(no subject)

[theweaselking]

Teenager kills 4 people while driving drunk, escapes jail on the grounds that he's rich and spoiled and, having never had any consequences for his actions ever, he's damaged and can't comprehend (or be allowed to suffer) consequences. So he gets probation.

Comments

[anton-p-nym.livejournal.com]

While I think the only reason the kid's lawyers should not be fed to the shrimps is the cruelty to animals issue, there may be more to the sentence than just bare classism: http://boisestatepublicradio.org/post/probation-teen-who-killed-4-heres-judges-thinking (In sum, this gets the kid under control for longer than an obstensibly "tougher" sentence would under the existing crap-tastic laws in the great state of Texas.)

-- Steve is open to this interpretation but not yet convinced.

[anton-p-nym.livejournal.com]

On the lighter side of the law: Rob Ford got served. (pic: http://t.co/loTddI1IAq)

-- Steve's wondering if the lawyers are doing this pro bono, or if there's a hat folks can chip into.

er, to re-re-re-edit this thing... apparently the Star is covering the costs but donations towards helping victims of sexual violence would be welcome in lieu.

[catlin.livejournal.com]

This is actually true. Our prison system being what it is, the kid would be out in a year or two, likely with a drug addiction on top of the booze problem.

On probation he will take regular pee tests, and have probably decent counselling, and his PO won't care that his mommy and daddy have money, because if they cross him or her the kid goes to jail.

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, sell a bit of pot while multiple guns happen to be in the same house? Mandatory minimum 55 years in prison, no judicial discretion, baby!

[catlin.livejournal.com]

Hate hate hate laws that take discretion out of a judges hands!

[dreamshade.livejournal.com]

The part that really killed me, from the Slate write-up on this:

Still, it certainly appears as though the judge bought at least some of what the defense was selling, which in addition to the idea that the family's wealth left the teen apparently unable to understand right from wrong also focused on his parents' strained relationship. ("This kid has been in a system that’s sick," Miller said. "If he goes to jail, that’s just another sick system.")

You see, you shouldn't send the kid to jail, because JAIL IS BAD. JAIL IS LIKE A PUNISHMENT OR SOMETHING.