Kalief Browder

[Belsnickel]

I'm not sure if anyone knows the story of this young man. He spent 3 years on Rikers after being accused of stealing a backpack. His case never went to trial, though he stood before the bench over 30 times throughout. Each time being an extensions. Eventually his case was dismissed. It's an extreme example of the injustice in our justice system, but it happens more often than people realize where delays occur and it ends up ruining an innocent person's life. Not just from the time out of society and the accusations they suffer, but in some instances the abuse they endure while imprisoned. Solitary confinement is a sticky subject with many organizations and nations viewing it as inhumane and cruel. Our own courts have noted that prisoners in solitary have reduced mental capacities. Mr. Browder spent two years in solitary on Rikers. Upon release he struggled with the mental toll it took on him and was in and out of psychiatric wards after suicide attempts, the first of which occurred in solitary.

On Saturday, 06 June, Kalief did take his own life.

I had heard about this story some time ago, but the New Yorker really brought it to the attention of the public. Here is the story from yesterday. Links to the original story as well as some follow up information are embedded within: http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/kalief-browder-1993-2015

Kalief wasn't a kid with a spotless record. The first article mentions previous police run-ins. But even with that it is inexcusable for this to occur.