Current Event # 3:
How Should Society Deal With Lawbreakers?
Due: Friday, 9/30/2011
The question of how to deal fairly and effectively with lawbreakers is as old as society itself. To begin your own investigation, examine the following viewpoints.
Babylon 1790s B.C.
The Code of Hammurabi calls for strict justice:
"If a son strike his father, his hands shall be cut off. If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. If he break another man's bone, his bone shall be broken....If a man knock out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out."
Italy 1764
Cesare Beccaria was one of the first reformers to argue against torture, capital punishment, and harsh treatment of criminals:
"The purpose [of punishment] can only be to prevent the criminal from inflicting new injuries on its citizens and to deter others from similar acts....Such punishments and such methods of inflicting them ought to be chosen, therefore, which will make the strongest and most lasting impression on the minds of men, and inflict the least torment on the body of the criminal."
Singapore 1994
In 1994, an American teenager living in Singapore was sentenced to a painful flogging for acts of vandalism. An official defended his country's harsh penalties.
"Unlike some other societies which tolerate acts of vandalism, Singapore has its own standards of social order as reflected in our laws. We are able to keep Singapore relatively crime-free. We do not have a situation where acts of vandalism are commonplace, as in cities like New York, where even police cars are not spared."
You will need to:
Research and post a link of a fairly recent news story, detailing a crime involving someone or an organization quilty of breaking a law(s). Be sure to provide the clear specifics of the case and what law(s) was/were broken. Discuss at length, in detail, how you agree or disagree with the punishment given for the crime(s) committed. Within your response, provide strong reasons to support your argument as to whether you feel the justice system failed or supported those involved.
Be sure to include the following in your blog post:
-Your name/class period
-Title of article/author
-Source/date of article
-URL (copy and paste your article link in your response for me to review your article)
Paragraph #1:
-Summary of your selected article (minimum of 6-7 sentences that provide detail about who/what, when, where, and why your current event is significant)
Paragraph #2:
-Reflection/Opinion of article (minimum of 3 sentences)
-Give supporting facts and include any personal experiences associated with the article
Sophie Kahn
ReplyDeletePeriod 5
Source: Cnn; Date: Monday September 26th, 2011
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/justice/california-police-beating/index.html?hpt=us_c2
Manuel Ramos, a policeman, brutally beat a homeless man with schizophrenia, who died five days later. He is charged with second – degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. On Monday, Manuel pleaded not guilty to his crime, and his bail remains at one million dollars. If he is convicted to all he is accounted for, he could be in jail for 15 years or the rest of his life. Witnesses say that he said cruel things to the homeless man before attacking him. For a California police man, he isn’t “protecting and serving the people”, and is an extremely dangerous man.
I agree with the punishment Manuel Ramos is receiving for his offense. The homeless man had human rights that were violated by the attack, and Manuel Ramos has to pay for what he has taken. The man’s father was also in a lot of grief from the incident, and it wouldn’t be fair to him for Manuel not to be penalized. Finally, Manuel was a 10 – year veteran policeman, and he abused his authority and that itself is despicable.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHuibo Qi/2
ReplyDeleteKC man pleads not guilty in decades-old Leawood homicide/James Hart
Thursday, September 22, 2011
http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/2011/09/kc-man-pleads-not-guilty-in-decades-old-leawood-homicide.html
A Johnson County judge ruled that there is probable cause for a felony murder charge in a Leawood killing thirty years ago. Gary Holcomb Sr. of Kansas City pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Whitehead. Phillip, the postal worker, was shot to death by home intruders on April 2, 1981. Authorities believe that Holcomb did not commit the murder, but he is charged because he was allegedly part of the robbery.
I agree with Gary’s punishment. Even though he did not commit the murder, it was still a stupid thing to do and he has to pay for his decision.
Mia Spencer/Period 5
ReplyDeleteJailed for Switching Her Daughters’ School District/Timothy Williams
nytimes.com/September 26 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/us/jailed-for-switching-her-daughters-school-district.html?ref=crimeandcriminals
A single mother by the name of Kelley Williams-Bolar who lives in Ohio was convicted of two crimes in January. She made false documents so that she could enroll her two daughters in a higher performing school district that was right beside the one they were in before. This month of September, the governor of Ohio decided to reduce the charges to misdemeanor from what they had been before which were records tampering. A criminal felony may have kept Williams-Bolar from getting her teaching license that she has been working for. She is a teacher’s aid as of now in a public school in Ohio. The governor thought the original charges were too harsh. This was significant because governors or other important officials don’t always take pity on people and reduce their charges because they think they are too harsh.
I understand why Williams-Bolar faked the documents but I do not think it was right. If something is against the law and you know it then you should not do it. I don’t understand how she did that and thought she wouldn’t get caught. I’m kind of conflicted with the governor’s decision because this woman did lie and do you really want someone like that in the profession of teaching? I am just not sure if it a good idea. Williams-Bolar said it was devastating when she went to jail, not just for her but for her children. They were scared and still think she might go back. She said when she cries, they cry. I genuinely hope the kids are okay but Williams-Bolar needs to understand that what she did was wrong.
Jonathan Jang / 1stpd
ReplyDeleteOn the run for 41 years, hijacker traced to Portugal / by – Tim Lister
CNN.COM / September 27, 2011
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/justice/hijacker-found/index.html?hpt=ju_c2
In this article about George Wright, it states that he had been of the run for four decades, or 40 years. He was found in the resort near Lisbon in Portugal and was arrested their on Monday. Wright was arrested for murder but escaped jail and now he is going to serve the remainder of time that he has to serve which is around 15 to 30 years. He was being searched for under the FBI because he and some other men hijacked a plane (Delta 841) and demanded a 1 million dollar ransom and the police officers were to come dressed only in swimming suits to make sure they weren’t carrying guns. The Algerian government confiscated and returned the 1 million back to the U.S. but Wright and his associates got away. Some of the associates were found and arrested, but Wright was no where ever the government looked.
I think that finding Wright was a huge success because it showed how the U.S. never gives up. Also a mad man like Wright should be put and kept in jail, as his life/story reads like a international crime novel. Because in 1962 at age 19, he carried out a series of robberies, and also killed a man (a World War 2 veteran).
Mookho Paw
ReplyDelete2ed period
On the run for 41 years, hijacker traced to Portugal/Tim Lister
September 27, 2011/ CNN news
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/justice/hijacker-found/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
George wright, a criminal who had been on the run for 4 decades had finally been found by the FBI. Wright has many criminal records starting as early as the age 19 back in 1962 when he and three other associates carried out series of robberies in New Jersey. And at a Robbery station, he had shot a world war II veteran with the help of one of his associate. He was arrested and sentenced to 15-20 years after pleading no defense. In 1970, he escaped jail on his way to Detroit where he joined a black liberation army and he later started hijacking planes regularly with the liberation army. The hijackers, including Wright demanded FBI agents a one million dollar ransom to the plane. In 1976 some hijackers got arrested but there was no trace of Wright. At age 68 today, Wright was found on Monday, September 26, 2011.
I am glad that after four decades, they have finally caught him again. Although he was only found yesterday and his punishment is to be announced, I think that he should be sentenced to life. I’m glad that justice has finally been served for those people on the planes he had hijacked and the world war II veteran who had been killed by him.
Jack Jansen
ReplyDelete2ns period
Article Source MSNBC.com
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44687642/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/
After 41 years on the run FBI and New Jersey cops have captured an escaped murderer. The murderer; George Wright came in contact with the law after killing and robbing a gas station owner in 1962. After being sent to prison George Wright soon escaped. Post escape he went on a crime spree. All of George Wright's accomplices were caught at that point; leaving him the only fugitive. He was caught after the 41 years because he allegedly tried to contact family members in New Jersey. Right now he is being held without bail in Portugal.
George Wright will likely be sentenced to life in prison. I agree with this because for one he killed a decorated war hero in the robbing of the gas station he commited in 1962, but he hijacked a plane and hid from the police for 40 years. That is why I agree with his likely punishment
Jeanie Stouffer
ReplyDelete5th period
http://blog.sfgate.com/crime/2011/09/17/bystanders-wounded-sf-police-shooting/
Today I read about the crime scene in San Francisco on Sept. 17th 2011. At 2:06 a.m., officers wanted a suspect in the 400 block of Broadway. The suspect went away from the police and created a weapon. Then officers aimed at the suspect and they did not hit the person. Two people that had nothing to do with the shooting, and they were hit by gunfire. The two people were injured, but they were not injured very seriously. The suspect was fine, but he was put into prison with a lot of protection. The police do not have information about this.
