? related to Duke events

Parent Cafe
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<p>now that we see the disgrace of prosecutorial misconduct impacting three wealthy white men does it make you wonder how often this type of abuse happens to mionrity men.</p>

<p>In no way is this meant to say what is going on with these three men is not totally unfair and a disgrace but maybe those activists like Sharpton are right sometimes.</p>

<p>Please do not bring up Brawley as evidence that he is always wrong- he was wrong on that case but watching this Duke case I can only imagine how many poor kids are railroaded through the “injustice sysyem”</p>

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<p>The handling of this case has been an eye opener to how the system can work and it truly makes me wonder how many others are so unfairly or unjustly handled. Can this be the typical workings of the system? I surely hope not. But if it is, it is truly disconcerting. And of course, many accused do not have the resources to fight an unjustice of this comprehensive nature…it is not just being wrongly accused (bad enough) but the handling of the case by the “justice” system. This case is pretty scary that way.</p>

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<p>If Nifong’s racist ass doesn’t get jail time for prosecutorial misconduct, then someone needs to do some vigilante justice.</p>

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<p>Joev…vigilante “justice” is no better. Two wrongs don’t make a right.</p>

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<p>I think we need to figure out a better system. This case plus all the innocent men on death row in Illinois. The system is not working.</p>

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<p>Yes! But most people should be aware through the publicity of the innocence project which has focused I think mainly on DNA evidence, that there are a lot of innocent people in jail. But what disappoints me the most (aside from Nifong’s behavior) about this case is the notion, apparently still out there, that even if the accused are totally innocent of rape, sexual assault and kidnapping, they still deserve to be punished by the legal system for being white, arrogant and privileged.</p>

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<p>Two wrongs do not make a right at all. But Nifong needs at least a year or two in jail. What he has done is reprehencible.(sp?)</p>

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<p>Joe, most certainly if Nifong violated anything legally or broke the rules of his profession, he deserves to have whatever legal repercussions happen to him. But your earlier suggestion of vigilante justice is just as wrong legally as whatever he has done. So, it is hard to on the one hand be critical of this guy for not following the letter of the law but then to suggest on the other hand that people undertake vigilante justice. Either stand up for the law or don’t. But do not be hypocritical. There are legal avenues to whatever violations that Nifong has carried out. Hopefully, in due time, a case will be made against him and his ability to prosecute future cases.</p>

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<p>But what Nifong has done - and failed to do - under the mantle of his position - is somehow far more insidious than the average “crime”. I’m thinking of the impact to legitimate victims of rape and sexual assault. Not to mention the more subtle impact - those situations in business where male executives will not place themselves in situations where they are alone with a female because they absolutely will not risk even the hint of impropriety, let alone the highly unlikely but still possible scenario of a false accusation. These men are very cautious and protective of their reputations, and rightly so. But it’s no fun if you happen to be the female who wants to do business and who would never, ever dream of improper behavior let alone a false accusation, but, you’re stuck with the situation.</p>

<p>I hope the man ends up in jail, but it’s hard to see what it would take to put him there, let alone how anyone has the resources left to make it happen.</p>

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<p>latetoschool - I am afraid you are wrong it is not more insidious than the average crime. We have a huge percentage of the minority population that has lost complete faith in the justice system. Many in their community feel the system is rigged against them and they are powerless to stop it. Within their own community the stigma of being convicted of a crime does not carry the weight it should. Could it be because they see many decent kids charged and convicted since they do not have the financial means to fight the govrenment. Is the use of plea bargains just so defendants can stop the bleeding financially? The government can ruin you in an instant if a rogue govt official targets you forget it- most people do not have the means to stop it- they have to deal.</p>

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<p>I work in government and have seen firsthand the ability of government officials to treat unfairly and sometimes criminally those different from them.
It happens because at all levels decent people stand by -the wall of silence- does not only apply to police- it impacts minorities of all types as decent people stand by. I know that people within the DA’s office can take a stand publically to speak out against this- why don’t they. joev do you think it never happens that a minority is falsely charged- could it happen so much that the activists have a forum in their communities due to the communities experience.</p>

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<p>I agree with the OP. We all saw what happened to well connected, articulate, wealthy white males who attend one of the top colleges in the country. Imagine what happens to poor minorities.</p>

