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Post by
134377
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Magician22773
Apparently
, you can get off with probation for killing someone while drunk driving. Thoughts?
Dont have time at work to dig the links up, but a few weeks back we had two news stories on the same website here about a drunk driver killing someone.
The first one was a middle age male, who killed an 86 yr old woman.
He did have a prior DWI arrest.
He recieved 12 years Federal time (which means he will serve at least 10 years of it).
The second story was a teenage girl, who killed another teen passenger in her car while driving drunk. She got 5 years probation.
Now, as I highlighted, the guy did have a prior, so I can see some reasoning there for a harsher sentence, but I dont see how the same court can have such different punishment for what amounts to the same crime.
IMHO, the first sentence was fair. He ended someones life by making a horrible decision to drive drunk. But the second one is just wrong. I think the girl should have got 5 years in jail, with normal "prison time" rules. She likely would have spent a little under a year locked up, and could have served her remaining time on parole.
From my experience, I can attest that a short time locked up can make a huge, lifelong change in someones life. Probation rarely has the same effect. I can only pray that this girl does learn a lesson from it, but past, personal experiences have shown it usually takes more to spark a real change.
I will try to post links to both articles later if I can still find them in the sites archives.
edit for crappy typing
Post by
ElhonnaDS
I agree- probation for a serious transgression teaches nothing. I could see a lesser sentence for the second case, but not no jail time at all. It's sad that they have sentencing procedures that have so little regard for the fact that they took a life by making a decision that they knew was dangerous to themselves and everyone else.
Post by
557473
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
ElhonnaDS
I understand it for offenses that are minor enough that you wouldn't necessarily want to jail someone for it, but significant enough that you want to keep an eye on the. If a teen got drunk, for example, and had a tantrum and threw rocks through a few shop windows, but didn't attack anyone or anything, then I could maybe see fines and probation to teach him a lesson and keep an eye on him to make sure he kept on the straight and narrow. But for killing someone through drunk driving? That's disgusting.
I linked an article here a few months ago about a woman who killed her baby- I forget if she drowned it or beat it, but I remember it wasn't accidental. And they were going to give her probation for it. And the judge threw out the plea bargain and said that was unacceptable and if she was guilty she needed to do jail time.
Post by
557473
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
ElhonnaDS
Well, on your teen example, what about community service at those shops to pay for those windows? Much more efficient and teaching than probation...
They often do incorporate community service with probation. Probation isn't the teaching part of the punishment- it's the keeping an eye on them to make sure it's not going to happen again part.
Post by
Magician22773
Well, on your teen example, what about community service at those shops to pay for those windows? Much more efficient and teaching than probation...
Probation does play a very good role for some criminals. Drug cases especially. But the offender has to have the right mentality for it to be effective, especially after the probation period expires.
Most people are smart enough not to use drugs when they know they will be tested on a regular basis. Not so many are able to realize that "OK, I made it 3 years without using because of the tests, so I can make it the rest of my life even without them". This is what I believe the real purpose of probation is, to force a period of good behaviour, and to hope that it continues after supervision is lifted.
Probation and Parole can be either positive or negative. It totally depends on the offender, and to some extent, on the Probation Officer. I absolutely loved my PO. He treated me with respect, and always provided positive comments and praise that I was doing well. He also helped me get one of the best community service assignments, working at a Nature Preserve. I actually like what I was doing so much that I continued to volunteer even after my time was completed.
But, I do believe that in more severe crimes, or repeat offenders, that the "shock" aspect of being locked up is necessary. And in the case of something like DUI manslaughter, you just flat out deserve to spend some time behind bars.
Post by
Squishalot
Obesity being used as evidence of child abuse
in child protection cases.
Post by
Adamsm
Obesity being used as evidence of child abuse
in child protection cases.
That's....idiotic in all honesty.
Post by
gamerunknown
I suppose probation could be used in conjunction with mandatory maximum sentences (for misdemeanors, perhaps), when it's likely the perpetrator will commit the same crime again. Or if the evidence were insufficient to convict on a major crime.
As for the difference in sentences: the argument could be made that the victim in the second case made the decision to get into a car with a drunk driver and her engagement in the risky behaviour reduced the driver's culpability, whereas the first woman was not a party at all. I don't like blaming the victim, but it probably formed a basis of the defence's argument.
Post by
204878
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
204878
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
MyTie
Bain Capitol invested in it in 1999, and Romney left in Feb 1999, and likely had nothing to do with the deal. He did own stock with the company, though.
Breaking news that I'm not going to comment on.
http://www.americablog.com/2012/07/new-evidence-suggests-romney-may-have.html
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2012/07/12/government_documents_indicate_mitt_romney_continued_at_bain_after_date_when_he_says_he_left/?page=1
http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/07/factcheck-romney-would-be-guilty-of-federal-felony-128733.html
Yeesh. This is like those guys that say Obama might have been born in Kenya. Every side has its shills that reach for straws and insinuate guilt. Truth be told, I don't really care if he invested in a company that had dealings with another company that supplied bolt cutters to a guy who cut a lock to steal a gun that was sold to a drug dealer who then shot a 4 year old girl with cerebral palsy. These stretches don't point guilt at Romney. What bothers me, is when conservatives post these nonsense blogs, pundits mock them and make them out to be the majority. When liberals do it, its either ignored or embraced.
Post by
gamerunknown
Can you find any articles on politico or factcheck saying "Obama may have been born in Kenya" or "Obama may be a Muslim"?
Post by
MyTie
Can you find any articles on politico or factcheck saying "Obama may have been born in Kenya" or "Obama may be a Muslim"?
Politico?
No, mostly because the subject doesn't interest me. Doing so wouldn't make it fact, though.
Here
is an article from rushlimbaugh.com about the Bain issue. Enjoy! I know you will.
Post by
134377
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Squishalot
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18862480
Well done brave boys. You killed a fisherman. The world is much safer now.
In fairness, the folks on the boat didn't heed any instructions to turn around or divert away from the ship.
Post by
134377
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
MyTie
They sign up to get blown up. That's their job, that they freely chose.
Odd. I don't remember that in the contract.
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