I think the police should of given more information because this is a serious event, and it is confusing. I think that putting him in prison was a good punishment because he injured two people. I also thing that he should of paid for the injuries or work for the money of the injuries because it was not the two people’s fault for their injuries.
Jeanie Stouffer
ReplyDelete5th period
http://blog.sfgate.com/crime/2011/09/17/bystanders-wounded-sf-police-shooting/
Today I read about the crime scene in San Francisco on Sept. 17th 2011. At 2:06 a.m., officers wanted a suspect in the 400 block of Broadway. The suspect went away from the police and created a weapon. Then officers aimed at the suspect and they did not hit the person. Two people that had nothing to do with the shooting, and they were hit by gunfire. The two people were injured, but they were not injured very seriously. The suspect was fine, but he was put into prison with a lot of protection. The police do not have information about this.
I think the police should of given more information because this is a serious event, and it is confusing. I think that putting him in prison was a good punishment because he injured two people. I also thing that he should of paid for the injuries or work for the money of the injuries because it was not the two people’s fault for their injuries.
Period 5
ReplyDeleteFacing Execution for the 'Crime' of Being a Christian In Iran
By Ben Cohen
Published September 28, 2011
| FoxNews.com
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/09/28/facing-execution-for-crime-being-christian-in-iran/#ixzz1ZHbjXWqU
This article covered Christians being executed. In Iran, in many situations, there is actually a law that is punishable by death, and the law is no Christians allowed. Sure, they don’t go around executing tourists. If you have previously Islamic heritage and adopt Christianity, you face years in prison then later execution. One Christian, Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, changed his faith, and unluckily enough, he lives in Iran. Even after showing his sternness of not giving up his faith, they executed him. The crime is called “moharebeh” which means waging war against God.
I find this punishment extremely cruel. This is an example of some of the extremeness in the middle east. You don’t see America(a primarily Christian country) executing people that change their faith. In fact, we embrace the diversity. Sure there was that whole “burn the qu’ran” thing, but I’m sure people that use bibles publicly in Iran are shot.
Vatsal Parikh
ReplyDelete2nd period
Title-Report Charges Physical Abuse In L.A. Jails
Author-Zachary Roth
News-Yahoo News
Date of Article-September 28
URL-(http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/report-charges-physical-abuse-l-jails-201134769.html)
In a jail in Los Anjeles, a mentally ill prisoner is said to be abused by the guards. One of the inmates claims that the prisoner was forced to walk down the hallway, while half naked and being taunted by the guards, because he was accused of stealing some mail. Many reporters say that this sort of happening has been going on for a long time now. They say that the guards, in attempts to humor themselves, abuse prisoners for false reasons and think that they can get away with it.After one inmate protested that the guards not do this to the man, the inmate claims, the guards smashed the inmates head on the wall and punched him in the chest.
I feel that for such a small crime like stealing mail, guards have no right to abuse people like that. Especially when 'mail stealing' was probably just a lie made up by the guards. I also think that it is even more unfair that another prisoner was beaten for standing up for the victim. I don't think that when this country was set up for a land of liberty, anyone ever wanted such violence and unfairness. I also don't understand why a guard would enjoy beating prisoners.
Peter Williams
ReplyDelete9/28/11
Period 5
The article I read is about the riots that went on in London, England a few months ago. They have caught a bunch of the rioters now and over 1,300 of them have appeared in court but only 10 have been convicted and sentenced. Manchester officials anyone involved in breaking into a store will receive four to seven years. Many people think these charges are ridiculous and do not agree with them. Anyone that follows them in could get two to five years.
I think Some of the sentances they are giving people are a bit much. I agree they should be punished for rioting and stealing but they are taking it a bit far. They didn’t even catch most of the rioters but the ones they did catch got very bad punishment. The convicted people will be going to jail for much longer then they expected.
8/23/11
Dominic Casciani
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14595102
Source:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44687642/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/
This article details how a man, George Wright, has finally been captured after more than four decades of hiding out. Wright and a few others were wanted in the hijacking of a plane, Delta Airlines flight 841, and the subsequent ransoming of the captive passengers. Wright fled to Algeria, where the government returned the money he and his friends had extorted, and he left for Portugal.
This is good, because it is almost comparable with the death of Osama bin Laden, in that the United states has finally found a criminal who put many innocent lives at risk. I believe that Wright's punishment should be to serve the remainder of his life in prison, as he has also been convicted of other crimes bafore.
JJ Finkel 2nd Period
ReplyDeleteOn The Run For 41 Years, Hijacker Traced To Portugal
By Tim Lister
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/justice/hijacker-found/index.html?hpt=ju_c2
After forty-one years, the murderer, hijacker, and international criminal George Wright was caught in Portugal this week. Wright escaped from jail sentenced for up to thirty years for murder. His escape took place when Nixon was President. Wright has had a a criminal record ever since he was 19. His worst crime of all was hijacking a plane and successfully taking ransom money in bathing suites from the FBI. Wright then fled to Europe where he has been hiding for over forty years. Luckily, justice always prevails, and Wright is going to finish his jail time, and then some very soon.
I think that the capture of George Wright is very significant. He is a criminal who put the lives of many innocent people at risk. I feel that he deserves to spend the rest of his life in jail. Wright has demonstrated his complete disregard for human life on numerous occasions, and should never be given the opportunity to endanger innocent lives ever again.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSandeep Gill
ReplyDelete1st Period
September 27,2011
Tim Lister-Author
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/justice/hijacker-found/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
On the run for 41 years, hijacker traced to Portugal
On Monday George Wright was arrested after four decades of running. When Wright was nineteen in 1962 robbed a store and killed the World War 2 veteran who was working there. He was caught and put in prison for a 15-30 year sentence for murder. He escaped prison in 1970 and fled to Detroit, Michigan and joined the Black Liberation Army under the alias of a model. Him and four other members of the army helped him hijack a plane headed for Miami. Once they reached Miami they demanded $1 Million in ransom money and gas (enough to reach Algiers). The Algerian government then took away the $1 million and gave it back to America. Wright had slipped away some how. Then out of no where an investigator looked into the criminal again and traced him back to a resort in Portugal. he was then arrested and put back into jail.
I disagree with the sentence that Wright is getting. I think that he should be in prison much longer. First of all he shot and killed a man, which should have got him the death penalty or at least life in prison. Secondly he hijacked a plane took 88 hostages and basically robbed the U.S. of $1million. I think that the justice system failed in supporting those hurt or killed in this case. I think that Wright deserves at lest life in prison, if not the death penalty.
William Bukowski
ReplyDelete9-30-11
5th period
http://news.yahoo.com/uss-cole-bomb-suspect-could-face-death-penalty-180914008.html
1. A Saudi Arabian prisoner was accused of plotting an attack, in 2000 ,on the USS Cole, and might have the death penalty if he is convicted. He was captured at Dubai and the CIA faked his execution. He was then sent to Guantanamo bay, and was roughly interrogated. CIA said they had destroyed the videos of the interrogation. He was accused of plotting an attack that killed 17 sailors and blew a hole in the side of the ship. This is a very controversial case because he had be most likely tortured and is face with the death penalty.
2. He was accused of plotting a terrible crime, killing 17 sailors. He didn’t do the crime, but he did worse and supposedly set the whole plot together. The death punishment seems a little harsh, but he should be put in jail for the next 20 years or for life.
Carolyn Deutsch
ReplyDelete2nd period
Kercher: loved ones rally to keep memory alive
September 29, 2011, CNN
by Peter Wilkinson
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/world/europe/kercher-profile/index.html
The article I read tells about a girl who was a British exchange student. Meredith Kercher was living in Italy going to school at a University there when she was murdered by a man named Knox, her ex-boyfriend and a man named Rudy Guede. They were sentenced to 26, 25 and 16 years in prison for the murder.
I think that they could have been sentenced to even longer. I think this because it is horrible what they did, they took her like and they were sent to jail. One of the men only has 16 years in prison and I think that he should have more. They need to understand that what they did is wrong and the longer they are in prison the more likely it is that they will not murder anyone again.
