deepundergroundpoetry.com

Policy Changes

So, y’all know I’m kind of a policy geek
I received this email which explained some things to me,
And it said:
The Mandatory Minimums Act by design drives mass incarceration and perpetuates the effectiveness of the '94 Crime Bill
It doesn't allow a judge to consider the individual factors of a case so once convicted, you'll face a sentence regardless
And following the enactment of the Crime Bill, New York State slashed programs for inmates that would credit them earned time off, so no further consideration into their wellbeing
Hell, the cash bail system was invented to keep poor people in jail and for longer periods
The State receives payment for every person behind bars, they pay salaries to correction officers, judges, prosecutors and DA's
So clearly, the game was built to funnel hundreds of thousands of people into cages
Doesn’t that sound familiar?
The fact that all these systems in place are meant to cause more harm under the guise of keeping the streets safe is sickening
Freedom is a money thing
But I digress
The email continued on about how incarceration does little to nothing in repairing the damages inflicted on the community, or the family structure, it just causes more chronic health issues. Perpetuates abject living conditions,
It is an intergenerational rejection of our ancestors and relatives
From ‘94 to 2014 the number of people sentenced to 25 years or longer increased from just 26 to 1,130!
In New York State!
I remember my Middle school history lesson which taught that the 8th Amendment of the Constitution explicitly protected citizens from cruel and unusual punishment
One whole ass system amalgamated
Dispersed ‘so called’ fringe groups try to penetrate it using legalese language. That’s what makes it so complicated
But the fact is, it was all rigged from the beginning as plenty a defense attorneys ain’t worth shit
You sit in jail, ‘cause you can’t post bail, DA gets paid and possibly a kickback if you’re convicted,
It’s all for profit.
That’s why I raise so much fuss against the cycle    
That benevolent, savior complex that's meant to absolve the racist and the facist from their past won't work, sinister behavior need not cry about it, even though that shit is funny as hell
Has always been in plain sight  
To right the wrongs we must always go back
I’m tryna keep the people informed
The deplorable, so named ‘important’ fuckers are ridiculous but I’ll end with this;
We must always flaunt our own importance and focus on the greater scheme, so that way we can raise up out this shit, cause real talk
The mutha fuckas that run it ain’t really bigger than anyone else in here
I’m Just sayin’  
Written by Ashley_M_Hardy (Cashley Marie)
Published
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 6 reading list entries 3
comments 14 reads 756
Commenting Preference: 
The author encourages honest critique.

Latest Forum Discussions
COMPETITIONS
Today 4:56am by NANCY_RDZ_STORIES
SPEAKEASY
Today 4:15am by Grace
SPEAKEASY
Today 3:33am by DCLXVI_1989
COMPETITIONS
Today 00:41am by Louismatteo349
SPEAKEASY
Yesterday 11:19pm by Ahavati
POETRY
Yesterday 11:05pm by Grace