Life Sentence For... Minor?

Here's the story:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125469908713662969.html

Excerpt of the story:

"In 1989, Joe Sullivan was convicted of breaking into a Pensacola, Fla., house, stealing jewelry and coins, and raping the 72-year-old woman who lived there.

Coming after 17 prior offenses that included assault, burglary and animal cruelty, a judge found that rehabilitation was hopeless. He sentenced Mr. Sullivan to life imprisonment, which in Florida carries no possibility of parole."

Question to OT is, does the use of life sentence for minor justified? In this case? In general? Under what circumstances?

if your old enough to do the crime then your old enough to do the time;)

17 prior offenses at that age? I certainly think a very lengthy prison sentence is necessary... but life, I don't really think so.

Does anyone think any amount of jail time would be able to rehabilitate this individual? Keep in mind that he is only 13 and already had 17 counts of offenses stack against him.

How cruel. Why a life sentence? Sure he commited a lot of crimes but no minor deserves that sentence.

Does anyone think any amount of jail time would be able to rehabilitate this individual? Keep in mind that he is only 13 and already had 17 counts of offenses stack against him.

ariz3260

i personally dont think minors should be convicted as adults because it kinda defeats the whole purpose of have diff rules for minors. Yes he killed her but it doesnt change the fact the that hes under 18 just cause your upset.

He needs to be cut off from society until he has demonstrated the ability to function like a human and not an animal. If that takes the rest of his life, so be it. But I think he needs very extensive therapy, not jail time.

How cruel. Why a life sentence? Sure he commited a lot of crimes but no minor deserves that sentence.

ghoklebutter

He didn't act like a minor 18 times, maybe that's why. Especially not when he raped a 72 year old woman. Those 17 prior offense weren't cruel to other people? Raping anyone, let alone an old lady, isn't cruel? I think with a track record like that he's too mentally ill to trust in normal society again. They can try to work with him while he's in prison but I wouldn't ever want him released.

IMO, we need a lot more death sentences. Which this kid should fall under. The tax payer spends way too much money keeping trash alive for too long. People like this "kid" are just wasting air and taking up space.

I dont agree for life sentences for minors.

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

How cruel. Why a life sentence? Sure he commited a lot of crimes but no minor deserves that sentence.

binpink

He didn't act like a minor 18 times, maybe that's why. Especially not when he raped a 72 year old woman. Those 17 prior offense weren't cruel to other people? Raping anyone, let alone an old lady, isn't cruel? I think with a track record like that he's too mentally ill to trust in normal society again. They can try to work with him while he's in prison but I wouldn't ever want him released.

I guess that's right...But it still seems absurd.

Life sentence sounds like he's getting off easy to me, too bad theres not much more they could do.

In general I'm not very sympathetic towards criminals so this probably isn't the best thread for me. I wonder how you'd know when he's rehabilitated enough to re-enter society, should he not get life. And if he DID commit another crime after being released, was all that rehabilitation time and money worth it? Just things to consider.

In general I'm not very sympathetic towards criminals so this probably isn't the best thread for me. I wonder how you'd know when he's rehabilitated enough to re-enter society, should he not get life. And if he DID commit another crime after being released, was all that rehabilitation time and money worth it? Just things to consider.

binpink

[QUOTE="binpink"]

In general I'm not very sympathetic towards criminals so this probably isn't the best thread for me. I wonder how you'd know when he's rehabilitated enough to re-enter society, should he not get life. And if he DID commit another crime after being released, was all that rehabilitation time and money worth it? Just things to consider.

Paladin_King

It seems like a bit much. He deserves to do time for sure though.

To be honest, he should be put in a maximum security facility and placed in general population (i.e. with the murderers, rapists, etc).

He will last one week, if he's lucky.

I find the number of peoplein this threadwho think someone capable of raping a 72 year old women should be allowed back on the streets disturbing :|

I don't think any amount of time will rehabilitate him. He needs to be locked up in an insane asylem for the rest of his life. 17 prior offenses and he RAPED A 72 year old woman, and he's only 13 years old. There are some serious problems there.

Edit: Oh, he was 13 when he commited the crimes, he's actually 33 now.

I don't think any amount of time will rehabilitate him. He needs to be locked up in an insane asylem for the rest of his life. 17 prior offenses and he RAPED A 72 year old woman, and he's only 13 years old. There are some serious problems there.

Edit: Oh, he was 13 when he commited the crimes, he's actually 33 now.

[QUOTE="Paladin_King"][QUOTE="binpink"]

In general I'm not very sympathetic towards criminals so this probably isn't the best thread for me. I wonder how you'd know when he's rehabilitated enough to re-enter society, should he not get life. And if he DID commit another crime after being released, was all that rehabilitation time and money worth it? Just things to consider.

a judge found that rehabilitation was hopeless

ariz3260

This is the main arguing point for me.

I mean, on one hand, the guy has 17 priors, meaning he has failed to learn his lesson 18 times.

On the other, he is only 13 years old. I think they could have done more

Life in prison seems like a lot, like this judge was just like "Youre beyond saving, and I am not even going to try any more". I think that kid deserved five more years of medication, counseling, etc before getting a sentence like that.

