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Our In-Justice System

They claim that their objective is to be fair and impartial and to rehabilitate people who commit crimes so that they can become more productive members of society. Sounds nice on paper, but that is a far cry from what our courts have become. I have had the unfortunate circumstance to witness this first hand here in Lee County in the Federal Court Building with Judge Chapell presiding this past Thursday June 18th.

June 16th. There was a knock at the door. It was the US Marshal. We have a warrant for your boyfriend J's arrest on an escape charge from the District of Columbia, said the bearded rough-looking man. And with that they cuffed him and took him away.

Four years ago my boyfriend had been living in DC and yes, he had a drinking problem as well as an anger-management issue and a fairly extensive record. He was at a club when a fight broke out that the police report clearly states the other guy started. The Police were called and because the other party involved in the fight was black it was deemed a hate crime, which carries a heavier charge. J is in no way a racist.

At that time the Judge sentenced him to 60 days in a halfway house, also in the District of Columbia. When he arrived he was the only white person there, and many of the others heard about the hate crime that J had supposedly committed. His life was threatened repeatedly and yes, he left partly in fear for his life.

But at this time as well a friend/co-worker of his was being badly abused by her husband. He had gone so far as to break both of her hands so she couldn't dial out or email anyone for help and would be totally dependant on him. J saw that no one else was there to help her and despite the damage it would cause in his life he felt compelled to help. As for why he didn't go back? Honestly, he was terrified. The DC Prison, the other most likely place they would put him, was much the same way as the halfway house, only worse and more crowded.

About a year and a half ago he had another brush with the law where they had recognized him in the airport and picked him up for the probation violation (which is what he thought leaving the halfway house was) and they put him in Rockingham, VA prison for several months. After paying hefty fines he was released and put on a hold for DC. He sat there for 5 days wondering if the DC police had another charge not showing on his record for them to be holding him and not knowing what was going to happen.

After 5 days the

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