Everett Dang
ReplyDelete2nd period
On The Run For 41 Years, Hijacker Traced To Portugal
By Tim Lister, September 28, 2011
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/justice/hijacker-found/index.html?hpt=ju_c2
This article was about a man who was in prison 40 years ago, back when Richard Nixon was president. He escaped from prison and joined the Black Liberation Army in Detroit where he was able to hijack a plane and messed with FBI agents. Now, after forty years and spanning three continents, he has been captured in the resort of Sintra near Lisbon in Portugal. He is to serve 15-30 years of prison in America. His life of crime began as early as the age of 19 when he was involved in multiple robberies. He is now age 68.
I think this guy is absolutely crazy. I was surprised by his ability to escape the FBI for so long. His sentence of 15-30 years left in prison is fair in my eyes. Considering his history of so many crimes, I'm surprised he didn't get more years sentenced but 15-30 years still seems fair. Still after 40 years of hunting one man, this capture is very significant.
Matt Dayton period 1
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/us/troy-davis-is-denied-clemency-in-georgia.html
I read about the Troy Davis case. Troy Davis was in a fight and a police officer tried to break up the fight, in Savannah, Georgia. Troy Davis shot the cop in the face and in the heart. This crime happened 22 years ago and was ended recently this month. Troy Davis was sentenced to death by a lethal injection. This execution brought a lot of controversy to the African American population in Georgia. Most thought that Troy Davis was tried unfairly because of his race. Marry Rose, a citizen in Savannah Georgia said, "What am I supposed to tell my kids? That we still live in a Jim Crow society?" This case has gotten a lot of publicity and knows the NAACP or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. They have tried to get involved by calling the Department of Justice. Real justice can't even be had especially for Troy Justice and his family.
Heather Fowler
ReplyDelete2nd period
N.C. woman pleads guilty to killing, dismembering stepdaughter (http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/09/15/north.carolina.slain.girl/index.html?npt=NP1)
The case of Zahra Baker was finally closed last week, when Zahra’s stepmother pleaded guilty to accounts of murder. Elisa Baker admitted to second-degree murder, abusing Zahra, and desecrating her body. She also planted a ransom note at the family’s house in Hickory, North Carolina in an attempt to confuse investigators. Remains of the victim’s body were found about a month later. Baker is expected to spend between 14 and 18 years in prison. The victim's biological mother says she is "pleased and satisfied" with the result of the trial.
I think it’s absolutely horrible that someone would harm a little girl the way she did. I don’t understand what could have led her to kill and dismember her own stepdaughter. I personally think she should serve her whole life in prison, considering she took someone else’s life. I don’t believe in second chances for crimes this bad. If you take someone’s life, yours should be taken also.
Nate Bolon
ReplyDelete2nd Period
http://www.fbi.gov/newark/press-releases/2011/international-fugitive-captured-after-more-than-40-years
International Fugitive Captured After More Than 40 Years
I read an article about a how a known plane hijacker and murderer named George Wright. Wright was arrested living in a small town near Lisbon, Portugal. In 1962, he shot and killed a man while robbing a gas station. He was then sentenced to 15 to 30 years of incarceration. 8 years later, he escaped from the Bayside State Prison and traveled to Detroit, becoming affiliated with the Black Liberation Army. in 1972, he and 4 other men and 3 small children hijacked a plane from Detroit to Miami. They then collected ransom for the passengers on board the plane and flew to Algeria, seeking asylum. after moving to France, all of the members of the crew were caught and arrested except for Wright. He was found last Monday living with a wife and two children. he will most likely be sentenced to imprisonment for the rest of his life.
I think that it is a good thing that the law enforcement chasing this man did not give up. This story should send a message to anyone else who think that they can break laws and get away with it. I think that he should be sentenced to prison with no possible bail for the rest of his life. what this man has done and did is ridiculous and appalling. Not only did he have the nerve to hijack a plane, but to bring children is just sick.
Jeffrey Williams 5th period
ReplyDeleteU.S. condemns Iranian pastor's conviction
By: Dan Merica September 29th 2011
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/29/iranian-pastor-refuses-to-reject-religion-faces-execution/?hpt=hp_t1
The White House has recently condemned the conviction of Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. He was going to be executed because he refused to renounce Christianity and convert to Islam. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has expressed "deep concern" for Youcef. He was also the head of a web of christian house churches, so he was also convicted for that. Leonard Leo said that Nadarkhani "is being asked to recant a faith he has always had. Once again, the Iranian regime has demonstrated that it practices hypocritical barbarian practices."
I think that it is terrible that other countries will punish someone with their life just because they do not conform. I think that this is a terrible way to carry out justice because most countries in this world like ours are made up out of diversity which can only make a country better. If this form of justice was carried out around the world each country would have one single culture and nobody could be affected by the other cultures and we could not adapt to the changing world.
Kristin Thompson/1st period
ReplyDeleteOn the run for 41 years, hijacker traced to Portugal
September 28, 2011
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/justice/hijacker-found/index.html?hpt=ju_c2
After 41 years of being in hiding,George Wright murderer, hijacker, and international criminal was found in Portugal this week. He escaped from prison when Richard Nixon was president , joined the Black Liberation Army in Detroit, hijacked a plane and demanded that FBI agents deliver ransom money in bathing suits which they did do. In 1970, he escaped jail on his way to Detroit. At age 68, he was found in the resort of Sintra near Lisbon in Portugal when he was arrested Monday. Police do say he will finish of his sentence. He was caught after the 41 years because he allegedly tried to contact family members in New Jersey.Now he is being held without bail in Portugal.
I was very glad to her that after 41 years of hiding he will finish off his sentence. I am glad to see that he will finish off his sentence but I also think he should serve at least 10-15 more years. I think he should serve more years because he should not have ran away from the police, by now he would have been done with his sentence. I am very happy he was found I belive the familys of the people he killed and the people on the planes he hijacked.
Brandon Ta 1st Period
ReplyDeleteGrandfather murder plot by daughters.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15107352
Article date: September 29, 2011
An 89 year old man was attacked by his adopted daughter, 49 years old, 2 grand daughters, 16, 14 and grandson 19. The elderly man lived near Winchester, England and suffered from Dementia. He was lured out of his home by one of his daughters and was attacked with bricks by his daughter, grand daughters and grandson. He survived with cuts and bruises. The family had already tried several times to kill him, including slashing the fuel line of his car to make it explode. Prosecutors found out that the family also had been researching on poisons, to kill him. After a 6 week trial all were sentenced with to jail/ rehabilitation. The family said they tried to kill him because they wanted his money, even though he had given them money to buy new cars and even horses before.
In my opinion i think that these people should be sentenced for much much longer. They tried to kill an old man who had given them so much money in the past. To me, i don't understand how someone could be that cruel to plan out the murder of your own grandfather. Though, i'm happy that the man survived and his grand daughters were sent to jail.
Alex Haggis – Period 1
ReplyDeleteJailed for Switching Her Daughters’ School District
TIMOTHY WILLIAMS
NY Times – 9/26/11
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/us/jailed-for-switching-her-daughters-school-district.html?ref=crimeandcriminals
In Akron, Ohio, a single mother has been jailed for nine days because she had sent her children to a neighboring school district as opposed to the one they live in. She did this since the neighboring school district is considered of higher quality. She put her father's home address on all the papers involved and no one found out until recently. She is going to school now to get a teaching permit and her chances of getting one may be slim due to her jail time. She said that it wasn't that big of a lie that she put her fathers address on the forms since her father is deeply involved in raising the children. She also said she wasn't comfortable with leaving her children home alone and that this way they can go to their grandfather's house.
I think that there are two sides to this story and I don't think that she really deserved the punishment she got. Her father was greatly involved in raising her daughters and putting down his address was only really lying in the sense that they don't sleep at his house. Plus the neighborhood their mother lives in is apparently relatively high on crime and it is understandable that she wouldn't want her children alone there.
Andrew simms
ReplyDelete9/29/11
P.2
CNN wire staff
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/justice/california-police-beating/index.html?hpt=us_c2
My article is based on a beating in Califronia. A homeless man was seen wandering aroundthe streets at night and the neighborhood called im in as a drifting homeless man. Manuel Ramos was recorded on film by a security camera at the bus stop. The camera showed him beating up Kelly Thompson a homelees man who was just walking down the street.He is currently being trialed at a court and is sentenced to atleast 15 years of jail or a bailout of 1 million dollars on second degree murder. I think our way of working issues is the best it will probally ever be but there are still many flaws. I don't like the bailout idea. Pretty much people can just pay their way out of jail and I find that unfair the person who died family. I think the man who committed the crime should be brought to a court of regular citizens of a town and they decide on the mans punishment and no bailout.
