Inmate Abuse
 

There's an ask-me-anything thread on reddit by a former Jail guard who blew the whistle, getting seven guards fired for abusing a naked triple amputee for 14 minutes, beaten with a mop handle, kicked, punched and thrown around.

Unfortunately this isn't rare, it happens on a daily basis, it happens all over the country, and it's happened for a very long time, because of the cops' code of silence.
His suggestion...

:thumb:

Is it any wonder that Cops are hated.

Not hated, mostly feared. Locally, most people know which police departments are cool, and which ones you should avoid contact with at all costs. Because of the code of silence, the culture of each department continues unchanged until a new strong leader takes over.

The big problem that's existed forever, and one the cameras would help solve, is the cop has the power to screw you over at will. They say, we don't make the laws, just enforce them. But both the interpretation and enforcement are variable and selective. Catch all statutes like, interfering with a police officer in the performance of his duties, means anything they want it to mean.

They're human, they make mistakes, they have bad days, they have to protect themselves at all times. But if for some reason you piss him/her off, they can make your life hell, with impunity. That's why in any dealings with police, perfectly innocent citizens get nervous, there is fear rather than respect.

"The free citizen is always more of a nuisance to the policeman that the criminal. He knows what to do about the criminal." -Orson Welles

Oh, FFS.

Here we go again. If you don't like something you must be afraid of it. That is such goddamned bullshit.

And, as far as respect goes, cop, judge, or any other person on Earth, you are not entitled to my respect. You will earn my respect, or you will not have it.

That Welles quote is awesome, though.

While I think that abuse in general is a bad thing, there are some criminals in prison whose abuse I would be happy to turn a blind eye to.

Who said that, I sure as hell didn't.
I said most people don't hate cops, they feared cops because of their past experience, that of someone they know, or just bar stories about what cops can get away with.

Read this.

That was a very longwinded way to say "Cops can take your shit." KY has been doing the very thing that article discusses for at least 30 years.

I read it, but, don't know why.

Is that why Kentucky refuses to legalize mariguana?

They were pointing out some cops steal more shit that others, some are ordered to, some freelance. Some take it before you even go to trial, some without even charging you with a crime, but the major abuses are where the department gets to keep most of what they take and depend on it for funding. That, is organized crime.

Because a scholar such as yourself couldn't resist the opportunity to glean relevant information..

...and be the smartest motherfucker on the block. :notworthy

I've found life is easier if you reverse that mantra.
I'll never meet the vast majority of people on Earth, so waiting for them to take time out of their own busy lives to earn my respect seems a little hopeless.

So I figure I will respect everyone, by the virtue of them being a person in their own right, unless they do something to lose my respect.

It's working out quite well so far.

I'm with you Sundae - no offence grav - it just seems easier to expect the same from others. I try pretty hard to be a good person and dont expect to be treated disrespectfully, and most of the time it works. Its like that bit in the bible that tells you to respect your parents. Even if they are a total dick, you have to respect the lessons you have learned from them. Its up to you what you do with those lessons.

None at all taken.

:)

Life gave me that mantra.

No. It's because we elect politicians. And, currently, in my neck of the woods, politicians are too stupid to realize it's worth more than tobacco. Or corn probably.

Also, because bible belt. Y'know, if you wore your pants real high.

You have a nice backhand. Sometimes a sarcasm font is just plain unnecessary.