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CSUDH Habermas UWP

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: May 4, 2001
Latest update: May 4, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org

Natashia Turner met with me (over e-mail) to compare journals. Natashia, though she hadn't thought of her work in these terms, had been discovering over the semester where her skills were needed. As you read this, I would like you to notice that our work is interactive. Your e-mail often tells me far more than you intended, as in this case, Tasha's e-mail told me.

I'd also like you to notice that our interaction is what pulled together the conclusion that Tasha has specific skills and interests in criminal justice that will help us more effectively direct her career efforts and her studies. Tasha didn't tell me that as a conclusion. It took us both to see these e-mails as constituting an essay on her learning this semester and its relationship to our theoretical approaches. And it took her learning to single out effectively the facts that would let me help her find this conclusion. If she had written "I want to help people," I would have remained clueless. It is because she situated her reactions within our texts that I could put several pieces together.

On Thursday, March 22, 2001, Natashia Turner wrote:

Hi Jeanne

I am writing in response to Lionel Tate and some comments made by my fellow peers. First I must say that I was deeply hurt with the outcome of this situation. I feel no child under these circumstances should be sentenced to life in jail. How can you take a person's whole life away from him when he hasn't even matured? Also, they fought for him to be found guilty, but after his sentencing they felt it was too harsh. I feel that his mother felt that taking a plea bargain would be admitting guilt when she felt her son was not guilty. What upsets me the most is why is it that the plea bargain was what I would call light but because he didn't take it, he gets life. Either you are guilty to the point where you feel life is the sentence or you don't! You don't play with a person's life just because you feel that they should admit guilt, and when they don't you give them a double punishment. We have no fair justice system. It all depends on the judge's perceptions and on how he felt when he awoke that morning!

Tasha, criminolgy and theory

On Friday, May 5, 2001, jeanne wrote to Tasha:

Tasha, this is why you each must talk with me. Especially during a semester in which I've been out ill. Once you alerted me to our need to talk about your grade, I checked all your e-mail, and am now able to meet with you and agree on a grade. But meanwhile, I can put this all together.

You make some very interesting points in your comments on the Lionel Tate case. Probably the reason you didn't get a detailed answer to your e-mail was that I was desperately trying to avoid putting up material on that case, the 14-year-old sentenced to life in prison, after refusing a plea bargain of three years. This is the case in which he killed a six-year-old girl while "wrestling" with her. So many of you commented on it, that I eventually put up the case anyway.

I think your comments on the plea bargain are on point and well thought-out. If we offer a plea bargain of three years, and then sentence to life in prison upon conviction, there does seem to be a gross injustice in there somewhere. It also seems that the decision to plead or not to plead assumed a much greater importance than would normally be the case. When the decision carries that much weight, how do we guarantee that the child himself clearly understands what is at stake, and/or that the mother is the best judge to make that deicision? I'm glad you brought out that complexity.

You're a little overwrought when you claim: " We have no fair justice system. It all depends on the judge's perceptions and on how he felt when he awoke that morning!" Perhaps we could temper that statement a little by recognizing the interdependence of agency and structural context, and by noting that even judges are affected by this. That might alert us to the fact that we never "know" for certain because "knowing" is interdependent with the whole structural context. This says the same thing you want to say, but with a little more tact thrown in so we sound academic. In fact, sometimes we just sound that way, but our words put people to sleep, and they don't get the picture as well as when you put it your way.

Good comments. love and peace, jeanne

On Friday, May 4, 2001, Natashia Turner wrote:

To Jeanne

I haven't been able to attend class as I should this semester because it has been stressful and hectic. I would like to know how am I doing in this class and how I can improve my grade. I don't always receive responses from you so then I began to worry but then I Know you have 200 students so I don't worry because I keep a Journal. Also, I am a sociology major with an interest in probation and in reading a lot of the issues from the site e.g--www.prisonwall.org on 3 strikes and Death Row Inmates and Paul's Justice page regarding televised executions it really made me see that this field needs someone like myself to try to talk to these people and try to find out what is the underlying issues that causes them to do cetain things. Instead of trying to lock them up and kill them off.

Please give me a response when you get a chance.

tasha, crim and theory

On Friday, May 4, 2001, jeanne responded:

Tasha, you gave me a fright! I thought you were one of those field mice who disappear and are so hard to catch. You have been very patient, and I appreciate that you realize that your not getting answers was because of my being swamped. But you said just the right things to cause me to continue searching for your e-mails instead of huffing and puffing.

At the time of your Lionel Tate case comment, I did not know of your interest in working with the criminal justice system. Now you need to come and connect with me so I can put you in touch with people in the system who can help you with this interest, maybe even find you an internship.

I am particularly impressed that you have discovered a place where you would like to use your skills. We certainly need young people like you to bring a firm sense of alterity to our criminal justice tasks. When you come to compare journals with me, I'd like you to draw together in this manner how your readings have guided you this semester. You may write your conclusions if you wish. But you may also discuss them with me.

love and peace, jeanne