I have written similar articles dozens of times, but until something changes, I believe this issue is vital to the principles and ideals behind the writing of the Bill of Rights.

The fact is that there are two Americas when we discuss our criminal justice system. The wealthy seldom receive fair punishment for their crimes, while low-income, and impoverished Americans are punished severely for similar infractions.

The last reported study was in 2014. The results revealed that the median income for our nation’s prison population was $19,185 prior to their incarceration, which is 41% less than non-incarcerated people of similar ages. With incomes below or near the poverty line, these men and women could not afford the services of experienced attorneys, and frequently unable to post bail prior to their trials. This is not meant to be a criticism of public defenders or court-appointed attorneys. These men and women are burdened with far more cases than they can adequately defend.

Also, of interest is the fact that African Americans compose just 12.3 percent of our nation’s population but 44 percent of the men and women who are incarcerated.

Let’s use one example which was reported for a short time in the mainstream media.

In 2013, Ethan Couch received a truck from his parents for his 16th birthday. This Texas teenager decided to celebrate by drinking a sufficient amount of alcohol to cause drunkenness; his blood alcohol level was nearly three-times over the legal limit. While driving under the influence, he drove over four pedestrians in his new truck, killing all four.

Couch’s family is extremely wealthy. After a speedy trial, the boy was given probation. His attorney’s defense was “affluenza;” he was too rich to know right from wrong. Really; I can’t make this s**t up.

In 2015 a video of Couch obviously intoxicated at a party surfaced. The boy was in violation of his parole, and the judge ordered him back to court. Early in 2016 Couch’s mother drove him across the border into Mexico. They were captured about 1,200 miles north of Puerto Vallarta.

After they were returned to Texas, Couch was ordered to serve a 720-day sentence in a Texas prison. He was released earlier this year.

If the same crime had been committed by a black teenager in the red state of Texas, he would have received a minimum of life in prison, and possibly execution.

Your illegitimate president has been accused of several crimes, including bribing public officials, stealing from his own charitable foundation, and violating immigration laws by bringing “models” to America under ‘visitor’s visas,’ and then placing them in jobs without applying for a ‘work visa.’

Trump has never been charged with a crime; yet. Charges of treason may be in his immediate future.

Please tell others about my blog. The truth will save America for the people.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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