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Striking Move by Brooklyn Judge in Felony Drug Case: Probation, Not Prison
New York Times ^ | May 25, 2016 | BENJAMIN WEISER

Posted on 05/25/2016 10:22:01 AM PDT by reaganaut1

A federal judge in Brooklyn, in an extraordinary opinion that calls for courts to pay closer attention to the impact of felony convictions on people’s lives, sentenced a young woman in a drug case to probation rather than prison, saying on Wednesday that the collateral consequences she would face as a felon were punishment enough.

The judge, Frederic Block of Federal District Court, said that the broad range of such collateral consequences served no “useful function other than to further punish criminal defendants after they have completed their court-imposed sentences.”

The judge noted that there were nearly 50,000 federal and state statutes and regulations that impose penalties, disabilities or disadvantages on convicted felons.

Such consequences — the denial of government benefits, ineligibility for public housing, suspension of student loans, revocation or suspension of driver’s licenses — can have devastating effects, he wrote, adding that they may also be “particularly disruptive to an ex-convict’s efforts at rehabilitation and reintegration into society.”

The issue of collateral consequences and sentencing has been considered by other courts, but Judge Block’s 42-page opinion appears to be one of the most detailed examinations yet, combined with his call for reform.

He noted that the inability to obtain housing and employment stemming from a conviction often results in “further disastrous consequences, such as losing child custody or going homeless,” and leads to many ex-convicts “becoming recidivists and restarting the criminal cycle.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: judicialtyranny
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If Judge Block wants to legislate shorter sentences for drug dealers, he should resign and run for office. He was nominated by Bill Clinton.

The judge is behind the times -- they're not "felons" but "justice-involved individuals", according to the Obama Administration.

1 posted on 05/25/2016 10:22:01 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1

They’re just ethically challenged people.

Who are we to punish them? Ethics after all depends on the situation.

Let’s not judge.


2 posted on 05/25/2016 10:25:26 AM PDT by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever))
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To: reaganaut1

“The judge, Frederic Block of Federal District Court, said that the broad range of such collateral consequences served no “useful function other than to further punish criminal defendants after they have completed their court-imposed sentences.”

Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time or accept the consequences for your actions.


3 posted on 05/25/2016 10:26:15 AM PDT by headstamp 2 (Fear is the mind killer.)
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To: reaganaut1

Judge Block is a blockhead.

In case you’re wondering, no one is forced to commit a crime.

And people who are behind bars deserve to be there.


4 posted on 05/25/2016 10:27:28 AM PDT by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever))
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To: reaganaut1

Well, he does make one good point at least. If you are a felon who has served their sentence and you want to go “straight”, but can’t get a legitimate job, can’t get housing, and can’t get public assistance, it’s most likely just going to discourage you from your goal and encourage you to go right back to crime.


5 posted on 05/25/2016 10:30:18 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: headstamp 2

The New York Times puts up a sob story of the hard life a convict faces.

Never mentioned is the damage done to the victim.

I bet Judge Frederick Block never considered that angle worthy of his attention.


6 posted on 05/25/2016 10:30:48 AM PDT by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever))
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To: Boogieman

And right back to prison.

Some people simply can’t make it in society.


7 posted on 05/25/2016 10:32:16 AM PDT by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever))
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To: Boogieman

Bingo!


8 posted on 05/25/2016 10:32:52 AM PDT by sailor76 (GO TRUMP!!! Make America Great Again!)
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To: Boogieman
Well, he does make one good point at least. If you are a felon who has served their sentence and you want to go “straight”, but can’t get a legitimate job, can’t get housing, and can’t get public assistance, it’s most likely just going to discourage you from your goal and encourage you to go right back to crime.

You make a GREAT case for the stupidity of crime.

9 posted on 05/25/2016 10:33:18 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: goldstategop

Never mentioned is the damage done to the victim.

I bet Judge Frederick Block never considered that angle worthy of his attention.

_____________________________________

Exactly. How many lives did the felon destroy? Why should we care about theirs?


10 posted on 05/25/2016 10:35:35 AM PDT by ConservativeWarrior (Fall down 7 times, stand up 8. - Japanese proverb)
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To: cloudmountain

No, he actually makes a great case about the wanton stupidity of liberal judges.


11 posted on 05/25/2016 10:35:51 AM PDT by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever))
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To: reaganaut1
If the charge is a felony ... it doesn't matter WHAT the sentence is ...

write on the blackboard 100 times, "I will not spit on the sidewalks of New Yawk"

Unless the "charge" is changed ... you be a felon, mama.

12 posted on 05/25/2016 10:35:58 AM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof, but they're true)
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To: Boogieman
I dunno ...

I'm a one time felon from 1969 ... jast a few months after the gun control act of '68, and I've been a goody two shoes ever since

still can't have a gun

13 posted on 05/25/2016 10:37:49 AM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof, but they're true)
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To: goldstategop
No, he actually makes a great case about the wanton stupidity of liberal judges.

And WHO appoints these liberal judges?

14 posted on 05/25/2016 10:38:09 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: reaganaut1

The judge is full of **it and trying to polish himself into a bronze turd; when in truth they all know - there is simply no more goddamned room. We need more prisons, and put them in the bluest of blue citystates.


15 posted on 05/25/2016 10:38:24 AM PDT by StAnDeliver ("Too bad your overhauled unicorn start-up failed, Ted.")
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To: goldstategop
Some people simply can’t make it in society.

And if you can't get a job, or can't rent an apt it's kinda hard to go straight.

16 posted on 05/25/2016 10:39:17 AM PDT by sailor76 (GO TRUMP!!! Make America Great Again!)
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To: reaganaut1

Again, women serve much less prison time then men for the same crime.


17 posted on 05/25/2016 10:49:43 AM PDT by sportutegrl
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To: reaganaut1
Why do we even have criminal records in the first place? What about people screwed by the system and falsely arrested for practicing constitutional behavior?

And he is right that criminal records prevent reintegration. How about we call it what it is, "DEBT PAID TO SOCIETY!" End of story. Good luck and don't do it again!

As for drug use, as long as no violent action was involved they need to be put into rehab not prison. It'll save us money in the long run instead of having to shell out money for 3 hots a cot and a sissy for these people. Plus, We wont have to pay welfare benefits when they get out of prison and go back to hitting the pipe while on skid row.

FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION PEOPLE! USE OUR FOUNDING FATHERS VALUES! THEY WORK! This tyranny which is cruel and unususal punishment doesn't.

Amazingly I find myself agreeing somewhat with judge blockhead. Just goes to show a broken clock is right twice a day.

18 posted on 05/25/2016 10:52:12 AM PDT by mainestategop (DonÂ’t Let Freedom Slip Away! After America , There is No Place to Go)
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To: knarf
I'm a one time felon from 1969 ... jast a few months after the gun control act of '68, and I've been a goody two shoes ever since still can't have a gun

Just goes to show that it doesn't work. Meanwhile plenty of criminals who wont go straight carry guns.

19 posted on 05/25/2016 10:53:16 AM PDT by mainestategop (DonÂ’t Let Freedom Slip Away! After America , There is No Place to Go)
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To: cloudmountain

I don’t think anyone will argue it isn’t stupid.

However, discouraging criminals from reforming and becoming law abiding citizens (which is supposed to be our goal) seems just about as stupid.


20 posted on 05/25/2016 10:56:01 AM PDT by Boogieman
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