Opinion: Visit to 68th District Court

Last week, I watched justice unfold in Judge Tracey Collier-Nix's 68th District courtroom.

What became apparent was that justice was being served at the expense of every taxpayer in the city for three young men accused of having stolen property and a shotgun in their possession when arrested.

Each of the three men had a court appointed attorney plus an attorney who was overseeing them.

Besides four court-appointed attorneys, there were two court clerks (one electronically taping the proceedings) the judge and two courtroom police officers. There also was the prosecuting attorney and a police sergeant who brought in the evidence identified as being stolen from two victims who had testified before.

I don't usually think dollars and sense in a courtroom setting. But if I were to tabulate what it cost to bring the suspects to this preliminary hearing, I would guess the tab would be substantial — thousands of dollars.

This proceeding was called an arraignment. Was there enough evidence to put the three on trial was to be determined.

I was surprised at the way the defense trio cross-examined the Flint policewoman who gave testimony on how she and her partner risked their lives to capture the armed men.

As I listened to the testimony, I wondered why a young policewoman would risk her life. Why she was dragged by defense attorneys through muddy innuendos of giving misleading evidence. Why every consideration was given to the suspects — but not to the victims or police.

I admired the judge who saw through this masquerading of justice and allowed witnesses to tell their own stories. She is the sole authority to determine if the case will go to circuit court where the defendants could request a jury.

I believe our scales of justice are tipping towards perpetrators who, if found guilty, will not pay back a fraction of the cost it will take to rightly convict and house them for the length of their prison term.

Did these three young men get a fair hearing? I thought they did. Are they guilty? Only a jury or judge in circuit court can decide.

But wait. The cost in dollars and cents isn't the most important issue we're facing as a city or as a nation. How did these three young men get to where they are today?

Let's suppose these young men are proven guilty. We've lost three potential productive citizens — perhaps future scientists, doctors, lawyers or judges. When released from prison they will face almost insurmountable challenges. Who will give a felon a job? Their chances of offending again are high.

Unless we, as members of the greatest democracy in the world, have the courage to make some changes in our country at all levels, including education, how we handle absentee parents, pay-to-stay prison reform and a host of other personal changes that say we want every individual to be part of our society, whatever the cost, the cycle will continue.

Shouldn't the number of nationally incarcerated, 1.5 million in 2008, shock us? In 2007 Michigan had over 51,000 in their prisons. Is this people-drain enough to cause us to pause and think about why people turn to crime in the most favorable opportunistic country in the world?

By chance, I met another 68th District Court judge, Herman Marable, the following day. He was advocating his student of the month and year program aimed at 10th graders.

Students submit essays about their career goals. Winners are awarded a savings bond by the judge and chance to shadow him for a day. Press releases honor the student's efforts.

And, hopefully, students get a glimpse of a better life in a democracy that rewards its citizens with good government.