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Chapter 6: The Fire This Time

Tinkering Is For Mechanics, No Racial-Justice Advocates

In chapter 6, subsection Tinkering is for Mechanics, Not Racial Advocates, starts out with Alexander talking about how the criminal justice system is pointless. In the 1970's some of the civil rights activist sought out to believe that the imprisonment rates were incredibly high. Today, it is said that the prison system would need to release about four out of five people that are presently in prison today. The prison would possibly have to shut down and many would lose their jobs. According to Marc Mauer, "The more than 700,00 prison and jail guards, administrators, service workers, and other personnel represent a potentially powerful political opposition to any scaling-down of the system. one need only recall the fierce opposition to the closing to military bases in recent years to see how these forces will function over time." (Marc Mauer, Race to Incarcerate [New York: The New Press], 11). With the growth of the prison system, it is something we cannot control along with the crime rates and the sentencing time varying in the different jurisdictions. In 2005, the growth in prisons looked like they were slowing down but the expansion of prisoners continued. Three years later in 2008, records broke for the prison population. Seriously wanting to end the whole mass incarceration system would, the War on Drugs must be terminated. The drug cartel has a huge part in the why the prisons are so compact and why they are expanding. Trying to end this huge part in society cannot be terminated by a court order or decision. Over the past century certain races have been targeted when talking about lower classes and especially in the drug industries. These types of racial profiling would include African Americans or Mexicans tend live in the ghetto neighborhoods/communities that law enforcement officers target. Alexander talks about how these racial profiling needs to come to an end. There should be programs that help these types of people. Especially the ones who have been in jail or prison, can have a second chance with life and getting a job so that they can live a "normal" life. Along with racial profiling, Alexander explains when people think about crime they think about minorities and people in the ghetto. They think about the black and brown because they are racially profiled as the ones who commit crimes. She begins to give an example with the Brown v. Board of Education decision, where the schools were separated by color. By 1964 there were black children attending school with other white children. Michelle Alexander proclaims "But standing alone, Brown accomplished for African Americans little more then Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. A civil war had to be wage to end slavery; a mass movement was necessary to bring a formal end to Jim Crow" (The New Jim Crow, pg 235). We must challenge the mass incarceration problem, even though it could possibly disrupt the new caste system. If we successfully win and make changes in the system, we will break the racial equilibrium.

Outside Contribution

War on Drugs

A huge part of the Drug war is the Mexican drug war and is very well known. Many drugs are distributed out of Mexico into the United States. Such as Cocaine, Marijuana, Meth, Heroin etc.

Cocaine is found on leaves from the South American coca plant. It is illegal in all fifty states, along with crack cocaine (the cheaper version of cocaine but has a much greater penalty). Having possession is when he or she knowingly has it on his or her person or personal, such as a backpack or purse. According to the Criminal Defense Lawyer article, the possession of cocaine with no prior conviction and it is in the first offense the person will be sentenced to a maximum of one year in prison or fined $1,000, if not both. If the person has a prior conviction, whether its a narcotic or cocaine, they will be sentenced to two years in prison, $2,500 fine but can also be sentenced both. With two or more convictions of possession prior to this present offense, they can be sentenced to 90 days in prison along with a $5,000 fine.

Marijuana is from a cannabis plant and the dried up flower leaves and clusters are what is ingested and or smoked. It also a very popular drug in the US and all over the world. If the possession of it is not as great as cocaine or heroin. In some states in the US the drug is becoming legal and more states are considering it. Over 80 million of Americans have tried this type of drug. The Criminal Defense Lawyer article claims thats, depending on the age of person and how much the person has been caught for possession, they will be fined and could plea bargain into going to a treatment program versus going to prison. In each state the convictions differ along with how much of the marijuana they have on their person.

In addition, the Criminal Defense Lawyer article explains that crystal meth is specifically made up of chemicals. It is described as a white powdery substance or can come in a rock form. If caught with the possession of crystal meth, the punishment can vary from just being fined to a long felony conviction. When the person has a lot of meth on their person, there sentence will be a much longer one then someone who has hardly any.

Heroin is an opiate that is highly addictive. Furthermore, the Criminal Attorney article states if you caught selling or possessing heroin, you can be charged with a felony and face two-four years in prison and could be fined to a maximum of $20,000.

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