Stories like this are why I simply cannot support the death penalty unless there is direct video evidence of a life being taken or ruined.



Young father found guilty of rape. Sent to prison. Raped repeatedly. Contracts HIV in prison. Attempts to kill himself several times in prison unsuccessfully. Spends 22 years of the prime of his life in a prison hell.

Oh yea - he was totally innocent. Hair DNA evidence by the FBI was used to convict him. It was not just wrong -- but hugely wrong.

The DC circuit awarded him $9,200,000 in damages. There is no way you can convince me $9.2m for being raped repeatedly, contracting HIV through those rapes, losing your 30's and 40's when you are suppose to build your career path and grow a nest egg and pay off your house, and the sheer anguish from being innocently imprisoned with the worst of society for over 2 decades, is worth ONLY $9.2m.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crim...tid=pm_pop

(03-09-2015 05:41 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Stories like this are why I simply cannot support the death penalty unless there is direct video evidence of a life being taken or ruined.



Young father found guilty of rape. Sent to prison. Raped repeatedly. Contracts HIV in prison. Attempts to kill himself several times in prison unsuccessfully. Spends 22 years of the prime of his life in a prison hell.

Oh yea - he was totally innocent. Hair DNA evidence by the FBI was used to convict him. It was not just wrong -- but hugely wrong.

The DC circuit awarded him $9,200,000 in damages. There is no way you can convince me $9.2m for being raped repeatedly, contracting HIV through those rapes, losing your 30's and 40's when you are suppose to build your career path and grow a nest egg and pay off your house, and the sheer anguish from being innocently imprisoned with the worst of society for over 2 decades, is worth ONLY $9.2m.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crim...tid=pm_pop

I would say even with overwhelming evidence that it's still not worth it. The Death Penalty is not a sufficient deterrent nor is it a cost effective form of vengeance. Just sentence people to life and be done with it.

As for the rape, I'm convinced that most of the Prisons in the US should be of the Supermax isolation variety. Start there and work ones way down via behavior to more social confinement systems.

(03-09-2015 08:14 AM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 05:41 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Stories like this are why I simply cannot support the death penalty unless there is direct video evidence of a life being taken or ruined.
Young father found guilty of rape. Sent to prison. Raped repeatedly. Contracts HIV in prison. Attempts to kill himself several times in prison unsuccessfully. Spends 22 years of the prime of his life in a prison hell.
Oh yea - he was totally innocent. Hair DNA evidence by the FBI was used to convict him. It was not just wrong -- but hugely wrong.
The DC circuit awarded him $9,200,000 in damages. There is no way you can convince me $9.2m for being raped repeatedly, contracting HIV through those rapes, losing your 30's and 40's when you are suppose to build your career path and grow a nest egg and pay off your house, and the sheer anguish from being innocently imprisoned with the worst of society for over 2 decades, is worth ONLY $9.2m.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crim...tid=pm_pop

I would say even with overwhelming evidence that it's still not worth it. The Death Penalty is not a sufficient deterrent nor is it a cost effective form of vengeance. Just sentence people to life and be done with it.
As for the rape, I'm convinced that most of the Prisons in the US should be of the Supermax isolation variety. Start there and work ones way down via behavior to more social confinement systems.

Agree.

This is a huge travesty of justice. Gov't should have awarded him $100 mil. Seriously wonder whether DA jobs should no longer be considered an office to be elected to. It seems like the goal is to get reelected more so than serve as a an objective member of the court systems.

(03-09-2015 08:14 AM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 05:41 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Stories like this are why I simply cannot support the death penalty unless there is direct video evidence of a life being taken or ruined.



Young father found guilty of rape. Sent to prison. Raped repeatedly. Contracts HIV in prison. Attempts to kill himself several times in prison unsuccessfully. Spends 22 years of the prime of his life in a prison hell.

Oh yea - he was totally innocent. Hair DNA evidence by the FBI was used to convict him. It was not just wrong -- but hugely wrong.

The DC circuit awarded him $9,200,000 in damages. There is no way you can convince me $9.2m for being raped repeatedly, contracting HIV through those rapes, losing your 30's and 40's when you are suppose to build your career path and grow a nest egg and pay off your house, and the sheer anguish from being innocently imprisoned with the worst of society for over 2 decades, is worth ONLY $9.2m.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crim...tid=pm_pop

I would say even with overwhelming evidence that it's still not worth it. The Death Penalty is not a sufficient deterrent nor is it a cost effective form of vengeance. Just sentence people to life and be done with it.

