Have you ever became so angry with someone or something that you had thoughts of violence? Come 'on, just about everyone has at some point in their lives. Now, not all act upon their anger and thoughts of violence; but the thought is still there.
Ladies, have you ever thought about what you would do if you walked into your bedroom and caught your man with another woman? Can you imagine the hurt, anger, pain, and fury that would run through your mind in that moment? The crazy thoughts that would be running through your head!! "I'm going to kill him or her!". Would that be one that would run through your mind in that moment? Men, The same goes for you. Put yourself in those shoes! How would you feel? What would you be thinking?
Now, let us take this scenario further and place a knife or gun in your vicinity. What would you do? They are so entangled in each other that they don't even notice you have opened the door and standing there! You could turn around and walk out the room unnoticed, or you could grab that knife or gun and react. Could you simply walk away? Are you strong and aware enough in that moment to turn and walk away? Or would you act out in a violent manner?
Let's say you committed an act of violence. No matter what act, you get locked up and you have to go before a judge and jury. The judge gives you a reduced sentence because it was a "crime of passion" or you were in a state of "temporary insanity". Meaning that the act happened in the heat of the moment and you lost your sanity temporarily. The judge then sentences you to whatever lenient sentence and orders you to undergo counseling, therapy, anger management, drug and alcohol abuse treatment (if they played a part), and mental health evaluations. For such a crime of violence, being under certain circumstances, the punishment in prison is lighter and the rehabilitation is extensive. Here in this example, violence was met with understanding, proper form of deterrence, and a care for life and liberty from our criminal justice system. Sadly, that's not always the case and I'll explain why in my opinion.
The reason I gave this example of violence is to bring awareness to how important it is for us as a whole to understand how the criminal justice system is handling offenders, especially so-called violent offenders. In the United States most of our inner cities are being plagued with crimes of violence and in a lot of cases, murder is the unfortunate outcome for our youth. Young men and women- white-Spanish-and primarily black- are killing each other for next to nothing. It's sickening! But what is more sickening is how our court system and society is responding to this type of violence. The court systems only solution is to give out as much time as possible without regard to circumstances and conditions. Society is unaware of the circumstances surrounding the conditions these youth are growing up in. They are only shown limited information about these environments to influence their reactions. When dealing with people of any crime, would it not be "Just" to have judges have the power to consider every factor in each individual case? To weigh their influences, education, circumstances, mental and health state?
Regretfully, The way the federal system is set up these factors play a very minor role in sentencing. Can people change? Should that play a factor in sentencing? This line of questioning and reasoning is not for repeat offenders and those of older ages who has continuously, throughout their lives, been in and out of prison. This is for the young youths who only know a certain way of life that they have been taught and influenced by. This is for the ones who were young, got hooked on drugs, and got involved in these lifestyles because of the drugs. This is for the kids who were influenced by their parents, friends, media and neighborhoods. Unfortunately, the elders of these children miseducated them in the wrong things and ways of life. They mislead them and this has become a systematic culture in our neighborhoods, society and "the system". In the Federal system, elders get more relief and help than the young. Why is this? Why, when they are the roots of these conditions and circumstances, getting the relief and help? This is not to place blame on all elders or to take away personal responsibility from the youth completely. I'm only saying would it not be beneficial to us for every individual to have weighed all these circumstances in sentencing and addressing issues with every individual before we take so many years from them or their lives?
Just as a person claims a "crime of passion", would it be plausible to accept a claim of a "crime of miseducation, ignorance, or circumstances"? Is this a reasonable concept to consider for a human who grew up and was taught in a bad neighborhood, family, or institution? This public issue transcends race, ethnicity and geography. Would it not be appropriate to have real anger management, drug and alcohol abuse counseling, and educational programs? What about extensive therapy and mental health observations; instead of locking these humans into cages (because that's what they are) and letting them just sit and not grow? Would it not benefit us as a whole to prepare them for society and how to function? To open their eyes up that there is more to life? That the world is bigger than the small reality that fate dealt them? To show them that if they work hard in a right living manner there is success and a better way?
How would you feel if you made a mistake (bad choice) at a young age and realize later on you were taught a very bad way of living by someone you trusted and loved? Who you thought had your best interest at heart? If you woke up one day to this reality locked-up in a cage with no hope of release or earning your way back into society? The hopelessness, guilt, shame, etc.. you would feel? Would showing care, hope, and love be a better way to curve violent behavior?
There are many people in prison who are going through this. I'm not saying all, or most, but there is a lot who are good and have realized the errors of their ways. There are many who have the potential to be great assets to our society! There are many who can change and are trying to change, but it is a constant struggle against the culture that surrounds them. They are the lights in the darkness! They are the beacons for the youth to gain positive guidance and change their lives and those around them. They do it in here! They can do it out there! They are the ones who can relate to the circumstances and conditions the youth are going through. We need an outlet for them to get out there to be what we need! What do you think?
