Ridiculous American Sentences

[Marg0]

Just saw this one: "238 years....TO LIFE!!!"

Yeah right.

Ok I know it sounds ridiculous, but......why are they so heavily into making sure so many never ever come out? Doesn't it cause jail problems? Is 3x strikes and you're out quite widespread now? No wonder they got so much plea bargaining.

[tiara4321]

i really wish the had the same thing like that going for a lot of peadifiles woman beaters murders or make them suffer in the way they have caused thier victoms and they will not be free of the incedent in three years they are scared for lifeso i think the wwrong doer should have life sentances. then they would not ever be alloed to re offend ,,, so i agree with the american law...sorry

[pink-kittens]

238 years to life does sound ludicrous, doesn't it?
But at least in the US life does mean a bloody long time!
It should mean the same here, for murderers and peadophiles and rapists
The UK is far behind

[RevFunk]

U really are stupid

I suppose you much prefer "life sentances" in the uk which end up being ten years

[Marg0]

Hi RevFunk.
Where did I write that I think that life without parole is completely inappropriate in all cases? Why do you think I prefer 10 year life sentances (sic)? What I am referring to is the idea that there are many sentences in the USA which seem very ridiculous.
Put it this way: if, say, your son is in the USA and;
-shoplifts when he is 15.
-gets in a brawl when he is 20
-gets caught drink-driving 10% over the limit when he is 22.

In certain parts of the USA he is sentenced to life imprisonment, without parole. Which is longer than some murderers, rapists, etc.

Is this a system you support?

[squarebear]

I'm all for harsh sentences.

"Shoplifts at 15, brawls at 20, drink driving at 22". Sounds like a great kid(!) Throw away the key I say. We don't need scum like this walking the streets.

[DrFilth]

150 years to life yes but 238 years is ridiculous

[Marg0]

squarebear: it'll cost the country over a quarter of a million quid to keep him inside and stop him shoplifting marsbars from woolworths, don't you think hanging would be a better option?
DrFilth: he may get 10 years off for good behaviour, when he's 170 he'll just come back out and start reoffending again.

[squarebear]

Yep, hanging or the electric chair is much better.

[Marg0]

Before I get corrected, I am aware that sentencing someone to death does end up costing more than a life term lol.

[squarebear]

Maybe so but at least they won't re-offend!

Hopefully that should be deterrent enough.

[DrFilth]

is that because the electric is so expensive in america

[Marg0]

na, they use a very special type of wood for the chairs, and build a custom one for each offender. I dunno why but the death sentence folk seem to be in for a LONG time before their punishment actually happens.

[jake-the-peg]

As I keep reminding people we do have life without parole sentences in the UK.

We also have indeterminant sentences where people can be locked up for as long as they are believed to be a risk to the public.

You have to remember too that you han make the penalty as stiff as you lijke - torture, state execution of the offender's entire family anything you like and it won't be a deterrent when people act on impulse or they don't think they'll be caught.

People don't decide not to kill someone because there's a 40 year sentence as opposed to a 10 year one

Most states in the US have the death penalty and a huge murder rate.

You also make life much more dangerous for the police and prison officers if you have mandatory death sentences.