As my readers know, I investigate and report on many high-level corporate and government crimes -- and the failure to adequately prosecute the offenders. But the same lunacy applies to street-level felonies.
Instead of -- "Well, Bob is one of our own, a pillar of the community, so what if he's poisoning thousands of people with his company's medical drugs, let's fine him and let him off with a promise to mend his ways" -- it's: "Well, this fellow had a very tough childhood, his father was a drunk and beat him and his mother, and the neighborhood was dangerous and everyone was in a gang, so let's give him two years in jail for putting a girl into a coma..."
On the other hand, "Let's see, this man committed two petty unarmed robberies and then he stole a candy bar from a traveling circus, so that's three strikes and he goes away for life without parole..."
Devin Kelley should never have been near that Texas Church. He should have been in a lockup, after assaulting his wife many times and fracturing his infant stepson's skull.
The press doesn't appear to have noticed this, or if they have, they've declined to mention it, because, in their view, prison is some kind of illegitimate institution. It's wrong, it shouldn't exist. It's "unfashionable" to demand tougher prison sentences for any street-level crime.
Fine. In that case, how about an island blocked off from escape by sea? Devin Kelley and those like him, at every level of society, can share roots and tubers, build huts, and try to share their new lives.
And the know-nothings, who reject all punishment for crimes committed against human beings, can swab the decks of ships stationed offshore to prevent the prisoners' exit from their island paradise.
I wonder how well Devin Kelley's jury members, from 2012, are sleeping at night.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
