What do you think of this? Three years without a trial!

[VenomJockey]

Three years without a trial for stealing a backpack!

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/09/...or-3-years-without-trial-commits-suicide.html

Excerpt: "Kalief Browder was sent to Rikers Island when he was 16 years old, accused of stealing a backpack. Though he never stood trial or was found guilty of any crime, he spent three years at the New York City jail complex, nearly two of them in solitary confinement."

 

[phideaux]

His family or friends should be screaming .

The kids a minor.

Something smells fishy here.

Jim

 

[Sentry18]

What in the world!? So much went wrong with the system in this case that there had to be both corruption and evil intent behind it. There is no way someone just fell through the cracks and spent 3 years in jail without trial and 2 years of that in solitary.

 

[Weedygarden]

Sad story. I am sure this was devastating for his family.

 

[Caribou]

I was a bailiff on a murder trial. They kept the accused in solitary for 8 months trying to get him to confess. They also hid exculpatory evidence, and let a witness testify under a false name so another State wouldn't be able to have him arrested. The first trial was hung with 11 for acquittal and one guilty. the second trial they all voted for acquittal.

 

[Curmudgeon]

His family or friends should be screaming .

Yes...........and loud!

 

[Patchouli]

That is so sad. I also would be enraged. Think the color of his skin had anything to do with the mistreatment, abuse and injustice? Why him? Arrested and put in jail for allegedly stealing a backpack...3 years. Just a kid.

 

[Sentry18]

That is so sad. I also would be enraged. Think the color of his skin had anything to do with the mistreatment, abuse and injustice? Why him? Arrested and put in jail for allegedly stealing a backpack...3 years. Just a kid.

I did a little more reading about this case as it happened back in 2015 and it turns out the "news" only provided some of the story. Turns out the state had a case, but both sides delayed and delayed the trial, eventually the witness left the country and the charges were dropped. At least some of his time in solitary was based on behavioral issues and noncompliance, although much of it was also because of a broken and overburdened NY criminal justice system. Browder was released and he committed suicide two years later, allegedly from mental anguish from his time in prison. Lawsuits were filed and the city settled for a $3.3 million payout. From what I understand however there was some blame to go around for the prosecutor, jail administration, defense attorneys, family, etc. Some claim the family let the situation happen in order to get paid. Others solely blame the system. The truth is likely in the middle. Apparently there is a movie about this case which is solely focused from the Browder point of view, as produced by none other than Harvey Weinstein.