The convictions of LaKeith Smith and Michael Phelps highlight flaws in the criminal justice system

I had a close friend son's named Smith I used to hang out often. When he was 15 years old, some of his older friends convinced him to accompany them to burglarize some unoccupied houses in Millbrook. I tried my best to stop him but never knew one fine day I would witness any unfair judgment against him. He may have thought of something rebellious and exciting. But destiny had something else for him. The news highlighted, following a call to the police, Smith and his companions fled the scene. According to law enforcement officials, one of the individuals discharged a firearm at the police, prompting an officer to retaliate with gunfire, resulting in the death of Smith's friend. Under Alabama's felony murder statute, Smith was accused of murder and sentenced to 65 years in prison. Despite never having fired a weapon, he faced the verdict of spending his life behind bars, with his release scheduled for when he turned 80 years old. On the day that Smith received a sentence that essentially equated to life imprisonment for his first offense, Phelps also appeared before Sibley Reynolds. Phelps, too, was responsible for a death that occurred while he was committing a crime. At 28 age, Phelps had an extensive criminal history and had already been incarcerated. Despite being on parole, he had multiple outstanding arrest warrants when law enforcement officials in Alexander City noticed him and his girlfriend in a stolen vehicle, leading to a police pursuit. The pursuit concluded in Elmore County, where Phelps, who was also under the influence of drugs, crashed the vehicle, causing the death of his girlfriend. The District Attorney opted not to pursue a felony murder charge against Phelps, and as a result, he was released from prison after serving just three years. The news raises questions about the fairness and consistency of sentencing and how various factors, such as age, criminal history, and race, can influence the outcome of a trial.

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