<p>I’ve heard it said, for instance, that there are no wealthy people on death row. </p>

<p>If one follows the Innocence Project, which works for the release of death row people who are innocent, you’ll find that there are many people who are on death row who truly were innocent of the crimes they were charged with. Some ended up being released when DNA evidence showed that they were not the perpetrator.</p>

<p>I heard of one man in Florida who died of cancer on death row before the DNA evidence was checked showing that he was innocent.</p>

<p>Here’s a link about more than 100 people who were released from death row after being convicted of crimes that they were innocent of. Note that most of these people are minorities.
<a href=“http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=6&did=109[/url]”>http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=6&did=109&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Here’s just one example of one of the people who was released:</p>

<p>"122. Harold Wilson Pennslyvania Conviction: 1989, Acquitted: 2005
More than 16 years after a Pennsylvania jury returned three death sentences against Harold Wilson, new DNA evidence helped lead to his acquittal. During his 1989 capital trial, Wilson was prosecuted by former Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Jack McMahon, a man best known for his role in a training video that advised new Philadelphia prosecutors on how to use race in selecting death penalty juries. In 1999, Wilson’s death sentence was overturned on state post-conviction review when a trial-level court determined that his defense counsel had failed to investigate and present mitigating evidence during his original trial. (Commonwealth v. Harold C. Wilson, Philadelphia Cnty. Com. PL.Nos. 3267-73, Aug.19, 1999). A later appeal led the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to remand for a new hearing because of evidence that McMahon used racially discriminatory practices in jury selection. In 2003, a trial court found that McMahon had improperly exercised his peremptory strikes to eliminate potential black jurors and granted Wilson a new trial, a decision that the District Attorney’s office did not appeal. The court stated that in the new trial the death penalty could not be sought. The new jury, which did not have to be “death-qualified” and which was chosen without the prior race bias, acquitted Wilson of all charges on November 15, 2005. New DNA evidence revealed that blood from the crime scene did not come from Wilson or any of the victims, thereby suggesting the involvement of another assailant. (Associated Press, Nov. 18, 2005). "</p>

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<p>I had to repost my post from earlier this morning, due to profanity issues: (the a-word will be “butt” and the s-word will be “poop”)</p>

<p>Tom1944: I respectfully have to say that you are completely wrong. What Buttfong did was charge three totally innocent kids with rape on a national scale. These poor kids lives are totally ruined because this jackbutt wanted to get reelected and get the black vote. Imagine for a second that the lacrosse players were black, and the false rape charging prostitute was white, and the evidence was out that the charges were complete BS. Jackson and Sharpton would be there protesting within seconds, and there would be calls for Nifong’s head. But since these guys are white, they are just supposed to brush it off and get on with their lives? I am sorry Tom1944, but bleeding heart bullcrap attitudes about situations like this is what is going to destroy this country. There needs to be a precedent set here, or some people need to set the precedent for him. Nifong needs to serve at least 3-5 years in jail, and the pathetic prostitutes who made up these horrible lies need to do at least 8-10 years in jail and be fined at least $50,000. If these things do not happen, I would never do this, but the only other option is street justice. We are going to let blacks walk all over the court system and fearing bad PR or the thought of getting reelected not fully charge people with crimes. Think it is not happening? Look at all the people who claim unjustified police shootings, or people who actually think that a convicted cop killer, Mumia Abu-Jamal, should be honored and have buildings named after them? You are going to render police useless, as they will be afraid to use deadly force, lest the NAACP will be after them to get prosecuted, and gangs will run the streets, neighborhoods get worse. Down goes America. Think it won’t happen? So did the Romans. So I am calling bullpoop on certain people on this message board, who want us to keep bending over backwards to not offend the African-Americans. Call me a racist for this rant if you want, I really don’t care; but if Nifong and the prostitutes don’t get made examples of, or someone takes it into there own hands, we are talking a very slippery slope here.</p>

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<p>Stephen A Smith weighs in, with an editorial that only a black man could write, and thank goodness someone did! I started to copy just the “good part” but it kept going and going. I suggest reading the whole thing, but this is exactly what I was talking about in my earlier post:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/16310572.htm[/url]”>http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/16310572.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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