Elisa Frazier-period 5
ReplyDeleteSuspect Robbed Same Bank 3 Times In 3 Days: Cops
http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-robbery-spree-suspect-busted-in-nyc
september 29 2011 by nyc newsroom
Chareles Burneet(29) of New York robbed a the same bank 3 times in 3 days. Authorities said that he was able to steal 300 dollars the first two days but on the 3rd day he wasn't so lucky. Police caught him running out with nothing but all of the break in was caught on tape. He has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
My opinion is that this guy needs to understand that just robbing the same bank twice without getting caught is lucky enough. I think he was getting to much self confidence. But i think he should have gotten a shorter sentence. All he got was 300 hundred dollars and he caused no damage to the bank. But i do not disagree with the fact that he needs to be punished.
Melissa Turner
ReplyDelete2nd period
Amanda Knox to Sisters-"I'm afraid but OK."/Scott Stomp
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44715154/ns/today-today_people/t/amanda-knox-sisters-im-afraid-ok/
Amanda Knox was charged for murdering her roommate in Italy. She was sentenced to 26 years in prison. There were arguments on the way the police handled the crime scene, and that the Amanda Knox’s DNA that was found on the kitchen knife used to stab her roommate was inadequate. It was said that the murder was part of a “drug fueled sex game”. Her two sisters responded to the verdict by saying that their sister is a loving person that cared more about other people than herself. Results from the DNA test will be given sometime between Saturday and Monday. If the results from the DNA test prove her to be guilty, then her and her boyfriend will face 26 and 25 years in prison.
I slimly agree with the punishment given to Amanda Knox. I believe that if she is guilty, and if it is clearly obvious that she did murder her roommate and her and her boyfriend did it because of drugs, then I think she deserves life sentence for murdering someone. But I believe that if it is slightly more positive that she did it then negative, then she shouldn’t have life sentence but she should spend a strong amount of time in jail.
Becca White
ReplyDelete9/29
2nd Period
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/28/world/europe/italy-amanda-knox-timeline/index.html?iref=allsearch
Meredith Kercher was murder in Perugia, Italy, in 2007. Raffaele Sollecito, Amanda Knox, and Rudy Guede were charged for murder. Rudy Guede is found guilty of murder in his fast-track trial and sentenced to 30 years. (The sentence is reduced to 16 years on appeal in December 2009.)
I feel like Amanda Knox does not deserve to go to jail. They do not have enough evidence to prove Amanda wrong. But for Rudy and Raffaele i feel like they should go to jail longer then 30 years. Rudy admitted to the police and Raffaele was founded guilt.
Tim Li
ReplyDeleteFirst Period
Iranian pastor refuses to reject religion, faces execution
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/28/world/meast/iran-pastor-trial/
This article is about how Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, a leader of a group of house churches in Iran, could face the death penalty for refusing to convert to Islam. Nadarkhani refused to recant after four days of an appeals trial for apostasy. A group called United States Commission on International Religious Freedom expressed deep concern for Nadarkhani’s fate. The commission has stated that they wish for the US government to stand up for this pastor. The commission also said that Iran is violating the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Iran is a party. The outcry from Christians in America has been loud and sustained.
I believe that Iran’s justice system regarding religion is very unjust. No one should have his right to believe in a certain religion taken away from him, and punishing this with not just death but anything is just very unreasonable. The Iranians should learn to tolerate other religions. It is doing them no harm, so killing someone for believing is just not right.
Hugh Kelley, 5th
ReplyDeleteTitle: Shocking Video Shows Attempted Murder of Teen Outside Brooklyn McDonald’s
By: Joe Kemp
NY Times: September 29, 2011
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/09/28/2011-09-28_shocking_video_shows_attempted_murder_of_teen_outside_brooklyn_mcdonalds.html
Summary:
Three people in New York tried to murder a teen outside of McDonald’s earlier today. The criminals fired three bullets into Tyquan Sewall. The first bullet grazed his head not doing loads of damage as it would have if it had hit him square in the head. The rest of the shots were spread out around the body. Sewall is extremely lucky the shooters had bad aim because if they hadn’t had then Sewall could very much not be alive right now. Right now he is steady conditions at the hospital. Sewall is 18 years old.
Opinion:
The shooters in my article have not actually been caught yet so there is no punishment for them as of right now. Although in my opinion the shooters should have numerous years in prison for what they did. Even though it was only attempted murder and they ended up not killing Sewall they still had possession of an illegal weapon in public. They also shot at a man so that counts as something big as well. The shooters defiantly deserve a lot of years in prison.
Arturo Tornero
ReplyDelete1st period
Students guilty of disrupting speech in 'Irvine 11' case
By: Lauren Williams, Nicole Santa Cruz and Mike Anton, Los Angeles Times
September 24, 2011
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/24/local/la-me-irvine-eleven-20110924
Ten Muslim students disrupted the ambassador to Israel’s speech on February 18, 2010. This occurred in Orange County, LA. They had to face one year of jail and were sentenced to three years of probation. Not to forget they also have severe fines to pay and 56 hours community service. A mother of one of the ten defendants said: "I taught him that you can express your mind," she said. "I don't understand what happened.” "I said here you can have freedom of speech — and look what happened." Basically meaning that during this speech he (or anyone) could abide to the first amendment (freedom of speech) as long as there were no abrupt interruptions during it, unlike how the speech went.
Agreeing or disagreeing on one side is tough for me to decide. It was right for them to speak out, according of the first amendment, but it wasn’t the right moment to do so. On the other hand, the ambassador to Israel could have caused offence to the Muslim students, which provoked them. Also, I do not think it is right for them to pay fines, but do agree with 56 hours of community service.
Bryan Zhang
ReplyDelete9/29/11
Period 5
Source: cnn.com
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/justice/california-police-beating/index.html?hpt=us_c2
This article is about this murder in California. A video camera at a bus stop caught a police officer, named Manuel Ramos. The scene took place at night when a mentally ill homeless person was wandering around the streets. On Monday, he was pleaded not guilty for his second-degree murder on this homeless man. The man had schizophrenia. Witnesses said that Manuel said mean and harsh things to the homeless man, resulting in an altercation. If he is convicted of the crime, he could be in jail for at least 15 years.
I think that Manuel was very stupid about this situation. He was a 10-year veteran, while having an altercation with a mentally ill homeless man, being defenseless. For all we know, the man probably didn’t know what he was saying, because he had schizophrenia. Meanwhile, I agree with the punishment on Manuel, because he had no right in demolishing and man-slaugthering a homeless man, wandering in the streets. The man definitely had the right to wonder around, which means Manuel had no right in murdering him, resulting of him breaking the law. It would not be fair if Manuel did not get penalized at all.
Raziyah Farrington/period 1
ReplyDeletePolice officer charged with murder makes $1 million bail
Michael Martinez and Zohreen Adamjee, CNN
updated 6:15 PM EST, Thu September 29, 2011
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/justice/california-police-beating/?hpt=ju_c2
Manuel Ramos was a 37 year old California police officer of 10 years. Manuel Ramos was charged with second-degree murder in the beating death of a mentally ill homeless man. it was an it was a heart braking discovery to Ramos surroundings that he had beaten a homeless man with schizophrenia, who died five days later. On Monday, Manuel pleaded not guilty to his crime, and his bail remains at one million dollars. If he is convicted to all he is maybe charged for, he could be in jail for 10 years to the rest of his life. He was released out of jail around midnight thanks to the bail of 1 million dollars he was set to.
Personally I do not agree with the results of Ramos charges. I think it was because of how much money Ramos was able to provide to the system. He shouldn't have got a bail for his actions. I also think it had something to do with his career amongst others. I do not think it is fair that people can just pay there way out of there consequences just because they have the money to do so. My current event is significant because it shows how unfair the courts system can really be.
Ariella Hirsch
ReplyDelete5th
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/us/jailed-for-switching-her-daughters-school-district.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=jailed%20for%20switcvhing%20daughters%20school%20distric&st=cse
Kelley Williams-Bolar is a woman living in Akron, Ohio. The article I read was about her being sent to jail for enrolling her kids in a neighboring school district. The neighboring school district does do better academically, however she said that was not her reason for sending her kids there. She enrolled them using her dad's address. She didn't want them to be home alone because they are too young to be that independent, and her home was broken into in 2006. One of her children was a third grader and the other was in junior high. She was charged with 2 felonies originally, but the charges were recently reduced to misdemeanors.
