(From the DA years)

This is my first entry since moving to Philadelphia.  It has been an interesting past couple weeks settling in and getting trained to be an Assistant DA. 

I have learned that we have a serious drug problem in the city as well as having the dishonor of being the handgun murder capital of the world.  The very first trial case I got was a drug possession case located in the Kensington neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia.  That neighborhood is considered one of the worst sections of the city and where our youth group goes for missions every year.   Apparently, there also is a drug combination called pancakes and syrup (Percocet covered with cough syrup).  Each neighborhood has its own brand of crack cocaine (AI, Superman, Badboy – trademark of boy grabbing crotch and flicking you off).  

The system here is difficult to work in.  Many charges get dropped due to lack of evidence and witnesses not showing up to testify.  There is much intimidation in the various neighborhoods of the city.  The judges here are erratic at best.  Some of them are fair and patient, while some are just too full of themselves to dispense justice.  The defense lawyers are one of a kind.  There have been times where I feel that a good majority of them will go to hell.  I understand that the Constitution guarantees each person the right to legal representation and that correct procedures must be followed before convicting someone.  But there comes a point where these procedures are being solely used to circumvent justice and where a person can no longer hide behind the principle that he or she was just doing his job.  Some of my colleagues here are no better than the defenders.  Prosecutors have a reputation of being merciless and I can see how some of us deserve that label.  Imperfect people seeking imperfect justice. 

My first appeals case (the unit in which I work) is a case involving a drug dealer.  In doing my research to write the brief, I found a case where the victim, a little boy, was forced to lick the excrement off his abuser’s toilet paper.  

After these first few weeks, I am firm in my belief only the Spirit of God can change our cities.  When all is said and done, I believe that Christians will be held the most accountable for the poverty, crime, and other problems of our society.  Although we may not stand on the street corner dealing dope or sodomizing children, our inaction and willful ignorance will eventually condemn us in God’s eyes.  I wonder if the cross is enough to save us from this sin.  

Last week, I went to the King of Prussia Mall in Valley Forge.  That is a beautiful and affluent section of the state just ten miles west of the city.  I was hobbling crossing the street (after hurting my foot in one of our softball games) when a driver got very impatient with me and honked at me because of my slowness.  His daughter at the back of the car subsequently flicked me off as they drove away.  I figured they should spend more time in the city, especially Kensington, to learn some perspective on life. 

On the brighter side, the food in Chinatown is great as expected.  There is an amazing amount of great Chinese restaurants and bakeries.  The food is cheap and plentiful.  I haven’t had my first cheesesteak yet, but will be going next week.  I also saw a little child walking down the street with his mom when I was walking to court my first week.  I told his mom that he was a cutie and she was very thankful.  These people are worth serving.  

Pray for peace.  That’s no joke.