Thread: How is this possible?

This lady has been arrested 396 times. I understand some crimes are less severe than others but how can you honestly get arrested that many times and still have the possibility of freedom. It is sad that some people can't follow the simplest of laws and be a decent human being. Sorry to rant but am I wrong in thinking that this lady needs some serious help.

Shermain Miles, Chicago Woman, Arrested 396 Times Since 1978

She is homeless and a much easier target than a gangbanger. She is averaging 11 arrests a year.

Originally Posted by HarleyFXST

She is homeless and a much easier target than a gangbanger. She is averaging 11 arrests a year.

I'll bite on this one, Harley,,,,it's a slow day for me.

I agree with the 11 arrests a year, simple math for me, I have a calculator, ,,400 divided by 35 years = 11.428
As far as the comment about being an easier target than a gangbanger, hardly. Here are a few facts that will be required regardless of the department arresting her:

1. She's female, she will require a female officer to search her before she goes in a transport to the jail. Female officers are in short supply on the street. A male officer can search her, if an immediate threat is suspected.
A "pat-down", is insufficient, to put someone behind me in a vehicle; a min. 20 minutes to 45 minute wait.
2. If she has personal property, most homeless carry their lives with them, then it goes too. Inventoried & booked into the property unit. Try dealing with the Property Supervisor, usually an old Sgt. on his way out, when you log that property in. Usually 1 hour.
3. She has "83 different aliases", there most certainly will be an out-standing warrant in there somewhere,,,,off to the warrant's section to get it verified through prints,,,, 2 hours,,,usually.

4. Let's say she cooperates fully with the above; writing the affadivit, 30 minutes.

4 1/2 hours for the homeless lady, give or take a few.

I can't think of too many times that I had a gangbanger arrest exceed 2 hours. I literally arrested, my name at the bottom of the affidavit , over 150, I assisted in well over 2000. Most gangbanger arrests are done in under an hour. If he needed medical attention, then 2 hours was the norm.

The department is geared up to expedite the gangbanger's arrest & keep the cops on the street. Try explaining to the guys in your squad why you had to snatch a bag lady & they had to pick up the slack for 4 hours. Homeless calls are usually dispatched, not self initated. Business complaintants/owners 80% of the time. Every major city has a "Homeless Watchdog" group, so the homeless are not "targeted". Few of these groups give a da*n about the facts I just gave you. You make their list,,,it's a real pain,,,usually re-assignment is the departments answer,,,,this pleases the group.

InHonorofRay, if you had her rap-sheet in front of you, it would be a lot easier to understand. You would see a pattern of minor thefts & the bench warrants(Seperate arrest stats attributed to the original charge) for not appearing in court to answer for the first charge. Thus the problem of the "83 different aliases ".

When the jail gets crowded, she will be one of the first to be rolled out, prior to sentencing,,,and the cycle starts all over again.

Does she need help,,,sure she does,,,,there are book smart men out there somewhere who could solve this problem, I'm sure; it's just not their priority today & I don't have an answer.

Hirlau, obviously you have a lot of experience dealing with people like this, so you know much better than I do but it is just sad to see people who would rather waste their lives than contribute to this world in a positive way. Such as life I suppose.

Well,, my experience with problems like this & $1.00; won't even get me a cup of ice coffee at Duncan Donuts these days.
When you say "people" , who are you referring to?

Having been homeless at one point in my life, I think I need to step away from this thread.
Unsubscribed.

Originally Posted by InHonorOfRay

Hirlau, obviously you have a lot of experience dealing with people like this, so you know much better than I do but it is just sad to see people who would rather waste their lives than contribute to this world in a positive way. Such as life I suppose.

My sister is a social worker so I know a bit about some of the problems.
Once you are homeless, you are untouchable.

You have no street address anymore, so
1) no bank will register you
2) you can't get work
3) can't get any sort of legal or government paperwork sorted out
4) can't renew any sort of ID, passport or drivers license. Not even a library card.

Once you are homeless, you are an outcast, and it takes incredible effort AND a lot of help from a lot of overworked social workers to act as a go-between for the paperworks to get back on your feet. Once you are homeless, you are human debris and society paves right over you without even picking you up.

And plenty of people get homeless through no fault of their own, except perhaps the fault of having trusted the wrong person or having made the mistake of not having the proper insurance or just plain having made a mistake. People dont' wake up one day with the desire to throw it all away and become homeless.

If she remains homeless it is most likely not because she doesn't have any way at all to turn her life around. She can't find real work, and the only types of work she can do either stigmatize her further or are plain illegal. And once she does it out of necessity and gets caught, finding work will forever be impossible.

Don't be too quick to blame her situation on laziness or lack of community spirit.

@ OCDShaver: she can be a victim AND a criminal. The 2 don't exclude each other.
Right now she probably can't do anything except choose between dying or survive through petty crime.

Many of these people in my opinion should be sectioned indefinitely under the mental health act, most of them are what I would class as criminally insane, now to me there's an huge difference being criminally insane than just being a criminal, as criminals usually understand right & wrong and sometimes can feel remorse and change and turn their lives around when given the opportunity, where as people who are criminally insane never ever will feel remorse don't have any idea what's right or wrong, or even have a second thought about the consequences of their actions as you would expect from someone who is mentally ill, I would categories most of these people as sociopath's, it's sad but there's no way should many of these people ever be allowed on the streets.


Profile of the Sociopath




Glibness and Superficial Charm

Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."

Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

Incapacity for Love

Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.

Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.

Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.

Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.

Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.

Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.

Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

Originally Posted by Bruno

My sister is a social worker so I know a bit about some of the problems.
Once you are homeless, you are untouchable.

You have no street address anymore, so
1) no bank will register you
2) you can't get work
3) can't get any sort of legal or government paperwork sorted out
4) can't renew any sort of ID, passport or drivers license. Not even a library card.

Once you are homeless, you are an outcast, and it takes incredible effort AND a lot of help from a lot of overworked social workers to act as a go-between for the paperworks to get back on your feet. Once you are homeless, you are human debris and society paves right over you without even picking you up.

And plenty of people get homeless through no fault of their own, except perhaps the fault of having trusted the wrong person or having made the mistake of not having the proper insurance or just plain having made a mistake. People dont' wake up one day with the desire to throw it all away and become homeless.

If she remains homeless it is most likely not because she doesn't have any way at all to turn her life around. She can't find real work, and the only types of work she can do either stigmatize her further or are plain illegal. And once she does it out of necessity and gets caught, finding work will forever be impossible.

Don't be too quick to blame her situation on laziness or lack of community spirit.

Bruno, I completely agree with what you said, it is extremely difficult to get out of a situation like she is in and you have to do what you have to do to survive. But to not try because because it is very difficult also isn't right. It is a double edged sword.

I also didn't mean for this to turn into a argument of how members feel about the church. I was just surprised someone could actually get arrested that many times. But on SRP any forum post can go in any direction with just one comment!