In reading the news today I ran across this article. I'll try not to get completely out of control here, however, :wtf?
My first question is this, did the inmates in question plead quilty and therefore choice on their own, with attorney advice, to give up the right of a "jury"? Second question, if that was the case is it or is it not the judge's place to place judgement on the individual under the guidelines of the law according to the crime committed? Third question, if they did go through a jury process, and jury made recommendations shouldn't the individual in question be the one who obtains this issue and not making it an "across the board" off death row issue?
This to me is outrageous on so many different levels, but I'm on my soap box, so therefore I'll continue with my views on this issue.
In so many articles in the news I read about "the message being sent out to the public". This also includes in the judicial system as well, making an example out of a teenager who sent out the latest worm, who's sentence will consist of jail time for a LONG TIME, an example out of someone who screams bomb in an airport who serves more time than a murder or rapist and the list goes on, but you get my point.
Yet, the reason a person winds up on death row is because of the hiddious crime the person committed. Not because they missed bible study and as every inmate you'll talked too "was framed", they are there for a reason. They have once they are committed more rights than the people who have never committed a crime to INCLUDE the individuals who are guarding them against society.
They have the right to obtain, even on death row, free counsel to help them appeal for years on end, second; access to a law library to do their own research should they want to help in their own defense, third; non educated inmates obtain, even on death row, a chance to obtain a high school/college education. All at the tax payers expense to include the victims PAYING for their housing, education and lawyers.
Your average inmate sits on death row after convicted for 10 years. 10 years of being paid 3 hot meals a day, clothing, air condition, heat, exercise, access to reading material, an edcuation on any level they would desire, t.v, computer access *even to the point of using your own information*, etc. Not to mention the salaries of those who have to man the post and facility they are housed.
What does this ruling provide? Well think about it ~ depending on the age ~ how much time served thus far ~ a life sentence does not mean "Life" per say ~ it means what a court consideres to be "life". Could be 20 years, 30 years etc. unless mind you it was stated a death row sentence with a concurrent sentence of 99 years. Allowing death row inmates to serve out a "life sentence", mind you in the article it does not specify the meaning of life sentence which in a court of law are many different meanings, in essences what it means is this ~ life sentence for some of the most hanious crimes non imaginable!!!
I asked a friend of mine who still is working in the system his views of this action, and without him reading the action taken place; I hope he won't be offended with me posting his response ~ quote "my honest opinion to anything with the death penalty is that it's not a true deterrant to crime, but I feel it is an appropriate punishment for the more heinous crimes..."
So to get off my soap box and my own personal views, what do you across the nations think of this? Do you agree or oppose the action that states seem to be taking? Do you agree with how inmates are treated with priviliges with the victims, victims family, and law abiding citizens PAY for their "priviliges"? I'm interested in hearing some feed back ~
ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE IS NO MATCH FOR NATURAL STUPIDITY!!!
I will have to return tomorrow. My eyes are really counting sheep now. ZZZZZZZ
Jamie, I would have leaned towards agreeing with you up till last night. I watched a movie that really allows for some thought on the matter of death sentences. WE do not have death sentencing here in Canada... the last execution taking place in 1962.
Since abolition, at least 6 Canadian prisoners convicted of
first-degree murder have been released on grounds of innocence.
--- had they been put to death, that'd be 6 people killed for crimes that they had not done.
