Post by Lori Hebert on Feb 16, 2021 23:53:22 GMT
1. State the problem as simply and clearly as you can.
The question/problem is should the governor grant her that clemency?
My initial thought after reading the articles is that, I don’t have enough information to make a reasonable point of view with just what I have read. I have an emotional sense telling me “of course she should be given clemency” but that has no fact behind it, only my experience within the legal system and believing everyone deserves a second chance. For the framework I had to look at all the information presented to determine if my confirmation bias was leading me to clemency.
2. Describe the values and point of view of Doris.
Doris was 19 years old when she committed the crime, she described herself as “stupid little, hippie-ish girl….a pothead”. She said she regretted getting herself into the situation and needed money. She marveled at her freedom, raised three children, volunteered, and claimed to have led the life of a model citizen.
3. Describe the values and point of view of her husband.
Her husband said Doris was “a person of the highest integrity and compassion” and dedicated her life to raising her children. He loved is wife and she taught her children to be responsible citizens and avoid drugs. The arrest was the next worst thin to having a death in the family.
4. Describe the values and point of view of her children.
There is no reference to Doris’s children’s values or points of view, only that Doris is worried about the effect her arrest will have on her recently graduated sone and her older daughters.
5. Describe the values and point of view of her neighbors.
One neighbor said it would not be useful to society to send Doris back to prison. I would question what the neighbor meant by that; how would it not be useful to society? What would be the benefit to society of releasing Doris from prison early?
6. Describe the legal and societal issues.
Doris broke the law when she sold $200 worth of Heroin to an undercover officer. She then broke another law when escaping from prison after only serving 8 months of her 10-20 year sentence. Law enforcement believe Doris was a teenage leader in a 1970’s drug ring. Heroin manufacturing and sales has affected millions of families across the United States.
7. What is your reasonable point of view? Why? Include a brief description of your values. Explain your point of view.
Even after going through the framework (a few versions of it) I am torn and feel like not having more information is lending to this.
While Doris spent 34 years in raising a family, volunteering, and living in fear, at the end of the day she committed two crimes that were identified. And while I am struggling with someone being sentenced up to 20 years for $200 worth of drugs, was this just what she was caught with? How many lives had she negatively impacted by selling narcotics? Does she understand the impact Heroin manufacturing and sales have had on families across the country?
My values as a mother in recovery also has me conflicted. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance, but I also wonder what if Doris sold drugs to one of my boys? Would my perspective be different?
The economic factor and taxpayer dollars are also something I thought of during the framework. I know that in New Hampshire the average annual cost to keep an individual in prison is roughly $44,000 and that cost increases as an inmate’s age increases, Doris is 53 years old when extradited. Does having taxpayers pay for her housing make legal/social/fiscal sense? Could house arrest be an alternative to serving or clemency?
My final point of view on clemency is that I don’t have a final point of view. This assignment was fascinating to me and I have changed my thinking several times before landing on not having solid conviction for either without having more information.
After looking over the bias chart, I think I identify with many of the cognitive biases as I went through this framework. Confirmation, Action and Anchoring bias was leading me to clemency while Projection, Conformity and Ambiguity was leading me to disagree with clemency.
The question/problem is should the governor grant her that clemency?
My initial thought after reading the articles is that, I don’t have enough information to make a reasonable point of view with just what I have read. I have an emotional sense telling me “of course she should be given clemency” but that has no fact behind it, only my experience within the legal system and believing everyone deserves a second chance. For the framework I had to look at all the information presented to determine if my confirmation bias was leading me to clemency.
2. Describe the values and point of view of Doris.
Doris was 19 years old when she committed the crime, she described herself as “stupid little, hippie-ish girl….a pothead”. She said she regretted getting herself into the situation and needed money. She marveled at her freedom, raised three children, volunteered, and claimed to have led the life of a model citizen.
3. Describe the values and point of view of her husband.
Her husband said Doris was “a person of the highest integrity and compassion” and dedicated her life to raising her children. He loved is wife and she taught her children to be responsible citizens and avoid drugs. The arrest was the next worst thin to having a death in the family.
4. Describe the values and point of view of her children.
There is no reference to Doris’s children’s values or points of view, only that Doris is worried about the effect her arrest will have on her recently graduated sone and her older daughters.
5. Describe the values and point of view of her neighbors.
One neighbor said it would not be useful to society to send Doris back to prison. I would question what the neighbor meant by that; how would it not be useful to society? What would be the benefit to society of releasing Doris from prison early?
6. Describe the legal and societal issues.
Doris broke the law when she sold $200 worth of Heroin to an undercover officer. She then broke another law when escaping from prison after only serving 8 months of her 10-20 year sentence. Law enforcement believe Doris was a teenage leader in a 1970’s drug ring. Heroin manufacturing and sales has affected millions of families across the United States.
7. What is your reasonable point of view? Why? Include a brief description of your values. Explain your point of view.
Even after going through the framework (a few versions of it) I am torn and feel like not having more information is lending to this.
While Doris spent 34 years in raising a family, volunteering, and living in fear, at the end of the day she committed two crimes that were identified. And while I am struggling with someone being sentenced up to 20 years for $200 worth of drugs, was this just what she was caught with? How many lives had she negatively impacted by selling narcotics? Does she understand the impact Heroin manufacturing and sales have had on families across the country?
My values as a mother in recovery also has me conflicted. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance, but I also wonder what if Doris sold drugs to one of my boys? Would my perspective be different?
The economic factor and taxpayer dollars are also something I thought of during the framework. I know that in New Hampshire the average annual cost to keep an individual in prison is roughly $44,000 and that cost increases as an inmate’s age increases, Doris is 53 years old when extradited. Does having taxpayers pay for her housing make legal/social/fiscal sense? Could house arrest be an alternative to serving or clemency?
My final point of view on clemency is that I don’t have a final point of view. This assignment was fascinating to me and I have changed my thinking several times before landing on not having solid conviction for either without having more information.
After looking over the bias chart, I think I identify with many of the cognitive biases as I went through this framework. Confirmation, Action and Anchoring bias was leading me to clemency while Projection, Conformity and Ambiguity was leading me to disagree with clemency.