5 Year Sentence for McDonalds TG Assault

[MarinaM]

I don't think it's derailment.

I really believe that only violent offenders should be locked up - In this case, she should be locked up, but the sentencing is a bit weird. There is so much we don't know and that makes the precedent this judge has set a little bit scary. There is no proof for how that fight started, we haven't been told about that violent girl's previous offenses, the only proof of motivation is the attack itself (as though it leaped into life on the camera without ever being born), and the word of those directly involved (I sincerely doubt she got up and told the judge "I am filled with hate, and she was my outlet...").

I could never, ever be a judge. I could never, ever be a lawyer or police officer. I have seen too much, lived too much of the ghetto lifestyle. Tekla is right, many of these people feel as though they are going to go to prison at some point anyway, and many are jaded by dealing with the system their entire lives, so they might as well be all in when that wall breaks down. Harsher sentencing is actually doing them a favor. Honestly, life out on the street makes you believe prison is actually an option, and sometimes a better place; a means of escape and provision if you will. This girl who is going to prison may actually end up a repeat offender who lives in prison forever - and it can probably be construed as an improvement to her life direction, a place she MAY end up committing more serious future offenses to get back into.

[Gabby]

Although it was wrong of him, he didn't actually participate in the attack. Jumping in and trying to stop the attack isn't a smart idea either. I think him getting the boot from McDonald's was punishment enough.

Well he did if the victim heard his laughter, that's horrendous psychological distress.  And if the assailants heard, his laughter would be encouraging them in their violence.

[JenJen2011]

Well he did if the victim heard his laughter, that's horrendous psychological distress.  And if the assailants heard, his laughter would be encouraging them in their violence.

So, laughing is a crime now? Interesting.

[Dawn D.]

I have a little different take on the impressions thus far stated here.

Punishment in the criminal justice system is for 'Justice'. It's not designed, nor meant to "rehabilitate". That the offending party is sentenced to a long term behind bars is meant as a debt to be paid for a criminal action to both society and the victim (however, the victims are usually not especially satisfied for a variety of reasons).

The death penalty never was about deterrence. It is an exacting of "Justice". Nothing more and nothing less. Looking at the death penalty as a deterrent; it is only a further and future deterrent for the person executed (and I am not a strong advocate of the death penalty either. This is just the way I perceive it).

As such long and longer sentences are no guarantee of protection from further crimes from a repeat offender, not even a first timer. They are simply an end to a means. There likely is no perfect sentencing system. I do like these scared straight programs though. Perhaps learning by example from those hard cases already in the system, we can change at least a few minds, thus creating a deterrent at least within our youth.

The issue of how much risk to innocent victims involved from hardened, first time, or repeating offenders; unfortunately is a risk of living in a 'somewhat' free and open society.


Dawn