Mother Nature’s Warning? Crazy People. And Truth in Justice

          The global COVID-19 pandemic is spreading conspiracy theories and green-centered philosophies.  Some people are saying that the virus is Mother Nature’s way of telling human beings that they better get their shit together and develop and initiate better green technologies, more advanced recycling programs, and healthier lifestyles.  Other people are saying that the virus is a political conspiracy that has been created by governments and the social elite.  This is craziness coming to light.  These conspiracy theories range from China being the culprit or victim of political tensions to overall explanations of social elites configuring the virus to cause social control — via the use of fear!

          If you want a good laugh, go read some of these conspiracy theories.

          Whatever the reasons for this pandemic are, one of the truths/facts that this great equalizer (COVID-19) has produced is how the mass incarceration problem in the United States is exactly that — a problem!  State and federal correctional facilities — as well as society in general — were not prepared for a biological threat of this magnitude.  The mundaneness of the penal system was exposed, that is.  The lack of professionalism and training for correctional employees caused deaths, serious illnesses, constitutional rights violations and, in turn, showed how the American penal system warehouses many people who do not need to be incarcerated.  The last point (unnecessary imprisonments) can be verified by observing the number of releases that have occurred because of the Coronavirus and citizen protests about the current conditions in our jails and prisons.  Maybe Mother Nature is an advocate for criminal justice reform.  Maybe it is her way of saying enough of this evil shit that we do to each other — in the criminal justice system, especially.

          Learning from mistakes is one thing, but when the mistakes include botched justice and poor professionalism it is time for a serious change in our legal system.  How many prisoners were sentenced to death by virus?

          Other questions about our penal system come to mind because of this pandemic.  Specifically, are there properly trained auxiliary correctional officers if a facility has too many employees that cannot come to work?  Are there emergency locations designated in case an entire jail or prison is unable to safely operate because of contamination?  How many medical practitioners in these places are actually knowledgeable about such a serious problem?  Just some food for thought.  All in all, the virus has shown us how lousy our criminal justice system is.  What is the Latin term for that?  Pena vira ridiculi?

Photo Credit:  Gigi Sini