Sentence Length U.k. Versus U.s.a

[wolf63]

I have checked to see if this news item has already been posted (it is from 2012) but can't find anything. I apologise if this is a duplicate.

This woman was found guilty of child abuse, she admitted the crime, after assaulting her two year old child. Her punishment, by UK standards, seems harsh ~ should we follow the example of the US in lengths of sentences?


http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/12/nation/la-na-nn-mother-sentencing-hands-glued-20121012

[lady-janine]

very nasty.

[emmie]

no, that is horrible, what she did was vile, but 99 years, absurd.

[wolf63]

It is quite an extreme sentence. I had a nosey around the net earlier and there is nothing to indicate that the period has been reduced.

There never seems to be any logic to sentencing in the UK. Crimes such as rape, murder and other awful crimes should incur harsher sentencing. We need to be protected from such criminals.

[EDDIE51]

The USA has nearly the highest % of the population in prison anywhere in the world. It also has one of the highest rates of robbery, rape,murder and violent crime.
There they have a 'lock them up and forget them' policy. We at least try to give most offenders a second chance.

[jomifl]

The more extreme punishments in the US do not appear to have reduced the murder rate per capita, since it is over 3x that of the UK.

[EDDIE51]

Also in UK the judge has to give a time until a sentence can be reviewed (tariff) in serious cases , this is NOT a release date but newspapers report it in a way that leads readers to think it is so as to stir up anger and make the story more 'newsworthy'.

[jno]

it's the same in that link, Eddie, she's eligible for parole (which doesn't mean she'll get it) in 30 years.

[emmie]

not good when you consider the case you have cited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States

[ToraToraTora]

yes we should, whenever this comes up there is always a load of bleating about longevity but that's irrelevant. Generally the US does not have concurrent sentencing so they tot it up and that's the sentence.

[viv38]

No sympathy for this vile woman whatsoever !

[modeller]

We can't compare sentencing without also comparing all aspects of the legal systems and society. In the USA as Eddie said // it has the highest % of the population in prison anywhere in the world. // but they also have almost uncontrolled gun ownership. This ethos of violence is bound to be reflected elsewhere. Violence breeds violence. !

[ludwig]

// The more extreme punishments in the US do not appear to have reduced the murder rate per capita, since it is over 3x that of the UK. //

Just think how much worse it would be if they didn't have so many murderers locked up already.

[modeller]

//, but 99 years, absurd.// True but it's a legal nicety . They put a figure in the box because the meaning of words can be challenged.
Some years ago a person who was paying a pepper corn rent complained his rent had been doubled. He feared it was a ruse to get the agreement nullified.