I was watching the Today Show today...

[wyliec]

and I caught the tail end of a story where a fugitive had been captured after 37 years. I was thinking that was great that a criminal was caught after all those years. So, I googled it to find out the complete story. After reading the story, I then thought- what a complete waste of time/money, and the detective working cold cases might want to spend more time finding real criminals, JMHO.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-fugitive-arrest-20140205,0,3781683.story

 

[Spyder Tony]

I have to say that I was totally prepared to disagree with you, thinking that any fugitive caught after any length of time was a worthwhile effort...then I read the story. Sure she broke out of Prison (which was as easy as simply walking out of the facility in the middle of the night, back then), but apparently she shoplifted some clothing and received a 16 to 24 month sentence...of which she would've only done 2/3 time...and probably had a good chance of early release with good behavior. Don't misunderstand, what she did was wrong, but I wish effort like the detectives could be directed at the FBI's Most Wanted list, or other criminals of heinous/egregious crimes.



Prison records show Hayman had served eight months of a 16-24 month sentence after pleading guilty in 1976 to attempted larceny when she was 23 years old.

"She was stealing clothing from a couple of stores in Detroit and Lavonia," Marlan said. "It was larceny, probably a reduced charged of attempted larceny - essentially shoplifting."

 

[Jeriatric]

Petty crime when compared to the Texas 'affluenza' case.

 

[Bob Denman]

Well I'll play the Devil's Advocate here for you...
Criminals need to be brought to justice...:gaah:
If not; the entire system will fall apart, and our society will suffer all sorts of harm. :shocked:
I'm glad that she was caought; she deserves what penalties they give her.

the alternative, is to just let the Justice System throw it's hand's in the air, and say something like, "Oh Hell; give her a break!"
As a taxpayor; I'm not willing to accept that...

 

[Jeriatric]

Well I'll play the Devil's Advocate here for you...
Criminals need to be brought to justice...:gaah:
If not; the entire system will fall apart, and our society will suffer all sorts of harm. :shocked:
I'm glad that she was caought; she deserves what penalties they give her.

the alternative, is to just let the Justice System throw it's hand's in the air, and say something like, "Oh Hell; give her a break!"
As a taxpayor; I'm not willing to accept that...

Oh, you mean like OJ........and soo, many others.

Hey, she broke the law and needs to be held to account for it. As for our justice system. The scales have been adjustable for years and years (all it takes is enough green). Just sayin...ya know.

 

[Bob Denman]

I'll be the first to admit that it's already FAR from perfect... :gaah:
But intentionally letting somebody slip away from Justice??? :banghead: Unthinkable!

 

[Chupaca]

Here's the thing..!!

the real issue it should have never recieved this kind of publicity. To sell this as newswothy you have to make it sound like she was public enemy #1. I am sure she was caught and background check popped her out as a fugitive...really can not believe any department would spend much time looking and if they did they would have caught her long time ago...jmo:dontknow:

 

[wyliec]

the real issue it should have never recieved this kind of publicity. To sell this as newswothy you have to make it sound like she was public enemy #1. I am sure she was caught and background check popped her out as a fugitive...really can not believe any department would spend much time looking and if they did they would have caught her long time ago...jmo:dontknow:

You've hit the nail on the head. It wasn't news worthy. It goes to show you how time and money is wasted on something as trivial as this. What's funny is the money that will be spent to keep her in jail now, along with any medications that may be needed for her health. She served 8 months already and the money spent on her at that point far out weighed the original less than $100 in merchandise that she is accused of stealing. You wonder if the judge ever heard of community service.

I say let the punishment fit the crime.

 

[Bob Denman]

What about the penalty for the escape?? :dontknow:

 

[wyliec]

Well I'll play the Devil's Advocate here for you...
Criminals need to be brought to justice...:gaah:
If not; the entire system will fall apart, and our society will suffer all sorts of harm. :shocked:
I'm glad that she was caought; she deserves what penalties they give her.

the alternative, is to just let the Justice System throw it's hand's in the air, and say something like, "Oh Hell; give her a break!"
As a taxpayor; I'm not willing to accept that...

So, if the judge said 10 years because she/he decides to add to the original sentence for escape, that would be okay? You don't need to answer, based on what you've already said I know the answer.

Your comment about the "entire system" is laughable. Like what has already been pointed out, the scales of justice are tipped by the color green, at least in the US that's the color. So, has the justice system fallen apart? I guess that depends on your view.

Based on the actual crime and the circumstances, I can accept "give her a break."

 

[wyliec]

What about the penalty for the escape?? :dontknow:

I think the death penalty on that one.

 

[ARtraveler]

This is a hard case to discuss and seems to fall between the cracks on a lot of levels. One spokesperson said the reason she is going back to jail is that the authorities just cannot "write off" a sentence that was given--even if way back when. Apparently, nothing stands out to make this a consideration.

I agree, it costs a whole bunch to keep someone incarcerated these days. $45K or so per year, just for the basics. If they need medical--that is an add on.

I am not getting the impression that a lot of extra effort was made just to apprehend the lady--but the situation presented itself, and here we are.

Time to pay the piper IMO. :thumbup:

 

[Spyder Tony]

This is a political hotbed with NO right or wrong answer...just all of our opinions. Truth be told, depending on WHERE this crime was committed, the sentence would vary greatly. In many jurisdictions she would've received no jailtime at all...maybe just a fine. Because she was sentenced, she should serve her time. Is this a big crime?...no, but a crime nonetheless.
a poster already pointed out the cost of housing, feeding, and treating an inmate...with this in mind, I am wholeheartedly okay with considering Time Served and addressing the escape via a much more useful means of rehabilitation...community service of some type. This was not a violent escape with hostages and demands...she most likely strolled out the front door of a very minimum security prison. Doesn't make it right, but you weigh each case in its own merits, not by a boilermaker template that fits all.

Criminals are released from prisons due to overcrowding...so now we put her back in prison further adding to the overcrowding dilemma??? (Rhetorical question not requiring an answer).

Again, these are only MY opinions...

 

[Bob Denman]

I think the death penalty on that one.

That would be effective in reducing the recidivism rate...