In a recent thread it was asserted that the rich don't understand what its like to be poor. An assertion with which I totally agree.
Lets now look at how many poor people get trapped on what's been called the perpetual prisoner machine. It starts with a minor violation. At the misdemeanor court everyone agrees its a minor offense and the defendant is sentenced to probation and anger management classes. For most people this would be the end of it.
Not if you're really poor. If you're poor you often live in the cheapest areas (in my county which is over 100 miles wide the cheapest areas are often in the sticks) -- in area without bus service and access to the classes the court ordered. If you miss even a few classes (or even if you're just late because your baby sitter had her shift at Denny's extended) you'll be terminated and you're probation officer called. It doesn't matter how hard you tried to make it -- how much you juggled inflexible work schedules or how hard you've been trying to keep your 25 year old car on the road -- or even that you've been hospitalized of a staff infection -- you're "not in compliance" and that's all that matters.
You show up at your review hearing (or are arrested on a probation warrant) hoping the judge will understand how hard you've been trying. You tell the judge about how you recently got a new job and are now off welfare, you tell the judge how you found a place that offers classes only 20 miles away from your home rather than 45 miles and how much easier it would be on you if he re-referred to this more convenient program. It doesn't matter -- the judge sanctimoniously reminds you of all the "breaks" you've been given and remands you to the county jail for violating your probation. You start to cry -- sobbing you tell the judge how you're children will be coming home on the school bus at 2:30 and there won't be anyone to meet them if your in jail. The judge ignores you and calls the next case.
If you think this is BS --its not -- it actually happened in Department 95 of the Fresno Superior Court less than two hours ago. And this lady was only one of three people remanded this morning for similar violations (and that's just one morning in one courtroom).
When this lady is released in a month or two she'll have no kids, no job, and no home. To survive she'll likely turn to either drugs or prostitution. When she's arrested again the court will lecture her on how she was given a chance but blew it.
Lets now look at how many poor people get trapped on what's been called the perpetual prisoner machine. It starts with a minor violation. At the misdemeanor court everyone agrees its a minor offense and the defendant is sentenced to probation and anger management classes. For most people this would be the end of it.
Not if you're really poor. If you're poor you often live in the cheapest areas (in my county which is over 100 miles wide the cheapest areas are often in the sticks) -- in area without bus service and access to the classes the court ordered. If you miss even a few classes (or even if you're just late because your baby sitter had her shift at Denny's extended) you'll be terminated and you're probation officer called. It doesn't matter how hard you tried to make it -- how much you juggled inflexible work schedules or how hard you've been trying to keep your 25 year old car on the road -- or even that you've been hospitalized of a staff infection -- you're "not in compliance" and that's all that matters.
You show up at your review hearing (or are arrested on a probation warrant) hoping the judge will understand how hard you've been trying. You tell the judge about how you recently got a new job and are now off welfare, you tell the judge how you found a place that offers classes only 20 miles away from your home rather than 45 miles and how much easier it would be on you if he re-referred to this more convenient program. It doesn't matter -- the judge sanctimoniously reminds you of all the "breaks" you've been given and remands you to the county jail for violating your probation. You start to cry -- sobbing you tell the judge how you're children will be coming home on the school bus at 2:30 and there won't be anyone to meet them if your in jail. The judge ignores you and calls the next case.
If you think this is BS --its not -- it actually happened in Department 95 of the Fresno Superior Court less than two hours ago. And this lady was only one of three people remanded this morning for similar violations (and that's just one morning in one courtroom).
When this lady is released in a month or two she'll have no kids, no job, and no home. To survive she'll likely turn to either drugs or prostitution. When she's arrested again the court will lecture her on how she was given a chance but blew it.
