When he was 17 he and some friends went joyriding in a stolen vehicle. He was caught and sentenced to ten years in prison. After nearly four years he was released on parole for good behavior.
Just last week apparently after violating his parole conditions for leaving the country because his father was ill in Mexico he was taken into custody after returning back to the US. (Yes, he is a citizen, born and raised in Texas).
He is now facing another six years in prison -- the remainder of the original ten year sentence. I do believe he did wrong by violating the conditions he was expected to follow, but considering the circumstances I do not believe he deserves anymore prison time. Probation would be more suitable for this type of violation.
What do you think?
2006-08-21 20:15:15 · 29 answers · asked by AnthonyPaul 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
After many "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time" responses I felt it was necessary to add a few details to this question.
-I apologize if I was unclear, but he stole this vehicle from a dealership along with some friends and returned it after joyriding. So yes, this is grand theft case...NOT just joyriding.
- I never said that he should not do any time. I felt that this sentence was too strict for anybody to serve in this situation. The justice system needs to re-evalute their punishments they mandate on certain crimes.
- Also, to JPD818 or whatever your name is...I work..I don't need anyone to take care of me. But, why would I want someone I have been involved with to be incarerated? Come on now...I know he is guily but the time does not fit the crime.
-Finally to all the people out there who are suggesting that he had priors or more to the story. NO. You are incorrect. He has a clean record aside from this charge.
And FYI - In Texas you are tried as an adult at 17.
2006-08-21 21:48:02 · update #1
Wow. There is something totally wrong with the system. We have people who kill others and are out in 2 yrs. That sentence is totally unacceptable and outrageous!
I'm with the Probation crowd. But do agree that he should have checked in first. Sorry to hear about your boyfriend! Good luck.
2006-08-21 20:24:53 · answer #1 · answered by MoneyMaker 2 · 5⤊ 4⤋
Actually it isn't just Texas you can be charged as an adult at any age in any state depending on the severity of the Crime. IF he knowingly violated his parole he knew what the consequences could be. He should have spoken to his parole officer about getting special permission to leave the country. Most of the time for non violent crimes and if he has shown to not be a flight risk that would be granted. And Yes it is fair that he has to serve the remainder of his time because he violated parole. It sucks but it is still right. IF you were out of the situation and he wasn't your bf then you would feel the same way. Just imagine if someone had stolen your car and then violated parole how would you feel.
2006-08-22 06:48:53 · answer #2 · answered by Amber 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Getting parole isn't a right, it's a privilege, and he should have taken the parole conditions seriously. He could have talked with his parole officer about his father, provided proof about what was going on, and possibly obtained permission to go, but he didn't. Now, if he can prove that the father being ill isn't a made-up story (this will require a statement from his father and possibly something from his father's doctor), the court might agree with you that to serve the remaining six years would not serve the public good - it will depend on how his conduct has been since his release otherwise, i.e. does he have a job, is he supporting a family, does he serve his community, etc. It can go either way, but the bottom line is that he needs to learn to play by the rules regardless of the circumstances.
2006-08-22 03:25:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
The question, as I read it, is: "Is it fair that he be put in jail for doing that which was illegal, and then violating his parole?". My answer is: YES.
Extenuating circumstances aside, a crime was committed, and he was given parole under certain circumstances. He violated those circumstances. He COULD have gone to his parole officer and explained the situation. He COULD have gone to court and explained the situation. Instead, he took it upon himself to travel out of the country in violation of his parole. He knew it was wrong, so...
Now to get off of my soapbox. The judge will probably be lenient, if he can prove extenuating circumstances, and keep him on parole.
2006-08-22 07:26:36 · answer #4 · answered by My world 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First off, your boyfriend got ten years just for stealing a car, Damn Texas is strict as hell. I think he may have done a little more than what was said, but nonetheless. If he left the country, which you said he did, which was a violation of his parole, then he deserves to finish out his sentence. If his father was that ill, he should have contacted his parole officer and explained the situation to him. Parole officers are cold heartless assholes, I know, but they can and have given special privelleges if you need to go out of town for situations such as this one. I am sure the only reason you feel he should not spend any more time in jail is so you do not have to get out and do any work yourself because he probably supports you. That may not be true but it sounds to me like there may be some alterior motives to you not wanting him back in jail.
2006-08-22 04:10:02 · answer #5 · answered by HBPD 126 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
When you're a 17 year old kid, you do alot of stupid stuff that sometimes you regret when you're older. Granted, I'm not a guy and not very old, but I know this to be true.
So, yes he did a crime, and I think he already did the time.
He had a legitimate reason to leave the country and should not be punished for that.
However, stealing a car and getting 10 years sounds extreme. Did he do something more than just take a car around for a spin?
Also, where I live you have to be 18 to be arrested and jailed. I think its more of a "Juvie" matter under that age. So I'm kinda confused of how things are done in your area.
This seems too harsh of a punishment for the crime if what you stated above was all there is of the story.
Also, I assume he is Mexican-American. If he is, I hope to God there isn't a race issue involved in this matter. I know when it comes to law, it does not always have a blind eye to skin color and race which makes me so angry!
2006-08-22 03:34:46 · answer #6 · answered by lexkp23 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Ten years sounds a bit severe, 4 years sounds reasonable, BUT your suggestion that probation is "more" suitable only compares it to the 6 additional years. I think more prison time is called for, since he violated the terms of his release. I don't know if he could have gotten permission to go to another country, but he should have asked first.
More importantly, whether we think it is fair or not is irrelevant. It sounds like he is stuck.
2006-08-22 09:16:40 · answer #7 · answered by kingstubborn 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
He could have talked to his parole officer and gotten special permission to leave the country, provided he followed certain rules, but he chose to violate his parole, just like he chose to break the law. He knew if he violated parole and got caught he would go back to jail. So yes, it is fair.
2006-08-22 06:44:16 · answer #8 · answered by innocence faded 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's pretty rough. I believe he should have gone to jail because even though he may be a different guy now, he never paid for his crime. However, as for the parole violation, I do hope he doesn't have to go back to jail for that. Good luck.
2006-08-22 03:27:43 · answer #9 · answered by Richard B 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes I agree, home detention for maybe a year, then parole sounds like a more fair deal to me, six years in prison after being out for 4 years and (presumably) behaving during that time.
2006-08-22 03:23:48 · answer #10 · answered by atlantisflicka 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I have to say this sounds unreasonably harsh, but in Texas, sentences tend that way. He, and a guy who had half and ounce of marijuana, and Martha Stewart can be in a cell together and watch OJ and Robert Blake on a grainly little black and white television.
Life ain't fair. Too bad he did not get a good lawyer and get an adjudicated sentence.
2006-08-22 10:36:33 · answer #11 · answered by finaldx 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