A FRIEND FOR YOUTH CAUGHT IN SYSTEM

"The system ought to work for you, not against you."

The Rev. James Nash said that the other day when we were talking at the
detail shop at 8019 Scott that he operates in partnership with one of his
deacons.

Nash, 62, has been pastor of the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church for 22
years. He grew up in the Sunnyside neighborhood. He understands the people,
knows their problems, realizes their potential. And he has become quite
concerned at how the criminal justice system is treating members of his
congregation, and his neighbors -- especially the young people.

He called me after reading about the Harris County Criminal Lawyers
Association's recent resolution condemning the practice of judges who
revoke a person's bond because the person hasn't hired an attorney. He
agrees that is a problem, but he wants to see reform efforts expanded.

Another area that needs attention is the amazingly high bonds that are set
in some cases. Such as a fellow he knows who was jailed for a probation
violation and had his bond set at $100,000.

Then there are the court-appointed attorneys and the plea bargains they try
to talk their clients into accepting. Such as a young man of Nash's
acquaintance who was busted after an undercover officer tried to buy some
drugs from him. The family called Nash for help, and it looked to him like
a pretty weak case.

Doing his part to get reforms

Oh, the kid had made a stupid mistake, Nash said. No question about that.
But Nash was absolutely amazed when the court-appointed attorney said if
the young man would plead guilty he could get a 40-year sentence.

Nash said that plea arrangement wasn't any bargain, and he advised against
it. The young man's mother managed to replace the appointed lawyer with a
hired one, Nash made some calls and lined him up with a job, and when the
case went before a judge the young man wound up on probation.

There are some 27 churches in the Ark of Love District Association, and
Nash said every one of those other 26 pastors could tell stories similar to
his about people in their congregations who have had unfair experiences
with the criminal justice system.

Nash said he wants to get involved in helping to reform the system and is
talking with others about how best to proceed. And he is likely to move
quickly from the talking and planning stage to the doing something stage,
based upon his track record.

He acted fast about four years ago when pressure had built to near the
popping point after a Vietnamese shopkeeper shot a black teen-ager. With
some Asian-American leaders he formed the Asian/African American Relations
Task Force to foster cultural understanding between Asian-Americans and
African-Americans. It has been quite successful.

And Nash is well aware that the best way to keep young people from being
abused by the criminal justice system is to keep them off the streets. If
they are busy at worthwhile activities they are unlikely to get caught up
in the system.

Community center stalled

So, on a lot around the corner from the church, Nash and his congregation
are building the Marcie L. Keys Activities Center (named for the woman who
has been a member of the church for the longest time). It will serve
everyone in the neighborhood, with a gym for basketball and volleyball,
some after-school programs, instruction sessions on how to fill out job
applications and how to vote ... .

"We've got a lot of plans," Nash said. "We have to let kids know they can
do all right, they can succeed."

Construction on the $160,000 building was interrupted shortly after it
began. Nash said the city wants one side moved five feet to allow room for
a sidewalk. Not that the city has any sidewalk planned. This is a part of
the city that doesn't even have curbs and gutters, just those deep and
dangerous roadside ditches.

Seems silly for a non-sidewalk to delay a building that will do so much
good for the community.

Like the man said: The system should work for you, not against you.