As for the rape, I'm convinced that most of the Prisons in the US should be of the Supermax isolation variety. Start there and work ones way down via behavior to more social confinement systems.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons budget is already massive. What more would you encourage the gov't to tax us on to pay for this?

The problem with the supermax isolation is that for many of the low hanging fruit variety of offenders, the psychological toll the isolation takes on you is about as bad as the rape. We need major reforms in our justice system. Which we really don't even have, we have a punishment system.

Against the death penalty, as all Christians "should" be.

(03-09-2015 08:41 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 08:14 AM)vandiver49 Wrote:  I would say even with overwhelming evidence that it's still not worth it. The Death Penalty is not a sufficient deterrent nor is it a cost effective form of vengeance. Just sentence people to life and be done with it.

As for the rape, I'm convinced that most of the Prisons in the US should be of the Supermax isolation variety. Start there and work ones way down via behavior to more social confinement systems.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons budget is already massive. What more would you encourage the gov't to tax us on to pay for this?

Well first I believe we incarcerate too many people for crimes that could be either handled with a fine or some other type of restriction (house arrest, probation) or shouldn't be a crime in the first place (drug violations). Making these changes would be that first step to deal with the cost of addressing how to deal with truly violent offenders.

(03-09-2015 08:50 AM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  The problem with the supermax isolation is that for many of the low hanging fruit variety of offenders, the psychological toll the isolation takes on you is about as bad as the rape. We need major reforms in our justice system. Which we really don't even have, we have a punishment system.

I would disagree, we do have a justice system. The problem that is faced is what is the proper form of penance when guilt is determined. Yes, most people can't deal with to social isolation. But the low level offender need to be shuttered to some other form of remittance (i.e. turning big rocks into little rocks in Levenworth or working the Farm at Angola). Our prison system is set up to do permanent separation from society really well. Where is fails is in the rehabilitation of low level offenders.

Just make the penalty for prison rape castration.

(03-09-2015 09:49 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  Just make the penalty for prison rape castration.

I'm pretty sure that falls under cruel and unusual punishment.....

This story is awful though and my heart bleeds for this man. I was also under the impression that prisoners with HIV were tested and isolated from the rest of the prison. I suppose I was wrong.

I agree about the death penalty. Use it only when you solid proof, like ten eyewitnesses or a video. All other cases need to be life in prison.

(03-09-2015 09:53 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:49 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  Just make the penalty for prison rape castration.

I'm pretty sure that falls under cruel and unusual punishment.....

This story is awful though and my heart bleeds for this man. I was also under the impression that prisoners with HIV were tested and isolated from the rest of the prison. I suppose I was wrong.

I agree. The question I think is does a single act of rape necessitate ones removal from society for 20-30 years.

Way too many DAs out there out for their own careers and winning percentages than actual justice.

(03-09-2015 08:41 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 08:14 AM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 05:41 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Stories like this are why I simply cannot support the death penalty unless there is direct video evidence of a life being taken or ruined.



Young father found guilty of rape. Sent to prison. Raped repeatedly. Contracts HIV in prison. Attempts to kill himself several times in prison unsuccessfully. Spends 22 years of the prime of his life in a prison hell.

Oh yea - he was totally innocent. Hair DNA evidence by the FBI was used to convict him. It was not just wrong -- but hugely wrong.

The DC circuit awarded him $9,200,000 in damages. There is no way you can convince me $9.2m for being raped repeatedly, contracting HIV through those rapes, losing your 30's and 40's when you are suppose to build your career path and grow a nest egg and pay off your house, and the sheer anguish from being innocently imprisoned with the worst of society for over 2 decades, is worth ONLY $9.2m.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crim...tid=pm_pop

I would say even with overwhelming evidence that it's still not worth it. The Death Penalty is not a sufficient deterrent nor is it a cost effective form of vengeance. Just sentence people to life and be done with it.

As for the rape, I'm convinced that most of the Prisons in the US should be of the Supermax isolation variety. Start there and work ones way down via behavior to more social confinement systems.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons budget is already massive. What more would you encourage the gov't to tax us on to pay for this?

Doing away with prison sentences for low-level drug or other non-violent violators could help balance things out.

(03-09-2015 09:53 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:49 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  Just make the penalty for prison rape castration.

I'm pretty sure that falls under cruel and unusual punishment.....

This story is awful though and my heart bleeds for this man. I was also under the impression that prisoners with HIV were tested and isolated from the rest of the prison. I suppose I was wrong.

Being cruel and unusual punishment, which I'm not so sure it is, doesn't mean it's not a good idea.

(03-09-2015 10:27 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:53 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:49 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  Just make the penalty for prison rape castration.

