Texas kills fancy last meal requests on death row

[LuvsDragonflies]

Hey, let's throw conjugal visits in there too. Exactly why should they get those? They should be terminated asap. Forget color tv, hot meals and hot showers. Jail isn't supposed to be a happy cake walk with three squares and tv time. Sleep on the floor. Don't like it? Don't be an animal.

 

[cornflake]

Hey, let's throw conjugal visits in there too. Exactly why should they get those? They should be terminated asap. Forget color tv, hot meals and hot showers. Jail isn't supposed to be a happy cake walk with three squares and tv time. Sleep on the floor. Don't like it? Don't be an animal.

An animal? A large percentage of inmates are incarcerated for drug offenses. Another large number are non-violent offenders.

Given the consistant drop in violent crime, it only makes sense more and more offenders are non-violent. Hence the whole 'inmates should have no humane comforts and should exist in bare cells and not have access to basic food and hygiene because they're animals' seems kind of.... misplaced and extreme, no?

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

An animal? A large percentage of inmates are incarcerated for drug offenses. Another large number are non-violent offenders.

Given the consistant drop in violent crime, it only makes sense more and more offenders are non-violent. Hence the whole 'inmates should have no humane comforts and should exist in bare cells and not have access to basic food and hygiene because they're animals' seems kind of.... misplaced and extreme, no?

No. How many of those people are repeat offenders? Hey, it's not that bad right? Stop giving creature comforts and maybe you'd see a drop in the crimes. Also, who needs "Country Club Prisons"? All this namby pamby criminal coddling it disgusting and a waste of $$. I like the guy that has them live in tents in Arizona(?) where they spend more on the guard dogs' food then the inmates. THAT is jail.

 

[Nancyg56]

Hey, let's throw conjugal visits in there too. Exactly why should they get those? They should be terminated asap. Forget color tv, hot meals and hot showers. Jail isn't supposed to be a happy cake walk with three squares and tv time. Sleep on the floor. Don't like it? Don't be an animal.

I have a problem with them too. I do not think that people should be treated like animals but I do think that if a person commits a crime ans is incarcerated there should be no outside pleasures. I also have issues with parole. If a sentence is 2 years that should mean 2 years. I never punished my kids and then ended the punishment by telling them that they would be off the hook if they behaved themselves while being punished. They knew that if they did something that warranted a punishment I meant what I said. They decided if it was worth it. If someone commits a crime they need to know there is not early release so they better think twice if that crime is worth it.

 

[cornflake]

No. How many of those people are repeat offenders? Hey, it's not that bad right? Stop giving creature comforts and maybe you'd see a drop in the crimes. Also, who needs "Country Club Prisons"? All this namby pamby criminal coddling it disgusting and a waste of $$. I like the guy that has them live in tents in Arizona(?) where they spend more on the guard dogs' food then the inmates. THAT is jail.

So... it doesn't matter what the crime was or that the punishment be appropriate, just ... if you're in jail, for any reason, you should live in 110-degree tent on the floor and eat less than is given to dogs. Okie then.

 

[LSmith]

Civilized countries that have abolished capital punishment are:

Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome And Principe, Senegal, Serbia (including Kosovo), Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela.

Countries and territories that retain the death penalty for ordinary crimes:

Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Botswana, Chad, China, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad And Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States Of America, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe


Many seasoned police officers and jail guards in civilized countries do NOT support the death penalty.

 

[EMom]

Civilized countries that have abolished capital punishment are:

Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome And Principe, Senegal, Serbia (including Kosovo), Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela.

Many seasoned police officers and jail guards in civilized countries do NOT support the death penalty.

Considering drug cartels are doing just as they please and mass murdering on a near constant basis, Mexico might want to rethink their stance on the death penalty..........

Mexico is so civilized these days that a lot of people wouldn't visit if they won a free trip and the upper class is fleeing in droves. I wouldn't put them up on a superior moral pedestal.

 

[LSmith]

Considering drug cartels are doing just as they please and mass murdering on a near constant basis, Mexico might want to rethink their stance on the death penalty..........

