Criminal Justice vs Victims' Rights

It's impossible to watch the news or browse the internet without encountering reports on the mistreatment of incarcerated individuals. For example, people at the Oklahoma County Detention Center are not to be called inmates, detainees, or prisoners. They are "RESIDENTS," as if they lived in a nursing home or rehab center for physical injuries, not drug dealers, rapists, and murderers. To hear the bleeding hearts tell it, every single person in that jail is as innocent as a newborn baby. They haven't been to court. And my response is, that doesn't make them innocent.

Another example. On April 7th, 2015, Demetrius Priced was booked into the county jail. He was booked for manslaughter and for breaking the terms of probation. He had already pleaded guilty to three felonies and one misdemeanor. He was not in prison because the judge gave him a 10-year deferred sentence. He walked into that jail as an inmate. He was housed with other DOC inmates. But it is common to see a post or a Facebook page that says "Free this convict" or "Free that convict."

The victims, well, there are usually more than you know. Molly and Neville. Molly trusted no one but Clif and Ime. She had been abused since she was a puppy. She was used for breeding and lived in a cage until, at the age of 3, she came to live with us. She soon trusted and loved Jason and Shannon. She loved Ruby from a distance. Neville was rescued by Jason and Shannon. He weighed less than 2 pounds when he came to us. You could see every single bone in his body. We nursed him back to health, and he showed us so much love. He adored Jason and Shannon and was Ruby's playmate. When the kids died, they grieved. They would lay by the door and whine for hours as if willing them to come.

Yet talk to someone on the side of the criminal, they will tell you we should just get over it. They claim it was just an accident. Drunk driving is not an accident. You don't accidentally drink, you don't accidentally drive.

But DUI is not the only crime in that jail. Drug dealers, rapists, murderers. There are those that claim they are innocent until proven guilty, even if they have been identified in a lineup. DNA, the weapon was found in their possession. Drugs are victimless crime. I call BS. How did you pay for the drugs? Most of them time via crime. Stealing from the family is a popular one. If you have kids, what have done without so you could buy drugs. What have they had to endure while you were high. You are now in jail and if they want to see you, they have to go to the jail.

Demetrius Price had his attorney offer a plea deal. He pleaded guilty for time served. That would be 11 months. 11 months for the deaths of Jason, Shannon, and Ruby. I am supposed to call him a resident; he can insult us, no problem. After the sentence, he wasn't happy, neither were his friends or family. The comments came fast and furious. And not all online. I was actually asked if I would have wanted him in prison if he had been white. The lies that Jason was the drunk, but, well, they played the race card. Enough said.

Then came the appeal. He tried to retract his guilty plea, citing poor representation and a lack of understanding. He believed that pleading guilty would result in a lighter sentence than facing a jury. And suddenly, he had mental issues: schizophrenic, bipolar. Didn't need meds, but he knew he was, heard his dead brother talking to him. Not diagnosed, not on meds. But he shouldn't be sentenced because he had mental problems. WE didn't get to appeal that once again we had to go into the court room and face him.

We have been in front of the pardon and parole board. He tried to get paroled from the time he was serving on the deferred sentence. Yes, he would have started the life sentence for Jason sooner. But as we told the parole board, if he had been in prison to start with, the kids would be alive. And I wouldn't have to know what it's like to be in front of the parole board; that would have made me happy. But I don't get to ask for a parole.

Now, he has gotten married. On March 18, 2025, some girl decided to marry a man she actually doesn't know, a man who still has 159 years to serve. I am sure from her post that they are married because she wants to make some guy on the outside (I assume) jealous. He thinks it will make him look good to the next parole board. That should be enough to make me mad, but there is more. Some people will protest that he should get a commutation. He only got three life sentences because of his race, not his previous crimes. WE didn't get a say in if he deserved this right. Even though he denied that to Jason and Shannon. He gets to be in contact with his kids, we don't. He is watching them grow up, have birthday. Ruby doesn't.

Victims lose a lot more than criminals do. We lose people, comfort, feeling safe, and trust in others. Each victim is handed a prison sentence. We may not physically be locked up, but emotionally we are. There will be no protest for us. Rioters won't be so out of control that cities are burned down in our name. Not that I want a city burned down for me. But it would be nice to know that victims matter more than the criminal. It is bad enough their lives go on, while ours end, at least emotionally.

I pray I live to see the day when we no longer glorify the criminal and work to help the victims.