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And for the people who always respond to admonishment for the actions of fellow members of groups they identify with, with, "I didn’t do that, it’s not my problem, why should I have to answer for what other people do?", I hope you’re paying real close attention. And, if you still have a problem with the concept, are ready and willing to advocate for people like these boys.
Everyone involved in Jelani’s case should be fired and held legally accountable. How on Earth is it legal to withhold evidence from the Defense like that?
Do you know how many corrupt white racist prosecutors have intentionally railroaded 100% innocent blacks not only to jail, but even to a death row?
Even when in lucky cases their victims get exonerated (DNA evidence) before being murdered by the state, their prosecutors never get indicted and jailed for the most heinous crimes an official could commit.
Basically, those prosecutors are intentional murderers (they knowingly set deaths of innocent people due to their careerism and racism) But justice never happens.
Unfortunately, in New York, most of the evidence can be withheld until trial. And as this story, and recent reports from the New Yorker and NY Times have shown, many defendants are spending years on Rikers without getting even that opportunity for justice.
The young men going to Rikers know this, which is why so many prefer to take a plea deal. Social media has made it much easier to get massive indictments, especially when its combined with conspiracy statutes.
Fantastic article. As somebody living in small town Iowa it’s hard to comprehend stuff like that. All I know from NY crime is from watching Law and Order..
I’m cool in general using social media, but not like that… and to keep somebody locked up that long without a trial is crazy.
The sad thing is that for many people observing these cases in middle America, when people take plea deals it is assumed that they must be guilty. This only fuels stereotypes about inner-city crime and makes it seem like every plea deal is more evidence of police catching criminals instead of doing an effective job at coercion. "Of course the police are doing an excellent job! Look at how many of these thugs* are admitting to their crimes!"
*this is meant to be a facetious parody of common comments about these issues.
All people want is justice. This isn’t justice. Not even being allowed to see the "evidence", if you can call it that, that will lead to you being in jail for decades, is fucked up.
In a number of ways, America is no better than any of the Middle Eastern countries they paint as "evil". America simply has a better PR team.
Unfortunately, prosecutorial immunity ensures the very few DAs are held accountable for their misconduct, even if it would result in jail time if done by a member of the general public.
Looks like we are already there… They took some pictures of the one guy when he was a minor and somehow got him locked away for really no crime at all.
You obviously grew up in a privileged neighborhood and never actually faced any form of displacement or violence in your community.
Kids his age running around with guns and knives as self defense isn’t uncommon in poorer neighborhoods. I’ve had friends jumped outright in the street for being friends with someone else, so in self defense, people carry weapons. The police won’t do anything either, since they’re just going to laugh it off and see it as more gang violence.
Or maybe he grew up in a neighborhood where you weren’t supposed to run around with a gun? I think Bob is saying he’s lucky a cop didn’t think it ‘worked’ and shot him. If you’re holding a gun, whether it works or not, you can still get shot.
Not to go too far off topic here, but men get shot for being dark-skinned and "scary looking" whether they’re carrying a weapon or not. At least in this case, he had something to defend himself in case of an altercation with gang members.
Wish I could recommend comments more than once. I constantly see images of white people walking around public spaces with loaded weapons, and the most that happens is maybe a few complaints followed by some replies bitching about their 2nd amendment rights.
Comments
Guilty until proven innocent. Shameful.
By taylorishere on 12.10.14 1:31pm
And for the people who always respond to admonishment for the actions of fellow members of groups they identify with, with, "I didn’t do that, it’s not my problem, why should I have to answer for what other people do?", I hope you’re paying real close attention. And, if you still have a problem with the concept, are ready and willing to advocate for people like these boys.
By bsanr on 12.10.14 10:17pm
Everyone involved in Jelani’s case should be fired and held legally accountable. How on Earth is it legal to withhold evidence from the Defense like that?
By DyDx08 on 12.10.14 1:42pm
They won’t be held accountable. Remember, "government" is the things we choose to do together.
By Pusher Robot on 12.10.14 1:51pm
Unfortunately, you are right.
Do you know how many corrupt white racist prosecutors have intentionally railroaded 100% innocent blacks not only to jail, but even to a death row?
Even when in lucky cases their victims get exonerated (DNA evidence) before being murdered by the state, their prosecutors never get indicted and jailed for the most heinous crimes an official could commit.
