Crime: Why does anyone even bother?

[elizabethbinary]

Quote:
I agree and disagree. We should DEFINITELY be using it on PRE-elementary school children. On babies, even. On every human being. See, the thing is: you think this. Everyone thinks this. There are PLENTY of dieticians for children. Hundreds of Thousands.

The monetary funds going into improving the diet are -the same- funds - it doesn't cost more to change, really, and SOMEBODY needs to have the job of working on diets in prisons no matter what. And that person is (going to be) me.

See how that works? Everyone helping everyone else. You help babies, everyone else wants to - cool, babies need help.

I help prisoners because nobody wants to. I help them because they need/want help/a chance and nobody gives it to them. I help them because of the people in this thread. I am the kind ear that listens. I am the sympathetic hand that holds theirs. I am the arms that they can (and DO!) cry in. You would be intensely surprised to discover what you learn in there when you stop and listen. Which is what I have personally done - so I know from experience. You don't have to feel sorry for them or sympathize, really - I wish you would, but again, that's what I am here for. That's what I study for.

And if someone wants to say I wasn't a victim again, it's simply untrue. I was a victim of quite a few very horrific crimes - crimes that would and could be punishable by death in some countries/states. They were sociopaths that deserved prison (I am in NO way saying there are not people who don't deserve prison - sociopaths are one of them) but I will still fight to the death to protect their rights.

I am certain you think I am stupid since I am willing to defend my own attacker to the death... but you'd be so grateful to have me as your neighbour... because I'd do the same for you. No matter who you are, no matter what mistakes you made, no matter what happened - I will fight for your rights and I will work towards making sure you are not a victim yourself. It is simply who I am.

Stupid??? I don't believe anyone is implying that. I get the impression that you are intelligent and driven in your chosen profession.
Power to ya
I couldn't do it - my compassions run deep and varied - but not usually in that direction.
Most of the people I know that were incarcerated at one time or another will be the first ones to tell you that they deserved what they got.

Oh thank you! I meant 'you' in the broad brush sense, but I'm sorry it came off that way!

Most of the people I know that were incarcerated would be inclined to agree with you too! Everyone I know says they deserved to be there - it's the details and stuff they had to deal with *while* they were there that is the big issue.

I just recall some prisons purposefully shorting prison blocks on food so that the cell-mates would have to fight for it. Who does this help? This is stuff I'd like to see abolished as well.

 

[littlegorb]

so today i'm on my way to my son's spelling bee 18 miles away. stop at the post office to get my neighbor's mail. get out of the car, walked in front of it, 5 steps later smack! i stood there looking at the car that slammed into mine. had to get the mail though before lunch closing. so i tell the postmaster, oh, that lady just hit my car, looking out the window, then "now she's taking off"! he told me who had just left. well i didn't see any damage, but driving to the next town, there was a train, that had stopped the traffic. well there was the car who hit me, right in front of me. i wrote down the plate number. then when i had some time i looked at my car, well my license plate frame was cracked. i thought it's no big deal. but thinking about it later....i called the sheriff. thinking...5 seconds before she hit my car she could have hit me, breaking my legs in between the cars. she didn't say sorry or anything. and...she could have alzhiemers. i told the dispatcher i didn't want them to investigate, or give the lady a ticket, just take note that this person may have a problem. i mean, they had a really nice car but they didn't even check to see if they damaged their own car! so the sheriff did take note, and will pass along to police in that county where the car was from.

not a big deal, but that could be my mother, driving around, bashing into cars...i think i'd want to know and have her stop driving! i could have lost my legs today.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Apparently whatever he did BEFORE was "moderate" enough for the JUDGE to let him back out on the streets again. That's what I was getting at. Had the judge punished him harder for the "moderate" crime, he wouldn't have been out hurting the pizza man.

Well under that reasoning we should lock up all jay walkers for life before they one day cause a fatal accident.
You can not punish someone for what they MIGHT do in the future.

