“Justice” System

As you all may or may not know, Kunku and I were recently involved in an incident that took our phones (among other things) away.  As a result, we have been in constant contact with the police, detectives, social workers, and the hospital as follow-up.  Everything has been somewhat surreal, and I feel like this experience really is worth writing about.  I’ve been so busy though, and haven’t had the time–especially seeing that this is my last week in New York. Anyway, it all seems a bit like something out of Law and Order—and it definitely gives a bit of insight into our criminal justice system.

For the past week, Kunku and I have been going into the Midtown South Precinct office to meet with the detective who has been assigned to our case.  From the names taken down at the scene of the crime, the officers have been able to track down a few possible suspects.  Kunku and I picked pictures of people we recognized or thought were involved first, and after the police performed more background checks and investigation, we finally picked out a suspect out of a live lineup yesterday at around 7PM.

It was very much like TV, but also very much unlike it (definitely no glam quotient).  Kunku and I went in separately, with her going first.  When it was my turn, two policemen led me into a narrow corridor with a strip of glass/window.  This was apparently the one-sided mirror, where I could see the lineup but none of the people in the room could see me.  There were six men, and each sat on a chair holding a number.  I could not positively recognize any of them, but the officers told me I must pick one and only one, despite my not being sure.  I picked number four, but only because I thought I remembered him from one of the pictures the officers showed me before.  In the end at the debrief, the officer asked for my signature and told me my answer would be discounted because I did not seem very sure (thank goodness—I didn’t want to falsely accuse anyone!).  I also asked where they found the extras (5 were innocent civilians and one was the suspect) and the policeman told me they were students at the police academy.  I think I felt a bit uneasy during the whole process—with thoughts of racial profiling and stereotyping and prejudice continuously resurfacing in my mind.  So police academy students had to be subject to this constantly?  Just because they were young black males they were asked to pose as possible criminals—but they weren’t at the police academy for acting…why did they have to do this?

Then again, I cannot offer another solution, nor can I suggest an alternative procedure in dealing with catching criminals.  How is it possible not to use race?  And then, how is it possible to not make any assumptions or stereotypes at all due to race?

From the moment the police officers drove Kunku and I around in the cop car attempting to identify various groups of young African Americans they had rounded up immediately after the incident, I was uncomfortable.  Bruised, bloody, disheveled, and bewildered, Kunku and I shook our heads at each group, terrified of accusing the wrong people, terrified that the suspects were all African American, and terrified of what that would mean for them and all those in the area—racial profiling, bias, discrimination?

However, at the same time, how do I offer an alternative?  In a physical description, race is crucial.  But why does my mentioning the race of my attackers make me cringe?  When I tell the story, most everyone asks if the teens were African American, and after I nod, most everyone sighs, unsurprised as if I had just confirmed something they already knew.

This incident rests heavy on my shoulders for multiple reasons, with race issues and government bureaucracy being in the forefront.  Everything is extremely inefficient.  And everything seems extremely questionable.

I want to shout, “its not fair!”

But who’s listening?

ps. i’m using my old phone.  same number.
pps. i’m fine, thanks everyone for all your concern.  i will be going home august 25th and then going from dc back to school on august 29th.