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America in general has extraordinarily long prison sentences. But this isn't that long, in relation to others, if you consider that this amounts to a criminal
by michaelchisari 12y ago
America in general has extraordinarily long prison sentences.
But this isn't that long, in relation to others, if you consider that this amounts to a criminal enterprise with many multiple, provable victims.
- venomsnake 12y agoAnd how 18 years will help reform that guy better than 5 or 10? While some short stints in prison may be a good way to cool off some heads, spending the majority of one's productive life behind bars for non violent crime is troubling. Home arrest without internet is better option. He wastes government money, he will come out without job or ability to be reintegrated into the society ...
- dragonwriter 12y agoUnlike, say, the Federal system, California has near universal parole; IIRC, the norm, barring particularly bad conduct in prison, is serving 1/3 to 1/2 the sentence, so an 18 year sentence is effectively pretty close to 5 or 10 years.
- michaelchisari 12y agoI think that's a valid point, but if you're going to take up that cause, there are much better people to champion than him.
- venomsnake 12y agoI think that starting from unsympathetic person is better. It was despicable, but still non violent. If he is not physically dangerous for anyone, then the case for keeping him behind bars is weak ...
- falcolas 12y agoMost Americans don't see prison as a place we send people to reform them, we see prison as a place we send people to punish them. Viewed in this light, the 18 year sentence (ensuring that with parole opportunities and overcrowding he will stay in prison at least 4-9 years), sees that he is "appropriately" punished, and others who might try and follow in his footsteps are deterred for fear of getting the same punishment.