Would you spend 35 years in jail for $1.75mil?

nadams

This guy did, but not because he wanted to -

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34467096/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/?GT1=43001

See the last paragraph.

thsmith

Pretty sad but he has a good attitude.

thuffman03

That would suck if you were in jail for 35 years and did not commit the crime. And no, 1.75 million is not enough money to make up for that amount of time. There is no amount of money that can bring back all of those years.

vc69

No. I wouldn't. Not for any amount of money.

zombie boy 2000

**** nah...

nadams

I'm not saying I would... the thought just popped into my head while I read that last paragraph.

Sherardp

35yrs is a long a$$ time. For 1.75 million, heck nah! I was going for 50 million maybe, but thinking about it I'm not sure any amount would be enough. Life's too short as is.

KASR

There is no equivalent compensation for experiences (good or bad) ... all the money does is make society feel better about the mistake. But let's look at it this way: he could have been released and given nothing but a hearty handshake. Atleast he gets a decent bit of cash.

ryanjoachim

I say someone needs to allocate money to do DNA tests on all prisoners who were found guilty before DNA testing was brought into the picture.

If it's done in federal labs, it shouldn't actually cost too much.

Face

I doubt I would even do 3.5 years for 1.75 mil.

vc69

KASR wrote: »

There is no equivalent compensation for experiences (good or bad) ... all the money does is make society feel better about the mistake. But let's look at it this way: he could have been released and given nothing but a hearty handshake. Atleast he gets a decent bit of cash.

There is that. But I believe the question was phrased as "would I..."

.02

We could debate the pro and cons and morality of this for years to come and never reach a consensus. He was wronged (as many have been) beyond monetary compensation. Just like wrongful death cases, how can you put a price on it? Who's qualified for the position of determining what is fair?

Also, if he did not commit the crime, and a crime was committed, there is a guilty and quite possibly dangerous person still free.
What of the responsibility of the parties to which his wrongful conviction was attributed? Investigators, prosecutors, witnesses... they all contributed. What of their restitution?

Of course, these are rhetorical questions. I am only posing them because it seems we might be in a hurry to absolve ourselves of the crimes the justice system carried out against this person with a little cash. I don't think the universe works that way. Maybe our society does, but karma does not.

/.02

KASR

vc69 wrote: »

it seems we might be in a hurry to absolve ourselves of the crimes the justice system carried out against this person with a little cash. I don't think the universe works that way. Maybe our society does, but karma does not.

/.02

Amen to that, brother!

Danny Tse

While $1.75 million sounds like a lot (and it is), but for 35 years? That's nothing, IMO.

I'm very happy he's finally freed, especially in time to see his mom and family during the holidays.

BlueFox

He's lucky he didn't get the death penalty.

Rivrrat

That's 50 grand a year. I'm sure there's quite a few here that would be taking a pay cut at that rate.



Edit.....I posted this before I read the article. I guess everyone but me already knew it was 50 g's. :rolleyes:

treitz3

No.

Not a chance in hell. I only have one life to live.

Jstas

There was a homeless dude at "Talk of the Town" in Sout Philly tonight who looked egg zacktly like that dude. So much so that I though it was him and was angry that he was trying to bum a cup of tea off of me at "Talk of the Town". Who the hell goes to "Talk of the Town" for a cup of friggin' tea anyway? A cup of Cheez Wiz, yeah but tea? Fuggetaboutit!

nadams

Rivrrat wrote: »

That's 50 grand a year. I'm sure there's quite a few here that would be taking a pay cut at that rate.



Edit.....I posted this before I read the article. I guess everyone but me already knew it was 50 g's. :rolleyes:

Remember, too... that during that time, he had little to no monetary expenses. He could now buy a modest house and live the rest of his life without having to work.

Again, I would not be as forgiving as he is if I were in his place... but it's an interesting thing to think about.

janmike

Not!

devani

not worth 35 years....that's a long time, because I lived that long so far

fossy

NO way ..... but that sure would get me a nice little 2 channel set-up

madmax

I'd do 2 years maybe.
madmax

vc69

madmax wrote: »

I'd do 2 years maybe.
madmax

You don't strike me as thug Max. Have I missed something?

maandjojo

I realize I am going to get blasted for this but that is one of the reasons I can't justify the death penalty. We are always so sure they commited the crime until something like this happens. It was quite easy to tell that he was railroaded. They didn't even have evidence that he was at the scene of the crime. Rich folks that have better lawyers are on the streets, the poor are either dead or in jail. That wasn't even the first time he had asked for the DNA test, it took an organization to finally get an approval.
I could go on and on about these types of things but most times I,m just spitting into the wind.

Joe

madmax

vc69 wrote: »

You don't strike me as thug Max. Have I missed something?

I'm just saying I'd do two years for 1.75 mil...

Danny Tse

devani wrote: »

not worth 35 years....that's a long time, because I lived that long so far

I think if you ask that guy whether he'd rather have $1.75 million or 35 years of his life (in the prime of his life, no less) back, he'd have choose those 35 years.

A

gelinas

no--never
1.75mm / 30 only equates to 50,000 a year. Thats pretty lousy.

Mazeroth

I wouldn't do a year for 1.75 million.

Ok, maybe a year. But not a day longer.

bigaudiofanatic

I would probably do it but only for 5 or 10 years.

Face

You have no idea.

vc69

I'm guessing anyone willing to do more than a month has never actually spent a day in jail. Let alone done any time in a prison.