Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Should criminals be out early?

This is an interesting article I found about criminals, Michael Vick, being allowing out of prison early if they complete a rehab program. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AgF6nBE50EmxFfTG5ShQ2hD.uLYF?slug=cr-earlyvick010408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

I find this very interesting because the main part of his sentence had nothing to do with drugs, although the article does say the length did have something to do with drugs, but I don't think a program should be able to eliminate almost 50% of his sentence. Although, as the article said, "It's just another example of big money allowing someone to get away with something the rest of society couldn't." Is this fair? Should someone be able to take a rehab course to cut out 50% of their prison sentence?

5 comments:

erika kwee said...

I agree with the statement that this is an example of using money/stature to get out of a situation most of society wouldn't be able to get out of...I am a supporter of rehab but I think cutting off 50% of a sentence is extreme. MAYBE 25% at most would be reasonable, but definitely not 50%.

Keith Chin said...

This is definitely a case of celebrities getting special treatment. It seems like people should be able to get their jail sentences cut for certain things. For instance, parole seems reasonable, that way the people have a chance to redeem themselves in society while punishing them for their crimes. Simply cutting half of someone's sentence for a rehab course is way too much.

William Chen said...

Michael Vick was able to do this because he was a sports icon before the charges. He definitely received special treatment because he was convicted for dog fighting, not drugs. His drug habits might have had played a factor, but the main offense was dog fighting. In this situation, this was basically an escape route from his original sentence, which is not only unfair but unjust.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the reduced sentence. I think that the original sentence was way to harsh for such a petty crime. i dont think that he should have to serve time at all, perhaps he should just do a bit of community service, i mean, they were just dogs, its not like they were actual people.

Anonymous said...

This is just another example of a celebrity getting special treatment while being in jail. cutting a punishment in half is way to much. and yet are his friends going get the same treatment because i havent heard anything about them getting their sentences reduced. even if you dont agree with the punishment that he got like Greg, Vick committed a federal crime yet because he is a celebrity he is going get special treatment just like so many other celebrities have gotten in the past.