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I guess another thing eating at me tonight is a decision I have to make. Maybe some of your thoughts would help.

I have to call the State Attorney General’s office tomorrow with a recommendation on a Board of Pardons hearing.

The defendant has made an application for a commutation to the Board of Pardons for a conviction of Robery First Degree, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, Wearing a Disguise, Conspiracy Second Degree, Reckless Endangering Second Degree and Unlawful Imprisonment all back in 1998.

Since I was one of the victims of the Robbery along with 3 other employees - one now dead from cancer, another was one of my daughters who was 8 months pregnant and was helping me out while another employee had surgery, my accountant and myself. They entered our Credit Union - 3 of them masked and with weapons - one had a 12 ga shotgun and another a revolver. the third had duct tape. They blew away the monitor on my accountants desk with the shotgun, and hit him across the forehead and taped him up - they blew a 12 “ hole in the desk where my daughter was lying on the floor and they taped her up. The other lady was punched and pulled to the floor by her hair and tied up. I was hit in the head and kicked and taped up.

I would be interested in my fellow FReepers suggestions on this decision. If you don’t feel comfortable responding openly, how about FReepmailing me I really would like your suggestions on the position I should take responding to the Board of Pardons.

Now the decision is on the 18-20 year sentence, have they paid their price after 10 years of hard time? Have they reformed? Would they be safe to return to society? Did the prison do ANYTHING to rehabilitate them? How effective would their probation be? Would they just recommit a crime to get back to jail since the economy is so bad right now? Is it cost effective to keep them locked up another 8-10 years?

That's a pretty heavy decision for them to lay on you. But, as one of the victims, you have more right than anyone to make it.

I guess the question is more how YOU feel about it (not us). You were there and saw the level of aggression in this person/people. Sounds like it was pretty bad.

I'm of the opinion that very little rehabilitation is done with prison. Especially with those that commit violent crimes. I see it as more of a punishment than a way to fix the person, which I'd guess is the liberal point of view.