Activists Whine About Criminals With Children

Many people who are locked up in jails and prisons are parents. Their innocent children are often left behind, victims of the misdeeds of their parents. Those kids are sometimes taken care of by the parent who is not locked up, or by relatives. Photo: T.H.Mannis In some cases, the children have nowhere to go and so become wards of the state. In any case, the children suffer, but whose fault is that? Is it socieity's fault? Before you answer, remember that "society" is you and your own family, your friends, your neighbors, and everybody else. Or is it the fault of the criminal who happens to be a parent? Here's my own suggestion: Any parent who is convicted of any crime should then be charged with child endangerment and neglect. A parent can be charged with neglect for leaving a young child unattended at home for a few hours, so why shouldn't they be also charged with at least the same for committing acts that would deny their children the benefit of having a full family unit to care for them? There are, of course, bleeding hearts who think that you and I (society) should be responsible for the fate of their families, and that sentencing should be lighter for criminals who have children. See the media release below, from the Community Renewal Society. Notice the phrase "These invisible victims of the criminal justice system have committed no crime and are left without support, stability or care due to a parent's misdeed or mistake," especially the part that says "misdeed or mistake." Words are important, and referring to crimes as "misdeeds" and "mistakes" makes them sound less serious than they really are. The group is also demanding the "restructuring family visitation procedures, inmate sentencing processes and funding for family transportation to visit incarcerated parents." Notice the phrase "inmate sentencing processes," which can only mean lighter sentences for criminals who have children. It is not society's fault that the criminals committed crimes without regard for their children's future. It is also not our fault that those criminals had children to begin with, and society should not have to face heightened risk by releasing dangerous elements back onto the streets, simply to be able to go back to the innocent children for whom they showed utter disregard for in the first place. Committing a crime, any crime, is the ultimate act of criminal neglect of children. (Emphasis and links added to the following media release. Note: "IDOC" is "Illinois Department of Corrections.") MEDIA ALERT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 11, 2009 CONTACT: Al Shaw, Media Relations Phone: 312.673.3865 Mobile: 312.593.0719 ashaw@communityrenewalsociety.org Alex Wiesendanger, Organizer Phone: 312.673.3840 Mobile: 646.784.1033 awiesendanger@communityrenewalsociety.org ACTIVISTS FOR CHILDREN OF THE INCARCERATED LIST DEMANDS TO NEW IDOC DIRECTOR AT PUBLIC MEETING Advocates want IDOC Director Michael Randle to help prevent children from being punished for their parent’s mistake Who/What: The Community Renewal Society and over 300 people will hold a public meeting with Michael P. Randle, director of IDOC, to discuss restructuring family visitation procedures, inmate sentencing processes and funding for family transportation to visit incarcerated parents. Speakers will include advocates, community leaders and Illinois state representatives. Onsite interviews will be available with: Community Renewals Society’s Executive Director, Rev. Calvin S. Morris, Ph.D.; Civic Action Network congregation leaders; formerly incarcerated parents and children; and state Reps Constance Howard (D-34), Eddie Washington (D-60), and Annazette Collins (D-10). WHY: Across the state of Illinois , more than 90,000 children suffer the consequences of having one or both of their parents incarcerated or on parole. These invisible victims of the criminal justice system have committed no crime and are left without support, stability or care due to a parent's misdeed or mistake. WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. WHERE: Pullman Presbyterian Church 550 E. 103rd St., Chicago, IL 60628 There you have it, Mr. and Ms. Law Abiding Citizen. YOU should pay for the transportation of children to see their criminal parent in prison. YOU should feel bad about the "victims of the criminal justice system," when in fact they are the victims of their own parents' shameful acts. YOU should feel sorry for the poor criminals, who just want to be loving parents even though they put you and everyone else in danger. Perhaps you could let Mssrs. Shaw and Wiesendanger how you feel about this. Let your Illinois State Representative know, too. Conservative Caps, Shirt and more! Leave a Comment - Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Visit us on Twitter!