1. Yesterday, I met a 56 y/o man in court whose experience w/ criminal legal system tells a clear story of how mass incarceration traps people in a cycle of marginalization, poverty, and reincarceration. But also the power of micro-interventions to help break cycle. Follow me:
2. Client was just walking down the street when NYPD approached, stopped & frisked w/o justification. They found small $10 baggie of heroin in his pocket (their claim as always: he was holding drugs in his hand). Arrested him for drug possession. This was his 35th arrest.
3. His RAP sheet told a familiar story. A violent felony conviction 30 yrs ago. Then: Excluded from society. Couldn’t find a job or housing. Turned to drugs. 25 crimes of poverty since: petit larceny, jumping turnstile, drug possession. Each time, pled guilty same day as arrest.
4. Yesterday, prosecution offered a misdemeanor plea plus a 30-day sentence on Rikers Island. At $742/night, that would cost taxpayers approximately $22,000, but plainly would do nothing to deter his drug addiction. Or alleviate poverty. Or deter NYPD from bad stop/frisk.
5. Yesterday, like all other times, he was prepared to plea, but the presiding judge stepped up. Offered to release him on condition that he visit his courtroom tomorrow & engage in a conversation about services & treatment if interested. Client took him up on that offer.
6/x. Don’t know what'll happen tomorrow. Just glad he’s free now. But so much could/should have been different before it ever got this far, including treating drug addiction as a public health issue not a crime & investing heavily in redemption & reentry following a conviction.
