[Naren]

I hope those assholes get life, although I doubt they'll actually serve life even if they get a life sentence.

Sending them to therapy and giving them a slap on the wrist basically just sends them a message that what they did was okay and they won't really get punished for it. A life sentence, even if it only ends up being 10-15 years in actuality will teach them that doing shit like that will get them a pretty unpleasant punishment and it will send a message to kids thinking of copycatting them that this is the punishment you'll get if you do the same thing. Therapy will just make the kids thinking of going the copycat route know that they won't really face any consequences for their actions.

[Popsyche]

The main thing here is that they aren't being threatened with a life sentence for the beating. The big charge here is the kidnapping, which is the 1st degree felony. If all they did was beat her up when they met her on the street, this news story would have flashed by, and they would have gotten some sensitivity classes and community service. The abduction is what will hang them all.

As for the woman on the news show, she was put there just to create ratings. It wasn't news, just sensationalism.

And BTW, If it was my April in that video getting beaten, those kids AND THEIR parents would be in the hospital.

[Randy]

Originally Posted by Popsyche

And BTW, If it was my April in that video getting beaten, those kids AND THEIR parents would be in the hospital.

[quartie]

I definately don't think they should get life, but hard, long time. I'm not quite sure why the topic of discussion seemed to be how they could be defended.... why was that important? Surely displaying the news and what would happen is more important?

How STUPID are they to do this, film it and proudly display it online for everyone to see and identify the people involved? Were they begging to be arrested?!

[Naren]

Originally Posted by quartie

How STUPID are they to do this, film it and proudly display it online for everyone to see and identify the people involved? Were they begging to be arrested?!

I'm pretty sure they didn't think that the police would find it or even do anything about it if they did find it. Why didn't they think this? Because they're stupid and because teenagers oftentimes think they are invincible and that no one can do anything to them. I doubt they really thought it through.

While I agree that they shouldn't actually be in prison for their entire lifetimes, a "life sentence" in the US judicial system is not really for someone's entire life. It's kind of a joke, but it could vary from anything as short as 10 years to 15 years to 20 years or as long as 40 years (I guess there are rare cases where someone has been in jail for over 40 years, but that's quite uncommon). Most of the people who do stuff bad enough to actually be in prison their entire lives end up being put on death row.

[quartie]

Originally Posted by Naren

While I agree that they shouldn't actually be in prison for their entire lifetimes, a "life sentence" in the US judicial system is not really for someone's entire life. It's kind of a joke, but it could vary from anything as short as 10 years to 15 years to 20 years or as long as 40 years (I guess there are rare cases where someone has been in jail for over 40 years, but that's quite uncommon). Most of the people who do stuff bad enough to actually be in prison their entire lives end up being put on death row.

Oooooh, right! Sorry, I was unaware Possibly 10 years is even a little steep... however, I'm not sure if it could be considered as manslaughter or not, which would make all the difference.

Just hope that this doesn't produce some kind of trend of violent internet vengance.

[Popsyche]

Originally Posted by quartie

I definately don't think they should get life, but hard, long time. I'm not quite sure why the topic of discussion seemed to be how they could be defended.... why was that important? Surely displaying the news and what would happen is more important?

How STUPID are they to do this, film it and proudly display it online for everyone to see and identify the people involved? Were they begging to be arrested?!

That was more of a tabloid news program just for the shock value. Again, the big crime here is the kidnapping with malicious intent. The beating is unfortunately secondary.

How stupid? Completely unaware that there would be any repercussions other than maybe being "grounded". I think that ANY sentence would shock these kids into the real world rather fast. I'm sure that the judge will take into account the mental immaturity of these kids in the sentencing.

[Randy]

Even if they DID get life (which the DA probably won't even bother trying for), it wouldn't be "without parole", so they'd end up getting out in just a couple years.

[Popsyche]

Originally Posted by levelhead86

Even if they DID get life (which the DA probably won't even bother trying for), it wouldn't be "without parole", so they'd end up getting out in just a couple years.

I don't think so. There are minimum years that must be served before parole is an option, and for a felony like that, it would be more than a couple years.

[Naren]

Originally Posted by Popsyche

I don't think so. There are minimum years that must be served before parole is an option, and for a felony like that, it would be more than a couple years.

Good point. I was thinking the same thing.