Post by La Tonia A. on Feb 17, 2021 13:10:05 GMT
Letter B. Crime & Punishment
State the problem as clearly as you can?
Doris, who escaped from prison after serving eight months, eluded authorities for 43 years. During that timeframe, she created a life for herself by becoming a housewife, mother, and volunteer. She was finally apprehended when the fingerprints retrieved from her driver's license were a match in the system. Doris is back in jail, serving out her sentence while her friends and family have filed an appeal requesting the Governor grant Doris clemency.
The problem is should the Governor grant her clemency and what will the ramifications of his decisions be for Doris, her family, and society overall.
The values and point of view of:
Doris:
From what was outlined in the article, Doris feels when she was a teenager, she was a "stupid little, hippie-ish girl... a pothead." Though she marveled at her freedom, she often worried if her past would catch up to her and worries about the affects her incarceration will have on her family. Based on the little information provided in the article, Doris's choices demonstrate unethical behavior by not doing the right thing for herself and her family. She decided to withhold the truth from them by living a lie until she was apprehended. It also appears she has no sense of accountability for her negative actions, or the repercussions for others, because she allowed her grandfather to assist her with escaping from jail.
Her Family (Husband and Children):
Nothing was mentioned in the article regarding her children’s point of view. I’m unable to provide any feedback on their values or their perspective on their mother’s previous life or her current situation. However, according to her husband of 23 years, Doris raised them to avoid drugs and be responsible citizens. He feels she is a wonderful mother because of how she raised them to be compassionate and have integrity.
Legal and Societal issues include: The legal issues would entail the following:
Legal:
1. She escaped from prison.
2. The organization where she volunteered could face legal and financial hardship for failure to disclose her background. (moral clause) Those associated with or funding the program may cease all financial contributions for future use. They may feel Doris deceived them because she was living a lie.
3. Did the punishment fit the crime when the judge sentenced her back in 1974. $600 hundred does not constitute serving 10-20 years in prison.
4. Doris's failure to carry out her sentencing and escape could have impacted her cellmates, those who were on duty and have nothing to do with her escape plan.
5. The legal implications for her grandfather (if he's still living)
6. What evidence did the Detective have to substantiate his claim that Doris was associated with “higher up” drug dealers? The pictures found in her apartment that shows her with other drug dealers could have been low level dealers, and not higher up on the drug trafficking chain.
Describe the views of her neighborhood; uncertain. The article only spoke of one neighbor who commented that it would not benefit society to send Doris back to prison.
Societal issues:
The societal impact of Doris's re-incarceration could cause psychological issues for her children and her husband. Although we only have the husband's account of how his wife's arrest makes him feel, this could negatively impact his ability to provide emotional support to his adult children, affecting their reality and how they react to certain situations in the future. With the lack of information on how her children are doing after her incarceration, it's hard to know how this has impacted her children and friends. What were the environmental factors she had on the neighborhood when she was selling drugs because she wanted to live a particular lifestyle and make fast money?
After discussing the issues and looking at different points of view, what is your reasonable point of view? Why? Include a brief description of your values. (Use the chart)
Although I can't entirely agree with the judge's decision to sentence Doris to a 10-20-year sentence, her actions make it difficult for me to have empathy for her. Yes, it's challenging to serve out a jail sentence regardless of the amount of time given but you must take some form of accountability for your actions. If she had decided to remain in prison and asked her grandfather to help appeal the judge's decision instead of breaking out of jail she could have received a lighter sentence or been placed in a program that would have helped her be a better member of society. Based on the lack of information regarding her past, it's difficult to determine if she faced hardships during her upbringing, which would have made her believe that becoming a drug dealer and not earning an honest living was the better way to live. Once she had served some of her time, then she could have applied for an appeal of her sentence, proving why she is worthy of either a shorter jail sentence or should receive a pardon in the future. The family should also work with the prison system and vice versa to ensure she’s able to keep a “Parental” connection with her children. This could provide an incentive for Doris to want to do better, and help her family better understand why she chose the path that did. It could assist them with processing the temporary physical loss of their mother’s everyday support.
Should she be granted clemency?
I would have to say no. To grant her clemency would further solidify her beliefs that one should not be held responsible for their actions, and it's ok to break the law, including escaping from prison. Others may feel why does she deserve mercy from the Governor? What makes her case so unique from anyone else who escaped prison and was held accountable for their actions?
Cognitive Biases:
Confirmation bias- I feel that I’m somewhat influenced by confirmation bias. I believe what I want to believe by favoring information that confirms pre-exiting beliefs or preconceptions. My beliefs are that no matter the infraction, everyone must take responsibility for their actions. I don’t normally consider other points of view when it comes to being held accountable for breaking the law or acting in an unethical manner or displaying unethical behavior.
