I had to write a tribute to this young brother who endured more than any child should have. On a Saturday night in early June, 21 year old Kalief Browder hung himself outside of his bedroom window where his mother discovered his body in The Bronx. The mental breakdown of his young, fragile mind could no longer withstand the abuses of our justice system. Our criminal justice system: from the police, to the courts and the manipulations of the district attorney's office, and finally to the abuses he suffered while in the custody of the NYC Dept. of Corrections all failed this child who at 16 years old was arrested for stealing a knapsack.
It started when he was stopped by police on a Saturday night with a friend and identified by an accuser on the street of robbing him of his knapsack. This man who couldn't remember which day of the week he was robbed of said knapsack and later returned to his native country while the case was open and Kaliel remained in jail. Next, the DA's office kept delaying the case violating the 30/30 motion that protects defendants from these types of abuses where the DA has 180 days to prove their case or it gets dismissed. Problem was his case stayed on the calendar for 3 years until a visiting Judge DiMango examined this case a little closer and eventually led to his release with charges dismissed. The DA and the various judges this case went before treated him like he was guilty until proven innocent setting his bail at $10K which his family couldn't afford. Bail is set for flight risk, this youth was 16 at the time, attended high school lived at home with his family, he should have been a candidate for ROR (Release on his own Recognizance). His case stayed open for 3 years keeping him in detention at Rikers Island because he refused to plea guilty to a crime he did not commit and couldn't raise the high bail amount.
This is where the height of his trauma began. During his incarceration at Rikers Island he was physically assaulted by other inmates and officers alike. Attempted suicide by hanging himself in his cell and again later, he was left with emotional and mental scars from being incarcerated in America's largest jail. His release wouldnt come until 3 years later at 20 years old, missing his high school graduation, prom, working and enjoying life as a teenager with his family. On June 6th he succombed to the demons that haunted him because of his time in jail and his fear of being locked up again and he took his own life. Though my heart still weeps, everytime I see his picture I'm hopeful his death will be a catalyst for solid systemic changes in the bail system, holding DA's accountable and honoring the 180 days to prove their case, incarcerating children in jail and recognizing the mental health needs of inmates and the effects of solitary confinement. His case actually makes the argument for the overall overhaul of our current justice system. It has to be ackowledged by our system that adolescent brains are still developing and they need to be treated differently than adults because the frontal and limbic lobes aren't fully mature. It also needs to be said that young black boys are treated like they're older, tougher, more streetwise and invulnerable all the time without recognizing that they're still children. They can't emotionally withstand everything this system throws at them and some will succomb to depression and more serious mental illness as a result of abuse, neglect and no support. And sometimes support will come when it's too late and irreparable damage has been done.
I posted the picture of Kaliel below for people who read this to see that a young man who once smiled and had a promising life is no more. A boy who had dreams, loved his family, may have wondered what true love felt like, may have told corny jokes and had a favorite food doesn't live today and we should never forget that sad truth and what injustices drove him to take his own life.
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