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Aug 21, 2004 The number 30365 to anyone else is just another number. Thirty thousand, three hundred and sixty-five. An insignificant number that seems like it was pulled from the air. But it wasn't pulled from the air, it was picked from a computer. 30365 is my fiance's number. He is the thirty thousand, three hundred and sixty- fifth person to enter the Worcester County House of Corrections. On May 25th, 2004 the State Police Violent Felon Division showed up at my house. The surrounded the outside, weapons drawn, as if there was a serial killer lurking inside. There wasn't. There was Josh, just Josh. Who violated his probation. Much ado about nothing, but they arrested him anyway. They told me that he would be released right away and they just needed to bring him to court to see the judge on the warrent that they issued. He didn't come back. I visit Josh as often as I can, but going up to see your loved one in a place surrounded by barbed wire and concrete is not the most fun thing in the world to do. The prison is run down and the guards all have bad attitudes. The dress code is strict and the visiting room is loud. It's a lousy place to be. After a month in, he was brought up to court for a probable cause hearing. I sat in the courtroom and watched the various people go up in front of a judge that I was not familiar with. A wife beater, who violated his restraining order twice, was realeased on recognicence. Four men, who were found with over 10,000 dollars in stolen merchindise, were released. A man who stood up and basically admitted to having sexual intercourse with a fourteen year old girl, was realeased. By the time Josh got up in front of the judge, I was so confident he was going to be released that the knot in my stomach was gone. His probation officer read off the charges, failure to report to probation, failure to report to drug and alcohol evaluation, failure to change address. Josh's lawyer stood up, explained that his client's fiancee had just recently had a baby, that he had just recently moved, and that complications of the pregnancy caused him to neglect his probationary duties. Josh admitted that he was wrong, said that he was sorry, said that he would do better. The judge asked for his record. He was sentenced to one year. I collapsed in the court room. So rest well tonight. Josh is in jail. You no longer need to lock your doors or worry about big bad Josh coming to your door. Granted, the robbers, the wife beaters, and the statutory rapists are on the streets, but the probation violators are in jail. I hope you feel safe and comfortable in your homes knowing that the judicial system is in no way messed up. Josh has gone up twice so far for a house arrest bracelet, and has been denied both times. We're waiting for his third try. It is nice to know however, that while he's been in, three rapists, two attempted murderers and four heroin addicts have been released on the house bracelet. Again, sleep well tonight. So when it comes down to it, the judicial system, and the correctional system are messed up little places. I would like to know why Josh is being passed over, while others, with worse crimes, who offend over and over and over, are being released. It scares me and it worries me. And it upsets me all the same. It's all about money, and it's all about who has the power. The ones with the court appointed lawyers don't make out as well as the ones with the 500 dollar an hour attorneys. Once again, the world will be ruled by the highest bidder, no matter who is harmed in the process. I have a prision identification braclet that I wear on my left arm every day. It's blue with a white front, and it merely says 30365 in black ink. Josh wears the same one on his left arm. I wear it to remind myself how you won't always win in this world, no matter how hard you try. I wear it to remind myself that someone who is important is in a cage. The punishment should fit the crime, and from the looks of things, in this neck of the woods, that does not apply. ------------ About the author L.J. Chapman: I have two children and live in Massachusetts. I have a few poems published with poetry.com and I am in the middle of writing a book called "The Checkered Blanket". Email: bipolar_bear80@hotmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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