Reset Password
Reset Link Sent
| Blogs > spiritwoman45 > Life in the Canyon |
|
A Broken Legal System We hear so much on both sides of the law enforcement use of force these days. Here’s a less dramatic but personal experience that will make you wonder. My disabled is no stranger to local law enforcement. Neither are most of the residents at my facility. They all have long histories of minor infractions (few even make it to misdemeanors). When they get to court, often after 48 hours wait in jail, they are always released, usually with a fine they will never be able to pay and the county will not be able to collect. None the less they are a target of polite yet unreasonable and futile police interventions. Case example. My is off his meds or at least is mixing them up. He got a minor traffic ticket. Of course he didn’t pay it and didn’t go to court. He was too scared. In these situations the worst thing that has ever happened is that he hides in his room, the garage or a closet and I have to go talk him out and take him to inpatient services to get him straightened out. While I was in Vegas (these things always happen while I am gone) the local police complete with 6 armed officers, search and who knows what else who all know him cane to pick him up on a warrant. He was locked in his room and didn’t come out. They knocked the door down (fortunately not hard because this has happened before) then proceeded to knock in another locked door (locked because the resident was not at home at the time) and insist on putting everyone through an interview. Another resident texted me and I was able to get my sister who just happened to be near by the house to go take care of things. She talked to the police and verified that yes indeed the warrant was for a misdemeanor minor traffic problem and that yes, they were aware of my ’s history etc. As she puts it the officer was an azzhole even if he was a courteous, nice one with her. As for my – the usual outcome. They kept him in jail until his case got heard and he was released for time served (4 days). Also as usual they released him around 1 AM. That way the local jail gets their daily reimbursement from the state for the entire day. He either has to wait around outside until the busses start running at 6 AM or call someone has to go pick him up, provided he has his cell phone or money for a pay phone (if you can find one), in the middle of the night. At the moment he is home nothing other than the warrant resolved. We still need to go to mental health inpatient services. The extent of services offered while he was in jail? He was placed in in special holding because of his mental health issues but not given his meds. 8 officers’ time, 6 police cars dispatched, an hour or 2 of officer time to transport him, all of the personnel needed jail processing, 4 days of jail housing costs and another body filling up spots needed for serious criminals (who are being released early because of jail overcrowding), all of the expense for court personnel and another person clogging up an overloaded court system. Why? Because someone rolled through a stop sign late at night when there were no other vehicles on the road. Top that with the fact that the original issue, need for medication adjustment, still needs to be done. I'm in this because I chose to be, knowing full well what I was getting in for when I adopted my . I also have the education and experience to deal with it but how many others in this situation do? Call me an anarchist but we are looking at a system that is so broken and so tied up with procedures it can't be fixed. About the only thing that can be done is to throw it all out and start over. Spiritwoman ^i^ |
|||
5/24/2015 8:11 pm |
Actually I have done both. In had a job that involved working along the side of the police on domestic violence, the most volatile situation's. As for jails, I have had more than one "tours" that often included face to face interviews with violent offenders, also visits to the "honor farm", a minimum security facility where inmates were free to roam about during regular hours. As for danger, coming into a situation prepared for combat to serve a warrant for a minor traffic violation on someone who has a lengthy legal history none of which is for anything violent or aggressive sort of strikes me as an unnecessary risk if they are truly concerned about safety. The police in a neighboring city that has real problems has a much more realistic approach (my older daughter's ex is a detective with them). They may attempt to serve such a minor warrant if it is convenient but is they have any difficulty their attitude is "We'll catch them another day." They save their drama for shootings, armed robberies, hostage situations and times when life and property are truly on danger. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/24/2015 8:14 pm |
Probably not. I grew up in a town like yours. When every one knows everyone familiarity creates trust making these sort of things easy. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/24/2015 8:20 pm |
The situation that is unfolding in Cleveland clearly shows that the events in Ferguson were not isolated. This is clearly a situation in which too many police are rogue and the court system supports this situation. I am not saying all cops are bad but there are a number that are rotten to the core. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/24/2015 8:24 pm |
That we have, including instructing them to shut up and cooperate and let us sort out who was right and wrong later. We have done that a time or 2 and were successful because we were right. All of that takes tome and often money so is not worth pursuing unless it is significant as in Boogie's case. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/24/2015 8:34 pm |
Good old ADD in action. My sister had a similar experience. Her son, age 14, was fixated on UFOs. He was / is a computer prodigy like we ADDers frequently are. On his quest for information the inability to access files was no barrier. He hacked his way in and found what he wanted. Only problem was he ended up in some high security government files. Sis found out about it when the FBI came calling. Fortunately it didn't cost her what it cost you. It also didn't stop her son from his computer activity either. As you know it's a tough world for those of us are not at the top of the Bell Curve. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/24/2015 8:41 pm |
Good,points about training. Fear sends out energy that everything and everyone pick up on and reacts to. As a funny aside I knew someone who was ex military and was rejected by our local correction services for failing to pass the psychological part. We kind of figured it was because he rode his motorcycle to the appointment and wore a tee shirt that said "I eat paste". It was a benefit in disguise for him as hurried and eventually got a good job in something more suitable. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/25/2015 10:03 am |
My husband would have loved such a visit. He was one of 3 boys a year apart and living on a large ranch in northern CA. They were always blowing things up, their favorite being the neighbor's outhouses - even if they had to get there on horse back. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/25/2015 10:14 am |
You are correct about funding being lacking for the quality of individual needed. Same is true for all helping services. Look at teachers, what is required of them on terms of education and preparation and compare that to what they are paid. Then consider that we hold them responsible for guiding the next generation. Look at what we pay our military. So little that many families can qualify for food stamps. My professional occupation was similar. Graduate level degree required. Truck drivers made about the same as I did with a 6 week training class, basic mechanical aptitude, and a violation free driving record. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/25/2015 2:51 pm |
I checked it out. Funny. Chris Rock is one of the few contemporary comedians I actually like to begin with. I wish "taking a white person with you" worked.. Mu son is 6"2" and as blond and blue eyed as I am. Joking aside though the blond thing has worked to my advantage most of the time. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/26/2015 6:27 am |
American police must be different. For some odd reason I never seem to have any trouble with cops up here.
| ||
5/27/2015 10:26 am |
I did not hear about the man from Connecticut but do know that part of the testing for our many departments includes IQ testing. They reject those with an IQ above a certain level with the justification that those people are a problem because they question orders. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/27/2015 10:28 am |
American police must be different. For some odd reason I never seem to have any trouble with cops up here. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/27/2015 10:31 am |
That it was. FYI things went to court and after all that everything was dropped except the fine for things going to warrant. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
5/27/2015 9:17 pm |
I agree. I have long thought that they focus on those who they know they can bully. This may be unconscious due to fear but being in the group that are targeted is a scary place to be. You'll love the outcome of this. 4 days in jail before he got in front of a judge. Then all charges were dropped but he was still assessed a fine of a little over $400 because the matter went to warrant. Of course he can't pay the fine he lives on SSI which does not ever cover minimal existence without my help. They are not able to go after his disability so the bill will be added to the several similar ones he has outstanding. We will receive a bill every month but they can not touch SSI income. While the courts are busy with this nonsense real problems like unpaid child support from parents with good incomes and lifestyles go unpaied. unaddressed Spiritwoman ^i^
|
×
×