America’s 3 Strikes Drug Law handcuffs judges. The law requires the judge to impose a life sentence on nonviolent drug offenders – even when the judge believes a life sentence is excessive and cruel. For many judges, the 3 Strikes Law is a crisis of conscience.
For Chicago Heights police, young Troy Lawrence was low-hanging fruit. In the fall of 1992, 17-year-old Troy was repeatedly arrested by two corrupt police officers. Every month, the same two officers patroled Fifth Avenue arresting young Black boys. Troy was repeatedly arrested for possessing $10 “dimebags” of cocaine. Troy pled guilty to all three arrests, mostly because he wanted to get out of jail. Troy was released after 120 days in a boot camp for young offenders. Youthful choices are often regretful. Troy didn’t know at the time that teenage mistakes would later contribute to his federal life sentence.
Troy was repeatedly arrested for possessing $10 “dimebags” of cocaine. Troy pled guilty to all three arrests, mostly because he wanted to get out of jail. Troy was released after 120 days in a boot camp for young offenders. Youthful choices are often regretful. Troy didn’t know at the time that teenage mistakes would later contribute to his federal life sentence.
