@TatinG: What a weird demand. Why would I need to name a fairer system to support the proposition that ours can do better? Ironically, the fairer system in this case is our own system. You know, the one we use for everyone who isn’t law enforcement.
How would you make our system fairer? Real question, not rhetorical.
Since our prison/incarceration system is part of our judicial system, for that alone, no I don’t feel we are the best or fairest judicial system.
So would you decrease sentences? Increase sentences? What?
There are a lot of sentences that should be decreased focusing on non-violent crimes, often related to drugs. The percentage of the population incarcerated in this country is INSANE! Prisoners could be treated more humanely and compassionately and conditions could be improved. More mental health options. A focus on restorative justice. I also question the use of For Profit corporations. I could go on…
If any of that worked to decrease crime I’d be all for it. but I don’t think it does. As an example, California recently reduced prison time for lower level crimes, via a ballot proposition, and now crime is up. Just in my area, we’ve seen more burglaries, break ins, car jackings, etc. Recidivism rates are very high.
But getting back to this case, Micah Johnson had no criminal record so he wasn’t turned into a killer by being mistreated by the prison system.
@TatinG: Off the top of my head: institute a new agency for the investigation of law enforcement and get rid of IA. bar public entities/police unions from bargaining for criminal protections different than those used by the general public. Have special prosecutors (run out of the AG) conduct all relevant legal proceedings. If people are to trust police then the police must both be accountable and be seen accountable.
Sentencing has nothing to do with the issue of police killing citizens. It has its own issues, certainly, but not relevant in this thread.
@TatinG Considering we have the highest incarceration system in the world, something is not working. Other countries use some of the policies I’ve outlined previously. There are a lot of flaws to our system.
Meh on whether it is related or not. I think all these things are tied together in an ugly stew of messiness and dysfunction, especially since it hits minority communities hardest.
It amazes me that ANYONE can defend our prison/injustice system. I want to know what it’s like to live in such a privileged bubble that you have everything lined up to ensure that you’re treated fairly.
It would also have to be an entirely or almost entirely white bubble. Even my whiter-than-white body feels the stares of security and police when I’m hanging out with my Black and Brown friends.
I can say this BLM wouldnt have sprung if officers were even prosecuted. The issue not only are the killings, but most times they arent even brought up on charges, or are there is a bunch of hocus pocus with the grand jury proceedings.
For years, people outside of the black community didn’t even believe there was a problem. It’s only with the advent of smartphones that we’ve seen what has been happening all this time. And yes, most of the time they don’t get prosecuted because law enforcement is given extra special treatment.
Mayor and Governor are speaking now. They have confirmed there was only one shooter.
Who was the woman?
This article showed up on my FB feed highlighting the lack of mass media coverage of how contrary to the dominant narrative from many who blame BLM protesters for the Dallas shootings, many protesters actually helped the cops locate the sniper:
http://usuncut.com/black-lives-matter/black-lives-matter-protesters-dallas/
And now this from Ballwin, MO, a suburb of St. Louis. It would be hard to find a safer, quieter suburb. Officer is in critical condition. It really is scary out there, for all of us.
It seems that reports of a woman suspect/being questioned/person of interest as well as the other people erroneously reported were just a product of the chaos of that night. Luckily it doesn’t seem like her name and picture were spread around like the other male “person of interest” who has since received death threats.
In Georgia, another police officer lured into an ambush by a 911 call. Wounded, still alive.
Oy. Ballwin is a nice, upper middle class suburb of St Louis. The kind of place you’d think is immune from this. It’s not a Ferguson.
What happened with the 2 or 3 people who were in custody and were not cooperating? Not involved at all or involved and not shooters?
If it was determined that these folks in custody were not involved, I hope the only thing we will hear that they have been cleared and released. No names, no other details.