I've read numerous messages from members of this group who've mentioned their loved on was incarcerated for the 2nd or 3rd time. So clearly, some of them are not getting it. I think that every "event" that occurred is unique and should be sentenced accordingly. It is the "repeat offenders" that cause that "lock 'em up and throw away the key" mentality.

Yes, I want my husband home. That is where he belongs. And while there are people who shouldn't be in prison at all...there are some that should never, ever get out.

I agree canrunerbr.

Unfortunately, though they are giving heavy duty sentences like this sometimes to ones where it is their first offense.
First time to get in trouble.
And young.

That I do not understand. Giving yrs that are more than double the person age.

Yes....take all facts in account, treat each case as if it was their son or daughter or husband or wife and they might be more reasonable about the time for those guilty.

I do not think most want theirs to get off scott free unless they are innocent. But everyone hopes that if they are guilty the time is reasonable. But their being reasonable for first offenses, are not that reasonable, in many cases.

The repeat offenders too....there is another issue....how many end up back in because someone wanted them guilty for a crime because they were found guilty before...so handy one to blame. Sometimes that is the case.

What is the answer?
I know one who is always right.

That is the way I find comfort.

Love Rhea

AND THE KICK IN THE TEETH ABOUT THIS 25-LIFE IS THAT ALTHOUGH THEY GAVE THE SYSTEM 25,,,,25 DOESN'T ONLY MEAN 25, IT COULD MEAN ALMOST 40 LIKE MY FREDDY HAS DONE. I THINK HIS LAST HIT WAS BECAUSE OF OUR ATTORNEY PISSING THEM OFF, PAROLE THAT IS, SHE GET THE RAPE OFF OF HIM BY PROVING HE WAS NEVER CHARGED WITH RAPE OH AND THAT DID NOT MAKE PAROLE HAPPY SO THEY HIT UP ON BALONEY ASS TICKETS. BAD PART IS I KNOW MY FREDDY IS INNOCENT, YEH WELL I TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT HIS NEXT BOARD WHICH IS IN MARCH. TOUGH ON CRIME, MAYBE THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE TOUGH ON THEIR OWN WHEN THEY GO DOWN ON MESSED UP CHARGES. NY THE LAST YEAR, GOVENER-PROSTITUTION, PAROLE COMMISIONER-PEDAFILE, PAROLE CHAIRMAN, THEIF....SCARRY ISN'T IT?

Yep but when it is one of their own do they act the same way as we all of us?????????

No. I bet not.

Somehow in their minds all of us and loved ones in prison are guilty, including themselves. But it is okay because of whatever when it is one of them.

I do not hear of them getting 25 yrs.

Why? They either got money of influence to get them out of it. How fair is that?

How impartial?

How can they see themselves diffferntly than our guys or gals?

When they are guilty, or pressumed guilty, until you have thoroughly proven your innocence. It is the same thing? But do we hear long sentences for such going ons?

No. they consider they have differnt...... they think they have different circumstances,
they are not like others whom have been convicted of whatever crime, they should receive less time...less punishment.

Why? They are if anything more guilty if guilty. They were policing the system and they were not uncorrupt themselves. How right is that?

I could go on. ...but I will quit.
Love Rhea

This topic brings something very very angry out in me. I positively HATE the way that anymore most every crime has mandatory minimums which means that be it the first offense even if it was something that was like a crime of passion or circumstance it does not matter. So often there are crimes that happen and the person not even directly commiting the crime is subject to the same sentence as the one who actually did it. Example.....a friend asks you to give them a ride to their ex's house to pick up some things...you never get out of the car and have no idea what is going on in the house until the cops show up and arrest you for being an accomplice to murder and you get a lifetime in prison is that fair? No but it doesnt change anything.

Even repeat offenders there are circumstances that should be taken into consideration. If someone goes in for selling drugs the chances are pretty darn good that they will go back in for the same crime because they now cant find a legit job because of that conviction and there are a lot of times where they dont have the resources or skills to help them get a legit job and go back because they know they can atleast make money to live.

