Unjust system of justice

I was deeply moved by your front-page story on Sept. 13. My heart goes out to Steven Terrasas, as my own son is in a similar predicament.

Though he’s never harmed another soul in his life, a bogus assault charge, a public defender who frightened him into accepting a plea deal to avoid jail time without explaining the consequences of having such a record, and presto, a young man’s life is put indefinitely on hold as multiple opportunities for employment are scuttled by a system that provides no recourse when he is branded “non-hirable” by an impersonal and inaccurate picture of his character in the form of a check-mark on some background report.

My son, who has a disabled wife, is poised and ready to eagerly and dependably provide an honest day’s work, and he’ll perform the most menial and difficult minimum-wage tasks with nothing but gratitude for the opportunity to prove himself; but alas, the old adage is quite true that ours is the worst justice system in the world … except for all of the others.

On second thought, I’m beginning to doubt that ours is any better at all.

Martin Petrilli

Colbert