General Discussion

Douglas Carpenter

(20,226 posts)

45. I think sending a 19 year-old boy who until recently was described by practically everyone as a

Sat Apr 20, 2013, 01:16 AM

Apr 2013

"really nice kid" to life without any chance of parole would not be fair or just. . In his particular case - it sounds like he was heavily influenced by his older brother - which is something that the propensity to do would likely decrease with age. I would dare bet that he will very soon and for the rest of his life wish with all his heart and would give anything to undo what he had done. I think he should be held for a long period of time and then released when there is a reasonable certainty that he will no longer pose any threat to society.

IN general I don't believe in life without the possibility of parole anymore than I believe in the death penalty. Given just how extreme it is to lock someone up in a prison - and given how absolutely terrible life in prison is - I believe that it would be immoral to use that penalty except in circumstances - when any release at any point would represent a real danger to society.

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Poll: After a fair trial - Dzhokhar Tsarnaev should be... [View all] Tx4obama Apr 2013 OP

Seems you're projecting an outcome from this fair trial. flvegan Apr 2013 #1

IF I were projecting an outcome I would have placed the options in the poll in a different order. Tx4obama Apr 2013 #3

He is innocent until proven guilty... Agnosticsherbet Apr 2013 #2

Keep in mind .... Innocent until proven guilty is how a judge and jury MUST view a suspect Trajan Apr 2013 #24

45 year old version of the guy is much different alcibiades_mystery Apr 2013 #4

I'm not going to hate, but your certainty annoys me. Bicoastal Apr 2013 #20

'for all but the most heinous cases' I know many poeple who'd raise their hand to vote markiv Apr 2013 #21

No hate from me ornotna Apr 2013 #22

i would include this as one of those considered "most heinous" JI7 Apr 2013 #26

Very heinous alcibiades_mystery Apr 2013 #30

i think killing a child makes it irredeemable JI7 Apr 2013 #35

I agree with you. nt Live and Learn Apr 2013 #37

What's good for McVeigh is good for him. MrSlayer Apr 2013 #5

LOL, brilliant logic! n-t Logical Apr 2013 #8

Oh my alcibiades_mystery Apr 2013 #9

McVeigh was better at it. MrSlayer Apr 2013 #13

Fair enough alcibiades_mystery Apr 2013 #15

How sad, death penalty supporters on ths site! n-t Logical Apr 2013 #6

Life without parole, and given to psychological researchers as a guinea pig. backscatter712 Apr 2013 #7

I saw a documentary a few years back that said that no one ever 'studied' Jeffrey Dahmer Tx4obama Apr 2013 #27

+1. Edit: Its even more important here than with Jeffery Dalmer. napoleon_in_rags Apr 2013 #40

That is the only thing that makes any sense. nt hifiguy Apr 2013 #33

This will be a Federal trial. The sentence isn't really flexible. nt DevonRex Apr 2013 #10

Other: You know what's even better than justice for a murdered 8 year old? napoleon_in_rags Apr 2013 #11

I like the way you think n/t Fumesucker Apr 2013 #23

See Comment #27. Tx4obama Apr 2013 #29

Assuming he is found guilty, Blue_In_AK Apr 2013 #12

So your post implies skipping the trial? longship Apr 2013 #14

Huh? It says "After a fair trial..." in the subject line :) n/t Tx4obama Apr 2013 #32

Your poll belies your subject line. longship Apr 2013 #36

I object. And since there's no judge here to rule on the objection that's that ;) n/t Tx4obama Apr 2013 #39

Well played, sir. longship Apr 2013 #41

Assuming guilt, imprisonment until rehabilitation or death. Whichever occurs first. Gravitycollapse Apr 2013 #16

An example of rehabilitation 'gone wrong' on the link below Tx4obama Apr 2013 #42

You can't use that single case as evidence against the possibilities of rehabilitation. Gravitycollapse Apr 2013 #43

He should receive sarisataka Apr 2013 #17

wow. just.... wow. frylock Apr 2013 #18

I would like to see a trial first B2G Apr 2013 #19

The trial is not an afterthought. rug Apr 2013 #25

Even without a trial, he shot at police officers last night, 5 minutes before his capture. Travis_0004 Apr 2013 #47

Gitmo pettypace Apr 2013 #28

Sarcasm? Please tell me this is sarcasm. white_wolf Apr 2013 #54

declared guilty or innocent spanone Apr 2013 #31

A fair trial would include looking at the evidence Spider Jerusalem Apr 2013 #34

If found guilty... Chan790 Apr 2013 #38

What a bizarre question. defacto7 Apr 2013 #44

I think sending a 19 year-old boy who until recently was described by practically everyone as a Douglas Carpenter Apr 2013 #45

I'm surprised this one... StarryNite Apr 2013 #46

Bleeding hearts are like nails on a chalkboard sometimes. nt MOTRDemocrat Apr 2013 #48

Who will write the song for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ... DreamGypsy Apr 2013 #49

He'll end up at ADX Florence duffyduff Apr 2013 #50

Tough call jessie04 Apr 2013 #51

..any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, Tierra_y_Libertad Apr 2013 #52

But then there are some people who start out small, kenny blankenship Apr 2013 #55

A jury should decide guilt or innocence and morningfog Apr 2013 #53

Tentatively found guilty and given life imprisonment treestar Apr 2013 #56

I'm surprised how many people on DU are in favor of the death penalty. TimberValley Apr 2013 #57

Mass. doesnt have the death penalty. Tierra_y_Libertad Apr 2013 #58

But it will be federal court, and Mass laws will not apply. El Fuego Apr 2013 #59

Will it? Tierra_y_Libertad Apr 2013 #62

I think that if the crime is terrorism it has to be federal El Fuego Apr 2013 #63

But, will Mass file it's own charges? Tierra_y_Libertad Apr 2013 #64

That's a good question El Fuego Apr 2013 #66

Federal public defenders have agreed to represent the suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings Tx4obama Apr 2013 #67

I think he's obviously guilty Quantess Apr 2013 #60

i hate the idea of a teen getting life but i see no alternative Liberal_in_LA Apr 2013 #61

death would be too easy marlakay Apr 2013 #65

More than likely he will end up at the Florence Supermax with the other terrorists. Tx4obama Apr 2013 #68