I'm pretty sure that falls under cruel and unusual punishment.....

This story is awful though and my heart bleeds for this man. I was also under the impression that prisoners with HIV were tested and isolated from the rest of the prison. I suppose I was wrong.

Being cruel and unusual punishment, which I'm not so sure it is, doesn't mean it's not a good idea.

How is state sponsored removal of one's genitalia (which isn't practiced by any rational western nation) not cruel or unusual?

I'm not discussing the practicality of the idea, I'm saying that punishments like that are unallowed by the Bill of Rights (EIght Ammendment).

(03-09-2015 10:36 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 10:27 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:53 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:49 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  Just make the penalty for prison rape castration.

I'm pretty sure that falls under cruel and unusual punishment.....

This story is awful though and my heart bleeds for this man. I was also under the impression that prisoners with HIV were tested and isolated from the rest of the prison. I suppose I was wrong.

Being cruel and unusual punishment, which I'm not so sure it is, doesn't mean it's not a good idea.

How is state sponsored removal of one's genitalia (which isn't practiced by any rational western nation) not cruel or unusual?

I'm not discussing the practicality of the idea, I'm saying that punishments like that are unallowed by the Bill of Rights (EIght Ammendment).

Okay, make it for the second offense then. Prisoners who don't want to be someone's ***** should be entitled to protection and I'm not sure tacking on a few more years for a rape charge is going to deter many prisoners especially if they are serving life sentences anyways. (I'm in favor of castration from those committed of rape outside of prison as well.)

If you are going to rape someone, I don't think being castrated is an unfair punishment.

(03-09-2015 10:45 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 10:36 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 10:27 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:53 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:49 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  Just make the penalty for prison rape castration.

I'm pretty sure that falls under cruel and unusual punishment.....

This story is awful though and my heart bleeds for this man. I was also under the impression that prisoners with HIV were tested and isolated from the rest of the prison. I suppose I was wrong.

Being cruel and unusual punishment, which I'm not so sure it is, doesn't mean it's not a good idea.

How is state sponsored removal of one's genitalia (which isn't practiced by any rational western nation) not cruel or unusual?

I'm not discussing the practicality of the idea, I'm saying that punishments like that are unallowed by the Bill of Rights (EIght Ammendment).

Okay, make it for the second offense then. Prisoners who don't want to be someone's ***** should be entitled to protection and I'm not sure tacking on a few more years for a rape charge is going to deter many prisoners especially if they are serving life sentences anyways. (I'm in favor of castration from those committed of rape outside of prison as well.)

If you are going to rape someone, I don't think being castrated is an unfair punishment.

In principle, I mostly agree. However, rape is something that is hard to prove and usually comes down to he said/she judgements. I don't think someone (even a bad man in prison for life) should be forced to live without his junk based on an allegation.

It is cruel though (we don't remove the hands of theives) and I believe in the Bill of Rights, so i would not support that. We'll just have to disagree on the matter.

(03-09-2015 05:41 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Stories like this are why I simply cannot support the death penalty unless there is direct video evidence of a life being taken or ruined.



Young father found guilty of rape. Sent to prison. Raped repeatedly. Contracts HIV in prison. Attempts to kill himself several times in prison unsuccessfully. Spends 22 years of the prime of his life in a prison hell.

Oh yea - he was totally innocent. Hair DNA evidence by the FBI was used to convict him. It was not just wrong -- but hugely wrong.

The DC circuit awarded him $9,200,000 in damages. There is no way you can convince me $9.2m for being raped repeatedly, contracting HIV through those rapes, losing your 30's and 40's when you are suppose to build your career path and grow a nest egg and pay off your house, and the sheer anguish from being innocently imprisoned with the worst of society for over 2 decades, is worth ONLY $9.2m.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crim...tid=pm_pop

I agree with you 100 %.

(03-09-2015 10:36 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 10:27 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:53 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:49 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  Just make the penalty for prison rape castration.

I'm pretty sure that falls under cruel and unusual punishment.....

This story is awful though and my heart bleeds for this man. I was also under the impression that prisoners with HIV were tested and isolated from the rest of the prison. I suppose I was wrong.

Being cruel and unusual punishment, which I'm not so sure it is, doesn't mean it's not a good idea.

How is state sponsored removal of one's genitalia (which isn't practiced by any rational western nation) not cruel or unusual?

I'm not discussing the practicality of the idea, I'm saying that punishments like that are unallowed by the Bill of Rights (EIght Ammendment).

It's definitely not something that could be lawfully enforced. But it could be an option. Say either 9 years of prison or 5 year sentence and 12 years of chemical castration.