State the problem as clearly as you can?
Doris, who escaped from prison after serving eight months, eluded authorities for 43 years. During that timeframe, she created a life for herself by becoming a housewife, mother, and volunteer. She was finally apprehended when the fingerprints retrieved from her driver's license were a match in the system. Doris is back in jail, serving out her sentence while her friends and family have filed an appeal requesting the Governor grant Doris clemency.
The problem is should the Governor grant her clemency and what will the ramifications of his decisions be for Doris, her family, and society overall.
The values and point of view of:
Doris:
From what was outlined in the article, Doris feels when she was a teenager, she was a "stupid little, hippie-ish girl... a pothead." Though she marveled at her freedom, she often worried if her past would catch up to her and worries about the affects her incarceration will have on her family. Based on the little information provided in the article, Doris's choices demonstrate unethical behavior by not doing the right thing for herself and her family. She decided to withhold the truth from them by living a lie until she was apprehended. It also appears she has no sense of accountability for her negative actions, or the repercussions for others, because she allowed her grandfather to assist her with escaping from jail.
Her Family (Husband and Children):
Nothing was mentioned in the article regarding her children’s point of view. I’m unable to provide any feedback on their values or their perspective on their mother’s previous life or her current situation. However, according to her husband of 23 years, Doris raised them to avoid drugs and be responsible citizens. He feels she is a wonderful mother because of how she raised them to be compassionate and have integrity.
Legal and Societal issues include: The legal issues would entail the following:
Legal:
1. She escaped from prison.
2. The organization where she volunteered could face legal and financial hardship for failure to disclose her background. (moral clause) Those associated with or funding the program may cease all financial contributions for future use. They may feel Doris deceived them because she was living a lie.
3. Did the punishment fit the crime when the judge sentenced her back in 1974. $600 hundred does not constitute serving 10-20 years in prison.
4. Doris's failure to carry out her sentencing and escape could have impacted her cellmates, those who were on duty and have nothing to do with her escape plan.
5. The legal implications for her grandfather (if he's still living)
6. What evidence did the Detective have to substantiate his claim that Doris was associated with “higher up” drug dealers? The pictures found in her apartment that shows her with other drug dealers could have been low level dealers, and not higher up on the drug trafficking chain.
Describe the views of her neighborhood; uncertain. The article only spoke of one neighbor who commented that it would not benefit society to send Doris back to prison.
Societal issues:
The societal impact of Doris's re-incarceration could cause psychological issues for her children and her husband. Although we only have the husband's account of how his wife's arrest makes him feel, this could negatively impact his ability to provide emotional support to his adult children, affecting their reality and how they react to certain situations in the future. With the lack of information on how her children are doing after her incarceration, it's hard to know how this has impacted her children and friends. What were the environmental factors she had on the neighborhood when she was selling drugs because she wanted to live a particular lifestyle and make fast money?
After discussing the issues and looking at different points of view, what is your reasonable point of view? Why? Include a brief description of your values. (Use the chart)
Although I can't entirely agree with the judge's decision to sentence Doris to a 10-20-year sentence, her actions make it difficult for me to have empathy for her. Yes, it's challenging to serve out a jail sentence regardless of the amount of time given but you must take some form of accountability for your actions. If she had decided to remain in prison and asked her grandfather to help appeal the judge's decision instead of breaking out of jail she could have received a lighter sentence or been placed in a program that would have helped her be a better member of society. Based on the lack of information regarding her past, it's difficult to determine if she faced hardships during her upbringing, which would have made her believe that becoming a drug dealer and not earning an honest living was the better way to live. Once she had served some of her time, then she could have applied for an appeal of her sentence, proving why she is worthy of either a shorter jail sentence or should receive a pardon in the future. The family should also work with the prison system and vice versa to ensure she’s able to keep a “Parental” connection with her children. This could provide an incentive for Doris to want to do better, and help her family better understand why she chose the path that did. It could assist them with processing the temporary physical loss of their mother’s everyday support.
Should she be granted clemency?
I would have to say no. To grant her clemency would further solidify her beliefs that one should not be held responsible for their actions, and it's ok to break the law, including escaping from prison. Others may feel why does she deserve mercy from the Governor? What makes her case so unique from anyone else who escaped prison and was held accountable for their actions?
Cognitive Biases:
Confirmation bias- I feel that I’m somewhat influenced by confirmation bias. I believe what I want to believe by favoring information that confirms pre-exiting beliefs or preconceptions. My beliefs are that no matter the infraction, everyone must take responsibility for their actions. I don’t normally consider other points of view when it comes to being held accountable for breaking the law or acting in an unethical manner or displaying unethical behavior.
