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- Jul 28, 2012
Thankyou for the last remark, I really am just trying to get my life on track after this huge set back. Everything is falling into place.I'm not going to ask what you did to get incarcerated, that's none of my business, but I will say that just looking at the sheer number of non-violent offenders being locked up for a number of years in this nation, the punishment does not match the crime.
I for the life of me cannot wrap my mind around doing a stretch of years behind bars for selling or using a controlled substance. You're absolutely right in saying that people are gong to go right ahead and do whatever it is they want to do. However our current system isn't exactly fostering change. Recidivism in America is higher than our European counterparts.
So do these laws we have in place really "deter" anyone from using or selling a drug?
How about theft, burglary & violent crime, when a young man commits one of these crimes and is branded for life as a felon, does he have much hope to relate to anyone else but criminals?
....I'll leave it at that for now, I'll return later to expand on these questions and my point....For now just food for thought, but before I take my leave I want to say....
I commend you for taking the steps necessary to turn your life around, I don't know you but I value you as a fellow human being and that alone is enough for me to hope you make the best of your freedom.
As far as what crime I committed, i was an accomplice in a violent crime. I was charged with 1 count Carjacking, 1 count of assault with a firearm. I got three years for each charge, ran con current, which means at the same time. I paid my entire savings, $30,000 for a layer, and $15,000 for bail. It ruined me financially. I was not the type of individual who did these type of things ever, I was with the wrong crowd on the wrong night situation. But I take full responsibilites for my role and actions that night.
I'm sure you have heard of PROP 47, no violent drug offense convicts where being released A LOT when I was about 2-3 weeks from going home. So CA is doing something to release these guys stuck in prison for drugs. If you are caught with a controlled substance now I believe it is just a misdemeanor. They are release into programs and transitional housing mostly, which is a good start for many ex-cons.
But thats basically the extent of my knowledge on the subject, everything else I learned in there was all in house politics.