Thursday, May 10, 2012

Pennsylvania Has Most Teens Doing Mandatory Life


10 comments:

  1. I've worked with teenagers over the years, both in public schools and in a residential treatment facility, and I've been alarmed at how young it's possible to screw up a life permanently. What the earnest speaker in the video doesn't say is what we're going to do with these damaged youths if we let them go.

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  2. The entire country has lost its common sense. It is not only in the judicial and political worlds, but we see it every day in schools with zero tolerance policies which are actually nothing less than 100% intolerance by the teachers and administrators.

    It really shouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a disruptive 5 year-old shouldn't be handcuffed and taken to jail anymore than a tween should be given a life sentence for a terrible mistake.

    Where in the hell is the outrage?
    orlin sellers

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  3. Greg's right about the million dollar question, what do we do with these kids? I think the first thing is to eliminate these rigid guidelines. Another one is the three-strikes-you're-out rule. Judges need to have some flex in sentencing people.

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    Replies
    1. But what do we do with these dangerous people once they're out? Have you worked with them? I have. Letting them wander the street worries me.

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    2. It is strange to hear Mr. “one-strike-you’re-out” preach about flex in sentencing.

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    3. Please keep in mind, my one-strike-you're-out deal usually would not include incarceration, only loss of gun rights.

      The kind of flexibility I think judges need is not possible under the sentencing guidelines that often have to work within.

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    4. Any loss of any rights is a punishment. Get it?

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    5. Excuse the car comparison, but does that mean you view wearing a seat belt a punishment?

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    6. Wearing a seat belt? No. Being required to wear a seatbelt? Yes.

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    7. A punishment, Greg, really? Being required by law to wear a seat belt? Do you know how silly that sounds? What are you 16 years old? Grown ups usually accept societal norms willingly.

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