Posted on 11/29/2013 11:24:37 PM PST by Olog-hai
“They treat him like a dangerous criminal.” Judith Minor has had to live with that reality for the last 13 years—ever since her son Ricky disappeared behind the bars of Yazoo City Jail in Mississippi because he had drugs worth a handful of dollars on him. He was sentenced to life without parole—something his 76-year-old mother just cannot fathom.
But his case is no exception in the US justice system. It could be a pair of socks, a slice of pizza—many petty thieves serve life sentences in the US. Ricky Minor’s offense was carrying one gram of methamphetamine. …
“These sentences are the direct result of laws that were passed over the last 40 years, as part of the war on drugs and tough-on-crime policies. Those policies led to the passage of mandatory minimum sentencing laws, three-strikes laws and other mandatory sentencing laws,” (Jennifer) Turner told DW. Those laws stipulate sometimes draconian punishment for petty crimes. In some states, like Louisiana and Florida, the three-strikes law puts anyone in jail for life who has been convicted three times. …
(Excerpt) Read more at dw.de ...
Was he convicted of assaulting this minor?
If not, than regardless of it, it shouldn’t have been a factor in his sentencing.
I could have predicted a black President 40 years ago, but nothing as bad as this.
When I see articles about life sentence for a slice of pizza stories I think two things:
1: How many crimes did he get away with, these were just the three he got caught and convicted of, could be hundreds.
2: The primary reason for prison is to keep these thugs off the streets. They have proven they are not fit to live in a civilized society. Let them live in prison. Rehabilitation is a feel good; we are doing something by showing them how to live in society. It rarely works.
When I see articles about life sentence for a slice of pizza stories I think two things:
1: How many crimes did he get away with, these were just the three he got caught and convicted of, could be hundreds.
2: The primary reason for prison is to keep these thugs off the streets. They have proven they are not fit to live in a civilized society. Let them live in prison. Rehabilitation is a feel good; we are doing something by showing them how to live in society. It rarely works.
It wasn't pizza, it was Drugs, and his third offense. Apparently his parents and the first two convictions/ stints in jail didn't teach him well enough.
Unless he did an offense that, by itself, was worthy a life sentence, his punishment outweighs the actual offense. In this sense, it wouldn’t matter if it was his thousandth conviction.
That is my objection. We shouldn’t be throwing away keys on people who aren’t doing anything, unto itself, that deserve a permanent sentence.
Sorry, he is not serving life for a “Slice of Pizza.” He is serving life for proving he is a habitual criminal who can’t live within the confines of an organized society. Why should everyone else pay the price for his inability to conduct his life without victimizing everyone in his community?
Again I ask. Was his conviction, by itself, worthy of a life sentence?
You don’t sentence people because they are unlawful pains in the behind. You sentence them in proportion to the offense.
Was the offense he was convicted of worthy of a life sentence by itself?
Don’t be a Yazoo.Minor crimes can have major consequences.
How many times does he need to be convicted to convince you that he is not capable of he habilitation? That is a serious question. How many time should we send him to prison for these "petty" crimes?
Was the offense he was convicted of worthy of a life sentence by itself?
In my book, second conviction for drugs is a death sentence. But I don't make the laws. Second this has been upheld by the voters and higher courts. Your beef is with them.
Misleading headline. (Is there any other kind?) He is being punished for committing multiple offenses, the last of which may seem minor.
See post #50, except for the being a yazoo part.
If one of my children were a three-time thief, I'd be the one to throw the key away. However, I like to think I raised them better than to steal from others.
Your attitude is why we have so many criminals out there with rap sheets a mile long. When they are not punished for their actions, they commit their crimes over and over again.
It has nothing to do with the "little" laws on the books either. Stealing is still stealing. It's one of the 10 Commandments. People who make a career of stealing from others should not be out on the street.
It’s a paradox for me. I support three strikes laws, but sometimes people get caught up in a rigid dogmatic system with no exceptions for the corner cases that always occur.
Not if it were a first conviction. 3 Times? tough s***
Three strikes if you aren’t an illegal immigrant (illegal entry into the country, falsified identity, etc.).
How many graffiti artistes have been arrested more than 3 times? How many of them are serving life in prison without parole?
Clearly not enough of the vandals.
You can’t read the bible in public schools but you can read it in public prisons. Funny that.
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