I find a need to share this story. So Often we have pre conceived notions about people, especially criminals. To us, criminals tend to be nothing more than their crime. I find this to be true for me, even with my time working as a clerk to a judge. Well this idea about criminals was recently challenged as I had a drug dealer living next door.
I recently moved into a new place in DC. For the first few weeks every time I would walk into my place I would smell the strong smell of marijuana. What is more, there was a constant line of people coming and going from my neighbor’s apartment. I would see my neighbor from time to time but to me, he was just the drug dealer that I despised because he stunk up the whole hallway and was always having parties.
One day upon returning to my apartment, Ada and I saw him sprawled out on the floor, in handcuffs, as police went through his apartment. I immediately felt guilty to see him in such a bad place.
Well, I finally got to know him after this. It was the next time we were in the elevator that I broke the silence by saying, ” Crazy Night when you police came, are you ok?” I then got to know him a little bit. It turns out that he is a 23-year-old college graduate with a decent hear that works at the Humane Society. He just got involved by dealing to support his habit. He was a real guy with real fears. He seemed so nice and down to earth. I feared for him knowing that he was probably going to be charged with a felony and this would affect his life forever. He seemed to have a good heart and now I find myself feeling a bit bad for him. I feel he should not go to jail but on the other hand, he is a criminal.