He wasn't jaywalking

Lemme go re-read the article (which was poorly written, but that's the media for ya)

Court records show he was arrested and booked in July with aggravated assault, illegally carrying a concealed weapon and aggravated assault with a firearm. Records show that in September he took an "Alford plea," meaning he did not admit he was guilty but conceded that the strong evidence could have led to his conviction.
Criminal District Court Judge Laurie White gave Alexis credit for time served, meaning he was released at that time after having spent 54 days in jail, the records show.

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2011/02/new_orleans_pizza_delivery_man.html

THAT's what I meant about the JUDGE not punishing him severely enough for his previous crimes. 54 days for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon???? COME ON!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Don't get me started on how the media can't get it right. Every story that I've know something about the details, they've got something wrong. Often, that is critical information to understand what really happened.

The system is a long way from perfect. It always will be as long as humans are involved. Most of us probably have a story about someone where the system messed up badly, either way. One of mine is about a man that sexually molested his 13 year old step-daughter, got a slap on the hand for a sentence and had his record expunged (taken off the books) because his wife (who had other daughters living with her) had connections and wanted him out. We could not even get him thrown out of Boy Scouts (scouts have young sisters) because his record was expunged. It was only after he was caught molesting his 13 year old niece that he was sent away where he belonged. If you think you are frustrated because of a newspaper story, try it when you know the daughters and some of other people involved and what moral values he is instilling in his son.

I don't know the details in your story and can't explain what happened. It could be anything from where the judge thought the guy that was assaulted needed to be to where the judge was showing favors. It could have easily been a plea bargain, more the district attorney than the judge. Lots of different possible reasons, not all of them unreasonable or crooked. There is always a lot more to the story than we will ever know.

The system is broke. The costs are out of control and too many people are getting out after serving their time and committing other crimes. I'm not looking forward to the next Arkansas governor having to raise an additional billion dollars a year to pay for the prison system. It is not easy trying to reach the people that can be changed yet keep the dangerous ones away from us. But don't let one story sour you on the whole system. Just because you get one bad rooster doesn't mean they are all bad.

 

[sourland]

Ridgerunner, I can duplicate your story except that the abused were young boys. Local township official was indicted for showing porn and sexual touching of young boys. PTI and rehabilitation without incarceration. Fast forward 3 years and he is now on trial for the molestation of 8 or 9 young boys from that period until now. I have a soft heart for those in need, but refuse to delude myself about the true evil nature of some!

 

[Countrywife]

Quote:
If it turns out to be true that diet effects the crime rate.


We should be using the information and monetary funds to improve the dietary needs of the elementary school children in an attempt to improve the future.
Not to Improve the meals of ADULTS THAT HAVE ALREADY RUINED THEIRS.

I agree and disagree. We should DEFINITELY be using it on PRE-elementary school children. On babies, even. On every human being. See, the thing is: you think this. Everyone thinks this. There are PLENTY of dieticians for children. Hundreds of Thousands.

The monetary funds going into improving the diet are -the same- funds - it doesn't cost more to change, really, and SOMEBODY needs to have the job of working on diets in prisons no matter what. And that person is (going to be) me.

See how that works? Everyone helping everyone else. You help babies, everyone else wants to - cool, babies need help.

I help prisoners because nobody wants to. I help them because they need/want help/a chance and nobody gives it to them. I help them because of the people in this thread. I am the kind ear that listens. I am the sympathetic hand that holds theirs. I am the arms that they can (and DO!) cry in. You would be intensely surprised to discover what you learn in there when you stop and listen. Which is what I have personally done - so I know from experience. You don't have to feel sorry for them or sympathize, really - I wish you would, but again, that's what I am here for. That's what I study for.

And if someone wants to say I wasn't a victim again, it's simply untrue. I was a victim of quite a few very horrific crimes - crimes that would and could be punishable by death in some countries/states. They were sociopaths that deserved prison (I am in NO way saying there are not people who don't deserve prison - sociopaths are one of them) but I will still fight to the death to protect their rights.