In my opinion what she did was wrong, however I understand why she did it. I think that it is reasonable that she wants her children to be safe when she is at work. A better way of handling it would have been to ask an official for help instead of going behind everyone's back. I think her new punishment is much more reasonable that the original one. She has learned her lesson now, and won't make the same mistake. I think it would be good for someone to help her figure out a way of keeping her children safe.
Sunny Osment
ReplyDelete1st period
Title: Self-Defense Leads to a Life Sentence in Georgia
Author: NAACP
Source: naacp.org
Date: August 24th, 2011
URL: http://www.naacp.org/press/entry/self-defense-leads-to-a-life-sentence-in-georgia/
In November of 2006, John McNeil was a relatively affluent, African American man who was getting his house renovated. His contractor, a white man, Brian Epp, had came on to McNeil’s property and threatened McNeil’s son with a box cutter. McNeil’s son called McNeil and told him about this exchange and McNeil rushed back to his home. McNeil found Epp on his yard when Epp started advancing towards McNeil. McNeil first warned Epp and told him to get off his property, Epp continued advancing towards McNeil. McNeil pulled out his gun and shot a warning shot to the ground, Epp continued advancing. Then McNeil shot Epp directly in between his eyes. As two attorneys’ daughter, I would call that self-defense. The justice system ruled differently and sentenced McNeil to a life in prison.
I think that this sentencing was unfair. McNeil does not deserve his whole life in prison because he was defending his home and son. I do believe, because McNeil killed a man, that McNeil should have had some sort of consequences. But not a life in prison.
Emory Student Arrested in SAT Cheating Ring
ReplyDeletehttp://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=30148
The Emory Wheel
Date: September 29th
An Emory university sophomore, Sam Eshaghoff, has been arrested for taking six students tests for them. He has been accused of taking $1500-$2500 from each student. He has been charged with Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, six counts of Falsifying Business Records in the Second Degree and six counts of Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree. Currently, he could face up to four years of jail time. The cheating scandal was caught by administrators who discovered a large discrepancy in the scores for the students who paid Sam to take the test for them. The case was reported to Educational Testing Services, who canceled the scores and turned the case over to the DA. The students were charged with misdemeanor.
I feel like the charges were fair for all involved. The students had their scores cancelled, and are being charged for misdemeanor; it's fair because they didn't do anything except pay a person to take a test for them. The charges for Sam Eshaghoff were fair also. Fraud and impersonation, he definitely deserved it.
Kefu Zhu
5th period
Jacob Guskiewicz
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/justice/hijacker-found/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
In 1962 George Wright started his criminal acts, when he robbed a gas station and killed a world war two veteran. A few months after he pleaded guilty he was sent to prison for15-30 years. Eight years later in 1970 Wright escaped prison getting away in the Warden’s car. Two years later Wright and four members of the black liberation army boarded a flight in Detroit for Miami. The flight was hijacked and Wright was identified as one of the hijackers according to the FBI. After landing the hijackers allowed the 88 passengers off and the hijackers took 1 million dollars from the FBI. Then the Hijackers flew to Algeria were they stayed until the hijackers split up and some of them were arrested in Paris in 1976. George Wright was on the run for 4 decades. He was found five days ago in a Portuguese resort town.
George will spend the rest of his jail time in prison which is around 15-30 more years in jail. I think that this sentence was a good sentence. I think he should definitely be sentenced to at least 20 years. This experience is similar to the Osama Bin Laden escape but Osama had been a part of killing about 3000. George had only killed one or two. But George was kind of forgotten because he was on the run for 41 years that’s a lot of time for a criminal. But he did get caught and he needs to do his time.
Kevin Chen
ReplyDelete1st Period
Huffington Post, Sept. 21, 2011
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/21/troy-davis-executed_n_975109.html
Troy Davis, a man convicted of killing a Savannah, Georgia police officer 22 years ago, was executed after multiple reschedulings. These were due to the many retrial requests by Davis' lawyers and the petitions of his many supporters. Davis had maintained his innocence up to his death. On the gurney, right before injection, Davis asked the victim's family to continue to look into the case, and find the true killer. Many protesters accused the state of racism due to the continuous denials of the state to retrial. At one point, Davis asked for a polygraph, but his request was denied. He was declared dead at 11:08 PM, on September 21st, 2011.
I don't think that Davis deserved the punishment he got. First of all, whether or not he was guilty or innocent, he turned himself in to police, and was cooperative through the investigation process. Second, there were many doubts about Davis' guilt. These doubts should have halted the execution until matters were resolved. The case should have been passed on to a higher court, because of the controversy and the accusations regarding to race.
Caroline Liu 5th period
ReplyDeleteRevenge or Justice? by Sabria Chowdhury
The Daily Star September 27, 2011
http://bit.ly/mS0vXA
The article that I read was about the much talked about case of Troy Davis. Davis was accused of allegedly killing a police officer in 1991. He had claimed his innocence since the beginning of his arrest. Seven out of the nine witnesses either withdrew or contradicted their versions of the story. Protesters even took to the streets to ask the judge to revoke his initial accusation. Even with all the evidence that he might be innocent and all the support from the American public, he was still killed on September 21st, 2011. This event is extremely significant because it suggests that our justice system may be flawed.
When I first heard about this trial, I was livid. There is so much evidence backing up the fact that Davis might have been innocent. Even Pope Benedict XVI, President Jimmy Carter, and representatives for the European Parliament called for the case to be reviewed, and the judges didn’t even attempt to see if there was a single possibility that Davis was innocent. I think that the judge’s verdict was extremely racist and unacceptable. It goes against everything set up by the justice system. The reason why I think this decision was extremely racist is because the case happened in Butts County (ironic, isn’t it?), Georgia which is down south; and naturally, the people in the south are a little bit more racist than those up north ever since the civil war and segregation. I think the judges should have halted the execution and handed it to an higher court. He was an innocent man. I cannot believe that even in the 21st century, we still have absurd verdicts of cases like these.
Julia Haines-1st pd
ReplyDelete7 students arrested in SAT cheating scheme
http://www.msnbc.msn.com 9/28/2011
http://cwatersatchhs.blogspot.com/2011/09/current-event-3-how-should-society-deal.html#comments
I read an article about how 7 high school kids in New York cheated on the SAT exam. They paid a sophomore at Emory University, Sam Eshaghoff, to take the SAT for them. He is, or was, a sophomore at Emory University in Atlanta Georgia. For $2500, he flew back to New York, used fake IDs, and took the SAT 7 times. They were caught last Tuesday when the school became suspicious after comparing the 7 students’ academic grades with their scores, and things didn’t add up. Now, Sam Eshaghoff has pleaded not guilty of the charges, and may end up facing 4 years of prison. The kids that hired him are being charged with misdemeanor. Because they are under-age, not much was said about what other charges they will face.
Overall, I thought that the article wasn’t written very well, and it was hard to follow because they just jumped around facts, and didn’t make paragraphs, like one about the charges, one about what happened, etc. It was informative though, and gave me a general idea of what happened. I don’t agree with the charges faced to Sam Eshaghoff. He did something very wrong and should pay the consequences, but he is only 19. I feel like if he did go to prison for four years, he would just sit around, versus being in college and becoming a better citizen. After prison he would just be another college drop-out and add to the un-employed of our country. I say that they should keep him in college, but have him do service hours over the weekends, and kind of put him on parole. He isn’t a threat to anybody, and I don’t view his crime as huge as other crimes he could have done. I don’t think that putting people in prison, in most cases, doesn’t help anyone. According to http://www.economist.com, in 1997, 60% of people are reconvicted of crimes within 2 years of being released from prison. This proves that prison doesn’t usually help anyone!
Ye Htet 2nd period
ReplyDelete9/28/11
Army Opens Prison of Suspected WikiLeaks Private for Media Review
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/28/army-opens-suspected-wikileaks-private-prison-for-media-review/
The article is mainly about what the media thinks about the treatment that private Bradley Manning is recieving. Bradley Manning was sent to prison because he was suspected of illegaly passing U.S. government secrets to Wikileaks. The critics are saying he's treated bad in his cell so they had to transfer him to another prison. Critics are saying he wasn't trying to do anything bad, he was just letting the people know what their government is doing.
The law he broke was leaking out secret information of the govvernment. I don't really know which side to take but I feel like his actions could be accepted. He only wanted to show Americans what the government is doing. He didn't mean any harm. At the same time I think he was very stupid to have done that in the first place. I mean some of the thinkgs he leaked out couldn' been operations that were going to take place. If they were then the enemy can just go on the internet and be like "Ohh this is what their planning." I get why they passed a harsh judgement on him (he had to stay in a maximum security cell). the U.S. governnment probably had reasons for hiding these information, maybe they think people aren't ready to accept the choices the government had to take you never know. But yeah I feel like Manning is right an wrong for doing this.
