So basically, a man was convicted, sentenced, and released on bail. Then they forgot to tell him to report to prison.

[Berzerker]

jail is also for prevention, this guy did it for us
the victim says let him go, I dont see reason to put him in a cage

on a side note, I read a theory claiming the death penalty is making humans more peaceful

we banish or kill the worst among us and we become less violent

[kentonio]

on a side note, I read a theory claiming the death penalty is making humans more peaceful

we banish or kill the worst among us and we become less violent

Yet the countries with the death penalty seem to also be some of the most violent.

[Gatekeeper]

I'm a bit torn on this one.
The man was sentenced and should have served his punishment.
But since the optimal outcome from incarceration should be rehabilitation this outcome has already been met and probably more successfully than if he had served the time.


While I wouldn't want to accept this solution in every instance I think justice on this one is best served by claiming time served and commuting the rest of his sentence.

Precisely my thoughts on the matter. Let the man go; he's obviously done well with his life after almost screwing it up royally.

[C0ckney]

The state saves a whole lot of money by letting him walk, and it seems clear that he is rehabilitated. I say re-sentence him to a bunch of community service, perhaps talking to young felons and such. So at least they get some semblance of their pound of flesh.

This would also keep the state out of the position of punishing his wife and children. Instead, the state of Missouri gets some free service time and good PR despite their bureaucratic incompetence, plus they don't have to pay his room and board for several years.

this seems like a sensible approach. the state made a mistake and the guy went and built a decent life for himself and his family. no one's interests are served by destroying all that.

[Lorizael]

jail is also for prevention, this guy did it for us
the victim says let him go, I dont see reason to put him in a cage

on a side note, I read a theory claiming the death penalty is making humans more peaceful

we banish or kill the worst among us and we become less violent

No, it just means we're getting rid of all the people who are too poor to afford good defense lawyers. If we ramp up the death penalty, eventually we'll all be rich!

[regexcellent]

this seems like a sensible approach. the state made a mistake and the guy went and built a decent life for himself and his family. no one's interests are served by destroying all that.

You mean except for the fact that it sends a message to all the other would-criminals "run away for a decade and keep your nose clean, you'll be home free!"

[kentonio]

You mean except for the fact that it sends a message to all the other would-criminals "run away for a decade and keep your nose clean, you'll be home free!"

Except that he didn't run away.

[rah]

I can't believe he doesn't see the difference.

[regexcellent]

I'm not saying he deserves to be punished (I don't have an opinion really) but let's not claim that nobody loses. Legalism is important and the deterrent value of the justice system is much more crucial than rehabilitation or retribution.

[rah]

Do you honestly believe that the deterrence value has been lessened because this one person slipped through the cracks?
Gee, It's safe to commit a crime because there is a one in 10,000 chance that they'll forget to tell me to report to jail.

[Sava]

Nothing less than a public execution or criminals will no longer respect the rule of law.

[self biased]

You mean except for the fact that it sends a message to all the other would-criminals "run away for a decade and keep your nose clean, you'll be home free!"

2/10. See me after class.

I'm not saying he deserves to be punished (I don't have an opinion really) but let's not claim that nobody loses. Legalism is important and the deterrent value of the justice system is much more crucial than rehabilitation or retribution.

it is opinions like this that make our legal system terrible. That, and the war on drugs, but that's a different discussion.

[DinoDoc]

It's clear from his conduct after the conviction that robbing someone with a BB gun was just youthful indiscretion... why lock him away for 13 years?

He was ~23 at the time. I'm pretty sure you stop being able to claim youthful indiscretion wrt violent felonies when you hit 21 at the very latest.

[Lorizael]

Do you honestly believe that the deterrence value has been lessened because this one person slipped through the cracks?
Gee, It's safe to commit a crime because there is a one in 10,000 chance that they'll forget to tell me to report to jail.

I think you're over estimating the odds that they forget.

[rah]

And I thought I was just making a conservative estimate.