Mexico is so civilized these days that a lot of people wouldn't visit if they won a free trip and the upper class is fleeing in droves. I wouldn't put them up on a superior moral pedestal.

The drug problem in Mexico has zero to do with the death penalty or lack thereof. The drug lords constantly kill each other.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Geez, if I was sentenced to die I would not have an appetite at all!

yeah, same here.

 

[FireDancer]

It seems the solution is pretty simple, don't commit any crime (drug related, violent, or non-violent) and you can eat what you want when you want and have all the conjugal visits you want...to your own room.

Yes, there are some falsely accused but the majority of people in prison and on death row are there because they broke the law plain and simple.

 

[LSmith]

It seems the solution is pretty simple, don't commit any crime (drug related, violent, or non-violent) and you can eat what you want when you want and have all the conjugal visits you want...to your own room.

Yes, there are some falsely accused but the majority of people in prison and on death row are there because they broke the law plain and simple.

But it is not plain and simple. People are sentenced to death for crimes they have't committed. DNA is not the be all and end all. I am qualified to know this.

I have watched women with 4 kids get sentenced to 16 months in jail for stealing hotdogs and diapers because it is their second conviction. They do time with hardened criminals and come out for the worse. Their kids end up in foster care (usually a horrific experience). Yes, they shouldn't steal but when you come from extreme poverty this is what can happen out of desperation, a background of abuse and no education.

I think that every person should spend a day in a typical state or provincial jail (not the drunk tank) before they have an opinion on sentencing. It ain't Club Med.

 

[luvmy3]

But it is not plain and simple. People are sentenced to death for crimes they have't committed. DNA is not the be all and end all. I am qualified to know this.

I have watched women with 4 kids get sentenced to 16 months in jail for stealing hotdogs and diapers because it is their second conviction. They do time with hardened criminals and come out for the worse. Their kids end up in foster care (usually a horrific experience). Yes, they shouldn't steal but when you come from extreme poverty this is what can happen out of desperation, a background of abuse and no education.

I think that every person should spend a day in a typical state or provincial jail (not the drunk tank) before they have an opinion on sentencing. It ain't Club Med.

Its not supposed to be, and no thanks I don't need to spend a day in jail to have an opinion on sentencing. You do the crime, you do the time. You don't get a pass because you have some sob story. There are many people out there who have the same one and manage to get through life without being a criminal. So for the woman in your example, no sympathy she made her decisions. You don't need to be uneducated to know what happens when you choose to break the law. Second offense then yes your punishment should be harsh, maybe she'll get an education her second time around that will prevent her from being there a third time.

 

[LSmith]

Its not supposed to be, and no thanks I don't need to spend a day in jail to have an opinion on sentencing. You do the crime, you do the time. You don't get a pass because you have some sob story. There are many people out there who have the same one and manage to get through life without being a criminal. So for the woman in your example, no sympathy she made her decisions. You don't need to be uneducated to know what happens when you choose to break the law. Second offense then yes your punishment should be harsh, maybe she'll get an education her second time around that will prevent her from being there a third time.

But this is the problem. Arm chair critics that basically have no idea what they are talking about.

 

[luvmy3]

But this is the problem. Arm chair critics that basically have no idea what they are talking about.

So you think because someone hasn't been to jail or broken the law we aren't qualified to have an opinion? Um okay.

Oh and BTW, I'm not an arm chair critic, I'm a law abiding citizen. That alone makes me qualified to decide with 11 of my peers.

 

[Nancyg56]

But this is the problem. Arm chair critics that basically have no idea what they are talking about.

I think that you are making a giant leap here. You have decided that if someone disagrees with you that person has not idea what they are talking about. I will not argue that the judicial system needs to be changed but I will say that prison should not be a walk in the park. I believe it should be the opposite.

I may not have spent a day in jail but I have had long conversations with my DFIL who had 20 years of experience dealing with prisoners. I am entitled to my opinion and I believe that the information DFIL shared with me is enough to form a valid opinion of how career criminals should be treated. I was a bit shocked when I read a copy of their menu. It was better than my husband and I were able to have at that time in our lives.

