Man spends 18 yrs in prison for crime he didn't commit

[pixiesis]

No, I don't think they were saying that at all. Just that they would have more sympathy for an honest law abiding citizen who was wrongfully incarcerated rather than a drug overlord with a federal rap sheet (Disclaimer - please note the tinge of sarcasm here and don't feel the need to debate the drug overlord part). However, if that witness really was lying and just isn't recanting now because he didn't feel like going through another trial, than of course it is a shame that the man was wrongfully accused of something he didn't do and put away for 18 years because of it. I just wouldn't be surprised if there isn't more to the story than we'll ever know. The prosecution obviously still believes they have a case, so I don't think this is quite over yet.

Thanks Liann. Heck, I feel the same way in terms of my level of sympathy for a law-abiding citizen v. a criminal. Still, I don't think we should lump all of the scumbags together. There are different types of scumbags out there, you know? I feel a bit of sympathy for the guy, like maybe a level 5 on a scale of 1-10.

 

[morningstar]

Just have a look at the stats - compare the percentage of caucasians and non-caucasians in prison to the overall race breakdown in the country as a whole. Racism is rampant and has a huge impact on who gets arrested, who goes to jail, who is believed, who is not, and who is given the death penalty instead of getting a life sentence.

 

[Liann]

Just have a look at the stats - compare the percentage of caucasians and non-caucasians in prison to the overall race breakdown in the country as a whole. Racism is rampant and has a huge impact on who gets arrested, who goes to jail, who is believed, who is not, and who is given the death penalty instead of getting a life sentence.

So are you saying prisons need an Affirmative Action plan?

 

[hiitdogs]

So are you saying prisons need an Affirmative Action plan?

ROTFLMAO!!! Good one Liann!!

 

[evilgrin]

PhillisG: The reason the US has so many more inmates in jail than Russia or China is because they execute many of the people that commit crimes in their countries. They do not mess around with appeals.

I think this is post number 7 for me.. whoohoo, I am catching up to the rest of you fast(ha ha)

 

[Miss Lee]

So are you saying prisons need an Affirmative Action plan?

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!

 

[Miss Lee]

PhillisG: The reason the US has so many more inmates in jail than Russia or China is because they execute many of the people that commit crimes in their countries. They do not mess around with appeals.

I think this is post number 7 for me.. whoohoo, I am catching up to the rest of you fast(ha ha)

Excellent point! I'd say you're off to a great start!

 

[Liann]

PhillisG: The reason the US has so many more inmates in jail than Russia or China is because they execute many of the people that commit crimes in their countries. They do not mess around with appeals.

I think this is post number 7 for me.. whoohoo, I am catching up to the rest of you fast(ha ha)

This is actually pretty true - the part about Russia and China not messing around. I believe China is still the leader in executions worldwide. And Russia doesn't exactly have a lily white track record either. As far as the total stats of how many are imprisoned in each country - I haven't seen anyone come up with any real stats about that. No clue how we measure up and how that relates to overall populations of the countries or the subject of the original post on this thread!

 

[hiitdogs]

This is actually pretty true - the part about Russia and China not messing around. I believe China is still the leader in executions worldwide. And Russia doesn't exactly have a lily white track record either. As far as the total stats of how many are imprisoned in each country - I haven't seen anyone come up with any real stats about that. No clue how we measure up and how that relates to overall populations of the countries or the subject of the original post on this thread!

We are not far behind.

China 0.07 per 100,000 people
United States 0.02 per 100,000
Pakistan 0.05 per 100,000
Iran 0.25 per 100,000

I am sure glad we find ourselves in such great company. Almost the same as Iran. Lovely!

 

[Jonezie]

We are not far behind.

China 0.07 per 100,000 people
United States 0.02 per 100,000
Pakistan 0.05 per 100,000
Iran 0.25 per 100,000

I am sure glad we find ourselves in such great company. Almost the same as Iran. Lovely!

Carola...a woman who knows her facts...that is awesome. It would be interesting to know what countries have the lowest execution rates...and also their crime rates. I'm betting Switzerland is way up there. I've heard the police don't even carry guns there but can't say for sure.

 

[carres1973]

Carola...a woman who knows her facts...that is awesome. It would be interesting to know what countries have the lowest execution rates...and also their crime rates. I'm betting Switzerland is way up there. I've heard the police don't even carry guns there but can't say for sure.

There are MANy countries whose police officers don't carry guns...England is one. That is possible in those countries because it is difficult to impossible for ordinary citizens to have firearms...carrying concealed - NOT!!!!

Carrie

 

[carres1973]

We are not far behind.

China 0.07 per 100,000 people
United States 0.02 per 100,000
Pakistan 0.05 per 100,000
Iran 0.25 per 100,000

I am sure glad we find ourselves in such great company. Almost the same as Iran. Lovely!

I think saying almost the same as Iran is a bit of an overstatement. In those stats it looks like we are last (unless I am reading it incorrect?).

Carrie

 

[carres1973]

Carola...a woman who knows her facts...that is awesome. It would be interesting to know what countries have the lowest execution rates...and also their crime rates. I'm betting Switzerland is way up there. I've heard the police don't even carry guns there but can't say for sure.

Most "Western" countries have outlawed executions for any crime. That is why countries such a France won't extradite a criminal back to the US unless the death penalty is taken out of the equation as a possibility.

No, I don't think this makes them superior to us. Are their murder rates less than ours? Maybe...so are their populations and square footage.

Carrie

ETA List by country:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_exe_percap-crime-executions-per-capita

 

[Govtgirl]

We are not far behind.

China 0.07 per 100,000 people
United States 0.02 per 100,000
Pakistan 0.05 per 100,000
Iran 0.25 per 100,000

I am sure glad we find ourselves in such great company. Almost the same as Iran. Lovely!

I think saying almost the same as Iran is a bit of an overstatement. In those stats it looks like we are last (unless I am reading it incorrect?).

Yup, that's an overstatement, we aren't even in the same ballpark as Iran. We are .02, they are .25, so we are 2,000 per 100K, and they are 25,000!

Big difference! (and yes, I had to get the calculator out)

 

[Jonezie]

Carres1973...I couldn't find the stats online. I'm glad you found them. Another woman who knows her stats. It's interesting to know how other countries rank. PS...I would flunk World Geography...I don't know where 3/4ths of these countries are. I'm waiting for Jeff Foxworthy to jump out and tell me I am so not smarter than a 5th grader.

And thanks again...to EllieMom for the original post and DreamyJeanie for the Innocence Project info. It's good news to hear. Elizabeth

 

[carres1973]

Jonezie - for some reason, geography is fun for me. I am actually REALLY surprised the first country listed is the Bahamas. I educated myself. I was SURE the top country would be either middle eastern or asian.

Carrie

 

[Jonezie]

Jonezie - for some reason, geography is fun for me. I am actually REALLY surprised the first country listed is the Bahamas. I educated myself. I was SURE the top country would be either middle eastern or asian.

Carrie

Me, too! All this time, I thought of the Bahamas as the ultimate vacay destination! Who knew? Meanwhile...where in the heck is Kyrgyzstan?!?

 

[carres1973]

Me, too! All this time, I thought of the Bahamas as the ultimate vacay destination! Who knew? Meanwhile...where in the heck is Kyrgyzstan?!?

I think it is one of the former Soviet Union countries. A lot of those countries with lots of consonants and few vowels belong to the former Soviet Union!

Carrie

 

[Jonezie]

PS...Carres1973...were you born in 1973? If so, we are the same vintage!

 

[carres1973]

Indeed I was. What a wonderful year .