Category: Forum
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Superintendent Johnson
On Sunday, May 8th, 2016, the Chicago Sun-Times featured an opinion piece written by Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson. The article is entitled “Two Men with 80 Arrests Tell the Story.” It featured two men who both had extensive criminal histories which culminated in a combined total of 80 arrests. Apparently these men encountered one…
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The State of the Criminal Justice System —Chicago— Prisoner X
THE STATE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM –CHICAGO– With approximately two million people incarcerated in the United States of America, the result is that the prison industrial complex has become so bloated and corpulent that it is akin to a malignant tumor growing on the conscience, spirit, and politics of the country. America’s…
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A Thousand Yard Stare
A THOUSAND YARD STARE Barricaded in by the unrelenting barriers of confinement; In this small compartment in which I live, I can barely extend my limbs; Losing my complexion, Denied my visual capacity to see beyond a few feet in every Direction; I question Jehovah, Even the mirror ‘s reflection crowds my space giving me…
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Ignorance of the Law is no Excuse- New Laws
IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE In this New Year we face 237 new laws created by the Illinois lawmakers, with the bulk of the new laws dealing with business, health, government, and family. Very few of these 237 Laws are criminal in nature, but a few stand out. Two in particular merit mentioning…
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Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse- Hiring the right attorney
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed,which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to be confronted…
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Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse
The difference of who we consider ourselves friends with should be closely guarded because according to the law, we are legally responsible/accountable when “either before or during the commission of an offense, and with the intent to promote or facilitate such commission, he solicits, aids, abets, agrees or attempts to aid such other person in…
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Richard Speck Tape and Prisoners Lives
This time, right now, for Illinois prisoners is the “Post Speck Tape” (PST) era. The legacy of that tape has halted the maturation of Illinois prisoners for two generations. Prisoners’ lives “Before the Speck Tape” (BST) was a time when prisoners formed organizations like the Jaycees and Lifers. These groups contributed to charities and provided…
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GLOBAL THREAT
Ironically, starting in February the National Black History Month, IDOC began issuing a stern warning against 3-way phone calls. At the beginning of a call a warning states that any attempted 3rd party connection will result in a disciplinary action against the prisoner, and a “Global” restriction for the person the prisoner calls. It is…
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Prisoner X Program
Illinois’ prison system is stacked to its rim. There are currently close to 50,000 prisoners under lock and key, and there are thousands more under some form of supervised release. Admittedly, a lot of this is justified and necessary, but there is a significant amount of this that is- as we say- doing way too…