I am certain you think I am stupid since I am willing to defend my own attacker to the death... but you'd be so grateful to have me as your neighbour... because I'd do the same for you. No matter who you are, no matter what mistakes you made, no matter what happened - I will fight for your rights and I will work towards making sure you are not a victim yourself. It is simply who I am.

Actually, this is a bit misleading. You HOPE to help prisoners, at some point in the future, when you are well enough to go back to school, get your education, find the job you want open, as there is only one of these jobs in the system, get enough experience to be hired and change the world. Based upon 6 or so months of upaid time you seem to have spent in the prison system. You might want to start being clear about this when engaging in your defense of prisoners on any level, and your feelings about the situation. I personally think each and every one of us knows what is right and wrong. If you do wrong, pay the consequences, which happen to be prison. Not much there to debate. If you wish not to be incarcerated, don't break the law. Excuses are simply that, excuses. Words from people that do not want to be responsible for thier own actions, choices and decisions. And quite frankly, with your strongly held position of the state of prisoners, I would prefer not to have you as a neighbor. Being a law abiding citizen who holds great comfort in her faith, I do not need you, or anyone else, to stand up for my rights. I do a fine job of that on my own. I would be more concerened in your coddling of criminals and the potential of who you would bring into my neighborhood because of how strongly you see the rights of someone who breaks the law. I don't think you are stupid, I simply think that you may have a simplified view of the world that holds the potential to do you harm. Do I think that is awful? No. I do think that as people age and mature thier views will tend to change, and the need to slay windmills settles into a more effective pattern of actual realistic contribution and change. No one in this discussion has used the word stupid at all, especially on a personal level to you, and most everyone in the discussion has been mature, so stupid is not something that is thrown around. I think you like a cause, as many people do, and this is your cause. It is simply not a popular one, and with all due respect, you do not yet have the education or experience to know yourself whether the idea you so strongly carry has any merit. Time will tell, and you will need lots of it. Much work remains to be done to see if your position holds strength, and you are only a few steps down the road to finding out where it will lead.

 

[gritsar]

Countrywife, it won't let me quote you for some bizarre reason, but I agree with you 110%.

I can understand the point of feeding young children well in the hopes that it will aid in their future positive development - and I can't abide the thought of any child going hungry - but how much hope does it really offer when the child is inside eating a decent meal while the parents are outside selling drugs?

People wonder why cops "burn out" so much. Could it be that they get tired of arresting the same people over and over and over again; only to see those people get a slap on the wrist and turned loose again? Simplified, I liken it to having a job where your only responsibility is to keep a floor spotlessly cleaned, only to have the same people walk across it with muddy feet, not caring that it's just been cleaned. (Sorry, but it's mud season here

)

The system starts feeding prisoners better and they already offer them weight-lifting rooms. Around here that means that they are creating a healthier, stronger criminal that goes out and does the same thing all over again.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
I agree and disagree. We should DEFINITELY be using it on PRE-elementary school children. On babies, even. On every human being. See, the thing is: you think this. Everyone thinks this. There are PLENTY of dieticians for children. Hundreds of Thousands.

The monetary funds going into improving the diet are -the same- funds - it doesn't cost more to change, really, and SOMEBODY needs to have the job of working on diets in prisons no matter what. And that person is (going to be) me.

See how that works? Everyone helping everyone else. You help babies, everyone else wants to - cool, babies need help.

I help prisoners because nobody wants to. I help them because they need/want help/a chance and nobody gives it to them. I help them because of the people in this thread. I am the kind ear that listens. I am the sympathetic hand that holds theirs. I am the arms that they can (and DO!) cry in. You would be intensely surprised to discover what you learn in there when you stop and listen. Which is what I have personally done - so I know from experience. You don't have to feel sorry for them or sympathize, really - I wish you would, but again, that's what I am here for. That's what I study for.

And if someone wants to say I wasn't a victim again, it's simply untrue. I was a victim of quite a few very horrific crimes - crimes that would and could be punishable by death in some countries/states. They were sociopaths that deserved prison (I am in NO way saying there are not people who don't deserve prison - sociopaths are one of them) but I will still fight to the death to protect their rights.

