Woman attacked on Staten Island shares criminal justice system experience (column)

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Addressing Violence and the Criminal Justice System: A Personal Experience

It was an ordinary Sunday afternoon. Like countless other New York moms, one year ago (on March 12), I took my 12-year-old son to the store to buy his school uniform. As I pulled into a parking space in the Kohl’s parking lot in Mariner’s Harbor, Staten Island, another car hastily occupied the spot from the opposite direction. The first sign of trouble was the sound of the other driver yelling as she exited her car.

I immediately felt a sense of confusion and tension, familiar sensations when confronted by an erratic, angry, aggressive person. She hurled curses at me, her voice underscored by the laughter of her adult-male companion. It was a threatening situation. As we continued towards Kohl’s, my son asked if she was addressing us. I instructed him to ignore her.

Despite the escalating confrontation, we proceeded into the store, passing a doorman. Assessing my options, I acknowledged that I had more than most.

I am a fourth-degree black belt, having attained this rank at the age of 17. Teaching karate since the age of 18, I’ve competed in numerous tournaments without ever tasting defeat. On that day in Staten Island, few were likely as prepared for an unexpected physical confrontation as myself.

But I was with my son. Though I had trained him in mixed martial arts and boxing since he was 5, I had also instilled in him the importance of de-escalation and using his skills only in self-defense. So, I exercised restraint.

I halted and alerted the doorman about the woman behind me, still screaming and seeking a fight. Turning to her, I attempted reason, stating, “I am with my son. I have a child with me.” However, my plea was interrupted when the doorman stepped in between us. A brief moment of relief vanished as she reached over him and struck me in the face. Rather than retaliate, I shielded my son. Moments later, her companion whisked her out of the store, leaving me with a bloodied face.

The incident left me with three small scars and trauma, not only for myself but also for my son, who blamed himself for my injury.

Yet, the deepest wound came when the police arrested our attacker, only for the criminal justice system to release her the next day pending a court judgment.

Despite her numerous prior charges for similar incidents, she was allowed back into the community. I later learned that she lived nearby.

Even with recent changes, our bail reform laws permit violent individuals, even those with extensive histories of violence, to walk free after arrest and charges are filed.

I believe in second chances. As a Black and Puerto Rican woman from Stapleton, I have witnessed the devastation wrought by a broken criminal justice system. I’ve dedicated my life to helping young people live healthy lives and avoid violence, driven by the memory of my brother, whose life was cut short by one bad decision at 16.

It is one thing to offer redemption and support for rehabilitation. Some need mental health assistance, others require intervention for addiction, and some simply need guidance towards better paths.

Yet, it is quite another to allow violent individuals to perpetrate harm repeatedly without providing the necessary resources for improvement, hoping for a different outcome. When these individuals go on to harm others, the failure lies not only with them but also with the system.

It shouldn’t be contradictory to acknowledge that our criminal justice system perpetuates real inequities in Black and brown communities while also recognizing the injustice of allowing violent criminals to reoffend with impunity. Yet, that’s precisely what some elected officials are doing.

Leadership demands balance.

After all, that’s what our community desires — safety and accountability from all sides.

silive.com

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