Louisa Fine
ReplyDeletePhoebe Prince suicide result of sinister teens and ignorant adults, Joseph P. Owens
lehigh valley live
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/joe-owens/index.ssf/2010/04/phoebe_prince_suicide_result_o.html
Phoebe Prince was a fifteen year old girl from Ireland who moved to America and began school in South Hadley. She started attending South Hadley High as a freshman. She was at the school for three months before she commited suicide by hanging. Why did she do it? The main reason was bullying. Six kids from the high school were repeatedly found bullying Phoebe. Some of the teenagers have already been prosecuted and charged with harassment, civil rights violations and stalking. The two boys involved in the bullying are not yet on trial but are being accused of all of the above and satutory rape. The punishment these people received was mainly the prosecutions put on their records. This event is significant beacuse it is an example where peer bullying has taken a life.
This is just one example of how bullying is a problem that tends to be confronted after the damage is done. This issue seems to be growing and it continues to grow because it is not being adressed properly. In this case adults knew about the bullying that was taking place, but no one felt the need to address it. I agree with the action of the charges being put onto the students personal records. Now that punishment is in place maybe the kids will learn a lesson. The charges put upon these minors were and are completely fair. I have noticed bullying in a previous school I attended and even though the administration knew about it there was not adequate punishment. Many people want to pretend that bullying isn’t a problem, but because of this attitude it is becoming a worse problem than before.
Tamia E / period 2
ReplyDeleteSEP 13, 2011 by Katerina Nikolas
Iran increases hangings for law breakers
http://digitaljournal.com/article/311472
In this article it explains how Iran is increasing the amount of punishments because of convictions dealing with gay sex, drug trafficking and murder. In the article it tells us how 18 men have been executed in the last week alone according to Kurdish Blogger. Iran currently does have a death sentence but its only imposed for murder, rape, adultery, and armed robbery, tho the largest numbers on convictions. The number of deaths is becoming extreme just because of actions.
The amount of hangings shouldn't be this high because that not the answer for a punishment. I my opinion I think that a criminal thats proven guilty should be sentenced jail time so they can think about what they did. Taking their lives isn't the answer to the problem becuase that doesn't solve anything. Two wrongs don't make a right, so hanging shouldn't be happening. If the punishment is more serious, then jail time should be the way to go because its more of a slow punishment that allows growth and thinking from the situation. Hanging shouldn't even be an option in my opinion.
Ria Das
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
Iranian pastor refuses to reject religion, faces execution.
CNN-September 29, 2011
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/28/world/meast/iran-pastor-trial/index.html?hpt=ju_c2
This article is about a Christian man, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who lives in Iran. He is being asked by the Iranian government, to give up his religion or to face death. His first sentence to death was in November 2010, but after many months of pleading from the Iranian government, to convert to Islam, he would recant his religious beliefs. Iran is violating the International Convent on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran is a part of. The commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom said that “the Iranian regime has demonstrated that it practices hypocritical barbarian practices,” also hopes that the US will step in and stand up for the man’s rights and his human rights. Pastor Nadarkhani’s new execution date may be as close as next Wednesday.
I believe this is completely unjust; it is not fair that a man has to give up his religion, or be killed. He has believed in this religion his whole life and why does he now have to change it? Who are they to say what and what he cannot believe in? Everyone should be allowed to choose and practice any faith they desire. One of the Human Right’s Laws clearly says that you should be allowed to practice whichever religion you choose to; if this is true then why is this man being punished for being a Christian? Also the punishment is outrageous, this innocent man has done nothing wrong, and he has hurt no one; so why does he deserve to die? I think this whole thing is stupid, and they should just let the poor man go.
Daniel Ferreira 5th period
ReplyDeleteDecades without daylight: 'West Memphis Three' describe life in prison
9/30/11
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/justice/piers-morgan-west-memphis-three/index.html?hpt=ju_c2
Three men had spent 18 years in prison for a crime they said they did not commit. They were sentenced for life in prison with one of them sentenced to death. They had been convicted of murdering 3 young boys in 1993 in West Memphis, Arkansas. Yet again, there was major doubt over the years about whether these men were guilty or not. After a complicated plea agreement, they were released from prison. They were required to plead guilty while declaring their innocence. They were all in isolated cells, never seeing daylight, just seeing that little slit open as their tray slid in through the door for food.
I believe that this shows another flaw in our justice system. There is always that one word in every big case. Doubt always surrounds every big case. The only evidence that linked them to the murders was their personal preferences in music. I think it’s absolutely absurd that there was no true evidence and yet they were still imprisoned. Now these men have to get used to normal life. Yet again, people like this lost valuable time that they will never be able to get back. It’s a shame to see the way people like this were convicted of crimes.
Roy Huang - 2nd period
ReplyDeleteJia Ashton murder: David Simmonds pleads guilty
BBC News - September 29, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-15104601
David Simmons has pleaded guilty to murdering a 25 year old woman Jia Ashton, as she walked home from work in Derbyshire, England. Ashton’s body was discovered by a mountain rescue search dog in the woods three days after the murder. Detectives say she suffered a ferocious attack, which caused the rupturing of an atrium in her heart. Simmonds was caught after a couple who were walking near the place Ashton was killed saw a man of a ‘possibly homeless appearance’. Officers took fingerprints and DNA samples of people registered homeless in the area and Simmonds was one of them. The reason Simmonds murdered Ashton is still unknown though. He will be sentenced to life in prison on October 7th.
I definitely agree with the punishment Simmonds received. There is never a good reason to justify murder and if you take someone’s life like that, you should be forced to spend the rest of your life imprisoned. I don’t believe in the death penalty though, because I believe that it’s morally right to take someone’s life even if they commit a major crime. I am still curious about the reason Simmonds murdered Ashton though, as he has not given one yet.
Katherine Westover
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-09-21/justice/justice_california-homeless-death_1_involuntary-manslaughter-fullerton-police-homeless-man?_s=PM:JUSTICE
The article that I read is called California cop pleads not guilty in homeless man's death by Michael Martinez. It is about how a police officer has been accused of manslaughter. He had beaten a homeless man who had schizophrenia. The man who was killed was names Kelly Thomas. Witnesses say that Thomas was brutally beaten. He died five days later as a result. The officer who beat him, Manuel Anthony Ramos, pleaded not guilty to court on Monday. He is faced with 15 years in prison if he is found guilty. His bail is set to 1 million dollars. There is another police man who is charged with helping the beating, Jay Patrick Cicinielli. Cincinelli has a 25,000 dollar bail and will be sent to prison for 5 years if he is found guilty.
I think this is a just punishment. Thomas’ civil rights were disregarded and no one should be beaten to death. His family is in a lot of grief because of this event. Manuel is a 10-year veteran to the police force, and Cicinelli is a 12-year veteran. It scared me to think that we are trusting people like them to protect us when they go around harming innocents. It is horrible for a human being to do that to another for no good reason.
Waad Husein
ReplyDeleteNC man sentenced on animal cruelty charges
http://www.chron.com 9/30/11
http://www.chron.com/news/article/NC-man-sentenced-on-animal-cruelty-charges-2196273.php
A man in North Carolina had pleaded guilty to more than 100 charges of misdemeanor cruelty to animals. He received unsupervised probation and a suspended sentence after pleading guilty. In June more than 270 dogs were killed in William Thomas Allen’s home. Allen faces up to 38 years in prison if the 104 animal cruelty charges come out to be true. Although, a plea agreement was reached with the prosecutors and Allen is not allowed to buy or sell animals during his 3 years of unsupervised probation.
I think that this is really wrong. People who are cruel to animals and mistreat them should be imprisoned in my opinion. I think that Allen’s punishment is not enough. He should serve time in prison even though animal cruelty is only a misdemeanor.
Jeremy Werden
ReplyDelete1st period
http://elm.washcoll.edu/index.php/2011/09/guilty-or-innocent-reflections-on-the-troy-davis-case/
Troy Davis
On September 21’st an innocent man was robbed of his life. At A Georgian jail a man named Troy Davis was robbed of his life. For the crime of being wrongly convicted I a 20 year murder trial. He is said to off killed an opposite race white police guard at a parking lot near a burger king, with a handgun. No physical evidence was ever found, but still he was still found guilty. Some of the witnesses who testified against Davis later stated that cops had forced them into lying. Because of this, millions of people were on his side in his final days. When the case was brought up in the supreme court, they too denied him the right to live.
