'This is a whitewash of justice'

[anneboleyn]

Maybe, maybe not. He should be professionally evaluated.

But it doesn't change my stance against prison rape and celebrity entrapment.

lol I didn’t say anything about prison rape or celebrity entrapment.

Most people who do crappy things are 100% mentally sound but are just jerks who don’t care about anyone but themselves.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

FTR... Most cases of fraud are not victimless. They just aren’t violent. Someone who is the victim of fraud can have their whole life ruined (and not just financially).

 

[Prince_Hawkins]

FTR... Most cases of fraud are not victimless. They just aren’t violent. Someone who is the victim of fraud can have their whole life ruined (and not just financially).

Whose life was ruined from what Smollett did?

And if you can provide an example of someone who experienced personal financial devastation due to his specific actions...then wouldn't a more appropriate punishment be for him to pay them restitution and punitive damages?

 

[Prince_Hawkins]

lol I didn’t say anything about prison rape or celebrity entrapment.

Most people who do crappy things are 100% mentally sound but are just jerks who don’t care about anyone but themselves.

And, again, they should be punished. I just don't understand why the punishment has to be locking them up alongside those who DO commit murder/rape?

 

[anneboleyn]

And, again, they should be punished. I just don't understand why the punishment has to be locking them up alongside those who DO commit murder/rape?

I actually a million percent agree with you about a lot of what you are saying.

I was just pointing out that just because someone does something like this doesn’t mean that they have a mental illness.

 

[Prince_Hawkins]

I actually a million percent agree with you about a lot of what you are saying.

I was just pointing out that just because someone does something like this doesn’t mean that they have a mental illness.

Agreed. Was just proposing that I suspect he might have a mental illness...I have no way to prove it, obviously.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Whose life was ruined from what Smollett did?

And if you can provide an example of someone who experienced personal financial devastation due to his specific actions...then wouldn't a more appropriate punishment be for him to pay them restitution and punitive damages?

I was speaking in general terms.

And no, I don’t have a problem with people who purposely victimized others being housed with violent offenders. I guess I’m just heartless like that.

 

[Prince_Hawkins]

I was speaking in general terms.

And no, I don’t have a problem with people who purposely victimized others being housed with violent offenders. I guess I’m just heartless like that.

Who did Smollett victimize?

What is your position on prison guards (or other prison employees) who enable those hardened criminals by smuggling, extorting them, or looking the other way when they are terrorized by other inmates?

 

[mmouse37]

My feeling is that if there were any less detectives assigned to this case then you would have people screaming that he was not being taken seriously and that it was unfair that the crime was not being thoroughly investigated. It was a no win situation for the police either way.

MJ

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Who did Smollett victimize?

All future victims of REAL hate crimes, as a start.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Who did Smollett victimize?

What is your position on prison guards (or other prison employees) who enable those hardened criminals by smuggling, extorting them, or looking the other way when they are terrorized by other inmates?

Everyone he garnered sympathy from??? The police whose time was wasted? The other, actual victims of crimes who needed that manpower on their cases? That’s not only on the police force, that is his responsibility to bear as well.

And anyone with 1/2 a brain should have an issue with corruption in the prison system. But to essentially wish to give someone a “get out of jail free card” under the assumption they’ll be physically attacked is ridiculous IMO.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

And what about the brothers?

 

[Prince_Hawkins]

Everyone he garnered sympathy from??? The police whose time was wasted? The other, actual, victims of crimes who needed that manpower on their cases? That’s not only on the police force. That is his responsibility to bear as well.

And anyone with 1/2 a brain should have an issue with corruption in the prison system. But to essentially wish to give someone a “get out of jail free card” under the assumption they’ll be physically attacked is ridiculous IMO.

Again, the question should be why and how a crime warrants a prison sentence.

A judge could calculate a hefty fine in punitive damages that Smollett would be forced to pay to the Chicago PD, coupled with him having to complete prolonged community service (NOT the ruse at Jesse Jackson's office) in order to repay the city.