Basically, those prosecutors are intentional murderers (they knowingly set deaths of innocent people due to their careerism and racism) But justice never happens.
By DERSS on 12.10.14 6:07pm
Unfortunately, in New York, most of the evidence can be withheld until trial. And as this story, and recent reports from the New Yorker and NY Times have shown, many defendants are spending years on Rikers without getting even that opportunity for justice.
The young men going to Rikers know this, which is why so many prefer to take a plea deal. Social media has made it much easier to get massive indictments, especially when its combined with conspiracy statutes.
By Ben Popper on 12.10.14 1:53pm
Fantastic article. As somebody living in small town Iowa it’s hard to comprehend stuff like that. All I know from NY crime is from watching Law and Order..
I’m cool in general using social media, but not like that… and to keep somebody locked up that long without a trial is crazy.
By TK-093 on 12.10.14 3:57pm
Small town Iowa? I visited distant family in Fairfield Iowa a few months ago, beautiful small town :).
By thepaleobiker on 12.11.14 12:21pm
The sad thing is that for many people observing these cases in middle America, when people take plea deals it is assumed that they must be guilty. This only fuels stereotypes about inner-city crime and makes it seem like every plea deal is more evidence of police catching criminals instead of doing an effective job at coercion. "Of course the police are doing an excellent job! Look at how many of these thugs* are admitting to their crimes!"
*this is meant to be a facetious parody of common comments about these issues.
By radderthanrad on 12.11.14 11:06am
That’s fucked up, America.
All people want is justice. This isn’t justice. Not even being allowed to see the "evidence", if you can call it that, that will lead to you being in jail for decades, is fucked up.
In a number of ways, America is no better than any of the Middle Eastern countries they paint as "evil". America simply has a better PR team.
By nawksnai on 12.11.14 6:28am
Look at the political leanings of places where this stuff tends to happen, should tell you all you need to know
By z0phi3l on 12.13.14 10:46pm
Unfortunately, prosecutorial immunity ensures the very few DAs are held accountable for their misconduct, even if it would result in jail time if done by a member of the general public.
By stringfold on 12.11.14 10:58pm
Great, because trial by media wasn’t bad enough, now we have trial by social media.
By Karanb13 on 12.10.14 1:44pm
How far are we from turning into Minority Report?
By titaniumalloy on 12.10.14 1:50pm
you’re assuming we haven’t already gotten there.
By Kirielson on 12.10.14 2:05pm
Looks like we are already there… They took some pictures of the one guy when he was a minor and somehow got him locked away for really no crime at all.
By TK-093 on 12.10.14 3:58pm
Amazing reporting here – absolute top notch.
By scoobydooby on 12.10.14 1:53pm
Agreed – this is how you Verge
By rich1lloyd on 12.10.14 2:58pm
This is an amazing story, very well done!
By James Orduno on 12.10.14 2:02pm
Dude running around with a broken gun as self defense? Lucky he landed in prison and not in a casket.
By FresnoBob on 12.10.14 2:07pm
You obviously grew up in a privileged neighborhood and never actually faced any form of displacement or violence in your community.
Kids his age running around with guns and knives as self defense isn’t uncommon in poorer neighborhoods. I’ve had friends jumped outright in the street for being friends with someone else, so in self defense, people carry weapons. The police won’t do anything either, since they’re just going to laugh it off and see it as more gang violence.
By mr_duong567 on 12.10.14 2:14pm
Or maybe he grew up in a neighborhood where you weren’t supposed to run around with a gun? I think Bob is saying he’s lucky a cop didn’t think it ‘worked’ and shot him. If you’re holding a gun, whether it works or not, you can still get shot.
By thekonger on 12.10.14 2:44pm
Not to go too far off topic here, but men get shot for being dark-skinned and "scary looking" whether they’re carrying a weapon or not. At least in this case, he had something to defend himself in case of an altercation with gang members.
By Nikki0417 on 12.10.14 3:58pm
Only if you’re black, it seems, with all those pictures of white gun nuts in Walmart and no news of them ever getting shot.
By eyhk on 12.10.14 4:10pm
Wish I could recommend comments more than once. I constantly see images of white people walking around public spaces with loaded weapons, and the most that happens is maybe a few complaints followed by some replies bitching about their 2nd amendment rights.
By Nikki0417 on 12.10.14 4:17pm