Rapper T.I. going back to prison for 11 months

On October 15, 2010, Grammy Award winning rapper T.I. also known as Clifford Harris Jr, was ordered back to prison for 11 months due to illegal drugs uses. When he was first arrested for suspicion of drug possession last month in California, he was on probation. He was ordered to do 1,000 hours of community service hours. The community service hours included talking to schoolchildren about the dangers of gangs, violence of drugs.

Unfortunately, during his probation, he had clear possessions of drugs and had take the ecstasy drug three times since leaving prison. During the trial, the rapper pleaded with the judge to keep him out of prison, but the judge did not give in and sentenced him to 11 months of serving in prison.

The issue with drugs is clearly very serious. I believe that U.S. District Court Judge Charles Pannell Jr. was reasonable in his decisions. The rapper T.I. had clearly been given a sentence of doing community sentences in hopes that he would face redemption and stay away from drugs. As U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates says, "We had hoped that this would be a new, innovative opportunity. We're not giving up on Mr.Harris, but... if you veer off from the road of redemption, there are consequences." Like she says, Harris had been given his second chance already for his crimes, but since he had access to drugs and was caught again, he was expected to face the consequences.

I believe that the court ruling and the Judge's decision are all very fair. The Judge is practicing fair justice by not succumbing to the rapper's plead for mercy when he is clearly guilty of his actions even after a fair warning. His orders from his first offense was very clearly laid out. "As a condition of his release earlier this year, he was ordered not to commit another federal, state, or local crime while on supervised release, or to illegally possess a controlled substance. He was also told to take at least three drug tests after his release and to participate in a drug and alcohol treatment program."

But now he is being sent back to prison for 11 months for violating his probation. He had even submitted diluted urine, according to Yates. His further breaching of his court orders as well as his dishonesty should be a sure enough path to prison. There are always consequences for actions and Harris had already been given a second chance. Therefore he is expected to surrender voluntarily to authorities by Nov 1, according to Associated Press.

References:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39691531/ns/today-entertainment/