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America: The Prison People

I've been to the jail a couple of times lately, on account of someone I know being in there. Trial date coming up pretty fast. The defense attorney recently went on a campaign to pressure him into a plea "bargain" wherein 32 of 34 counts would be dropped in exchange for a guilty plea on two.

I was asked by relatives whether I would join in advising him to take the "deal". I said "no".
 
I said Life is a gamble. Everything about it is a gamble. We weigh short term considerations pretty heavy sometimes, and don't think about the long term enough. I don't think the attorney he has is doing the right thing applying this pressure.
 
Doing the plea deal might get him off and out of jail in a couple of years, sure. But it would still leave him, the rest of his life, impaired as a citizen with significant damage. If he loses and gets slammed with a long sentence, there is a significant possibility of getting the verdict overturned on appeal. Time is in his favor, and there are huge consequences if he pleas it out. It is literally a life or death decision, really, for more than one person.

I can't make that kind of a choice for him. I will respect him though, if he doesn't do it, because imo he will be putting the welfare of others ahead of himself.
 
We may gamble here in this life over a few years plus or minus, and think no harm, but whatever happens in this world is really "short-term". The long run involves spans longer than our lives. Maybe belief in more than this world. You get one chance to stand for something that is right. If he does the plea, there will be others who are victimized as he has been. I think it is vital to make this a real fight for justice. Maybe he will lose, but I think doing the fight will either end cycle and result in no further victims, or pave the way for a prosecution on the accusers. Yep, perjury. . . . and a pretty good list beyond that. If the real perps cruise to an easy "victory", there will be others whose lives will be ruined, for sure.
 
babe said:
I've been to the jail a couple of times lately, on account of someone I know being in there. Trial date coming up pretty fast. The defense attorney recently went on a campaign to pressure him into a plea "bargain" wherein 32 of 34 counts would be dropped in exchange for a guilty plea on two.

I was asked by relatives whether I would join in advising him to take the "deal". I said "no".
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Public defender is a thankless job really, and a tough go for an attorney. But as such it often can lead to less than optimal representation, to put it very very lightly. For a public defender it is often about workload, which tends to be very heavy. So if they can get a plea arrangement that nets a slightly tougher sentence (or maybe not, could be the guy really did weigh the alternatives and feels this is his clients best shot at minimal punishment) but ends the case more quickly means one more thing not overloading the PD's plate.

It is a little bit like real estate agents. The last thing they have in mind is what is best for the client. What is important to them is closing the deal. Yeah they can help you keep looking for a better house at a lower price and thereby increase their workload and decrease their commission, or the other side they can help you hold out for that extra $10,000 on the sales price no one wants to pay, and in the end for them it means a lot more time and not really any change in money worth mentioning. So what would you do? You would do what they do and stress how much they liked the big kitchen or that in this economy that is the best price they are going to get and push them to sign on the bottom line so you can move on to the next one and stop wasting your time on this deal.




I think I babed that up nicely. Your welcome!
 
babe said:
I've been to the jail a couple of times lately, on account of someone I know being in there. Trial date coming up pretty fast. The defense attorney recently went on a campaign to pressure him into a plea "bargain" wherein 32 of 34 counts would be dropped in exchange for a guilty plea on two.

I was asked by relatives whether I would join in advising him to take the "deal". I said "no".
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I guess it depends whether he did the crime for the 2 counts or not... if he did then what's wrong with going ahead and admitting that?


If he didn't then hopefully the the jury can see that and acquit him - so in that case it would be worth taking the risk.
 
ONE LOVE said:
I guess it depends whether he did the crime for the 2 counts or not... if he did then what's wrong with going ahead and admitting that?


If he didn't then hopefully the the jury can see that and acquit him - so in that case it would be worth taking the risk.
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The goal of everyone on the wrong side of the legal system is to get off scott free. For some that is reasonable, as they are innocent. For the majority however, it is ridiculous, yet they still hold out hope they will never be made to be accountable for their actions. What if the guy is guilty of all 34 counts, shouldn't he just own up to them too?

That is the real, and ultimately elusive, American Dream: freedom from accountability and consequences on any level, at any cost.
 
LogGrad98 said:
The goal of everyone on the wrong side of the legal system is to get off scott free. For some that is reasonable, as they are innocent. For the majority however, it is ridiculous, yet they still hold out hope they will never be made to be accountable for their actions. What if the guy is guilty of all 34 counts, shouldn't he just own up to them too?

That is the real, and ultimately elusive, American Dream: freedom from accountability and consequences on any level, at any cost.
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You do the crime, you do the time, it's that's simple. It's good for the society, and it's also good for the wrongdoer as it will give them time to reflect and contemplate on what they have done, and hopefully they won't repeat it ever again.


Win/Win.
 
ONE LOVE said:
You do the crime, you do the time, it's that's simple. It's good for the society, and it's also good for the wrongdoer as it will give them time to reflect and contemplate on what they have done, and hopefully they won't repeat it ever again.


Win/Win.
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If only it were that simple. In a Dr. Seuss book that is how it works. In the real world that is as good as fiction.
 
ONE LOVE said:
To marry or not to marry.. that is the question.


Anyone want to have a go answering?
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First question: Who or what?
Second question: Why would you want to marry that (them) in the first place?
Third question: Are you available or would your significant other mind being in a bigamist relationship?

Let's start there.
 
LogGrad98 said:
First question: Who or what?
Second question: Why would you want to marry that (them) in the first place?
Third question: Are you available or would your significant other mind being in a bigamist relationship?

Let's start there.
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Umm.. it's more of a general philosophical question, let's not get too case specific.
 
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