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How mad would you be?

by Michael Motley
6 replies
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There have been two people released from jail this week that were there unjustly. One was a female who crashed her car back in 1998. She was coming from ybor city, a popular party spot in Tampa, and had 2 drunk friends with her (she was driving them home). She was speeding, crashed, killed one of the passengers, the other was messed up, neither of them chose to wear their seatbelts, she did. She was 18. This was her first incident and the judge gave her 16 years. The govenor commuted her sentence earlier this week, but she still spent 8 years in prison. By comparison, hulk hogans kid killed someone while drag racing in the same state, almost the same county and spent 6 months in county.

A man was released today. He has spend 30+ years in jail for a rape he didnt commit. He was released because of dna evidence

Does the state/fed do anything for these people that have been excessively or wrongly jailed?


I know i would be pissed.
  • Profile picture of the author Radix
    What could they do? No one can create time to give back.

    In the case of the girl driver, the sentence seems harsh. With that said, she was directly responsible for ruining two lives.

    I have zero tolerance for drunk drivers...none. Walk your drunk self home or call a cab.

    There are lots of folks responsible when someone is wrongly imprisoned. The first person and honestly most culpable is the prosecutor. They have the power to create a picture for the court. They often do so carelessly. I've found most prosecutors are aspiring politicians. That's my experience only.

    The only thing worse than a politician is a wannabe politician.
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
      Originally Posted by Radix View Post

      What could they do? No one can create time to give back.

      In the case of the girl driver, the sentence seems harsh. With that said, she was directly responsible for ruining two lives.

      I have zero tolerance for drunk drivers...none. Walk your drunk self home or call a cab.

      There are lots of folks responsible when someone is wrongly imprisoned. The first person and honestly most culpable is the prosecutor. They have the power to create a picture for the court. They often do so carelessly. I've found most prosecutors are aspiring politicians. That's my experience only.

      The only thing worse than a politician is a wannabe politician.
      She wasn't drunk. She was driving home two drunks who didnt want to put on their seatbelts. They got in a wreck one of the drunks died, one was injured.
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  • Profile picture of the author R Hagel
    Originally Posted by Michael Motley View Post


    Does the state/fed do anything for these people that have been excessively or wrongly jailed?
    I think some give money. I recently read about a guy who was falsely imprisoned and got out because of DNA evidence. I *think* he was getting some cash. (I'll have to look that up to be sure.)

    However, seems like cash would be little consolation. It would help the person get back on their feet (look for a job, etc), but it wouldn't fix anything.

    Plus you'd always carry that stigma around of being in prison. You just know some people would always assume you're guilty, since not everyone would hear that you were declared innocent.
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  • Profile picture of the author R Hagel
    Yep, some get cash. Here's the first link I found after a Google search:

    Exonerated Texas Prisoners Find Prosperity

    Texas gives millions away:

    DALLAS (Sept. 4) -- Thomas McGowan's journey from prison to prosperity is about to culminate in $1.8 million, and he knows just how to spend it: on a house with three bedrooms, stainless steel kitchen appliances and a washer and dryer.

    "I'll let my girlfriend pick out the rest," said McGowan, who was exonerated last year based on DNA evidence after spending nearly 23 years in prison for rape and robbery.
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    • Profile picture of the author GT
      Hi, Michael:

      I would be fighting mad if I was unjustly charged and punished and I would fight it.

      On the one hand, the laws are designed to "protect the innocent." On the other hand, the laws sometimes go to the extreme and in my observation, they more often than not punish innocent people or give sentences that are more harsh than called for ... while at the same time failing to harshly punish those who absolutely deserve it.

      Case in point: A number of years ago when I was a kid, an in-law relative was notorious for drunk driving and getting caught. Every time, he got off with a slap on the wrist and a fine. Until one day he killed two youth while he was drunk and driving. I think he may have been sent to jail, but for a very brief time.

      Around that same time, my dad, who had a clean driving record, got stupid at a company Christmas party and had a few too many drinks. He then got caught driving while over the limit. He did not cause any accidents, injuries or anything like that. His sentence? A huge fine and they took his drivers license away for six months.

      What still steams me about that is first, it was a first offence and no one was hurt.
      Second, he was a truck driver by trade and his family depended on his driving income.
      Third, the relative mentioned earlier was doing the same thing repeatedly without losing his license.

      I am totally against drunk driving under any circumstances, but it still bugs me that the laws and the sentences handed down are sometimes so grossly unbalanced.

      GT :confused:
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      • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
        Originally Posted by GT View Post

        Hi, Michael:

        I would be fighting mad if I was unjustly charged and punished and I would fight it.

        On the one hand, the laws are designed to "protect the innocent." On the other hand, the laws sometimes go to the extreme and in my observation, they more often than not punish innocent people or give sentences that are more harsh than called for ... while at the same time failing to harshly punish those who absolutely deserve it.

        Case in point: A number of years ago when I was a kid, an in-law relative was notorious for drunk driving and getting caught. Every time, he got off with a slap on the wrist and a fine. Until one day he killed two youth while he was drunk and driving. I think he may have been sent to jail, but for a very brief time.

        Around that same time, my dad, who had a clean driving record, got stupid at a company Christmas party and had a few too many drinks. He then got caught driving while over the limit. He did not cause any accidents, injuries or anything like that. His sentence? A huge fine and they took his drivers license away for six months.

        What still steams me about that is first, it was a first offence and no one was hurt.
        Second, he was a truck driver by trade and his family depended on his driving income.
        Third, the relative mentioned earlier was doing the same thing repeatedly without losing his license.

        I am totally against drunk driving under any circumstances, but it still bugs me that the laws and the sentences handed down are sometimes so grossly unbalanced.

        GT :confused:
        I agree with 100%!
        Trying to figure out if it is at the whim of a judge, or if dirty politics including money is involved, or even if re-election years play a part!

        MissTerraK
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