Forcing him to sit in a prison cell won't do anything practical to restore the time/energy that the police invested in his false claims.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Again, the question should be why and how a crime warrants a prison sentence.

A judge could calculate a hefty fine in punitive damages that Smollett would be forced to pay to the Chicago PD, coupled with him having to complete prolonged community service (NOT the ruse at Jesse Jackson's office) in order to repay the city.

Forcing him to sit in a prison cell won't do anything practical to restore the time/energy that the police invested in his false claims.

... K.

 

[Prince_Hawkins]

And what about the brothers?

Apparently, they get a free pass because they'd be "helping" to send Jussie to prison so the city can "make an example out of him" -- and, in the process, further stigmatize sexual survivors (particularly those from the LGBT community).

How noble of them, huh?

 

[Prince_Hawkins]

All future victims of REAL hate crimes, as a start.

Then part of his restitution should be doing something in the area of hate crime prevention.

Sending him to prison doesn't accomplish that.

 

[Prince_Hawkins]

My feeling is that if there were any less detectives assigned to this case then you would have people screaming that he was not being taken seriously and that it was unfair that the crime was not being thoroughly investigated. It was a no win situation for the police either way.

MJ

This is why political correctness has run amuck.

The police should give celebrities the same time/energy level that they'd give to anyone else, in terms of investigations. And they should be praised for treating those reporters-of-crime just like anybody else.

Again, political correctness is destroying us. How about common sense, for a change?

 

[Starwarsfan2]

No one is "justifying" what Smollett did.

I'm saying the punishment wouldn't fit the crime, if several of you get your way in what you are proposing. Sending somebody to be, in all likelihood, beaten up and raped when they have a public profile is akin to torture.

I believe in torture for ACTUAL rapists, murderers, arsonists...but NOT for people who commit fraud. And even then, it shouldn't be state-sanctioned (letting one person commit a crime at the expense of another criminal, to exact "justice"). Their punishment should be of a lower bar than that.

Not all crimes are created equal.

Sorry, can't let you off the hook for this post. Is this really what you believe?

 

[MillauFr]

This is why political correctness has run amuck.

The police should give celebrities the same time/energy level that they'd give to anyone else, in terms of investigations.

That will never happen. The rich and famous will always get special treatment. People may complain about it but they are unwilling to change the system where we worship celebrities.

 

[cabanafrau]

Um, no...it's all interlinked. The failings of our criminal justice system are tied to our society's greater tolerance of sexual assault/abuse.

But your passive-aggressive "concern"-trolling is noted.

No one is "justifying" what Smollett did.

I'm saying the punishment wouldn't fit the crime, if several of you get your way in what you are proposing. Sending somebody to be, in all likelihood, beaten up and raped when they have a public profile is akin to torture.

I believe in torture for ACTUAL rapists, murderers, arsonists...but NOT for people who commit fraud. And even then, it shouldn't be state-sanctioned (letting one person commit a crime at the expense of another criminal, to exact "justice"). Their punishment should be of a lower bar than that.

Not all crimes are created equal.

Again, the question should be why and how a crime warrants a prison sentence.

A judge could calculate a hefty fine in punitive damages that Smollett would be forced to pay to the Chicago PD, coupled with him having to complete prolonged community service (NOT the ruse at Jesse Jackson's office) in order to repay the city.

Forcing him to sit in a prison cell won't do anything practical to restore the time/energy that the police invested in his false claims.

It seems you have little respect for the solid base our justice system is built upon and the reasons behind them and are taking much of your info. about our prison system from movies and TV. No way do I want to live in a country or a culture that embraces torture. Endorsing his ability to use his money to evade punishment endorses the idea there should be two justice systems, one for the wealthy and one for the poor. I do not care for that idea in the least and I think that blindfold should remain securely in place when it comes to our Lady Justice.

The American prison system has many different security levels to serve the variety of needs. Prison rape is not the rampant epidemic TV and movies make people believe. A prisoner with a high profile would be pre emptively assigned to an appropriate unit to ensure their safety.