming threw thier ever revolving door. I have personally seen young African Americans get railroaded, because of a over worked public defender lack of care or concern for thier client, or the clients ignorance of the law or thier rights. I

strongly feel that a better effort could be made to prevent what the justice system like to call it career criminals. For the record I do believe the punishment should fit the crime but at the same time I believe in rehabilitation and not this hyperbole we pass of as probation or parole. The one constant that I here from young African American males is how frustrating it is to deal with the courts or officers of the court, such as parole & probation officers. Just like the lawyers they are already fighting a full caseload. Many are passed from worker to worker.

One thing I believe is that stability is a big part of success in any thing you want to achieve. If you have ever been in court and seen a judge sentence a person, all the rules in conditions are enough to make your head swim. Why not just give them a manual? I have seen the disparity play out like an old episode of CSI, two guys ,one black, one white, on the same case received two totally different sentences. I'm not saying because the judge was white he gave the white guy less time because other things factor into sentencing guide lines. It is common knowledge among those who have been convicted that whites have a better chance in front of a judge then a African American would.

Not surprisingly the majority of the judges are not of African American descent so the relate factor in virtually nonexistent, Even if the judge was African American they tend to be even harder on thier own race because they don't want to be seen as soft.

I do feel that if we focus more on preventive measures starting with us as parents our schools and yes even or justice system we can really make sure that it is justice for all.

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