4 ms·

The Probation / Parole system, and the "correctional" institution in the US is a national disaster. The idea to prevent an adult, an elderly adult at that, from

by j_m_b 8y ago

The Probation / Parole system, and the "correctional" institution in the US is a national disaster. The idea to prevent an adult, an elderly adult at that, from engaging in lawful activities like drinking alcohol as terms of probation is ludicrous. This man's life spiraled out of control for one reason.. the punitive nature of law enforcement and correctional institutions. What should be regarded as a health condition and treated as such (alcoholism) is instead used as a tool to further humiliate and demoralize this individual. It's not even safe to cold-turkey quit alcohol for an alcoholic because of the possibility of Grand Mal Seizures.

danso 8y ago
His charge of reckless driving was in 2017. In 2014, he received probation after pleading no contest to choking his terminally ill wife, whom in 2016 he divorced. And then got a contempt-of-court charge for not meeting the terms of the divorce settlement. What does the probation/parole system have to do with his particular issues?
- rodgerd 8y ago
  The desperate need of a subset of HN to find excuses for shitty men.
cat199 8y ago
sorry to disagree, but i'm preety sure you can get help for alcoholism without needing to strangle your wife and end up in jail first..
pmarreck 8y ago
Where did you see that he was certifiably an alcoholic? I would agree that the humanity here is lost in the weeds of bureaucracy... but if alcohol was at all a factor in the physical altercation with his ex wife, then I can't see it being that unreasonable a request. This is of course problematic since he's 70 and lots of his friends and family are probably starting to pass away and who can really blame someone for having a few drinks too many at one too many wakes? There is also the problem of unmarried older single men without a source of human affection having a much higher mortality and crime risk, which was brought into the equation. This man probably has almost no emotional support system at this point, which just exacerbates the overdrinking risk. The impending stress of work if he reopens can't be making that any easier, either. EDIT: Before someone accuses me of sympathizing with a felon, have a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_choice_theory_(criminology) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_choice_theory_(crimin... ; the antiquated idea that a person's behavior is due in some significant part to their intrinsic nature in some fashion instead of their circumstances/environment is not only the well-studied https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_attribution_error https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_attribution_error , it should be put to rest ASAP. We need to get to work fixing situations AS WELL AS the people inhabiting them.
loco5niner 8y ago
Disagree. Alcohol abuse makes people dangerous. Certain people struggle with this more than others, and since they won't regulate themselves we have elected representatives and law enforcement who have a responsibility to step in and regulate this for them. > This man's life spiraled out of control for one reason.. the punitive nature of law enforcement... False. It spiraled out of control because of his own selfish decisions.

by j_m_b 8y ago

danso 8y ago

His charge of reckless driving was in 2017. In 2014, he received probation after pleading no contest to choking his terminally ill wife, whom in 2016 he divorced. And then got a contempt-of-court charge for not meeting the terms of the divorce settlement. What does the probation/parole system have to do with his particular issues?

rodgerd 8y ago
The desperate need of a subset of HN to find excuses for shitty men.

cat199 8y ago

sorry to disagree, but i'm preety sure you can get help for alcoholism without needing to strangle your wife and end up in jail first..

pmarreck 8y ago

Where did you see that he was certifiably an alcoholic? I would agree that the humanity here is lost in the weeds of bureaucracy... but if alcohol was at all a factor in the physical altercation with his ex wife, then I can't see it being that unreasonable a request. This is of course problematic since he's 70 and lots of his friends and family are probably starting to pass away and who can really blame someone for having a few drinks too many at one too many wakes? There is also the problem of unmarried older single men without a source of human affection having a much higher mortality and crime risk, which was brought into the equation. This man probably has almost no emotional support system at this point, which just exacerbates the overdrinking risk. The impending stress of work if he reopens can't be making that any easier, either. EDIT: Before someone accuses me of sympathizing with a felon, have a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_choice_theory_(criminology) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_choice_theory_(crimin... ; the antiquated idea that a person's behavior is due in some significant part to their intrinsic nature in some fashion instead of their circumstances/environment is not only the well-studied https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_attribution_error https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_attribution_error , it should be put to rest ASAP. We need to get to work fixing situations AS WELL AS the people inhabiting them.

loco5niner 8y ago

Disagree. Alcohol abuse makes people dangerous. Certain people struggle with this more than others, and since they won't regulate themselves we have elected representatives and law enforcement who have a responsibility to step in and regulate this for them. > This man's life spiraled out of control for one reason.. the punitive nature of law enforcement... False. It spiraled out of control because of his own selfish decisions.