The confusing case for clemency

[MorganGrayson]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The California Supreme Court refused Wednesday to halt the scheduled execution of convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams, the Crips gang founder who became an anti-gang activist while in prison and whose supporters claim has redeemed himself.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could also still intervene. He has agreed to hear Williams' clemency petition, and if clemency is granted it would commute the inmate's sentence to life without parole.

"Rehabilitation" in our prison system is considered more or less of a joke. It's widely known that all our prisons do is create better criminals.

But...every once in a while you get a Tookie Williams, who "seems" (in quotes for a reason) to have been not only rehabilitated, but doing his best to rehabilitate others.

There are arguments, passionate arguments, for both sides of this issue.

Too many people on both sides have their own personal axes to grind.

Punishment for crimes is supposed to be done in the "best interests of society," not what's best for the convicted criminal. Williams throws a mild monkey wrench into the previous sentence, as his work with children's books and anti-gang violence seems to be a good case for keeping him alive. The founder of the Crips working against gangs benefits society.

Is it a good enough case for clemency and the reduction of his death sentence to live without the possibility?

Comments?

The poll is for those who would like to simply vote rather than publicly comment.

[SykkBoy]

I think clemency is worth it in this case.

While he is in prison for murder, it';s not like he went into a family's home and butchered them. He killed people who sooner or later would have/tried to have killed him. I'm not justifying it, but I think they are seperate issues.

He also has shown signs of reform. We always hear the stories of career criminals who got worse in prison, but what about people who actually show signs of reform? If this man can truly be more helpful alive then dead, what's wrong with keeping him alive several years longer to be helpful.

Who is a kid involved in a gang going to listen to if they want to get out? A politician, a cop or someone who's been where they are?

This doesn't mean we should let every gangabanger out who claims they are reformed. However, on a case by case basis, where someone has shown, as in this case, that they have shown signs of rehabilitation, why should we not give them the benefit of the doubt?

That doesn't mean he should be set free to open a daycare center or open a gun shop, but I feel he could be more valuable alive than dead.

[TheEnforcer]

Issue is moot for me as I don't believe in the death penalty.

[MorganGrayson]

Issue is moot for me as I don't believe in the death penalty.

Neither do I, but I was curious as to what people felt with regards to this specific instance and the request for clemency.

The subject came up over morning coffee, as such subjects are wont to do at my house. :)

[Dravyk]

He should be killed just for having the name "Tookie". http://oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/wink.gif

Seriously though, agree. Every once in a rare often some folks do get rehabilitated. Sounds to me as he's certainly one of them. http://oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/ok.gif

[EroticySteve]

Personally I'd rather be dead than in jail. To each their own.

[Newton]

I believe in the death penalty and there should be a lot more of it too .. fry him ..

[MorganGrayson]

Personally I'd rather be dead than in jail. To each their own.

That is actually one of my arguments *against* the death penalty. Most people would rather be dead than in jail. For some crimes, life imprisonment in the hell of a maximum security prison is a much more fit punishment.

But I didn't want to discuss the pros and cons of the death penalty, just this specific case and whether clemency would be in the best interests of society.

[PornoDoggy]

If rehabilitation is the criteria for commutation of a sentence, it would be hard to argue that there are many more deserving. The born-again bobbleheads were up in arms when Texas executed Karla Faye Tucker, and all she did was clean up, smile pretty, and praise Jezuz.

This guy has done some measurable good.

I'm not a fan of the death penalty, but this guy's actions before his rehabilitation make it hard to defend opposing it. (I believe some his convictions involve directing criminal activity while he was already incarcerated).

I'm not going to lose any sleep either way.