THE TRUTH APPLIED

The Bible says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6) According to dictionary.com, reform is defined as making changes in (something, typically a social, political, or economic institution or practice) in order to improve it. When we talk about prison reform or police reform, what comes to your mind? What does either reform look like? People have identified the need to reform the legal system in the news and repeated it during many political campaigns. Yes, we will have lawbreakers, but just because they make a mistake does not mean that they are not entitled to fair treatment and a fair trial. The Bible says, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” (John 7:51)
I was watching the movie “Just Mercy” starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx, which is based on a true story. The character played by Jamie Foxx was on death role for a murder that he did not commit. Even though they did not do an investigation and even had a man lie about being a witness, because the character played by Michael B. Jordan fought to expose the truth, his client was found innocent. It is so important that people have proper representation and that unjust practices are expelled. Having a witness or an alibi, coupled with an uncorrupted prosecutor trying to make a name for themselves, is very helpful. Especially when the evidence is not suppressed. The Bible says, “On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death. A person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.” (Deuteronomy 17:6)
How many people have been wrongly convicted? How many people have been executed for crimes that they did not commit? Why is it the practice of people to try a case in the media first? Why spread false information? Why not investigate? Why do people conspire to frame someone they know is innocent? Real reform would have that person or people do the time for the crime they were framing someone for. If it is good enough for someone else, it should be good enough for you. If you tamper with evidence to get a conviction, you should go to prison.
Why would a Judge refuse to hear a case? Why? If it were you, would you want your case to be heard? The Bible says, “Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:9)
Now, just because you had to use a public defender, you should still get a fair defense. Unfortunately, all too often, low-income people take plea deals strongly encouraged by their public defender, to try to avoid a trial.
On May 27, I interviewed two ex-convicts. The first one is named Edward, who talked about when he did 11 years and 9-months. When released, he had 5-years of probation with an ankle monitor. He said, “The public defender told him the deal was good, but if he wanted to go to trial, they could give him 25 years.” I asked him if he could do it again, would you take the plea deal? He said, “No, I would go to trial!” I asked him, how long did the attorney prepare his defense? He said, “He met with me one time!” I asked Edward if he could change anything with the system what would it be? He said, “More counselors!”
My second interview was with Luther, who talked about his plea deal of 21 years, but if he went to trial, he was facing 35 years. The public defender told him that it was a good deal. Luther said, he is glad that he is out! I asked him if he could change anything with the system what would it be? He replied, “They need to have nicer people working there!”
In closing, part of the reform should include talking with different sides, but the standard should be the golden rules! Mistakes and bad policies have cost hundreds of thousands to be mistreated and some wrongfully convicted, but apologies are not enough. The bad policies must be changed! The bad laws must be changed! The bad practices must be changed! It is not just that one person that suffers. The whole community suffers when a crime is committed. We need to encourage people to obey not just the laws of the land, but Allah’s (God’s) laws. The Bible says, “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4) Let’s reform into law-abiding people!