Yesterday I read a very interesting story regarding the American Justice System. About 6 months ago, Rosa Jimenez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was charged with choking and killing a young child in her care. Ms. Jimenez claims that she did not commit the crime and has been falsely imprisoned, but her case deals with much more than a question of guilt or innocence. At her trial, the prosecutor remarked about Ms. Jimenez, “Despite being from Mexico, she’s very intelligent.” This comment infuriated the mayor of her hometown and contributed to her becoming "a symbol of the inequality of the American criminal justice system." In addition to this comment, the medical witness provided by the defense was determined to be an amateur in the areas of pediatrics and choking. Although the U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing Ms. Jimenezs' request for a retrial, she still will have spent at least a year in prison for a crime she may not have committed.
Whether or not Ms. Jimenez committed the crime, her story really makes me wonder about our country's criminal justice system. I can't help but wonder if the suspect had been an American citizen, would she have been given a better attorney, better treatment, and a more knowledgeable medical witness. In a country where we pride ourselves on acceptance, freedom, and equality, it seems wrong to me that an immigrant, illegal or not, would be treated in such a dismissive and unfair manner.
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