Excerpts

Criminal Minded

When I first entered this profession, I was naïve in thinking that there is something called a "victimless" crime. Even though I often argue that the facts of a particular crime demonstrate no victim, I'm not so foolish anymore.

Each and every day, I understand the criminal justice system more and more through the eyes of victims. I walk streets littered with victims of drug distribution (men, women, and families that I grew up with who my kids tell me, look old enough to be my father or mother). There are children who cannot sit still in school because mom "experimented" while she was pregnant and the baby is now living a life of uncertainty. Young boys who want so much to be like their dad that they expect nothing more from life than to "sling rocks," wear "Jordans" or "Tims," or "bust a cap" in someone. I get on elevators with victims of the perception of crime. Women who maneuver their handbags away from my side or get off on the wrong floor rather than be confronted by their perception of crime--and I'm the one in the suit.

These people are victims of a perception created by racism, the media, and/or some punk who has the same complexion as me, but has self-hate in his heart. I play ball in communities that (in my lifetime) had trees, but are now a collage of empty lots, torn down crack houses, and bricks. The children of that community are victims of criminal and police intimidation, governmental neglect, and low/no self-expectations.
Victims.