Our judicial system is so insanely focused on punishing the crime that they have completely and totally forgotten or even ignored what happens to these people when they get back out to the "real" world. What happens to the kid who is 18 - 25 who has no job skills before going in but spend 10 years in prison for something stupid? What skills or training do they have when they get released? What are their chances of ever being able to find gainful legal employment?

I dont think that everyone should get off scott free but they need to learn something useful not just survival skills or how to become a better criminal while they are in prison especially if they are sentenced to decades as their punishment. Plus how about how once a criminal always a criminal and you are now less than a human being and cant be trusted.

Sorry it just angers me because I really honestly feel that our judicial and criminal system is SKREWED UP!!! My cousin got pulled over FIVE times for DUII........the worst thing they ever did to him was make him pay and go to diversion classes yet there are people who can do the same thing and they can get YEARS in prison for it.

sorry for ranting I am a little passionate about this kind of stuff.

Well, I agree with canrunbr that obviously, some of them do not "get it" after a time in prison. When someone is repeatedly offending they should have to spend a longer time... maybe they'll start paying attention.
My son is spending time for a crime he didn't commit. I cannot tell you how frustrating that is. But I'm so proud of what he's done with his time there - got his GED, got an Associate's degree, learned to make eyeglasses and now works in the plant in the prison. He knows he's there for the duration, so why not make the most of it?
MamaBear, you're angry and frustrated, but didn't you meet Freddy while he was in prison? You knew what you were getting into. The system isn't designed to bring families together, or to choose who "gets it" and who doesn't... it's designed to punish.
I know sentencing laws aren't fair and need to be changed. I know the parole and appeals boards aren't designed to help prisoners. I'm hoping that this new administration will help us change that.
Let me ask you this, if your son/daughter/grandchild were murdered, would you be satified if the offender spent a year in prison or would you want them put away for a while? For every offender there is a victim - sitting there asking for what they consider justice to be. We often forget the other side.

If you were in there for life with out the option of parole wouldn't you rather be dead? I think I would.

My son, Eddie, accepted the 25 years as the BEST alternative, believe it or not! The other option was 20 years PLUS 15 probation. His EXPENSIVE attorney told him PROBATION is impossible for 99% of the guys who get out. Any infraction or perceivable infraction can get them back into the prison for many years...I guess they can just sit tight and PRAY the laws change..

First of all I'm from Illinois where we regularly throw our politicians, especially governors into prison. Then the rest of the politicians plead for leniency for these clowns. Now I see where the candidate for Secretary of the Treasury did not pay enough taxes over the years (although he has since made it up). That would land the rest of us in jail not up for a Cabinet appointment.
Although I agree with canrerbr, the fact is that many will reoffend when they get out because they have not received any treatment for what got them sent away in the first place. In addition they cannot find jobs, housing or medical treatment and are left with very few friends and family members.
We as a country imprison one out of every one hundred men. We have a higher rate of imprisonment than any other free country and more than Russia and China. What does that say? It says there is something very, very wrong going on. Police look to solve a case as quickly and conveniently as possible, and damn the evidence in many cases. Prosecuters look to boost their conviction rate.
Keeping people out of jail involves education, treatment and a compassionate system that takes every case individually into consideration.
I agree many need to be given stiff sentences but the individual circumstances have to be looked into. One size does not fit all.
Donna

"Let me ask you this, if your son/daughter/grandchild were murdered, would you be satified if the offender spent a year in prison or would you want them put away for a while? For every offender there is a victim - sitting there asking for what they consider justice to be. We often forget the other side."

I have actually been on the other side. My cousin who was also my best friend and the closest thing I ever had to a sister was murdered by her boyfriend while she was sleeping. He was sentenced to 17 years. In a way I think that it should have been more but in another way I think that it will probably be enough.

I think it should have been more because the reason he did it was because he was going to loose her. He did leave the house they were at, went back to his house to get the gun, came back and shot her, and then went back home and told his mother what he did. To me that is nearly premeditated because he had lots and lots of time to do something else.

I think that it may be enough time because I dont know that he would do this again and by the time he gets out of prison he will be a middle aged man.

