A young black man arrested by police in Portsmouth, Virginia, on the same day that one of the city’s officers fatally shot an unarmed black 18-year-old, has been found dead in jail after spending almost four months behind bars without bail for stealing groceries worth $5.
You can read the rest @
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/28/jamycheal-mitchell-virginia-jail-found-dead
The cause of his death is the gross stupidity of the US justice (sic) system. There is no reason this man should have been in jail for four months in the first place.
US Constitution, 8th Amendment
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Yes, denying bail for a theft of $5 is "excessive" bail.
Update - Here is another black man who died because he allegedly stole $5 worth of snack food:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/man-accused-of-stealing-5-in-snacks-died-in-jail-as-he-waited-for-space-at-mental-hospital/2015/09/29/7ceac8a2-5aff-11e5-9757-e49273f05f65_story.html
No comments:
Post a Comment