Day 18, Triumph over Tragedy

One of the objectives of this trip, a very important one, was to visit a young friend in prison, there for a failure of our justice system, for a crime he did not commit.  Faced with a contrived charge by a vindictive and creative spouse, unable to hire a real attorney, he was forced to rely on a public defender.  That person did nothing to understand the case and urged him to plead no contest, expecting a minimal sentence, a first time situation.

Wrong.  In our wisdom, the voters of Oregon passed a measure years ago for Mandatory Minimum Sentence; to keep the evil people of the world off the streets.  The weight of this system hit this young very hard.  No, “first time” opportunity.  ELEVEN YEARS IN THE STATE PENITENTIARY!  He’s now down to eighteen months and counting the days.

Innocent until proven guilty, that’s what we teach the children.  I have experienced  two friends put through the Oregon justice system, the full weight of the government thrust upon them based just on accusations.  One was able to prove his innocence at great personal cost, the other was not.

This albatross will hand around his neck for the rest of his life.  A person serves time for a ‘crime’.  He has paid his debt and it should not be held against him forever.  Employers forget or choose to ignore this.  Every person who has ever had a parking or a speeding ticket should therefore also be outcast from society.  Isn't this discrimination?

That’s the tragedy.  The triumph is this.

He has not let the situation and the system destroy him.  He was studying to become an electrician.  He finished that training, tested and passed the exams to be a licensed electrician in prison, despite many hurdles put in front of him by the State of Oregon.  He works for the state as an electrician, building skills and helping, not sitting in a cell with a grudge against the world.

He was sentenced to a remote location in Oregon, making regular visits very difficult.  This visit was a highlight of my trip.   I am proud of his positive attitude, his desire to resume life.  I remain totally convinced of his innocence.  I would be proud to have him as my own son.

I would pass on a few words of wisdom to anyone who will listen:

 Be careful who you make mad at you.

• Be careful how you vote.  There are always vicious side effects to all well intentioned measures.
• Consider the ex-convict as a person who has paid his dues.  Give him a chance.