What am I missing?

[acetoolguy]

Did I read this right? Stallworth gets 30 days, 10 years probation and 1000 hours community service for a DUI fatality?
30 days?........
He seemed truly contrite in interviews but he was drunk right? The DA not have a good case? The victim contribute to it in some way?
Seems funny to me, anybody hear of any extenuating circumstances?

[rockiesfan4ever]

Ya, I thought he got a lot taken off because "He's a superstar football player"

[KowboyKoop]

No, he was drunk, therefore the crime isn't as bad. I mean...he was drunk!!!!!


At least he has his license revoked for life. I say he should be locked up for longer....

[RickD]

No, he was drunk, therefore the crime isn't as bad. I mean...he was drunk!!!!!


At least he has his license revoked for life. I say he should be locked up for longer....

THey should have taken his license away for 30 days and locked him up for life!

[filihok]

THey should have taken his license away for 30 days and locked him up for life!

That doesn't make much sense ;)

[RickD]

Sure it does...."You could drive if you weren't a stinking drunk driver and now you are in the slammer for life but hey here's a keepsake, the license you'll never get to use again!"

[Arctic Blast]

Ya, I thought he got a lot taken off because "He's a superstar football player"

Donte Stallworth equals superstar player about as much as I do.

I do think it absolutely ridiculous that he only got a month...that's just insane.

[reflections]

Ahhh and the sports hypocrisy begins. Stallworth football player (definitely not superstar), kills someone driving drunk and gets 30 days.
The guy who killed Adenhart was drunk too and will probably get more.
Seriously is human life just not worth much?
Vick killed dogs and had more jail time.

[OregonDuck1989]

Vehicular manslaughter generally doesn't get very long sentences to being with. Usually up to a year in most states.


Also, reflections the guy who killed Adenhart had priors...that will extend his sentence quite a bit.

[free2131]

Vick killed dogs and had more jail time.

I'm pretty sure Vick spent more time behind bars due to the money (in all it's intricacies) involved than he did about the actual dog fighting.


THey should have taken his license away for 30 days and locked him up for life!

At this point, there's no reason to. He didn't set out to kill anyone. Serving 30days, with 10 years probation, should be enough to rehabilitate him as I'm sure the threat of a more severe punishment would as well. Should he do something liek this agin, though, that would be another story.

Unless of course, you are less interested in using our courts for justice and rehabilitation than you are for revenge. In that case, why not just let the family dole out the sentence?

[filihok]

Unless of course, you are less interested in using our courts for justice and rehabilitation than you are for revenge. In that case, why not just let the family dole out the sentence?

Hammer, meet the head of the nail.

http://www.letsgetitright.org/blog/hammer-nail.jpg



Seriously is human life just not worth much?
Vick killed dogs and had more jail time.

Human life = dog life

What Vick did was premeditated and done on purpose and done repeatedly.

and this


I'm pretty sure Vick spent more time behind bars due to the money (in all it's intricacies) involved than he did about the actual dog fighting.

[ragecage]

My guys nickname on Tiger Woods is Hammer, you know him? :)

[SirKodiak]

Unless of course, you are less interested in using our courts for justice and rehabilitation than you are for revenge. In that case, why not just let the family dole out the sentence?

That is a straw man. It is false to claim that justice and rehabilitation are inverse of revenge. As I had drilled into me several times in criminal justice and related classes, Justice in the US is based on:


Rehabilitation / Repentance / Reform
Incapacitation / Protection of Society
Deterrence (has two forms, general and individual)
Restoration / Restitution
Retribution (I am assuming this is what you mean by revenge)

[free2131]

That is a straw man. It is false to claim that justice and rehabilitation are inverse of revenge. As I had drilled into me several times in criminal justice and related classes, Justice in the US is based on:


Rehabilitation / Repentance / Reform
Incapacitation / Protection of Society
Deterrence (has two forms, general and individual)
Restoration / Restitution
Retribution (I am assuming this is what you mean by revenge)


Okay, let's go through your list:

Rehabilitation: Can't really know if it works until the person get back to everyday life. We assume that if the crime never happens again that he person is rehabilitated and if it does, then the person is not rehabilitated, and a harshed punishment is given.

