Karen Smith from Alabama...What is Justice???

[Karen Smith]

MY NAME IS KAREN, I HAVE A SON INCARCERATED IN ALABAMA. HE IS CURRENTLY SERVEING A 15 YEAR SENTENCE FOR MANSLAUGHTER. I FEEL VERY BETRAYED BY THE COURT SYSTEMS HERE IN RURAL AL AND AM WONDERING IF IT IS THE SAME ALL ACROSS THE USA. FIRST OFF WHY DOES IT ALWAYS SEEM THAT IF A PERSON HAS THE MONEY TO BUY THEIR WAY OUT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING. I THOUGHT JUSTICE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAME FOR ALL, A STANDARD BY WHICH SOCIETY KEEPS ITSELF IN CHECK.
IF EVEN ONE POLICE OFFICER OR COURT OFFICER, JUROR OR JUDGE CAN BE CORRUPTED BY MONEY OR FAVOR OF ANY KIND, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT JUSTICE REALLY EXISTS?
I DO NOT INTEND TO SOUND BITTER BUT IT IS HARD TO SEE YOUR CHILD GET A 15 YEAR SENTENCE FOR A CRIME THAT OTHERS ONLY GET 3-7. THIS INCIDENT WAS FOUND TO BE AN ACCIDENT. IT ONLY TOOK THE JURY 30 MINUTES AFTER A 7 DAY TRIAL TO COME TO THIS CONCLUSION BUT SOMEBODY
WANTED MY SON PUT AWAY AND FOUND THE MEANS TO DO IT.
THANKS FOR YOUR REPLIES.
KAREN

[Cameo]

Hi Karen and Welcome to PTO! I'm sorry to hear about your son and nothing will ever seem 'fair' in the justice system that we have today.

Hopefully in your son's appeal process he may have a better outcome in his sentence. We have a great forum here for parents with children in prison where you will find wonderful support and you may also find more specific information in our AL. state forum.

Glad to have your here!

Pam

[danielle]

Hi Karen and thank you for posting. You're right - it's not a fair system and I'm sorry you and your son are going through this. ((HUGS)) to you.

[Valerie]

Welcome to PTO Karen, I agree with you and I think most on here do. I'm sorry about your son and yes it seems so very unfair.Your not alone and again welcome and I hope You find support here.

[Retired-5]

welcome sister! i too have the same kind of story, Josh got 10 years for a brutal fist fight. we threw a $25,000 "pretender" on the case when we saw what was happening so be glad you didn't waste your money! Josh took the deal, 10 years, he WAS going to get LIFE for that fist fight. he felt sorry for the guy (after he stole $5,000) and drove him to the hospital. that got him two counts of kidnapping......mandatory life! he took the "deal".

[Lysbeth]

Welcome to PTO, Karen! Another loved one of an Alabama inmate here. Hope you will get a chance to visit in our Alabama forum here on PTO, it's growing and we all share the same frustrations with the state's system. Very glad you have joined us and hope to see you around PTO a bunch!

Lys

[deb]

Welcome to PTO! From what I've seen adn heard it's the same all over the U.S..... pathetic and unjust and forget about innocent until proven guilty and guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt.... Those were myths we believed in before we knew any better...

Deb

[PixieQueen]

I just wanted to welcome you to the PTO family! Love--Helen

[LaurieJ]

Welcome to PTO Karen. Also here in Alabama. Our judicial system is the spawn of satan here in the county I live in. We have more drug users in our judicial building here then we do on the streets, and around here it's all about who you know or what kind of mood the person with authority has that day. Sorry about your misfortune. Again, welcome to PTO.

[narleymarley03]

I understand your outrage. My son got 20 yrs for what should have been 3 to 7 yrs.What is Justice?

[Amanda_H]

Hi Karen, Welcome to PTO

[tammysmith]

Hello and a warm welcome to the pto "family" Glad you could join us!