**Uncle Sam Wants You!!** Life in the US Incarceration Pharmaceutical Complex

[grace]

Many US citizens are vaguely aware that, per capita, our country incarcerates a higher percentage of citizens than ANY other 'so called developed nation' (with the possible exception of China).

I was one of those vaguely informed folks a couple of years ago until a life threatening medical condition landed me in hospital, and charged with felony assault against an LEO.

And I'm just one of innumerable people who have been caught up in our perverse criminal justice system... I know, because I lived with many others in the same situation, and I've seen the horrible impacts.

I'll get into more details below but for now here are a few links for anyone interested in getting better informed as to the magnitude of the problems.


"The United States is unparalleled historically and ranks among the highest worldwide in its dependence on incarceration. Over five million people in total are under supervision by the criminal legal system. Of these, nearly two million people, disproportionately Black, are living in prisons and jails instead of their communities. Compare this to the figures of the early 1970s when this count was 360,000."

https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/mass-incarceration-trends/


"Can it really be true that most people in jail are legally innocent? How much of mass incarceration is a result of the war on drugs, or the profit motives of private prisons? Have popular reforms really triggered a crime wave? These essential questions are harder to answer than you might expect. The various government agencies involved in the criminal legal system collect a lot of data, but very little is designed to help policymakers or the public understand what's going on."

https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2024.html


"The United States incarcerates more people per capita than any other developed country. In March 2020, before many COVID-19-related releases took place, about 2.3 million people were imprisoned in state, federal, military and U.S. territory prisons; local and federal jails; juvenile and immigration detention centers; Indian Country jails; civil commitment centers and state psychiatric hospitals."

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/11/11/the-united-states-of-incarceration

[grace]

Most US citizens remain blissfully unaware of the horrors resulting from our industrial incarceration complex so, having experienced it, I'm obligated to share this old man's story.

On July 23 2022 I was debilitated by a medical condition called hyponatremia, having never heard of it or having any prior indications it could afflict me.

I 'came to' in the hospital the next day with two IVs in my arms. For reference, my hospital records show my sodium level was 110 when the 'safe' range is above 135.

Prior to waking in a hospital bed I have no memory of my actions for an entire day. Only when I started convulsing did anyone consider seeking medical attention for me.

My daughter later told me I was 'talking gibberish' all morning prior to her leaving me alone, to go shopping.

When she returned, I had removed my clothing and was throwing household items in the trash can. In lieu of seeking medical attention she called the police who, I am told, arrived and subdued me.

They also tell me I resisted.

[grace]

When my sodium level was restored to safe levels, I was fine but was kept in hospital for a few days.

I went home and life continued as before (I do eat more salt now) until a few weeks later 3 police officers showed up at my door and arrested me for 'Felony Assault on a Police Officer'. I was booked and released. The city was Hampton, VA, where the DA was Anton Bell and the new junior attorney handling my case was Emma Cleary.

In retrospect I should have sought independent legal counsel (instead of relying on a public defender) immediately but thought the charge was so absurd ANY judge would dismiss it, citing mens rea, and that an official 'public defender' would support me.

Only later did it dawn on me that public defenders are often practically in bed with the system which keeps their paychecks coming.

As, of course, are judges, many of whom make their living incarcerating people, and more incarceration equals more job security.

And by 'living' I mean they live well: lots of cash flow and the ego strokes that come when exerting immense power over any unfortunate who happens to be in their clutches.

But the real culprits are prosecutors, who exist in a system which provides scant accountability for their often vicious and sometimes criminal prosecution practices.

I note the current news about the egregious prosecution of Alec Baldwin where Judge Sommer, who presided over the trial, said yesterday she agreed that the prosecution should have disclosed details about the additional ammunition to Baldwin's team, and (that they concealed evidence) was enough to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning it can't be brought against Baldwin again.

"There is no way for the court to right this wrong,".

Watch and see if the prosecutor is held accountable for their malfeasance... but don't hold your breath.

https://www.npr.org/2024/07/12/nx-s1-5038096/alec-baldwin-case-dismissed


Did I mention the US incarcerates more people per capita than any other country, with the possible exception of China?