Incapacitation: This guy gets 30 days, which for a first time offense and an accidental death caused by him seems fine to me, as I (and apparantly the judge) don't view him as a threat to society.

Deterrance: Again, not something we can see until after he has served his sentence and re-enters society. As I said above, apparantly the judge feels this sentence will be a proper deterrant.

Restoration/ Restitution: I believe his resititution is in the form of the 1000 hours of community service he will perform (most likely in the form of anti-DUI speeches). Seems reasonable to me considering he is a first time offender.

Retribution: Defined as:



1: recompense, reward

2: the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment especially in the hereafter

3: something given or exacted in recompense ; especially : punishment

I think as a society, we use definition #2 in dealing with criminals, as this total sentence is his punishment.

Here is the definition of revenge:



1 : to avenge (as oneself) usually by retaliating in kind or degree

2 : to inflict injury in return for <revenge an insult>

So yes, there is a difference between the two, as revenge is more personal. Justice isn't doled out based on an "eye for an eye", nor should it be.

[SirKodiak]

One of the main reasons for both restitution and retribution is to minimize the perceived need for revenge (as you are defining it) in both individual cases and society as a whole...

[mtg712]

The victim contribute to it in some way?


if i remember a report correctly the victim did contribute. he ran out in front of the car and he didnt cross at a cross walk. still doesnt excuse stallworth.

[acetoolguy]

Another factor may be that the family reached an "undisclosed financial settlement" with Stallworth.
If the family asked the DA to easy on him because of this I understand the familys position but find it troubling none the less.
Does anybody here know?.. if the family of a victim asked for a easy sentance would the DA consider it?

[OregonDuck1989]

Another factor may be that the family reached an "undisclosed financial settlement" with Stallworth.
If the family asked the DA to easy on him because of this I understand the familys position but find it troubling none the less.
Does anybody here know?.. if the family of a victim asked for a easy sentance would the DA consider it?

Possibly. District Attorney's are politicians after all.

[RickD]

Roger Goodell's statement to Stallworth:


“The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable. While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL Commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL.”
“The conduct that led to your conviction plainly violates both the Personal Conduct and Substances of Abuse policies. Either provides me with full authority to take appropriate disciplinary action against you, including a fine or suspension without pay, and to impose appropriate conditions on your continued participation in the NFL. In this case, there is ample evidence to warrant significant discipline under both policies.”

“There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league. Accordingly, I have decided to suspend you indefinitely, effective immediately. In due course, we will contact your representatives to schedule a meeting with you, after which I will make a final determination on discipline. Pending my final determination, you will not be permitted to visit the club’s facility or participate in any team activities.”

“Everyone associated with the league derives tremendous benefits from participating in our game and from the extraordinary support we receive from the public. With these benefits comes, among other things, the responsibility to conduct ourselves in a lawful and responsible way, with no entitlement to or expectation of favorable treatment.”

[warpriest]

Did I read this right? Stallworth gets 30 days, 10 years probation and 1000 hours community service for a DUI fatality?
30 days?........
He seemed truly contrite in interviews but he was drunk right? The DA not have a good case? The victim contribute to it in some way?
Seems funny to me, anybody hear of any extenuating circumstances?


Yes, the decedant ran across three lanes of traffic one way, got into the center median, and began his trek forward to try and catch a bus, Stallworth who was travelling at 50mph in a 40 mph zone, flashed his headlights thinking Reyes would stop, but did not which calls into question whether Stallworth could have avoided hitting him, drunk or not.

Stallworth was legally drunk, and Reyes spent his last seconds on this earth jaywalking, so............