tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848491628396529552.post6071842548109679500..comments2023-07-17T02:33:39.109-07:00Comments on The Lion of the Left Speaks: CRIME AND PUNISHMENTLion of the Lefthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01452320468745423207noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848491628396529552.post-71195305477783358482013-03-03T09:10:11.583-08:002013-03-03T09:10:11.583-08:00When a verdict of guilt comes in, the defendant...When a verdict of guilt comes in, the defendant's defense is "shot", except for appeals.<br /><br />At sentencing, some defendants continue to defend themselves with excessive mitigating circumstances. This can sometimes backfire, giving the impression that the defendant is "defiant", and unwilling to admit guilt at all. It can result in a harsher sentence.<br /><br />The opposite can also happen.<br /><br />Convicted defendants, intimidated and coerced, will "throw themselves on the mercy of the court". They, and their lawyers, will sometimes "over-confess", resulting in an excessively vindictive punishment.<br /><br />In this second senario, the crimes can often involve crimes I would describe as "moral crimes", where the victims are small and few, and sometimes none at all.<br /><br />In Mr Jackson's case, there was a violation of public trust, and money was apparently lost.<br /><br />But I'm not so sure how bad the damages actually are, but they shouldn't be unfixable<br /><br />Jackson may have personal problems of his own. If his punishment is too excessive, he could become a greater victim than any he created himself<br /><br />This often happens in the affairs of crime and punishment. Some examples are gross <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848491628396529552.post-61195280751748665602013-02-27T21:54:40.673-08:002013-02-27T21:54:40.673-08:00The prison-industrial complex has a great thing go...The prison-industrial complex has a great thing going. Why would anyone challenge the status quo and be perceived as "soft on crime." You argument is clear and convincing, but I'm afraid no once cares, no one that matters.<br />An incident from Huck Finn, chapter 32 comes to mind. Huck is explaining tto Aunt Sally hat he was delayed because of a steamship explosion<br /> "Good gracious! anybody hurt?"<br /> "No'm. Killed a nigger."<br /> "Well, it's lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt.<br /><br />Nobody is hurt by the insane criminal justice system in this country. Nobody but prisoners and their families. But no real people are hurt, thank goodness.<br /><br />What will it take for there to be a change in thinking so that those that make the laws realize that the current system does not serve society, but only enriches the prison-industrial complex?Muddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15108864648232350814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848491628396529552.post-56546866575185887912013-02-27T19:25:10.579-08:002013-02-27T19:25:10.579-08:00Some sentences are too harsh, yes, but sometimes c...Some sentences are too harsh, yes, but sometimes celebs are let off too easily. In 2011, Vince Neil (the singer for the heavy metal band Motley Crue) was busted in Vegas for drunk driving. He got something like just 10 days in jail and maybe a $500 fine, and had to attend meetings to learn about the impact D.U.I. has on victims.<br /><br />Really, he should have had his driver's licence permanently revoked. Back in 1985, when Motley Crue was starting to become very successful, he caused a drunk-driving accident which killed his passenger "Razzle" (Nicholas Dingley, his friend from the band "Hanoi Rocks"), and also resulted in permanent brain damage for a girl named Lisa Hogan and her boyfriend, who were in another car. (The driver of a third car involved escaped permanent injury).<br /><br />For that crime, Neil had to pay 2.5 million dollars in restitutaion and do about a month in prison, however, he got off relatively lightly because he and his lawyer convinced the court that he could do more good touring and earning restitution money, and speaking out against the dangers of drunk driving.<br /><br />For this latest offense though, like I say, they should have revoked his licence for good, made him pay thousands of dollars to MADD, and given him like at least a year in prison. He was 50 years old (as opposed to his mid-20s in the first accident) and should have had no more excuses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com