I see kids in court all the time for stuff that my friends and I did. Chucking water bottles, playground fights—I used to get yelled at by the Vice Principal; they’re charged with assault. At twelve. That’s absurd.
It’s crazy to think about the stuff I’ve gotten away with: drug possession, distribution, underage consumption, purchasing alcohol for a minor. Pretty proud of the fact that I haven’t driven drunk.
(whispers) I’ve done other things too.
Through my family, through my jobs, I’m connected. I’ve seen that click when a cop sees me. Oh hey, it’s you. Go on home. I’m not a threat.
When you think about it, we’re all just one act away from losing it all. One cop away. One charge away. One juror away. It’s unsettling, the amount of chance in the criminal justice system.
I’m a white woman, chance has been in my favor. Statistically, I’m not where they’re looking. The cops, the courts, are focused on someone else.