Should people be given a second chance?

Giving some one a second chance does not mean that you should ignore what they did previously. If you are a convicted child molester who has served his time, you should have the chance at building a new life, but that does not mean society should let you live next door to a school. A second chance should mean a chance at a job and a place to live, and a chance to prove yourself again, it does not neccessarily mean that there cannot be certain restrictions on your actions.

Goshin said:

One of the issues I have with the way we do things is best summed up thus:

I was on duty in court. A bail hearing was in progress. The perp in question had been arrested for some felony (burglary, I think) about six months prior, and had gotten out on bail.

He had then been arrested for assault, and gotten out on bail.
...then arrested for carjacking, and got out on bail...
...then for assault with a deadly weapon, and got out on bail...
...then for petty larceny, and got out on bail...
...then for attempted murder, and got out on bail...
...then most recently for something else, I forget what...

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Someone should take him outside and give him a double tap to the head.

The Mark said:

I suppose I am trying to say that if, once in your life, you are a stupid moron and something illegal is done by you because of your stupidity, should you be marked for life as a criminal?

I was not limiting it to the crimes listed on the poll.

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I cold care less about petty offenses, but generally, yes, if you're a lawbreaker employers need to know. If you did something stupid a long time ago but your resume is otherwise outstanding, no doubt you'll have a chance to explain yourself in an interview.

Having a construction background, I know a felony or 2 isn't going to cost you even if it's a violent offense. Just about the only charge you would need to worry about harming you is anything involving money.

Korimyr the Rat said:

There's no sense in spending so much money on prisons and corrective programs

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Bingo ! there isn't.

Korimyr the Rat said:

Absolutely. As much as I push for "forgiveness" and restoration of rights for ex-convicts, I am in 100% support of "three strikes" laws. My only complaint is that the third strike is mandatory life-without-parole, when I am completely morally opposed to the practice of life-without-parole. The penalty for the third strike should be death.

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so like the third time you get caught smoking weed - you get the chair ?

Korimyr the Rat said:

Committing another crime while out on bond awaiting trial should be instant death penalty-- if you can't control yourself for a couple of months when you are already in serious trouble, there's little point in trying to rehabilitate you.

Especially if the other crime is similar to the first.

I can't help but think of that woman who caused an accident with multiple fatalities while texting on her cell phone-- after several tickets and while waiting for a court appearance.

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i think you're a bit harsh here.

if a person keeps getting tickets perhaps first you should revoke his/hers driver's license - not kill the person.

Kal'Stang said:

Why? It is because of records that people that have served their time and have reformed cannot get a good decent paying job. It is often that hardship that brings people back to a life of crime.

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thats why the person shouldn't do any time - he should simply get that record - emailed to his employer.

if his record gets bad enough one day when he walks into an emergency room with a gun shot wound he will be informed " sorry, but we do not service pieces of sh1t like you here "

The Mark said:

In the case of texting, perhaps an adaptation of the breath testing device some persons with drunk driving convictions get? A device that blocks cell-phone text messages in a car-wide area?
:mrgreen:

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yes or good old fashioned BREAKING HANDS WITH A HAMMER !

The Mark said:

What about if you at some point do something stupid, and never anything afterwards? Should that one stupid act be a unrepairable blot on the rest of your life?

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yes.

if you get drunk, drive and end up losing your legs in a car accident - do you get your legs back because it was your first accident ?

NO.

NEUROSPORT said:

yes.

if you get drunk, drive and end up losing your legs in a car accident - do you get your legs back because it was your first accident ?

NO.

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Not the situation I was refering too.

Although, of course, you are correct, in part.

There are artifical legs, of course.

Kal'Stang said:

Which is why I added in the 15 year period. I would think that anyone that can live those 15 years without reverting has truely changed for the simple fact that it is so hard to get a job that will support you and where applicable your family when you have a felony record. I believe that it is because of that that the recidivism rate is so high.

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I agree, if you havent reformed in 15 years the chances are your not going to but then we are back to knowing who has truely reformed and those that havent.

Lets also not forget that for many people that spend 20,30,40+ years in prison they not only have a hard time with employment due to a record but they have great difficulty adjusting to free life. Imagine how it would be if you suddenly found yourself in 2040 and all the changes that have occured. Most of your friends and family would be scattered or dead. Jobs would be completely different, society overall would be much different. You would be lost in life. There are many cases of freed men commiting a crime right away so they will be sent back to prison, the only life they know. I suppose free life is as frightening to them as prison life would be to you or I.

Baralis said:

I agree, if you havent reformed in 15 years the chances are your not going to but then we are back to knowing who has truely reformed and those that havent.

Lets also not forget that for many people that spend 20,30,40+ years in prison they not only have a hard time with employment due to a record but they have great difficulty adjusting to free life. Imagine how it would be if you suddenly found yourself in 2040 and all the changes that have occured. Most of your friends and family would be scattered or dead. Jobs would be completely different, society overall would be much different. You would be lost in life. There are many cases of freed men commiting a crime right away so they will be sent back to prison, the only life they know. I suppose free life is as frightening to them as prison life would be to you or I.

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The solution to that, I would think, is methods of keeping them in touch and aware of the outside world. Such would serve the additional purpose of letting them know what they are missing.

NEUROSPORT said:

Bingo ! there isn't.

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It was a conditional statement. If the intention is for the convicted to be released into society as free citizens, with the full restoration of their rights and privileges, then it makes perfect sense to spend reasonable sums of money on programs intended to correct their behavior.

NEUROSPORT said:

so like the third time you get caught smoking weed - you get the chair ?

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If, after the first two times, you are required to participate in and complete a mandatory substance abuse rehabilitation program? Yes. By repeatedly returning to illegal behavior after getting caught and after being informed of the consequences, you have indicated that you have no regard for the laws of civilized society and that you have no intention of abiding by them. If you think that is unreasonable and harsh, perhaps you should reconsider whether or not "smoking weed" should be a criminal offense in the first place.

Everything the government does, it does with the barrel of a gun. We engage in a lot of foolish and wasteful behaviors trying to convince ourselves otherwise.

NEUROSPORT said:

if a person keeps getting tickets perhaps first you should revoke his/hers driver's license - not kill the person.

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Certainly. But what do you do when they continue driving without a license, and continue committing the same offense for which their license was suspended? Do you wait until they've actually killed someone before you force them to stop, or do you make it clear that they will obey the law if they intend to continue drawing breath?