Thread: beheading = no jail, stab dog = jail

So i am browsing the news and see these headlines stacked ...

does this make any sence at all ????

I know the beheading sentence was talked about but seeing these headlines just set me off...

It makes no sense to me. It seems to me they should put the cannibal and the dog stabber in the same cell, last man standing gets a private cell.

Easy.
In one case the judge determined the perpetrator was criminally insane, meaning he lacked the mental capacity to understand the moral implications of what he did. In other words-the guy was so mentally ill he didn't know what he was doing. Now you might disagree with that assessment, but that's what the judge who presided over the trial concluded.

In the second case, there was no issue about whether the guy who stabbed his dog lacked the mental capacity to understand what he was doing. In other words, he did what he did knowing what he was doing. That's what the criminal justice systems punishes---morally reprehensible conduct committed by a knowing perpetrator.

See?

While it may seem painfully unfair, there are none-too-secret workings of the legal systems involved here. It was summed up pretty clearly above.
Now, I think there should be some kind of pre-hospitalization determination of when the eprson would ever be eligible for release. This should be less about punishment, and more about protecting society from a dangerous individual who might seem "cured" in a few years. It's not an area I have given terribly much thought, though I have pondered the right move for society on occassion. I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss it further.

I’ve been out to a few regional mental health facilities in my time, on call, and it’s no cake walk for the prisoners. They are almost constantly confined to their 6 X 9 cells which are in full view of the guards and nurses so they don’t try to kill themselves. The few times they do get to leave their cells are for group therapies in which they are fully shackled…. I’m not sure about meals, but trust me; they never leave their cells without shackles. There are guards constantly watching over them with shotgun in tow and the nurses are NUTS! It’s like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with nurse Ratched.

The ones I’ve been called to have no TV’s and no relaxation rooms. It’s just a bunch of 6X9 bared cells with a crapper and a bed in full view of the staff: much like dog kennels at the pound. If this dude has any sense of self he’ll try to kill himself but will never succeed.

Although at first these stories seem sad but in reality they point out our small mindedness.

we should all try and embrace people of all walks of life, and show honor and respect for their diversity. sure they seem barbaric to us but why should they be punished for their belief simply because they do not fit within our norms. i am sure that both these men were just displaying the far ends of the behavioral spectrum... they both should be publicly feted and have honors lauded upon them for their different opinions. and how having them opens up a new world of possibilities for the rest of us.


Gentlemen i salute you! different is good!

Originally Posted by syslight

Although at first these stories seem sad but in reality they point out our small mindedness.

we should all try and embrace people of all walks of life, and show honor and respect for their diversity. sure they seem barbaric to us but why should they be punished for their belief simply because they do not fit within our norms. i am sure that both these men were just displaying the far ends of the behavioral spectrum... they both should be publicly feted and have honors lauded upon them for their different opinions. and how having them opens up a new world of possibilities for the rest of us.


Gentlemen i salute you! different is good!

VIVA LA DIFFERENCE!!

Here's something to ponder:

Case 1: A husband and wife have two foster children, they starved them, beat them, and kept them what can best be described as dog cages in a horse barn for months on end, this happened during the winter where tempratures dipped below zero.

When they were finally caught and prosecuted the prosecuter ended up giving them probation because the prosecuter didn't want to put the children through any more traumatization by making them tesitfy.

Case 2: At the scene of road construction there was a Sherriff's deputy who was guiding traffic. There was a teenage driver (16 at the time) who was getting close to the scene. While she was distracted (read: texting on her cellphone) she struck and killed the the sherriff's deputy.

The prosecuter never pressed charges, much to the dismay of the husband of the sherriff's deputy. When he tried to sue the girl for wrongful death the Judge through it out saying that she had learned her lesson.

Case 3: Girlfriend and boyfriend abused their toddler, burned her, beat her, sent her to the hospital on multiple occasions. When she arrived at the hospital with multiple broken bones and burns the police finally stepped in.

They pled guilty and was given timed served plus probation with the promise of getting the child returned once probation was completed.

Does it make sense? No, but what can we do?

Originally Posted by Thehedgie

Here's something to ponder:

Case 1: A husband and wife have two foster children, they starved them, beat them, and kept them what can best be described as dog cages in a horse barn for months on end, this happened during the winter where tempratures dipped below zero.

When they were finally caught and prosecuted the prosecuter ended up giving them probation because the prosecuter didn't want to put the children through any more traumatization by making them tesitfy.

Case 2: At the scene of road construction there was a Sherriff's deputy who was guiding traffic. There was a teenage driver (16 at the time) who was getting close to the scene. While she was distracted (read: texting on her cellphone) she struck and killed the the sherriff's deputy.

The prosecuter never pressed charges, much to the dismay of the husband of the sherriff's deputy. When he tried to sue the girl for wrongful death the Judge through it out saying that she had learned her lesson.

Case 3: Girlfriend and boyfriend abused their toddler, burned her, beat her, sent her to the hospital on multiple occasions. When she arrived at the hospital with multiple broken bones and burns the police finally stepped in.

They pled guilty and was given timed served plus probation with the promise of getting the child returned once probation was completed.

Does it make sense? No, but what can we do?

Well, none of the cases you reference had anything to do with the insanity defense. BTW-do you have the names or legal citations to these particular cases? I'd be interested to do a fact check to make sure they're real cases. I've seen so many of those "Stella Award" emails purporting to cite to outrageous cases of injustice. Only problem: either the cases aren't real or the context is missing.

Originally Posted by billyjeff2

Well, none of the cases you reference had anything to do with the insanity defense. BTW-do you have the names or legal citations to these particular cases? I'd be interested to do a fact check to make sure they're real cases. I've seen so many of those "Stella Award" emails purporting to cite to outrageous cases of injustice. Only problem: either the cases aren't real or the context is missing.

Of course! I need to bugger off to work here in a few minutes, but I've got a couple links for you. When I get back I'll get the link to #3.

Case #1, it has information about the sentencing and it links back to the original story about the case: No Jail Time For Couple Who Caged Children - Indiana News Story - WRTV Indianapolis

Case #2, I was told wrong and it wasn't a constuction site, it was a roll over: Report: 'Distracted Driver' Caused Crash That Killed Deputy - Indiana News Story - WRTV Indianapolis