Prison Sentence 1St Time Offence

[Letsgofishing]

Someone very close to me, never been in trouble with the law, always worked from leaving school, made one stupid mistake, drugs and delivering were involved, he was used as a taxi service basically, he was given a 7 year prison sentence, now don't get me wrong, I realise it was very stupid, but what I don't understand is it was a first time offence, and I personally think the sentence was quite steep when you consider, some crimes are a lot worse for less prison time, and by giving a 1st time offender such a lengthy sentence, surely he will be learning a lot more tricks and scams in prison, than if he had been punished him in some other way.

[Letsgofishing]

Then if life is more important in law than drug crime, why do people get less sentencing for murder, driving drunk killing Someone, rape, child killers, it more often seems drug crime and fraud etc carry a heavier sentence.

[bednobs]

really, child murderers get less than 7 years?

[Letsgofishing]

Yes bednobs they do, one known case in the same prison as my pal, and how many times do you read in the newspapers 'mothers boyfriend kills baby' and gets some ridiculous sentence like 18 months, drug crimes make more work for the police and the courts, and that's a fact.

[Mamyalynne]

I think you've made your point - you think your friend got too long.

Just don't expect everyone else to agree with you, accept it's happened.

[hc4361]

Think of the babies born with addiction because of their drug addled mothers; the babies and young children pimped out so the parent(s) can fund their drug addiction; the young people forced in to prostitution because somebody has persuaded them that drugs are cool and got them hooked; the neglected children of junkies; the victims of junkies who are desperate for money and will use violence to get it; the total and utter misery of the families of junkies.

Your pal is in the right place with the right sentence.

[paddywak]

I could be worse,in some Eastern countries being caught in possession of certain amounts of class A drugs carries a mandatory death sentence.

[mallyh]

as the mother of an heroine addict i have no sympathy with dealers or carriers they should get longer sentences .

[EDDIE51]

Letsgofishing ,The ONLY possible sentence for Murder is 'Life'
Causing death by dangerous driving is also a possible 'life' sentence as is Rape. ( please note there are two causing death by driving offences, Death by Careless Driving and Death by Dangerous Driving, the dangerous driving offence is a lot more serious and it can be a life sentence.)
When a 'life' sentence is passed the judge MUST also specify a 'tariff' this is the minimum time that must be served before the offender can begin the process of applying for parole. It is NOT as many people think an early release date . So I can see you are concerned that your friend got 7 years but it is simply untrue that murderers and rapists get a shorter sentence than drug offenders.
Your friend can get early release from prison and will probably only be inside for 4 years or so. I will try to look up the release terms for 7 year sentence and let you know.

[EDDIE51]

Your friend can apply for release on parole after they have served 1/2 the sentence ,so in 3 years 6 months.

[Letsgofishing]

My point is not what my pal did he knows and is taking his punishment like a man, I might add, what my beef is drug takers choose to take drugs no one forces their mouths open or jabs a needle in their arm, they can say No can they not, that's their choice, ok so drug dealers, drug couriers, drug barons, dont help the situation but they are supplying a demand, babies, children, rape victims don't choose to be raped, killed, beaten, and yet are not given the sentence they deserve, that poor baby Poppy Worthington is a prime example, an innocent, her 'Father' is walking the streets.

[EDDIE51]

^Yes, but Class A drugs are all highly addictive with severe withdrawal symptoms.So it's not fair to say people 'choose' to take them. Drug dealers are known to give people free drugs to get them 'hooked' then once they are addicted they start to charge and the price goes up.
Drug dealers MAKE the demand not just supply it.

[chanel5]

He took the chance that if he did something immoral and illegal he would get away with it. He didn't. Now he is whining that he doesn't deserve his punishment. Of course he deserves it. Drug dealers are a blight on society. No sympathy.

[nailit]

//I might add, what my beef is drug takers choose to take drugs no one forces their mouths open or jabs a needle in their arm, they can say No can they not, that's their choice, ok so drug dealers, drug couriers, drug barons, dont help the situation but they are supplying a demand//
So are child pornographers.

[Letsgofishing]

I know for a fact my pal was not that much into it, but that's beside my point, people who take drugs have a choice and can say NO innocent victims of assault, murder, baby battering, elderly people being beaten, and robbed don't get that choice to say NO so their assailants should get a sentence that is on par with drug crimes, if not more.

[douglas9401]

Jesus! Enough with the rapists and violence repeats.

[bednobs]

i refer you to mamya's excellent answer at 17:02