Our Injustice System
Each day I spend within our system's
walls opens my eyes to new revelations.
I see our society from a different
prospective. The hate and quick
judgment of others and how human life
has become so easily expendable is hard
to tolerate. Yet 1 know it is not too late.
Love is a powerful word and emotion. I
am not talking only about the love
between a man and a woman, but all the
forms of love that exist. There is love
between a parent and child, sibling and
friends, but also the greatest love of all
from our Lord Jesus who died on the
cross for each and every one of us.
Each of us needs just to reach deep
within ourselves and not be afraid to
reach out to others and share this love.
We need to comfort and listen and just
show that we care. We need to let others
know that their life has a value.
Our prison system has deterred away
from the very reason it was designed and
that was to rehabilitate inmates. Do you
even know that the system is now change
from "Texas Department of
Corrections" to "Texas Department of
Criminal Justice", completely deleting
the "corrections". The system has
become a money-making political
revolving door. Does society even
realize what is taking place throughout
our prison system? You could be caught
up in this system as I am at any given
moment.
Inmates are stripped nude in fields
coming in from work, they are forced to
publicly shower, dress and use the
bathroom in dorms that hold anywhere
from 30 to 100 inmates! Some inmates
are locked into cells that are 6' x 9' and
are then only given 1-3 hours outside of
that cell. Can you just close your eyes
and imagine being confined to a 6' x 9'
room with nothing day after day, week
after week, month after month, even
years at a time! 0lU" system then releases
these inmates back into society and they
are then full of anger, humiliation and a
sense of no hope or direction. It is my
guess that approximately 96% of prison
inmates will eventually be released back
into society.
We desperately need to look beyond
punishment and get back to
rehabilitation. We need to promote
family growth. education, self-esteem
and a desire to want to change to better
themselves. Texas rehabilitation is very
inadequate to the real problems that are
currently within our system. We as a
society can help change this. It is, after
all, our system.
Death Row, what about the men and
women on Death Row? What about the
fact that there are innocent people who
have been placed on Death Row?!? Even
consider the people who are on Death
Row who have committed the crime(s)
for which they are incarcerated. Pam
Perillo, Michael Sharp, Karla Tucker,
just a few who have confessed to their
crimes, yet many years after being in the
system, they have rehabilitated
themselves completely through the love
and mercy of our Lord. I have seen them
reach out and put other's lives before
their own. They have shown
compassion, love, and understanding and
they have proven that they are NOT a
continuing threat to society ( a stipulation
that the State is supposed to prove
beyond a reasonable doubt to be able to
sentence to death) and have only been
people who are truly remorseful for the
crimes they committed.
These are the people who the State of
Texas wants to MURDER. Will this
bring justice, peace, or healing to the
victims' families? Study after study has
proven that not to be true. No matter
how we want to turn our heads or
sugarcoat the issue, the death penalty is
MURDER. So WE are murdering
people for their acts of murder????
How does this make sense or deter
crime?? Our history and the world's
history shows it does not at all deter or
lower the crime rate. It certainly doesn't
give our children and future generations
a good message! Besides, I, for one,
know that they will even execute
innocent people.
I hope you all know where I stand on this
issue. Believe it or not, each of you has
the responsibility to end this barbaric act.
You need to become involved and have
the courage to speak out against what you
know is wrong. This is unconditional
love that each of you has.
Where do you begin? Write letters,
speak out publicly, and join
organizations. Many more people are
speaking up and taking a firm stand.
Please join them.
An eye for an eye is Old Testament.
Under this law people could be executed
for adultery, murder, theft, working on
the Sabbath, etc. But under the New
Testament, we are forgiven with a
covenant with Christ. "How much do
you love me?” I asked Jesus and Jesus
said, "This much. ..." then he stretched
out his arms and died.
by Darlie Lynn Routier, #999220
Please allow me to share with each of
you my sincere appreciation for all the
love, support, and encouragement each of
you has given me throughout this ordeal.
Never for one moment do I want to take
for granted the kindness you have each
shown me. Your friendship helps me
endure every day in this hell that I am
living.