I believe that this event was terrible, and indeed was a cruel and unusual punishment. I think the supreme court should of postponed the execution date until certainty of the murder, Davis was accused of. I am concerned that more innocent people will die because of our broken system, and that when the next type of Troy Davis trial comes around, the judicial system will again fail us.
Daniel Fernandez
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/famous/memphis/index_1.html
The West Memphis three are three teenagers of ages of 16 and 18 who were convicted of killing three 8 – year old kids back in 1993. But the reason why this case is so famous is because the police in that district did not have any evidence that the Memphis three did it. The only reason they thought it was them is because one of the guys, Damien Echols which was sentenced to death by needle injection, He was thought to be the killer because he had believed in the devil and believed in al that stuff and also dressed Goth while everyone else in town was normal and he would stand out the most. The police belived it was him and his friends because the police thought they killed the little kids for spiritual ceremony for the devil. Then they grabbed his best friend and the police said he was involved just because they were friends. And also grabbed his other best friend that was mentally special and the police interrogated him and brainwashed him to say that yes they had killed the kids. Now almost 20 years later the west Memphis three were released because many famous bands and actors like Johnny Dep have fought to reopen this case because this was not fair. The police agreed to let them out only if the West Memphis three would not sue them for a lot of money and to confess that they killed the little kids. So after 20 years the West Memphis three had given up so they just signed the contact and got freed.
I believe that this is not fair that the own police the people you would cal for help put the wrong people in jail for almost 20 years. It makes me not trust the police, and also I can’t believe that their own country would do that to their own people. This makes me afraid of the system.
Abu Swaminathan
ReplyDelete1st Period
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/21/lawyers-file-appeal-to-stay-troy-davis-execution/
Troy Davis
On September 21st, Troy Davis was put to death for the alleged murder of Mark McPhail in 1989. This execution brought much controversy of the public because people argue that there was not enough evidence to support their claims. Some of the people who testified against him claim that the police forced them to claim him guilty.
I think that this was completely wrong and proves how many flaws there are in our justice system. Some argue that this was a racial hate crime and some say that this was a legit crime he committed. I am concerned that the judicial system will fail us again.
Elijah Moore
ReplyDelete1st period
Source: CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/justice/california-police-beating/index.html?hpt=us_c2
A 10 year veteran of the Fullerton (California) police force, Manuel Ramos, pleads not guilty after viciously beating down a mentaly ill homeless man. He has been charged with second degree murder and manslaughter. The bail for his case is $1 million. Or 15 years, to life, in prison. Another officer, Cpl. Jay Patrick Cicinelli, pleaded not guilty to the same case and was released for a $25,000 bail.
I believe that the punishment that Manuel Ramos received was right and what he had done violated the rights of the homeless man. However I do not agree with the punishment that Jay Patrick received. It seems unfair how he was punished less than what Ramos was. If two people are being convicted of the same crime then both of their punishments shuld be equal and not have such a large gap in between the two. I beileved that there should be an investgation in the California police force for any officials who abuse the power that they have.
David Archer
ReplyDeletePeriod 5
9/30/2011
http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/09/troy_daviss_legacy_a_deeply_personal_movement_against_a_racist_justice_system.html
On September 21st, Troy Davis was put to death for the alleged murder of Mark McPhail in 1989. The charges against Troy Davis arose from the shooting of Michael Cooper, the beating of Larry Young and the murder of Officer Mark MacPhail on August 19, 1989. They say that the murder happened outside of a Burger King but no evidence was found. A lot of people believe that he was innocent for all charges. Witnesses said a couple of days before the murder that the police forced them to lie and say they saw him kill the man.
I think that Troy Davis was falsely accused. I think that if the death penalty may be used the court should be 100% positive of the decision. They took away the wrongs mans life.
Morgan Mann, 5th Period
ReplyDeleteMother, boyfriend hid 6-year-old from CPS
CNN, September 28th, 2011
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/report%3A-mother%2C-boyfriend-hid-6-year-old-from-cps?hpt=ju_bn6
These week, a mother and her boyfriend were arrested for hiding Latease Coddington’s daughter from the state authorities. It has been clarified that the six year old daughter’s mother had been telling her to hide in a compact compartment whenever the police came. For a month now, Child Protective Services have checking in on this family ever since her drug use has been said to affect her parenting role. Her daughter reported to the CPS that she had even seen her mother inject a substance into her arm. After the child’s grandmother revealed to authorities that she had heard Coddington tell her daughter to hide, they immediately went to search the house and found the six year old under the bed with blankets. The mother still remains in jail, though the boyfriend was released not too long after being put in, though both of them hold the count of child abuse and failing to comply with a court order.
I believe the boyfriend should have been kept in jail along with the mother, having known of this abuse and not taking action. When the CPS found that Latease was using drugs, I think the importance of being a good mother should have been enforced then. The six year old daughter was taken from the couple, as deserved and she is now doing fine. I agree with this punishment of a jail sentence, and the inability to see her daughter, although I still believe the boyfriend should have further punishment as well.
Dilay Uras-5th period
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/justice/hijacker-found/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
A murderer who has been on the run (since he escaped a New Jersey prison and hijacked a plane from Detroit in the 1970s) has been caught after an investigation that spanned four states, three continents and four decades.
I honestly am glad to seem him go behind the bars. I hope this time he will not escape. I also hope that as punishment he gets life sentencing. I do wonder though, how did Wright manage to stay out of the FBI's way for 40 years.
EMERY HARWELL
ReplyDeleteFIFTH PERIOD
After reading all of peoples posts, i noticed that a lot of people had been focusing on that Wright guy, who had evaded jail for so long, but was finally apprehended. I decided to talk about the recent riots and unjust treatment of civilians in those riots.
There is not a specific article, but citizen journalist blogs and videos show of the terrors happening to those in the recent riots on wall street. Women were corralled behind a fence and pepper sprayed, men were beaten and dragged on the ground.
My post is not neccisarily just about what should happen to lawbreakers, but what should happen to law enforcers. I know there has been a lot of stress on the NYPD recently, but there are still laws allowing people to protest, speak out, and even video what is happening. However, the police continue to abuse their power. If this continues I think the least of their punishments should be the loss of their job, and that is a bare minimum.
Justin Mayo
ReplyDelete"After I stopped taking my TB medicine... I was a criminal"
Irin news Africa 11 August 2011
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=93478
In Kenya 35 year old Daniel Ng'etich was arrested for failing to take his tuberculosis medicine. David had gone to the Hospital after he had been feeling ill. They told him he had tuberculosis and prescribed him a medicine. He was never told how long to take it for so after three months when he felt better he stopped. The police came and arrested him saying that he was refusing to take his medicine but he had a highly infectious disease. He went to jail where others who had committed the same "crime" were being treated. Activists got him released before his 8 month sentence was over. Daniel did not like his disease but hope it will help raise awareness about how serious tuberculosis is.
I believe that helping people take their medicines is ok but not putting them in jail. I think that if they do take them somewhere it shouldn't be to a jail but to a medical facility. I think this is an overly harsh way of dealing with this crime
Emilee Taxman, 2nd period
ReplyDeleteBogus Baker Gets Prison Term, by Jay Price
Newsandobserver.com, April 13, 2011
http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/04/13/1125788/bogus-baker-gets-prison-term.html?story_link=email_msg
A man was sentenced to 9-11 years of prison, for bread. He labeled regular, gluten filled bread as gluten-free. He also called it homemade when he just bought it at a store. He was charged of 23 counts of obtaining property by false pretense. His bread made many people who were allergic to gluten very sick. Many consider this as a victory for the underdog.
I think that his punishment was valid. Fraud is a bad crime, and it deserves a big punishment. His punishment could be an example to others who try to follow in his footsteps. This trial supported the common man with fair justice. He brought this on himself through lies, and that made many people sick.
Juliann Cho
ReplyDelete1st period
CNN
9/29/11
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/justice/california-police-beating/index.html?iref=allsearch
Daniel Ramos, a 37 year old police officer was charged with second-degree murder after killing a mentally ill homeless man. He was released after paying a one million dollar bail. Kelly Thomas, a 37 year old homeless man with schizophrenia was beaten by the police and passed away 5 days later. He suffered brain injuries, many fractures, and extensive bruising.
