As a society, we have been convinced that there would be chaos without laws. Laws are necessary to protect those who
have been violated by the criminal element and punish those who break them. But on the flip side, what I learned during
the eleven years spent working within the law and judicial system, was that the laws are not applied equally.
There are so many ways that laws can be misused through skewed reports, profiling certain ethnic groups, stereotyping groups by age,
clothing, cultural or religious differences, arresting a disproportionate number of people from these groups. When these
groups become the target, of the long arm of the law, there is a breakdown in the relationship of these groups and the law
and judicial system.
For officers sharing the ethnic background of those targeted by law enforcement, there is a heavy burden to appear fair
in their enforcement practices within their communities and not appear to be slacking according to police department standards.
The police department is an integral part of the city government, and must meet certain budgetary commitments through different
patrolling procedures. Police chiefs, who are voted in by their city council, must therefore, answer to the mayor. The job of
police chief is a political position that has to answer to political pressures.
Have you noticed that during years when there are political races for public office, the subject most often debated has to do with
types of crime, how much crime there is, where the crime is most likely to occur and to whom, and the emphasis on violent crimes and
drugs?
Whenever there has been a war declared on a particular crime pattern, the police force has been affected, with some of those sworn
to protect the community actually becoming part of the criminal element. Many innocent people have lost their lives, literally and
figuratively (through incarceration). Many officers have lost their lives through enforcement of these wars on their own communities.
Lake County Coalition for the Education of its Citizens or LCCEC, was born from my frustration with the plight of young people, who like my son, continue to become victims of a system that is shortsighted and applies the laws unevenly. Some of those working within the law and judicial system wait for young people to make mistakes, and turn to punishment as a preference to rehabilitation.
It is painful to listen to their accounts of the destruction that is taking place in the hearts and minds of their family members. The destruction of their self-esteem, trust in society’s ability to be just, forgiving, yes, even compassionate is evident. They are being stripped of every ounce of dignity, and hope.
LCCEC is seeking parents, grandparents, students, educators, ministers, corporate personnel, and other social service agencies who have a passion for helping young people of all ethnic, social and economic backgrounds,to come together to
initiate change in the way young people are perceived and treated. Let’s educate young people about their role in remaining free and take back
control of our lives and our communities.
Motivators & Communicators
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