On June 13th, 1980, my parents would name me Dewitt Antoine Faulkner after my father’s friend. On December 7th, 2004, I became inmate 398508. In Wisconsin’s prison `system, many captives would be addressed over the years as “inmates,” prisoners, offenders, and now “person in our care.” PIOC’s. I guess the D.O.C., Department of Corrections, wanted to make us feel more like humans, though this “decency” is questionable. In Wisconsin this is the only state that still holds “Truth in sentence.” This is an act and bill passed by conservative leaders that says if you’re sentenced to 150 years, whether that crime deserves that much time or not, you are expected to do every day of your sentence. The only way around that is if you die in prison by some natural death, die by a virus such as COVID-19 or sickness, or some miracle occurs by something divine. Depending on where you are in Wisconsin’s country, town, section, and community, the law seems to be applied differently. For example, if a young Black person of color decides to sell drugs in their community, such as marijuana less than 500 grams, he will become a felon, sentenced from 6 months to one year with extended supervision. This happens even if all of it is for reasons of making a little extra money to feed his or her children. As a person of color his sentence will be harsh. There are no programs or anything to help them better themselves. On the other hand, a young white person of same age can get arrested, possessing other contraband, and it’s a high chance that he will never see the inside of a courtroom jail. Or,  if he is sentenced with a term it will be light, consisting of concessions after concessions, programs, treatment, or assigned community services no longer than 72 hours. 

I’m writing this essay on “social justice,” and what it means to me. Equality, justice, social community, fairness, and rightness. It also means impartial dialogue of the classes, acceptance, and freedom. It does not mean bias against a person’s skin color, religion, belief, or gender. Social justice is not oppression, murder, nor derogatory.