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The problem with pressing charges as a detterrent is that it is fundamentally unjust, because the punishment is set up as a detterrent and is disproportionate t

The problem with pressing charges as a detterrent is that it is fundamentally unjust, because the punishment is set up as a detterrent and is disproportionate to the crime. Example: imagine the country of Dictatoria where if you jaywalk you are publicly tortured for a couple of weeks and then put to death. "As a detterrent" A little extreme? Well, consider the 10-20 (or more) year sentences for cyber-terrorism these teenagers are going to get if the FBI throws the book at them. That kind of law enforcement agency doesn't understand the concept of restraint - they are set up to go for the kill, for the maximum charge, for the maximum sentence every time. You can lay charges thinking to give them a slap on the wrist, but the steam roller that gets set in motion is designed to crush them flat with no mercy.

lambda 16y ago
Why do you think these kids would get 10-20 year sentences? Have you ever heard of a computer crime getting that high of a sentence? No one on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_convicted_computer_criminals http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_convicted_computer_crim... has gotten more than 5 years, and they include people who have sold access to botnets of hundreds of thousands of machines. A quick Google search reveals someone sentenced to 20 years, but for stealing millions of credit and debit card numbers, which is actually a sizable crime with significant damage to many victims. http://www.scmagazineus.com/hacker-albert-gonzalez-receives-20-years-in-prison/article/166571/ http://www.scmagazineus.com/hacker-albert-gonzalez-receives-...
- Stormbringer 16y ago
  There is a story along these lines, it happened recently in New Zealand. Some parents had an argument with their teenage son, and he went off in a huff taking the family car (technically without asking permission). His parents thought to themselves "I know, we'll teach him a lesson", so they reported the car stolen. They intended to later on drop the charges (which would have royally peeved the police, making a false charge is also a crime). Anyway, the cops caught the kid, and because Grand Theft Auto (or whatever the NZ equivalent is) is rated as amongst the most serious crimes, he got sent off (before formal charges were laid) to a maximum security facility in the back of a paddy wagon. He didn't even make it to the maximum security facility. One of the other prisoners being transported there in the same van killed him.
  - hayley 16y ago
    Sounds like you're talking about Liam Ashley but have some of the facts twisted: * it wasn't recent (2006) * he was sent to prison because his parents denied bail, not because GTA is some heinous crime in NZ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Liam_Ashley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Liam_Ashley

lambda 16y ago

Why do you think these kids would get 10-20 year sentences? Have you ever heard of a computer crime getting that high of a sentence? No one on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_convicted_computer_criminals http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_convicted_computer_crim... has gotten more than 5 years, and they include people who have sold access to botnets of hundreds of thousands of machines. A quick Google search reveals someone sentenced to 20 years, but for stealing millions of credit and debit card numbers, which is actually a sizable crime with significant damage to many victims. http://www.scmagazineus.com/hacker-albert-gonzalez-receives-20-years-in-prison/article/166571/ http://www.scmagazineus.com/hacker-albert-gonzalez-receives-...

Stormbringer 16y ago
There is a story along these lines, it happened recently in New Zealand. Some parents had an argument with their teenage son, and he went off in a huff taking the family car (technically without asking permission). His parents thought to themselves "I know, we'll teach him a lesson", so they reported the car stolen. They intended to later on drop the charges (which would have royally peeved the police, making a false charge is also a crime). Anyway, the cops caught the kid, and because Grand Theft Auto (or whatever the NZ equivalent is) is rated as amongst the most serious crimes, he got sent off (before formal charges were laid) to a maximum security facility in the back of a paddy wagon. He didn't even make it to the maximum security facility. One of the other prisoners being transported there in the same van killed him.
- hayley 16y ago
  Sounds like you're talking about Liam Ashley but have some of the facts twisted: * it wasn't recent (2006) * he was sent to prison because his parents denied bail, not because GTA is some heinous crime in NZ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Liam_Ashley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Liam_Ashley