Check out this site: http://ccadp.org/deathpenalty-canada.htm
And... for a good movie to leave you thinking: Check out "The Life of David Gale"... http://www.discoverkate.com/movies/david-gale/#synopsis
Des ~ I don't disagree with you completely and I honestly do believe there are some people serving time that are honestly innocent, however, Canadian law and American law differ in many different way in regards to inmates. It would be different if an inmate on death row was immediately put to death, however, that is not the case, they have more than one oppourtunity *however you spell it* to prove their innocents. I agree in the article of which you posted that if put to death 6th individuals would have been put to death unrightly so, but saying that, are you saying if 100 people are sentences to death, the 100 people are innocent? According to the statistics in the article you posted, Canadian crime is extermly low, especially with crimes that would require the death pently should your country have it on the books as an option. Not all states in America allow the Death Pentalty as an option ~ my post was merely to make people aware ~ a sentence of "life imprisonment" does not actually mean they'll die in prison. I'm not a judge, jury and more importantly I'm not God, however, I do believe there are some crimes that people commit that deserve the punishment stated in the bible, "an eye for an eye"!!! My opinion does not come from being just the average American citizian who can find fault in any system, I'm speaking from working in the prison system with youth and then eventually adult inmates. I've spoken with them ~ I've read their reports and transcripts ~ some I've even felt sorry for ~ but I will not change my opinion on this and I know you are not trying to change it but to offer more information on the subject ~ I've looked into more than one set of eyes of the devil and they were behind bars and under the age of 18 ~ that says a great deal of what American society has become and what we have to fear. I fear our own citizians these days more than I fear a terroist!! And knowing how the laws work, each state different, but in the end the same, a life sentence does NOT mean they die in prison, it just means they'll eventually be realized and if able will commit the same crime if not worst because think about it what do they have to lose? I'll sign off with a statement given to me by an inmate who was up for parole ~ had no place to go after his release ~ Ms. "****" (my last name at the time) if I obtain parole I promise you I'll be back in the system within 3 months because I'll do whatever I have to do to get back in the system. When I question him why, he stated, not all children have parents like you Ms. ****, my parents don't care and never have at least here I get three meals a day, clothes on my back and a place to sleep with covers and a roof over my head. Not all inmates deserve to be in prison, they are just unfortunate enough to have parents who really don't give a damn where they are located at the time. I'm not all gun ho about the death pentalty, but if the crime calls for that to be the punishment I'm all for it, as my friend I quoted stated ~ it doesn't prevent crime it just prevents that select individual from committing it again to yet another innocent individual.
I have mixed feelings about it....as there have been innocent people hanged despite having every opportunity to clear their name whilst waiting for execution. I don't however, think this argument is just an American one. We are finding it hard here in the UK to accept that a person who breaks into a persons property has more rights than the victim and the only crime that is worthy of a long sentence is one of fraud or embezzlement. Obviously money as usual is more important than the human being. A classic case at the moment is a man who lived on his farm was attacked whilst being burgaled by two gypsies. He shot one of them dead in self defence but because his victim was facing his back to him when he fired the shot this was an act of manslaughter in an english court of law. If however, he had been facing him that would have been different. Now he faces after serving his sentence threats from gypsy's and being sued by the other lad who tried to rob him for trauma. I watched a crimewatch programme in which they had a phone in. They told the crime and the result of that crime on the victim and asked people to phone in and vote on what sentence they would give. The persons commiting the said crimes can thank their lucky stars they have judges and not the public deciding their fates. As the public voted for the harshest sentences. So yes Jamie after all my waffle here.....its a world wide complaint that prison is a soft option these days.
I think personally though if someone handed me a rope and said hang this man/woman....I don't think I could do it. Easy to say but another thing to actually carry it out. Still that's me soft as shit.
Jamie
what was the story about?
Yes there are reason that people are in jail and some of those in prison really do not belong there. I also think that some people the only thing left to do with them is put them to death.
I also think that dying is easy any one can do that but to have to live in prison the rest of your life not knowing how long that will be is worse. You can just see the outside and you know you can not go there. The cars passing by of all the free people there in the world. Would drive me nuts. These are just my thoughts.
...if only I had read this yesterday I would have enjoyed arguing with you...I can't say how much I disagree with the death sentence - yesterday I was vehemently (sp?) opposed...I would have argued until - well, until today...and then I read this..and suddenly I am not sure any more :^(...however, as an example of *how* wrong a judge can be - I suppose it does have some relevance to the conversation...
...sorry, if the link doesn't work ('cos I'm not too good at this) try... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3078216.stm
Billy, I'm sorry I should have emailed you again to let you know the link worked in the comment area. I tried finding the article via my email notification of your post to my blog. Thank you for the link and visiting my blog ~ it is criminal of the judge and his actions of this man's sentence and what is the bogus information about "according to a shrink the probability of him doing it again are slim?" Give me a break, if they even think about it is just plain sick but then to commit such an act on any child but especially as young as the victim is *gggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*!!!! For individuals such as this I would love to see the "member" being removed and then no worries of it happening again!!! And perferably with a dull butcher knife without the aid of any drugs!!!! In my ever so humble opinion *big smile*. Again, thank you so much for the link to that news article!!!