They only gave him 17 years because they said he was mildly retarded....he has a low IQ....and was not fully aware of the consequences and such...perhaps that is the type of person who should be scary to society I dont know because one never knows. But in the end as was said one size doesnt fit all when it comes to sentencing....the circumstances should be the #1 consideration in my opinion.

Shannon... what if it was your son that killed your daughter??? would you still think the same? Just a question. I am not saying that Ones that go around and kill people left and right should do only a year..... I am just saying first time offenders and 25 years....Its a bit harsh and only puts more burden on family.

No I totally understand what you are saying. I am in agreement that 25 years for a first time offense is a bit crazy. It truely and totally should depend upon circumstances, such as the case with my cousin....I think that if it is something where there had to be planning and thought involved then perhaps the punishment should be harsher....if it is a heat of the moment or truely an accidental situation then it definitely should not be judged the same way.

Even if it were my son that did it to my daughter I would hope and pray that the judge would look at not only the outcome but what led up to it.

I dont know if I am really conveying my point properly or not but I do understand what you are saying and I dont think that someone should spend decades in prison honestly for anything........however for the ones that keep doing the same thing over again make the punishment harsher each time. The three strikes laws I can agree with to a point and if someone keeps doing something at some point maybe they should throw away the key.

"Shannon... what if it was your son that killed your daughter??? would you still think the same? Just a question. I am not saying that Ones that go around and kill people left and right should do only a year..... I am just saying first time offenders and 25 years....Its a bit harsh and only puts more burden on family. "


If my son killed my daughter then I would grieve for two children, because he would be dead to me and I wouldn't care how long they put him away for.
If someone can kill a family member they need to spend some time behind bars. The prison system is about punishment, it's not about worrying if Mom and Dad are inconvenienced. Maybe the kid should have thought of that before committing a crime.
Jan

I love the title of your discussion because it's a question I often ask myself. How long is enough? How long is too long? I guess the answers depend on your perspective (one of family or the victim, for example), but I am quite certain that I haven't yet been able to figure out an answer for myself or for my nephew in prison. I know one thing for sure: when a person is sent to prison, their innocent family is sentenced, too. My nephew's incarceration literally killed his mother (my sister), and if I allow myself to dwell on it, it plagues my mind. I am praying that I live to see the day he is released. Thanks for an interesting discussion.
Dawn

" Shannon... what if it was your son that killed your daughter??? would you still think the same? Just a question. I am not saying that Ones that go around and kill people left and right should do only a year..... I am just saying first time offenders and 25 years....Its a bit harsh and only puts more burden on family. "


I have chewed on this for a while longer and I think that perhaps I have a better answer to this question that you asked me.

If my son performed direct actions that resulted in the death of my daughter.....ie......shot her, stabbed her, poisoned her, beat her with a 2x4.....my heart would be shattered because I can honestly say that he should be behind bars for a very long time. Reason being is that if he could do something like that to his own sister, someone who has been there with him his whole life what could he do to some stranger on the street? As much as I love my son if he did something like that I could never see him as the little boy that I loved ever again. How could I be able to look at my son and love him and forgive him while knowing what he did?

Now if the circumstances were different say they are in a car accident and it was proven to be his fault through one thing or another and as a result she died......It is not the same at all in my mind. They could put him away for 30 years but this is a situation that the chances of ever happening again are slim to none. He did not intend on the accident let alone on his sister dying, it was an accident.

The law and sentences should not be so black and white as they are. There is guilt or there is innocence and that is all that there is and that isnt right because there are so many factors and variables to every case. That is why I get so angry with mand. mins because of the fact that if found guilty it doesnt matter you still have to do X number of years in prison because that is what everyone found guilty of that crime has to atleast serve.

Everyone involved in criminal activity be it offender or victim or family of either side someone has to have the burden. Depending upon the crime involved can determine the amount of burden that those involved suffer.

When the man convicted of molesting my daughter was sentenced to 4 year, 4 years of probation after that, and registered. The DA ran this plea by us because we could have honestly had much more time......closer to 14 year or more in prison yada yada.....but that is not what we wanted. We wanted him to know that he did not get away with nothing......I didnt want him in jail forever but he did need to be there for a while and my daughter lived with knowing what happened for 4 years in silence so it felt fair that he serve that long.