We have alot of problems at USM and in Hattiesburg.Thank goodness there's one dilemma we don't have. The judges here believe in some punishment for commiting a crime. In Vermont,Judge Ed Cashman sentenced a serial child rapist to 60 days . This is a good example of how the liberal mindset can often produce dangerous results.
You know, some issues transcend "liberal" vs. "conservative" labels. I don't know of many (or any) of my liberal friends or relatives who would condone such a sentence.
The story is true, but the lenient sentence has some explanation. The judge gave the convicted child rapist a 60 day sentence because he (the judge) was concerned about the availability of therapy and the state's ability to "rehabilitate" the convicted child rapist. Apparently, the Dept. of Corrections can extend the convicted child rapist's term up to 10 years if the convicted child rapist is not "rehabilitated." However, if the convicted child rapist is "rehabilitated," the convicted child rapist can be released after 60 days. The judge stated that he no longer believes in punishment.
My thought is that it's a good thing he didn't rape my daughter, because I would have given him only 2 options for treatment: (1) he could be tied to a tree in the remote woods while I introduce him to two barrels of #4 buckshot to the groin at close range, or (2) he could hang upside down by his scrotum while I introduce my .45 caliber Colt semiautomatic pistol to his head. I'll go to jail if caught and convicted, which I'm guessing would prove not so easy.
When is the last time a Southern judge put more importance on the treatment of a convicted child rapist than on punishing a crime against a child? I'm guessing the next time it happens (if it ever does) you'll hear about some true Southern justice.
In fact, I think I'll change my nom de plume to Southern Justice. Please note.
I certainly wasn't trying to offend anyone. Rehab of prisoners tends to be a feature of liberalism;punishment is emphasized more by conservatives. Thank God for Americans like Bill O'Reilly.
I certainly wasn't trying to offend anyone. Rehab of prisoners tends to be a feature of liberalism;punishment is emphasized more by conservatives. Thank God for Americans like Bill O'Reilly.
Rehab of prisoners tends to be a feature of liberalism;punishment is emphasized more by conservatives.
Lib or Con, rehab is generally considered one of the classic "purposes of punishment," not an alternative. There are five possible purposes for the punishment of criminals:
1. Incapacitation: A felon in prison generally cannot commit crimes while imprisoned. An executed felon cannot commit a crime ever again.
2. Deterrence: The threat of punishment deters people from engaging in illegal acts.
3. Restitution: The criminal is required to take some action to at least partially return the victim to the status quo ante.
4. Retribution: The felon harmed society; therefore society (or the direct victims) is entitled to inflict harm in return.
5. Rehabilitation: The punishment changes the felon in order to make him a better citizen afterwards. (The punishment can include mandatory vocational training, counseling, drug treatment, etc.)
The argument is more often about which purpose(s) justifies the punishment under consideration.
According to preliminary 2005 FBI statistics, violent crime in the South declined 1.4% from 2004 to 2005, while violent crime in the Northeast declined .9%.