I am certain you think I am stupid since I am willing to defend my own attacker to the death... but you'd be so grateful to have me as your neighbour... because I'd do the same for you. No matter who you are, no matter what mistakes you made, no matter what happened - I will fight for your rights and I will work towards making sure you are not a victim yourself. It is simply who I am.

Actually, this is a bit misleading. You HOPE to help prisoners, at some point in the future, when you are well enough to go back to school, get your education, find the job you want open, as there is only one of these jobs in the system, get enough experience to be hired and change the world. Based upon 6 or so months of upaid time you seem to have spent in the prison system. You might want to start being clear about this when engaging in your defense of prisoners on any level, and your feelings about the situation. I personally think each and every one of us knows what is right and wrong. If you do wrong, pay the consequences, which happen to be prison. Not much there to debate. If you wish not to be incarcerated, don't break the law. Excuses are simply that, excuses. Words from people that do not want to be responsible for thier own actions, choices and decisions. And quite frankly, with your strongly held position of the state of prisoners, I would prefer not to have you as a neighbor. Being a law abiding citizen who holds great comfort in her faith, I do not need you, or anyone else, to stand up for my rights. I do a fine job of that on my own. I would be more concerened in your coddling of criminals and the potential of who you would bring into my neighborhood because of how strongly you see the rights of someone who breaks the law. I don't think you are stupid, I simply think that you may have a simplified view of the world that holds the potential to do you harm. Do I think that is awful? No. I do think that as people age and mature thier views will tend to change, and the need to slay windmills settles into a more effective pattern of actual realistic contribution and change. No one in this discussion has used the word stupid at all, especially on a personal level to you, and most everyone in the discussion has been mature, so stupid is not something that is thrown around. I think you like a cause, as many people do, and this is your cause. It is simply not a popular one, and with all due respect, you do not yet have the education or experience to know yourself whether the idea you so strongly carry has any merit. Time will tell, and you will need lots of it. Much work remains to be done to see if your position holds strength, and you are only a few steps down the road to finding out where it will lead.

Soooo well Put! BRAVO!

 

[australorpchick]

Quote:
I agree and disagree. We should DEFINITELY be using it on PRE-elementary school children. On babies, even. On every human being. See, the thing is: you think this. Everyone thinks this. There are PLENTY of dieticians for children. Hundreds of Thousands.

The monetary funds going into improving the diet are -the same- funds - it doesn't cost more to change, really, and SOMEBODY needs to have the job of working on diets in prisons no matter what. And that person is (going to be) me.

See how that works? Everyone helping everyone else. You help babies, everyone else wants to - cool, babies need help.

I help prisoners because nobody wants to. I help them because they need/want help/a chance and nobody gives it to them. I help them because of the people in this thread. I am the kind ear that listens. I am the sympathetic hand that holds theirs. I am the arms that they can (and DO!) cry in. You would be intensely surprised to discover what you learn in there when you stop and listen. Which is what I have personally done - so I know from experience. You don't have to feel sorry for them or sympathize, really - I wish you would, but again, that's what I am here for. That's what I study for.

And if someone wants to say I wasn't a victim again, it's simply untrue. I was a victim of quite a few very horrific crimes - crimes that would and could be punishable by death in some countries/states. They were sociopaths that deserved prison (I am in NO way saying there are not people who don't deserve prison - sociopaths are one of them) but I will still fight to the death to protect their rights.

I am certain you think I am stupid since I am willing to defend my own attacker to the death... but you'd be so grateful to have me as your neighbour... because I'd do the same for you. No matter who you are, no matter what mistakes you made, no matter what happened - I will fight for your rights and I will work towards making sure you are not a victim yourself. It is simply who I am.

Showing compassion does not make us weak.
Lack of compassion is the true weakness.

No, it just means we took off the rose-colored glasses quite awhile ago.

 

[elizabethbinary]

I find it interesting that the people who are compassionate towards pisoners and reformation are the people who have actually been inside a prison and those who hold hatred and vitriol haven't.

How can you judge what you've only heard and never seen?