Fairness in Our Criminal Justice System

In light of the recent spree of robberies in Colorado Springs Colorado, the District Attorney has decided to charge all juveniles who have been charged in these crimes as adults.  The District Attorney wants to send a message to those who are committing serious crimes, they will face serious consequences. 

It is admirable that the District Attorney wants to send a message to the community that the current crime spree is not to be tolerated.  However, singling out these juveniles as examples is discrimination.  Further more, using his authority to make examples of these young people is a violation of their constitutional right to a fair trial by a jury of their peers. 

http://www.gazette.com/articles/suspects-93209-adults-teen.html

Much debate has ensued over the ability of a district attorney to decide the future of individual lives by giving the district attorney the sole right and responsibility to decide whether or not to direct file a juvenile into adult court.  This is a good example why that power should not be given to one authority. 

Then I want to present another case before you.  The case of solitary confinement of juveniles in county jails and prisons.  The practice is abhorrent in ANY human situation, it is especially abusive when it come to children. 

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the practice of solitary confinement, let me give you the details.  In order to “protect” or isolate a juvenile that has been charged in adult criminal court, the county jail must isolate the juvenile from adult inmates.  This requires that they hold them in solitary confinement.  They are in lock-down 23 hours per day, being allowed out for a shower, a phone call or possible exercise, their food is pushed through a slot in the door.  They are not given opportunities for education even though they have not been found guilty of any crime.  Visits with their families are through plexiglas windows or on video cameras.  In adult prison facilities, the practice is the same.  Many juvenile offenders are put into super-max facilities and held in these solitary conditions merely because of their age. 

This week in Texas, a couple was charged with child abuse because they held their daughter in a closet.  Reportedly her parents were keeping her in this closet as punishment for taking food out of the refrigerator.  She was allowed out of the closet to attend school, use the restroom and sometimes to eat.  The girl was 12 years old. 

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/police-108104-year-girl.html

The actions of her parents are seen as criminal.  The actions of our criminal justice system are seen as justifiable because the kids who have been charged with crimes are viewed as a threat.  As soon as they are arrested and charged, we remove their face (humanity) and replace it with the label “criminal”.  The punishment that her parents imposed on her is abusive, especially in light of her “crime”.  The physical result of the time this little girl spent in the closet was malnutrition  and more.  We see the same physical results with youth held in solitary confinement….or worse…..they commit suicide.  Unlike this little girl, they are not allowed to go to school and have interaction with other human beings.  They are completely isolated.

I believe it is time to call the solitary confinement of human beings what it really is……ABUSE!

http://solitarywatch.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/children-in-lockdown-part-1-solitary-confinement-of-kids-in-adult-prisons/

This entry was posted on 5. February 2010 at 21:36 and is filed under Prison Reform Advocates, Juvenile Reform Advocates, Juvenile Offenders. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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