[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Spikearoni

When Brooks was dying on the ground after having been shot in the back twice, he was repeatedly kicked by the officer; Brooks was not a danger to those policemen. All involved had shared in a lengthy, rather friendly conversation prior to the shooting. Brooks was on probation and knew that his run-in with the police would not bode very well with his PO so he took off. The entire incident is very sad, for the police as well as for Brooks.

I saw the video to which you refer and my take on it is that Brooks suggested that newly released ex-convicts need help upon their release if they are to become productive citizens. They require assistance re-entering society and finding a job; they need a mentor to help them when problems arise. He recognized that he made mistakes and wanted to be a "good father" but had to overcome many obstacles in addition to having a prison record on his resume. I didn't come away from that interview with the notion that he just wanted "funds" or a hand-out.

It costs many thousands of dollars to house prisoners just for one year. It would make sense to lower the recividism rate by providing the kind of assistance that Brooks suggested. It would thereby save the government money if a real effort in that direction came to fruition.

Intelligently and well stated.