Too many of our men and women, especially African Americans, end up in prison. Too often innocent people land in prison without relief for years and years. Thanks to advances in DNA technology, a number of people enjoy freedom today. But, their release doesn't return the years lost locked up unjustly.
The entire question of prisons and inner city communities is one we face again and again.
On Monday, our own Gerald Britt (VP of Public Policy and Community Program Development) published a strong Op-Ed piece in The Dallas Morning News.
Here's a bit of what he said:
Gerald Britt: Prisoners of the streets At the risk of overstating the obvious, the world was a different place 27 years ago.
There were no cellphones, DVDs were unknown, and VCRs were budget-busting toys. "Green" was just a primary color, the Cold War was still raging, and the Reagan era had just begun. And Charles Allen Chatman was sentenced to 99 years for rape.
On Jan. 3, Mr. Chatman became the 15th man in Dallas County to be released from prison, exonerated by DNA evidence. This will probably be categorized as old news by some readers; others won't even recognize the name or the case. And, for me, that's troubling.
Follow the link above to read the entire essay. Gerald's works are on target, as usual.
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Texas Justise System Among The Nations Worse
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“LAKEITH AMIR-SHARIF IS INNOCENT”
Trial: April 21, 2008
Dallas, Texas
Criminal District Court No. 05
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sXe40XLPGjk&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8wYaOsCVRCI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrFifvU9WjQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4bmYb8JLQI
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/pt/slideshows/2008/01/010308_exonerated
Making The Walls Transparent website:
www.angelfire.com/crazy4/texas/
http://www.angelfire.com/crazy4/texas/fakedrugsfakevictims.html
www.angelfire.com/crazy4/texas/taxpayerquestions.htm
State of Texas v. Lakeith Amir-Sharif
F0525061, F0559639, MA0521971,MA0425257
To find many of the answers as to why there was a Fake Drug Scandal in Dallas, and why 15 recently exonerated citizens were railroaded to prison, and why 400 plus others imprisoned citizens from Dallas County alone are claiming they were wrongful convicted and that DNA testing will prove their innocence, you need to look no further than the case of Lakeith Amir-Sharif and the many things MTWT, Justice Watch, Prison Legal News (PLN) and others have pointed out to the world via MTWT's website and other sources. Today, the wrongfully accused is Sharif, but tomorrow it could be you, or someone you know or care about.
For all those interested, a Public Records Request will verify everything that MTWT is saying regarding the case of Lakeith Amir-Sharif:
1. Thus far the prosecution of Lakeith Amir-Sharif has costed taxpayers over two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00). Why? This is not a murder case.
2.The allaged victim/witness, Cathy Jonette Hawkins is a vindictive, and heartbrokken ex-girlfriend who has committed perjury in her three criminal complaint affidavits, filed Nov. 23, 2004; Feb. 10, 2005 and Sept. 01, 2005. This same individual has given contradictory and inconsistent testimony about the alleged crimes. The DA's office has ignored all of this, why?
3.Police officers from the Farmers Branch Police Department committed perjury in their affidavits presented to the magistrate judge to obtain an arrest warrant for the alleged Stalking charge. in those affidavits the officers falsely claimed on numerous occassions that they had responded to calls to Ms. Hawkins place of employment and home regarding criminal acts perpetuated by Sharif.
There is "NO" police report on file that shows the Farmers Branch Police responded to Ms. Hawkins home, and only two reports can be found that they responded to her job. Only one of the dates given in their affidavits match the numerous dates given to they alleged when seeking the arrest warrant.
4. The Stalking charge is "statutorily invalid" and was known to be so by the Bill Hill administration when it was presented to the Grand Jury. The Texas Penal Code at sec. 42.07 requires two (2) reported incidents of stalking, yet there is "NO" two police report of stalking on file with either the Dallas or farmers Branch Police Departments. Why, was this charge ever processed and why are tax dollars still being used to prosecute this case?
5. For 16 1/2 months while Sharif sat in the Dallas County Jail, he was court-appointed two different attorneys and neither of these attorneys filed any motions on Sharif's behalf. These court-appointed attorneys also "NEVER":
a. Conducted any investigations, to prepare a defense.
b. Requested any subpoenas to obtain security footage available that could of proven that Sharif was not anywhere in the area at the time alleged in the Stalking complaint.
c. Requested any subpoenas to obtain telephone records, pawn store receipts, and other financial statements of the victim and Sharif, which would of discredited Ms. Hawkins claims that she had broken off her relationship and she was not intimately involved with Sharif after mid 2004 and all of 2005. Why hasn't the DA's office verified this?
5. Ms. Hawkins wrote a letter stating Sharif is "innocent". Why, has the judges, the DA's and even Sharif's court-appointed attorneys suppressed this evidence? Why hasn't a handwriting expert been sought if the letters authenticity is in question? Why hasn't Ms. hawkins herself been questioned about this letter if truth and justice is what these proceeding are actually about?
6. Sharif has been denied his Constitutional right to a speedy trial on a 2004 misdemeanor charge involving Ms. Hawkins. Why despite numerous request from Sharif has the judges and his court-appointed attorneys refused to grant him his day in court on this charge? He has more than enough time served, so why is the DA's office wasting tax dollars by prosecuting it?
7. Sharif was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon(to wit: a car) causing serious bodily injury. First, the alleged vicitm Ms. Hawkins suffered "NO" injuries, repeat "NO" injuries.
Next, Ms. Hawkins ran into Sharif with her car knocking him onto her hood and causing Sharif to have to be hospitalized. Why wasn't Ms. hawkins charged by the DA's office for this crime. After Ms.Hawkins assaulted Sharif, she alleges that Sharif hit her cars rear end when she abruptly slammed on brakes to avoid striking the exit gate at their apartment complex. Why is Sharif charged with a criminal offense?
There are many more red flags and unethical behind-the-scene activitives inn the case of Sharif. If we continue to deprive citizens of their legal and Constutioanl rights then we will be no better then the Nazi's. each of you receiving his email have a stake in the quality of our justice system and the perception that the nation and world has of the State of Texas.