There was a farm and they were caring for the animals. Well that did not last, the inmates weer slashing the cows udders and letting them bleed out. Good impression they made

I am opposed to parole, and the Petit crime reinforced my opinion. These two animals were released on parole while they raped and murdered a mother and her two daughters, setting the girls ablaze while they were alive. I am not going to cry over the death penalty for these two and I would gag if I thought they got the last meal of their dreams. I do not care if they live the rest of their lives under conditions that do not include cable TV, higher education or any other conveniences that may make them more comfortable. I would not mistreat them but I see not reason to coddle them either.

I have issues with people who feel that any opinion other than their own is wrong, it is almost impossible to have a discussion with a person who directs and insult at those who disagree.

 

[LSmith]

So you think because someone hasn't been to jail or broken the law we aren't qualified to have an opinion? Um okay.

Oh and BTW, I'm not an arm chair critic, I'm a law abiding citizen. That alone makes me qualified to decide with 11 of my peers.

Well, besides the odd jay walking, inhaling and a few under age drinking stunts, I haven't broken the law either (that I know of). Eveyone is allowed to have an opinion but the educated ones should count more than the "um, ok" ones (in my opinion).

 

[CPT Tripss]

Hey, let's throw conjugal visits in there too. Exactly why should they get those? They should be terminated asap. Forget color tv, hot meals and hot showers. Jail isn't supposed to be a happy cake walk with three squares and tv time. Sleep on the floor. Don't like it? Don't be an animal.

Now you are going and making things even tougher on those prison guards.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Take a look at The Innocence Project's information.

There have been 273 post-conviction DNA exonerations in United States history. These stories are becoming more familiar as more innocent people gain their freedom through postconviction testing. They are not proof, however, that our system is righting itself.

The common themes that run through these cases — from global problems like poverty and racial issues to criminal justice issues like eyewitness misidentification, invalid or improper forensic science, overzealous police and prosecutors and inept defense counsel — cannot be ignored and continue to plague our criminal justice system.




•Seventeen people had been sentenced to death before DNA proved their innocence and led to their release.


•The average sentence served by DNA exonerees has been 13 years.


•About 70 percent of those exonerated by DNA testing are members of minority groups.


•In almost 40 percent of DNA exoneration cases, the actual perpetrator has been identified by DNA testing.

http://www.innocenceproject.org/


Sure there is no giving back to these exonerees the years they lost and the injustices they suffered. But at least they are now free. And these cases are just the tip of the iceberg, the resourses to do more are just not there.

On top of the innocent incorrectly sentenced, think about all the guilty people still out there because of flaws in the criminal justice system. When an innocent person is convicted, the guilty one is still out there.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Well, besides the odd jay walking, inhaling and a few under age drinking stunts, I haven't broken the law either (that I know of). Eveyone is allowed to have an opinion but the educated ones should count more than the "um, ok" ones (in my opinion).

Are you serious? So, in your opinion, people who have gone to college should be above those who didn't? and people who have masters, their opinions should count more than both?



I see nothing wrong with LM3's statements. No, it's not SUPPOSED to be Club Med. There's no reason they should be sitting there watching tv in a nice, warm building, having sex with their nice, warm whatever. They don't need beds or pillows either. Jail isn't supposed to be comfy cozy. I say reopen Alcatraz and dump the violent ones and a 20 lb bag of rice and leave them there. Let them sort it out.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

So... it doesn't matter what the crime was or that the punishment be appropriate, just ... if you're in jail, for any reason, you should live in 110-degree tent on the floor and eat less than is given to dogs. Okie then.

No. I would limit this to violent or chronic offenders. You harm someone, yup, time #3 in jail for the same thing, yup.

But there should still be no TV or other entertainment provided, good behavior earns you release on your date, bad behavior keeps you there longer. Learn a craft, a trade, get your GED, but YOU pay for it. Working at the prision to make credits buys you education. THAT is your entertainment and THAT is a payoff of good behavior as well.