I'm glad they got the bastard.
This Blog By Robyn Wuth a Brisbane journalist sums up our crime and and lack of punishment system.
What kind of jail are we running here?
If the worst a prisoner can say is that it's boring, I think we can safely conclude that there's something wrong in the state of Texas.
A former prison guard reckons the only thing that's different about jail and real life is you don't get to go home at the end of the day.
In fact, he reckons jail is pretty comfortable -- more of a holiday camp, than a concentration camp.
Air Conditioned quarters, in-room television 24 hours a day, two new release movies every night, computer access -- and they are even allowed their own laptops.
Live bands are brought in to entertain and every few months there is a special family barbecue day, a penal picnic if you will.
Some have even smuggled mobile phones into their cell, so it's just like home.
This is what is wrong with the justice system.
There is no punishment, there's no reason NOT to offend.
Jail should not be a home away from home. Surely I'm not the only person out there who wants criminals to suffer, dammit.
None of this namby-pamby treat them like human beings stuff -- when I think prison, I think Dante's circles of hell.
It's a simple equation -- crime and punishment -- what happened to the punishment bit?
Aren't criminals supposed to pay for their crimes in some way?
It's not just the plush jails, it's the entire judicial system.
It's the weak suspended sentence, it's the 'no conviction recorded', it's the fine option order. I'm tired of it.
Every element of justice seems to be looking for an excuse to let people off the hook. Take this week ...
Remember Ricky James Bailey, the gutless alcoholic who smashed the glass into a bloke's face, almost severing his nose?
When the case came to court, Southport Judge Clive Wall jailed the violent little (expletive deleted ... reluctantly) for four and a half years.
Cause for celebration if you ask me -- finally a man in a robe with a big enough gavel to take a stand.
But, no. It was too much to hope for. Those lenient judges at the Court of Appeal in Brisbane think he went too far.
Did I say lenient? Gosh, that must have been a typo, I meant learned.
In their infinite wisdom (cough, cough) they cut Bailey's sentence to nine pathetic, pitiful, piteous, paltry months.
Apparently the drunken thug has had a wake-up call and his prospects for rehabilitation are promising.
Bollocks! He'll barely have time to sober up.
And how about this week's delightful court appearance of a 17-year-old girl -- her seventh since her 17th birthday. It must be a charming creature, don't you think?
She's racked up appearances for three public nuisance charges, two unauthorised dealing of shop goods, common assault, wilful damage, breach of bail, obstructing police and assault causing actual bodily harm.
She's been given the benefit of the doubt by lenient magistrates ... sorry, I meant learned, who slapped her 18 months' probation on June 18 and another 12 months' probation weeks later AND she's been fined a grand total of $840, so far.
And yet this week, here she is back again, before the court on new charges a veritable courtroom veteran.
Her mother must be so proud. So what can we determine from all this?
Did this teenager benefit from the soft option? Clearly not.
Did she learn a lesson that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated? Nope.
Did Ricky James Bailey feel the sting of being held responsible for his actions? All too briefly.
Did the Fink feel the burning fury of the law? Hardly. More like a tickle with a feather.
What they have learned is that the law is soft.
So if you've ever thought about committing a crime, go ahead.
Even if you're caught, you won't really be punished -- not really.
It's just a chance for a little R & R.
Kick your shoes off and sit a spell.
Y'all come back now! Y'hear?
