Our legal system is not a justice system. — A Request from Cory Booker

[MattSh]

I want to share this story from Tracey Syphax. Tracey is a New Jersey resident and was recognized last year as a White House Champion of Change because of his incredible story and his work in business and in his community. Our legal system is not a justice system. Non-violent offenders continue to pay a personal price after paying their debt to society as opportunities are stifled — leading to more crime, more wasted tax dollars and less safety in our communities. I humbly ask that you read his story below. Stories like these are the reason I’m working so hard to reform our broken system. I humbly ask that you read his story, then join me tonight for a discussion about criminal justice reform on Huffington Post Live.

-Cory Booker

I was Inmate #226926, I am Tracey Syphax.

My high school diploma was delivered to me by two detectives at a youth detention center.

At age 16, I was caught selling drugs in my neighborhood in Trenton, New Jersey. By the time I entered my mid 20s, it appeared my life had followed an all too familiar path: from school, to juvenile detention, to prison. After serving time in prison for multiple drug charges, I reentered my community with a renewed purpose. I started my own business, and made a conscious effort to hire people like me, people who needed a second chance.

In 2011, the Princeton Chamber of Commerce named me entrepreneur of the year for my leadership in the local business community. In 2014 I was honored at the White House as a Champion of Change for my work with ex-offenders. I was able to change my course.

Unfortunately, too many people who deserve a second chance don’t get one. Federal policymakers’ solution to the high crime rates of the late 20th century was to put even the pettiest offenders in prison and throw away the key. Yet this response is illogical: When the whole point of prison is rehabilitation, what good does it do if you don’t give people have made mistakes but turned their lives around the opportunity to demonstrate that they’ve been rehabilitated?

Complete story at - https://medium.com/@CoryBooker/our-legal-system-is-not-a-justice-system-52ba5bc4fb98

NOTE: I guess you have to copy and paste the address since the DU forum doesn't like the @ in the URL.