Picture of everything wrong with the US justice system

[Eri]

I found this photo earlier and googled the cases just to make sure they were real. And they were.

So, really? How can there be that much discrepancy between the two cases?

Kinda funny he gets to use his probably fraud-stricken money to defend him. This is just what he got caught for, who knows what else he wasn't caught doing. Gets a 40 month sentence, which, beside being nothing, will probably be at a country-club jail.

How does nothing get done with such blatant evidence like this?

*looks at ground and shakes head*

 

[Falconsgyre]

I'm not going to offer an opinion of whether or not it was fair, but it's probably because the homeless guy did it by force instead of through fraud. Tricking someone out of $100 would have netted him a much lighter sentence.

 

[Saelune]

Think of it this way. That homeless guy now has a home and consistant food for 15 years.
That buisness guy now has a <6 year time period to get stabbed. (Sure the homeless guy does too, but hes probably just as likely to get stabbed being homeless too)

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Or like how the DoJ refuses to investigate the New Panther Party and the video tape evidence of voter intimidation because Eric Holder said he didn't want to investigate "my people." The DoJ is so screwed up right now, there's no way to untangle that rat's nest without just purging everyone from it and starting over.

That's about all that really needs to be said about that.

 

[Merkavar]

going to prison seems a good option to take if your homeless. food shelter and medical care.

10 years in jail or 10 years on the street where you might die from starvation, freezing, etc etc etc

http://www.newsytype.com/7969-1-dollar-bank-robbery/

 

[Biosophilogical]

By the sounds of it, the guy in the second case, while using fear as a weapon, seemed otherwise quite polite, and he only did it to survive, AND THEN he felt remorse and turned himself in, after giving the bank back the change!

This is both a horrible example of the justice system, and a tragic example of the current social state. I mean, the guy was polite as far as roberies go. He tried to minimise how much damage he was causing, took only what he desperately needed, and turned himself in! When someone is clearly such an upstanding person, and you give them such a horrible punishment, that's when you know that the justice system isn't about justice anymore (if it ever was). The justice system should never be about 'an entire digestive system for a fingernail', it should be about rehabilitation, trying to help criminals as best as is possible, not cause them harm in a socially condoned example of ante-up revenge.

 

[Saelune]

Think of it this way. That homeless guy now has a home and consistant food for 15 years.

Great. You ever been in prison?

You ever been homeless?

 

[Merkavar]

Think of it this way. That homeless guy now has a home and consistant food for 15 years.

Great. You ever been in prison?

You ever been homeless?

im sure they are both bad in there own ways. but if i have a choice i think ill take the option where i get food water shelter medical care a shower (and all the butt secks i can ever need )

 

[Saelune]

Think of it this way. That homeless guy now has a home and consistant food for 15 years.

Great. You ever been in prison?

You ever been homeless?

im sure they are both bad in there own ways. but if i have a choice i think ill take the option where i get food water shelter medical care a shower (and all the butt secks i can ever need )

From my understanding, which yes, is not firsthand, many would agree with you. (On the first bits)

 

[WolfThomas]

Was it a federal bank? I think that's meant to be worse than robbing a regular bank, that and the fact he pretended to have a gun. But yeah it does suck that there's no reduced sentence due to cooperation and remorse.

 

[Dags90]

im sure they are both bad in there own ways. but if i have a choice i think ill take the option where i get food water shelter medical care a shower (and all the butt secks i can ever need )

You do realize that hepatitis and HIV in the U.S. prison system has become a serious public health concern, right? And there's no condoms in almost all U.S. prisons.

Prison rape really isn't a joke.

I'll forgive you if you don't know this, it doesn't get nearly enough (or any) press coverage.

 

[Romidude]

Well, I'm not surprised, it's the American justice system. Justice is blind, to reality.

 

[Worgen]

really its the homeless mans fault, he should have made powerful connections before stealing 100 dollars, not to mention he should have stole much more, everyone knows that the more you take the less you will be charged with

 

[NormalityImpaired]

As far as Mr.Brown is concerned, I would tend to believe that jail time is a better retirement plan than he could expect on the streets. He has a really good chance of living the next 15 years as opposed to maybe surviving being homeless. Of course IF he makes his release date, he will just be homeless again, and 69 years old.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Yeah, but on the other hand in prison the homeless man will be provided with shelter, food, and warm clothing for 15 years, whereas out on the street he'd have none of those things. So yeah the system is still broken, but at least there's a bright side for some.

 

[ManInRed]

Well armed robbery has a higher sentence, in theory, because we don't like violent crime that gets people killed. Still, it's not always fair when the robber does not actually have a real weapon -though its pretty hard to prove you didn't have a gun and tossed it.

On a side note, this probably worked out great for the homeless guy. Why? Free food, shelter, and rehab for 15 years. Less time assuming he works at getting probation. Now I'm not saying prison doesn't have it's down sides, but it's possible the homeless guy committed the crime because he wanted this to happen. I'd be a little annoyed at the prosecutor at giving the man such a long sentence if he didn't ask for it, out of a need for shelter or guilt.

It also looks like these crimes happen in different places, so the law could in fact be that different. CEO's do tend to have more mobility on where they steal than the homeless, so this is never going to be completely fair.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I am reminded of this quote
"The planes turn, and it is not justice that drives them!"
- Myrkul, Lord of Bones

That being said, assuming there are no other factors to this case, then yes, this is rather unfair. But as people are pointing out, is prision not prefered to living on the streets?

 

[triggrhappy94]

So the more money you steal, the less time you get?

You didn't mention anything about over zealous prosecutors, pot, or all the other stuff that doesn't make sense about the judical system.


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