Oh, the irony: Bernie Kerik--Thug Cop now prison reform advocate

[markpkessinger]

It is a rare day indeed when I would choose even to read, let alone share or link to, anything on the right-wing site, Newsmax. But I think an exception is warranted in this instance, if for no other reason than to savor the rich, rich irony of it all! Thug-and-former cop turned thug-and-former NYC police commissioner under thug-and-former mayor Giuliani, who damn near became thug-and-former director of Homeland Security until his nomination collapsed in a heap of criminal allegations for which he was later convicted and sent to prison, is now out of prison and speaking out for prison and criminal justice reform -- saying many of the things progressive reform advocates have been saying for years. Well, imagine that!

[font size=5]Bernie Kerik's Painful Journey From the Jailer to the Jailed[/font]

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As New York's top cop on 9/11 and, before that, head of the city's sprawling jails, he literally knows the system inside and out. So Kerik is in a singular position to expose its flaws — and that's what he does in his new book published March 31, "From Jailer to Jailed: My Journey From Correction and Police Commissioner to Inmate #84888-054" (Threshold).

"I've seen the inside of the system as someone that was extremely knowledgeable of how the system was supposed to work," Kerik says. "I know what it's supposed to do. I know how it's supposed to work. I know what it's supposed to accomplish. I know how to fix it.

"Then to see the system from the inside out was shocking," he adds.

< . . . . >
Kerik was initially confined to a 12-by-8 foot cell with a bed, a toilet and a sink. He was told he was placed in solitary for his own safety.

"There are other ways of protecting people of my stature without putting them in a scenario where they wind up hallucinating, talking to themselves, freaking out, wanting to commit suicide," he says. "Solitary confinement is an overwhelming mental torture that nobody understands unless you've been through it."

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Gotta love it!

[Man from Pickens]

1. Should be mandatory reading for anyone in a position to legislate criminal penalties

it largely confirms what I knew already, but it is very well stated

and now you see why putting an end to the prison-industrial complex is my highest political priority

[Warpy]

2. We'll see. Most people who are in swear they'll get out and work for reform

but once out, most just want to leave the horror show behind them if they can.

If Kerik uses the contacts he still has and manages some real reform of the system, he might yet redeem himself.

I'll just believe it when I see it.

[PoliticAverse]

3. "There are other ways of protecting people of my stature" - I lost interest right there. n/t

[markpkessinger]

6. I know what you mean . . .

. . . I could only shake me head at that comment. Apparently, even now, he thinks his 'stature' warranted different treatment from any other prisoner. Still, the point he makes about the excessive use of solitary confinement, both for long periods of time, under the pretext of 'protecting' an inmate or to punish minor disciplinary infractions, is valid.

[PoliticAverse]

7. Yes when 'protection' is the same as 'punishment' something is very wrong. n/t

[UTUSN]

4. There are SO many facets of irony for KERIK, his smoosh Judith REGAN, and GHOULiani n/t

[KG]

5. piss on Bernie Kerik

[Blue_Tires]

8. If Bernie Fuckin' Kerik is for prison reform

that just means he found a way to hustle some $$$$$ out of it...

[markpkessinger]

9. LOL! You're probably right about that! n/t

[Trillo]

10. A authoritarian sees the light.

I felt dirty reading through this, like it was a psyop.