Good news today! I got a new follower to this blog! One that I met through a mutual friend – JWC. My last blog mentioned playing cards with Carmine. After 240-C, I went to 60, and my new card partner was JWC.
JWC reminded me of Carmine in that he liked me enough to play cards with me, but I think he preferred to be on the other team in bid-whist. Other than that, JWC probably had absolutely nothing in common with Carmine. Carmine took pride in his life of crime. JWC was, what the career criminals called, a “Citizen”. And I was too. Individuals that had lived a regular life, and then, one day, ended up in jail.
I won’t talk about JWC and his case other than the fact that I know he got a bad deal. And that is from someone who got a bad deal. I guess I have not mentioned about my own charges. A real life of crime.
I admit, there was a simple assault in New Hampshire. And domestic violence is a serious offense. However, in my “defense” I would point to two marriages and many other relationships where there was no domestic violence. Sometimes, it takes two to tangle. In addition to that, the charges in NH were dropped.
My greatest crime, according to society, was a violation of a restraining order. When my girlfriend got back to Massachusetts, she took out a restraining order. I violated it with an apology, in an e-mail. Yes, I know that it was against a court order. However, it was not threatening, and certainly was not worth two and a half years, for someone who had no previous record. To me, it was an example of a justice system that thrives on overcrowded jails and does not give any regard to justice.
Maybe more on that later. Again, thanks to my new follower, and to Kerri. I think the blogging is working. Maybe the dreams are going away?
March 7, 2011 at 3:01 am |
I was wonder which of the guys in my group you were friends with. Now I know. I’m glad you’re writing about this. I am realizing more and more how much work there is to be done with people coming out of prison.