4 ms·
Looks like a “three strikes” law, which imposes a mandatory heavy (in this case, ridiculously heavy given the offenses) sentence after a certain number of felon
by _iyig 7y ago
Looks like a “three strikes” law, which imposes a mandatory heavy (in this case, ridiculously heavy given the offenses) sentence after a certain number of felony convictions:
“After this conviction under La.R.S. 14:67, Mr. Jackson was sentenced in accordance with R.S. 15:529.1 A(1)(c)(ii), which states in pertinent part:
If the fourth or subsequent felony or any of the prior felonies is a felony defined as a crime of violence under R.S. 14:2(13) ․ the person shall be imprisoned for the remainder of his natural life, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
After a sentencing hearing at which the State proved Mr. Jackson's multiple offender status, the trial court simply stated that “because of the specific provisions of the law ․ the sentence must be ․ life imprisonment without benefit of parole, probation or suspension.” Mr. Jackson has prior convictions for simple burglary in 1991 and in 1986 and for simple robbery in 1979. Simple robbery is listed as a crime of violence under La.R.S. 14:2(13).”
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/la-court-of-appeal/1042986.html https://caselaw.findlaw.com/la-court-of-appeal/1042986.html
- marvin 7y agoThis is heartbreakingly cruel. It's hard to believe that an otherwise civilized country can do this to its citizens.
- User23 7y agoHow about having some sympathy for this man’s many victims and the people he would have preyed on in the future? While a life sentence without parole sounds excessive, he will never again rob or burgle or otherwise prey on the citizens of that otherwise civilized country. The only reason to permit the state monopoly on violence is because the state in turn keeps the peace. That includes protecting its citizens from robbery and burglary.
- wbl 7y agoMost criminals don't commit crimes as they get older. The idea of lifelong criminality is a myth. The certainty of a sentence is more important then its duration, so these harsh sentences aren't deterring crime as effectively as having more cops would.
- SamReidHughes 7y agoThe purpose of the harsh sentence in three strikes laws isn't to deter crime, it's to lock people up who are apparently undeterrable.
- EliRivers 7y agoCrazy, isn't it. If deterrence appears not to work, let's pick the most expensive, wasteful alternative we can find! Taxpayers get a bad deal, society gets a bad deal, everyone involved gets a bad deal. I suppose that's what we get if the point isn't to make a better society but rather to indulge people's revenge fantasies and messed up sense of satisfaction.
- marvin 7y agoI certainly sympathize with the victims, but I also sympathize with someone who has been sentenced to life in prison (a small step above the death penalty, on my own morality scale). Life sentences are not necessary to deter crime, as evidenced by crime and recurrence statistics of other countries.