I think he should have stayed in jail because of how badly the homeless man was injured and how he passed away 5 days later. It was very brutal and horrifying to even think about. He was charged with second degree murder, and I personally think they should not have let him out of jail.
Lianna Malawski
ReplyDeleteSeptember 30, 2011
1st period
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/30/world/africa/yemen-radical-cleric/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
My article is about a man named al-Awlaki. He is a Muslim cleric in Yemen; U.S. al-Awlaki is one of the top terrorist recruiters in the world. He was killed last Friday in one of the U.S Drone Strikes. A U.S official told CNN that, “It was a joint U.S Military-intelligence operation.” The strike also killed a man named Samir Khan. Khan specialized in computer programming for all al Qaeda. He also produced the terror English-network online. By killing al-Awlaki this has been a major blow to al Qaeda.
"His hateful ideology and targeting of innocent civilians has been rejected by the vast majority of Muslims and people of all faiths and he has met his demise because the government and the people of Yemen have joined the international community in a common effort against al Qaeda," Obama said.
Obama said this after the death of the two men in the Drone strike. Since those two men are dead it weakens al Queda’s revenge plan on the U.S.
Sadie Frank
ReplyDelete1st Period
LA Times, Sept. 28, 2011
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/28/local/la-me-0928-minister-20110928
In my article, a doctor and Evangelical minister who lived in the San Fernando Valley was convicted on four counts of mail and wire fraud, six counts of tax evasion, and one count of witness tampering. Christine Daniels, the minister in question, used a show on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and her position as a leader in the Evangelical church to push her supposed cancer cure on people. This so-called herbal treatment, supposed to have cured cancer in upwards of 60% of cases, was in fact little more than sunscreen and beef extract. It cost 120,000 - 150,000 dollars for the six-month treatment. She was sentenced to 150 years in prison and various fines totaling 5.5 million.
I think that this sentence was entirely right. In this case, a woman used a horrible illness and people in fragile mental and physical states for her own personal gain, taking all their money and then evading taxes upon it. I don't think the punishment is either too harsh or too lax; I believe a lifetime in prison and fines to make up for the lost taxes is perfectly appropriate for this situation.
Olivia Donahue
ReplyDeletehttp://nymag.com/news/features/acs-chareece-bell-2011-9/
Title: A Knock At The Door.
Overview: The article I read from New York Magazine was about a child wellfare supervisor wrongfully convicted of a crime. Chereece Bell, a supervisor for New York City's child welfare offices had many responsibilities as supervisor. She had over four-hundred children to keep tabs on after abuse or negligent parent reports. She had to regularly meet with and assess these various kid's home life, and decide weather or not to provide City money for assistance, or provide a better living situation through foster parents. She not only did all this, but also oversaw a couple dozen child welfare specialists who did the same. One of her cases, Marchella Pierce, a child who had been reportedly abuse by her parents had died at the age of four, and only weighing eighteen pounds. The child was incredibly malnourished and beaten, the autopsy concluded. The City of New York, without enough evidence to convict either of the parents, decided to convict Chereece Bell-for negligent homicide.
Opinion: In my opinion, this conviction was completely inapropriate. The article talked about how overworked and understaffed the Child Welfare office is in New York. Many supervisors constantly work overtime, and rarely see any good pay or vacation time. I feel that this charge was incredibly unjust, seeing that Chereece Bell had nothing to do with the death with the child. The City of New York should have tried tirelessly to convict the right victim.
Current Event
ReplyDelete9/30/11 By: David Batson P:2
I chose to do my current event on a recent murder involving a police officer and a schizophrenic homeless man. The police officer had gotten a repot of a homeless man looking in car windows and pulling on door handles at a bus depot so Officer Manuel Ramos went to investigate and found the homeless man, Kelly Thomas, and lifted his fists to him and said he was going to beat him. Thomas tried to defend himself but the officer beat him with his baton and then another police officer joined Ramos. Then he joined beating him then tasered Thomas nine times on his head then he was apparently making no audible noises. The other police officer was charged with excessive use of force and involuntary manslaughter resulting in a $25000 bail while Ramos, pleading not guilty, was charged with second-degree murder resulting in a $1 million dollar bail. Ramos’ family and friends raised enough for bond which is 1/10th the cost of the total bail. This story is significant because the same police department has previously had charges relating to excessive use of force.
I think that the justice system failed to enforce the law because Ramos is already out of jail and just has to pay off bond. Even though the bond is massive, he should be serving a jail sentence as well. For killing a man who has done nothing to provoke you should be punished more severely than this. I believe that he should have had a half-million dollar bond and 30 years in prison. If this was a major record company executive or a senator there would be many more consequences than he is receiving for this. In my mind the justice system has been too lenient to this man.
Article: Police Officer charged with murder makes $1 Million dollar bail
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/justice/california-police-beating/index.html?hpt=ju_c2
Source: CNN Date: September 29th, 2011 Author: Stella Chan
Taylor Headen
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
This article was about a boy named Nathaniel Craver or Ivan Skorobogatov. Two parents adopted this Russian boy and beat him. The parents complained that the little boy had a disease that cause him to hurt himself. But the investigators found that it wasn’t. They found over 80 injuries and bruises all over his body including his head. The boy later died of head trauma. And the parent continued to lie about his death, but justice was served in the end.
I think that this article was very sad. I think that these parents deserve to be in jail if not prison for a long time. No one deserves to be beat like this no matter how bad they were. This little boy didn’t even live passed 5, due to non caring parents.
http://www.childrenintherapy.org/victims/craver.html
Burhan Bustillos 2nd 9/30/11
ReplyDeleteArticle BBC, 9/30/11
Two former Rwanda ministers have been send to jail for thirty years. By the UN for the involvement for genocide in 1994. Former civil service minister Prosper Mugiraneza and former Justin Mugenzi were convicted of complicity to commit genocide. This genocide caused nearly 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis to die. The minister was accused on calling the attack.
I think the punishment for the ministers to call in the attack is fair and justified. They committed genocide, so I’m surprised that they did not give him the death penalty. I think they did not punish the ministers enough I think it should have been a life sentence for what I know.
HTTP://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15125145
Ian McKeown
ReplyDelete5th
In this article we witness proof that racism is far from dead in some places, and that racial aggression is not only common, but often expected when races confront. This particular incident occurred in a small town in Mississippi. One fateful evening a group of teenagers went out with the intent of performing hate crime. Unfortunately, this intent was fulfilled on a black man by the name of James Anderson. The supposed leader of this group of teen white supremacists is currently facing charges of Capital Murder and Hate Crime. The leader, Deryl Dedmon, not only assaulted Mr. Anderson verbally, he hit him and then ran over him with his car leaving him to die. Other members of this group may be facing indictment.
After reading this article, words could not describe how appalled i was by the actions of the teens and the fact that this has become so common it is not suprising the event occurred. I fully support any and all punishment invoked on them. This group of racist teens is not only living off pre-determined prejudices created decades before they were born, they are also encouraging these actions with their behavior and attitudes. This poor man did not deserve what occurred to him. I was so full of shock and sadness for this poor man after reading this.
URL: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/22/us/mississippi-hate-crime-teens/index.html?hpt=ju_c2
Jamil Walker
ReplyDeletePeriod 5
Does Latest Casey Anthony News Mean Guilt Is Finally Sinking In?
http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_news/123885/does_latest_casey_anthony_news
The newest crime that I recently found out is the Casey Anthony. This case is from Orlando Florida and it was not too long ago. Caylee Anthony was the little Girl that was killed. Even though there were a lot of people saying that she killed her daughter, she wasn’t pressed with charges. Everyone was upset because they really thought that Casey really did kill her daughter but they didn’t know. People say that Casey is a messed up chick because of what she does in her free time. She likes to party and do other things that seem like she had killed her daughter. Like Casey being drunk. Casey could have been drunk and killed her daughter but doesn’t seem to be the case. Casey has made a good choice of postponing her first television interview because, she needs psychological help. Another reason why she is postponing her interview on TV, is because she is still dealing with a losing her child. Anything that will help Casey would be good because she needs to get her life together.
To me I think that this is a good article and a good case because, losing a child isn’t easy. Even though I don’t have a child I know it would be hard to lose one. I don’t know if I’m going to agree with Casey killing her daughter because nobody can be the judge of that except God. And if she didn’t go to jail that means that she didn’t need to go to jail. She didn’t do anything wrong and she wasn’t punished. I think that she needed to postpone her interview because she needs to get her thoughts together. If Casey really did kill her daughter that means later in life it is going to haunt her.