I don't think any amount of time will rehabilitate him. He needs to be locked up in an insane asylem for the rest of his life. 17 prior offenses and he RAPED A 72 year old woman, and he's only 13 years old. There are some serious problems there.

Edit: Oh, he was 13 when he commited the crimes, he's actually 33 now.

howlrunner13

You get cookies for catching that

Edit: for some reason my cookies pic disappeared... I guess no cookies for you then

Looks like the punishment fits the crimes in this case.

...and raping the 72-year-old woman who lived there.

ariz3260

Hmm. If he' d raped a 7-year-old girl, instead of a 72-year-old woman, everybody here would be calling for the death sentence instead of agonizing over a life sentence.

Double standards FTW!

:roll:

[QUOTE="ariz3260"]

...and raping the 72-year-old woman who lived there.

Stesilaus

Hmm. If he' d raped a 7-year-old girl, instead of a 72-year-old woman, everybody here would be calling for the death sentence instead of agonizing over a life sentence.

Double standards FTW!

:roll:

[QUOTE="Stesilaus"]

[QUOTE="ariz3260"]

...and raping the 72-year-old woman who lived there.

Pirate700

Hmm. If he' d raped a 7-year-old girl, instead of a 72-year-old woman, everybody here would be calling for the death sentence instead of agonizing over a life sentence.

Double standards FTW!

:roll:

Not criticizing you but why do you say that?

[QUOTE="Stesilaus"]

[QUOTE="ariz3260"]

...and raping the 72-year-old woman who lived there.

Pirate700

Hmm. If he' d raped a 7-year-old girl, instead of a 72-year-old woman, everybody here would be calling for the death sentence instead of agonizing over a life sentence.

Double standards FTW!

:roll:

Yes you did. I hereby exempt you from the charge of double standards! :oops:

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

I said he should have gotten the death penalty. :|

ghoklebutter

Not criticizing you but why do you say that?

I think at that point you can say he's a certified sociopath. Those people CAN'T be rehabilitated, as anyone who has studied anti-social personality disorder will tell you. All you can do is lock them up, execute them, or hope for a change of heart.

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

I said he should have gotten the death penalty. :|

Pirate700

Not criticizing you but why do you say that?

Good point I guess. Sounds harsh though.

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

I don't believe in long sentences (20 years +). The tax payers pay way too much money keeping trash around as caged animals. They serve absolutely zero purpose surving life in a small room 24/7 for all their lives. Anything longer than 20 years should be the needle IMO.

ghoklebutter

Good point I guess. Sounds harsh though.

A life sentence was lenient.

The death penalty would have been more fitting for this piece of human garbage. He should have been immediately taken out of the courthouse and shot.

With a rape and 17 convictions at just 13, it's clear he would have contributed nothing to society.

life at 13? No...even with 17 previous offenses. At that age you need to have an intervention for that kid and rehab him. Yeah its terrible what happened and he needs to serve his time, but life for a 13 year old is ridiculous. At the very least they should have like 20 years of community service...

I can't say that I'm sympathetic...at all.Paladin_King

life at 13? No...even with 17 previous offenses. At that age you need to have an intervention for that kid and rehab him. Yeah its terrible what happened and he needs to serve his time, but life for a 13 year old is ridiculous. At the very least they should have like 20 years of community service...

ArmoredAshes

dont make me laugh

this kid knew what he was doing and got less of what he deserved i have no sympathy for those that ruin the lives of hard working innocent people

[QUOTE="Paladin_King"][QUOTE="binpink"]

In general I'm not very sympathetic towards criminals so this probably isn't the best thread for me. I wonder how you'd know when he's rehabilitated enough to re-enter society, should he not get life. And if he DID commit another crime after being released, was all that rehabilitation time and money worth it? Just things to consider.

Pirate700

The idea that jails are just there to punish is why America has such a crisis in its jailing system right now.

[QUOTE="ariz3260"]

a judge found that rehabilitation was hopeless

mrbojangles25

This is the main arguing point for me.

I mean, on one hand, the guy has 17 priors, meaning he has failed to learn his lesson 18 times.

On the other, he is only 13 years old. I think they could have done more

Life in prison seems like a lot, like this judge was just like "Youre beyond saving, and I am not even going to try any more". I think that kid deserved five more years of medication, counseling, etc before getting a sentence like that.

I am leaning toward providing counseling and give him a psychological evaluation to see what was his motivation for committing such crimes and, more importantly, to see if he is capable of amending his way. I would admit the article did not provide any background info on whether or not the prepertrator did received any treatment or evaluation or what not.

But that does beg the question: if one is truly hopeless beyong saving, would it be a better choice base on the benefit of the soceity, to put such individual on death roll, rather than using taxpayer's money to fund a lifetime convict who is destined to spend his entire life behind bars?

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="Paladin_King"] Unfortunately, that raises the issue of just how rehabilitating our prisons actually are.htekemerald

The idea that jails are just there to punish is why America has such a crisis in its jailing system right now.

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

I don't believe in long sentences (20 years +). The tax payers pay way too much money keeping trash around as caged animals. They serve absolutely zero purpose surving life in a small room 24/7 for all their lives. Anything longer than 20 years should be the needle IMO.

Pirate700

Good point I guess. Sounds harsh though.

Just because China does that doesn't make it necessarily the right thing to do. :?