Essay about Bad Intentions, Better Outcomes

Submitted By GuitarmanSB
Words: 970
Pages: 4

Bad Intentions, Better Outcomes “Here you go, man. It’s not much but it’s all I’ve got,” insisted a younger-looking gentleman as he handed over a dollar. Numb and worn down, the homeless man snatched the money as if it was a thousand dollars. “Thank you so much. God bless!” replied the homeless man with a tear in his eye. Bill McMuller had been living in the streets of The Windy City for over three months before he realized he needed to reach-out for help. His weathered cardboard sign wasn’t enough. After losing his job, Bill no longer was supported with health insurance, a food supply, a place to stay and most importantly, a steady income. With the $2.19 that Bill received from various strangers, he was able to buy the best pen he could find. Inside a small coffee shop, Bill warmed up his cold fingers. Soon enough, on the back of a small advertisement flier, Bill neatly wrote a note. Eight simple words. Words that changed his life. Words that got him what he needed. From there, Bill ventured across the city one more time; eventually he ended up at the bank. Reading over his neatly written note outside the revolving doors, he proceeded to go in. As he calmly waited in line Bill heard the words he anxiously awaited. “Next!” Said the teller. As he approached the counter, Bill fished the note out of his pocket and slowly slid it under the thick glass window. “Federal Bank robbery, please hand over one dollar” read the teller under his breath. Bill turned away and sat in a chair, patiently waiting to be taken away by the police (“Police: Bank”). By committing crimes, homeless individuals can receive necessities such as medical care, daily meals and proper shelter while being imprisoned. Apart from being homeless, individuals living on the streets are not provided with the medical care they need. In some cases there are those who are forced to go above and beyond to get the medical care they desperately need. These individuals are, in fact, very logical when viewing their situations with an open mind. For 59 year-old James Verone, it was in his best interest to purposely commit a crime to receive care to better his health. In an interview done by NBC News, Verone openly admits that the crime, “Was done for medical reasons” (qtd. in “Man Robs”). During his time in jail Verone received the medical care he hoped for, free of cost. There are many cases similar to Verone’s when crimes are committed in order to receive some sort of medical care. Professor Edward P. Richards states that, “Our most fundamental constitutional right is that no person may be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law” (qtd. in Richards). Without laws such as this, people like James Verone would not get the medical care they need, and furthermore would most likely have not committed an intentional crime. These desperate individuals have no other option but to choose jail as a last-resort or face death in the streets. Jail is perceived as a place where anyone-even criminals-can receive the basic necessities of everyday life. Another reason homeless individuals purposely commit a crime is that jail serves three meals daily. Eating one meal a week may be normal for the homeless community; for an average American this would be torture. The eighth Amendment requires state prisons to meet inmate’s nutrition requirements day in and day out. With that being said, three meals are provided to every inmate regardless of the crime he or she has committed. This law that guarantees food gives any homeless individual consent to commit crime for free meals. In the article titled “Homeless Man Wants Jail Time” author Matt Bartosik describes a case that put 33 year old