Page 347 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

A problem not yet mentioned is the War on Drugs in the 80’s. This swept away a

generation of men that were big brothers and Uncles, mentors. I was one of those swept away.

Part of that was the trauma that children experienced as police knocked down doors and

commanded the children to lay on the floor as their men were taken away. In these violent drug

raids the children were witnesses. Today this trauma is perpetuated. Our kids are left to

themselves with TV violence and violent video games. We have a “naturalized violence”. We

need helpers, mentors in our community; someone who looks like them to project what success

looks like. I have an inside first account of the criminal justice system so I can be a voice that says

you can still be successful. We need more voices like mine. We need peer support. I have a

friend who did eight years and is now a professional in Hawaii. I work in Reentry programs.

I find this very painful. When I was in college I became aware of the problems with the

criminal justice system. I keep asking why is this still going on? Why can’t we solve this? We

need to not punish but help people.

I came to America from Nigeria. I did not understand these racial issues in the beginning.

I have not experienced negativity even when pulled over for speeding. I was polite and the police

were polite. I Nigeria they would have hassled me more. Now my children are getting older and

when we go to Milwaukee they ask me why there are beggars and homeless people. It is a lack of

opportunity. It breaks my heart that this exists.

Round 2

1. What does real criminal justice reform look like to you? What, if anything, do you feel

needs to change about the system and why?

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