I don't understand why people say things like "I'm sorry" at sentencing hearings in order to get leniency. If those people were truly "sorry," wouldn't part of being sorry mean they'd want to be punished for their crimes? I mean, if someone is indeed guilty AND sorry, wouldn't that person DEMAND to be jailed for a long time, as a symbol of remorse?
I bring this up because I was actually on a jury once where we found a guy guilty of attempted murder. He begged for mercy during the sentencing phase by claiming he was "sorry." Some jurors were feeling sorry for him until I explained this line of logic to them. "Let's help him express his sorrow," I said.
It worked; he won't be paroled for at least 55 years. But I mean, realistically, he wasn't "sorry" about the crime. He was "sorry" he got caught, but that's it.
Why do some idiot jurors actually fall for sob stories and apologies?
2007-10-06 16:39:38 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
living with the though of what you did every day of your life. is ounishement enough.
2007-10-06 16:46:05 · answer #1 · answered by jelly2000 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If I were really sorry for a crime, I'd want to make up for it somehow, and being jailed might get in the way of that. Like, say I'd horribly and maliciously defaced a million library books. I might want to work hard and donate some money to the library, and volunteer to shelve books on the weekend.
But then, in reality I wouldn't have defaced the library books in the first place, so maybe my inclinations don't make for particularly good insights into the criminal mind.
2007-10-06 16:47:45 · answer #2 · answered by Ambivalence 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lets face it. What person in their right mind would want to spend ANY time in jail. A better way to pay for your crimes in my opinion would be for the violator to compensate the victim of the crime and at the same time get some kind of help. For example, if you cripple someone you are responsible for taking care of that person, financially and physically for the rest of their life. I think thats' fair and equitable.
Prison gets these people out of our hair for a long time, but some day they'll be back...and let's face it prison life doesn't make a person better, it usually makes them worse.
I'm sure people are sorry they get caught, but at the same time I think some, not necessarily all, do feel genuine remorse, especially if something was done out of emotion.
2007-10-06 16:53:41 · answer #3 · answered by superdave 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thankfully I have never been in a real prison but I have seen many things about it on MSNBC. They have a show called lock-up and after watching that I can tell you why a criminal would not beg to be jailed. It is hell, enough said.
2007-10-06 18:01:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is the point if you were sorry then you would not of done it in the first place. the jurors are not doing their job, they are supose to be nutral take in the facts, and make the judgement based on the facts, that is it !!!! they are not supose to take in the remorse in to the judgement anyone can act like they are sorry but that is the fact that they do not want to go to jail. they are stupid!!!!!!!!!!
2007-10-06 16:55:18 · answer #5 · answered by alexia's mommy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have worked in the legal profession for over 20 years, and I have volunteered in the county jail, and my experience is very few criminals are remorseful for anything except for the fact that they got caught. However, there are some criminals who feel horribly ashamed of what they've done, and they welcome a jail or prison sentence because they feel they deserve it and because knowing they are being punished helps them deal with their guilt.
2007-10-06 16:48:58 · answer #6 · answered by No Shortage 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just because you are sorry doesn't mean you WANT to spend the rest of your life in jail. I can repent in the comfort of my own home. I don't feel as if everyone who breaks a law deserves to be thrown in prison forever, that doesn't help anything.
2007-10-06 16:44:33 · answer #7 · answered by just some chick 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Criminals are only 'sorry' that they got caught
I don't buy their apology and don't trust them one bit!
Lock them up and throw away the key!
2007-10-06 16:45:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
good point agree 100%
2007-10-06 16:42:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