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To: orangelobster
As long as we're doling out idiotically harsh sentences why shouldn't judge almia get the chair. Seems in keeping with 21 days for a cellphone.

Uh, no, it's not.

I can envision a scenario where 21 days for CONTEMPT OF COURT makes sense. I can't really envision a scenario where handing down a 21 day sentence would warrant receiving the death penalty.

But thanks for playing, anyway.


Incidentally, the judge you describe as worthy of execution sure has a funny way of living out his vindictive philosophy. If he really wants to "kick 'em in the teeth", he should cut out the following behavior:

The judge at the Suffolk drug court, the Honorable Salvatore Alamia, also expressed an interest in encouraging participants to pursue educational goals, although his efforts were quite different from those in Queens. After participants are settled into treatment, the Judge asks each participant to bring to a subsequent court appearance three questions from American or World History. The goal is to ask the Judge, a self-proclaimed history buff, these questions in an attempt to stump him or the court staff. The catch is that the participants must know the answers to all of their questions to determine if the Judge is correct, or to provide the answer if he is, in fact, stumped. The judge’s goals with this game are two-fold. First, he believes that this works as an effective icebreaker with participants. Second, Judge Alamia uses this technique as a fun way to encourage participants to use the internet, go to the library, read the newspaper, talk with friends and family, or even watch Jeopardy. From the observations, this goal was clearly achieved, putting participants at ease and generating dialogue, and even laughter. One participant was particularly anxious to “stump the judge” and appeared to have brought with him many more than the required number of questions.

And I'm sure he really would have made her stay the full 21 days for the contempt charge, instead of what he USUALLY does:

The drug court coordinator explained that it is important that participants always know that there is the risk of jail time for noncompliant behavior. Occasionally, the judge will impose jail sanctions in order to get the attention of a participant. Judge Alamia explained the use of jail sanctions with an analogy from parenting. “Sometimes you need to send your daughter to her room,” the judge reasoned. A brief stay in jail – usually no more than 4 to 5 days – not only serves as a reprimand for those who have learned how to manipulate the system but is sometimes the only way that the judge can exert control over the participant. Very rarely, the judge will impose electronic monitoring for participants who will not stay in compliance with drug court regulations.

Yep, I'm sure his is just a knee-jerk, mean-spirited action, designed to inflict the maximum suffering. I'm sure we can ignore any prior evidence that suggests the man actually CARES about the defendants in his courtroom:

As all Suffolk drug cases are processed in the same courtroom, only a portion of those appearing before the judge are drug court cases. These cases are identifiable by the fact that drug court participants are the only defendants who stand in a gold circle on the courtroom floor. During participant appearances, Judge Alamia engages the defendant in a conversation regarding their progress. Also, the case managers report to the judge during the court appearance, noting treatment accomplishments or problems. In addition, the results of the drug screening taken upon arrival to the courthouse are conveyed to the judge. The evening prior to one of the authors’ visit to the court, the judge had attended a graduation ceremony at Phoenix House, one of the primary treatment facilities used by the drug court. In court on the day of the site visit, Judge Alamia commented on the previous evening’s festivities to several participants who had been in attendance, thanking them for their role in planning the evening and for their accomplishments, which made such an event possible. The judge encouraged these participants to continue their progress.

http://www.courts.state.ny.us/reports/NYSAdultDrugCourtEvaluation.pdf

387 posted on 11/23/2004 2:48:17 PM PST by beezdotcom (I'm usually either right or wrong...)
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To: beezdotcom

Yep, the more I read about this judge, can how much he cares about the charges in his court, the more I'm willing to defend his actions.


388 posted on 11/23/2004 2:57:04 PM PST by beezdotcom (I'm usually either right or wrong...)
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