Lanterna Rally

Author: Govinda Pyakurel

Publisher: Independently Published

Published: 2021-09-27

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

This book is a work of fiction. However, this is based on a person's real experience in Rikers Island jail on the onset of the pandemic which is narrated by a protagonist named Himalman Copchay. This novel will illuminate the police and prosecutorial behavior in general and the person's subjective experience about the judge, ADA , the lawyers and the correctional personnel behavior during the pandemic. The inmate population of Rikers Island in April 2020 was like a large chicken farm where the chicken died by unknown flu. There was no way out and everyone was terrified. At this fretful time how the justice apparatus acted. Did the judge, ADA and the lawyers show mercy to the defendant? It was the middle of May and the pandemic was booming. There were no more court dates for detainees to appear in court and they hadn't started the video court scheduling either. With no court dates and no appearance in person at court, the danger of practicing obscurantism by the officials became higher leading them to have unilateral freedom to abuse it. The detainees could endlessly be incarcerated attributing everything outright to the pandemic. Among other allegations the ADA has charged Copchay that he had created and carried a fraudulent Green Card. Which was absolutely not true. Copchay's judge during these dystopian pandemic hours issued a unilateral decision, with no presence of an attorney, validating the police statement that Copchay's Green Card in fact was fraudulent. One can imagine how merciless this act was. Copchay's paid attorney, on the other hand, instead of filing an application to lower the bail and getting him out of jail, engaged in pressuring Copchay to accept a guilty plea. One can imagine how merciless this act was. After six months of suspension, on his first video court date from Rikers Island he confronted the judge, prosecutor and his own attorney. He asked the judge passionately to release him. The judge vehemently rejected saying "we are not going to release you". All the players at court were forcing him to accept the guilty plea while he was saying that he never committed the alleged crimes. Forcing defendant to plea deal makes everyone's job easier and they can stay at ease. The defense lawyer doesn't have to study for facts and law in the case and he doesn't have to labor for his client. The judge doesn't have to go through the hassle of organizing a trial and the prosecutor would add to their chart to be successful. No-one has to study or do effort to determine the truth. the defendant is the one who will carry the taboo for the rest of his life. Who cares? The justice system has been taken over by plea bargaining. Initially, the concept of Plea Bargaining was only for those who were truly guilty based on evidence. It has to be obvious without ambiguity about the criminal mind of the accused. Actus Reus is not enough to determine guilt, Mens Rea must concur with it. They say the trial is very expensive. What is cheaper is plea bargaining. At whose cost? Obviously at the cost of the defendant. There are hardcore criminals out there that is true and the justice system should take care of them, but 96% plea deal out of court room comprises a lot of innocents that is also true. Eventually, all parties acknowledged after a year in jail that Copchay's Green Card was genuine. They couldn't keep Copchay for more than a year for misdemeanor in jail. The judge reluctantly let him go, issuing five thousand bail. The case will not end here, it will continue. In addition to above mentioned facts, this novel will give a detailed picture of the inmate's everyday life. Jail food, healthcare, recreation, conflict, jail staff behavior, and several other components associated with jail life. This novel is keenly researched and documented.