Our criminal justice system

Some get to go home while they wait for their matters to be resolved while some have to stay incarcerated. Some get to hire a private attorney while others are appointed a public defender who will always most certainly do the bare minimum required. I say all of the above to say this “money, money, money.” Apparently in the criminal justice system, money talks and, well, you know the rest. This is very unfair and the sentencing guidelines are extremely based on a lawyer’s ability and desire to deal.

Everybody should have equal and fair representation regardless of their social class or income. Just because someone isn’t all the way at the top of the totem pole should not mean they should be kicked aside and become another statistic. There should be equal representation for everyone.

A football player by the name of Donte Stallworth once killed a woman while driving impaired and ended up getting about 30 days or less in jail. Why should someone who drives impaired and is stopped by the police without any death or injury be subjected to months or even years in confinement? Instead of wasting time and taxpayers’ money on frivolous matters, we need to repeal and repair the criminal justice system.

Syed Ali

Sacramento