www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall American injustice

This is about injustice.

Paris Hilton --the rich, white, female celebrity who has flaunted her public violation of virtually every standard of decency for years -- was given a 45 day sentence for violating the terms of her probation. She was placed in a solitary jail cell (isolated from the general population). Then, she was released to her palatial home for house arrest. Then, today, she was sent back to jail. Some are saying that the original sentence was too strict. Others say that she didn't get a stiff enough sentence -- especially because she was isolated from the general population.

Meanwhile, untold hundreds and thousands of Americans who are not rich and not white are sentenced to jail in overcrowded conditions and with limited medical care; and they are left to serve their sentence in the general population with all if its violence, depravity and mayhem. And there is no media frenzy or public outcry at all....

And simultaneously today, Mary Winkler (a woman who murdered her husband with a shotgun while he was asleep) was given a sentence of 270 days.

Lesson ? Money and hypocrisy overrule justice.

Lord have mercy.

-- John

From the view of things we get over here I think you have made a very relevant comment John.

I would like to say kudos to the judge though and here's why: he did not allow her to testify from home and also decided to extend her sentence back to 45 days as opposed to the cut down sentence of 23 days. While this isn't complete "justice" I do beleive that it is better than nothing. Personally, I think that Paris Hilton is suffering from withdrawl from various drugs that she may be taking. Above everything else I think it is sad that a story about spoiled rich girl is at the top of our news broadcasts. Don't tell me that there is nothing more important that we could be hearing about.

-Katie g
aka Katie the ByzanTEEN

Would you say this is about economic injustice?

That term has connotations with it which make me uncomfortable.

Dear John,

Funny, we have rapists, pedaphiles, murderers, burglars, and all sorts of criminals roaming the streets because the judges let them free....but why not? We want the terrorists out of prison, so why not make a turn around and give Paris the death penalty? She certainly deserves it. So what if it was only a misdemeanor of driving with a suspended license?

As for what you said about the justice system being unfair, I will agree with you on that. When someone like OJ can hire the top lawyers and get out scot free, even though he was later found to be guilty of murder on a lesser charge, then certainly money talks. Hey! Where was the media then? Oh that's right, it was with OJ, the hero. I guess that was politically correct at the time.

Well Paris Hilton can have the honor of being the only one of 22,000 prisoners that is in jail because of driving with a suspended license. So what if the most someone should get is four days. Hmmm! Maybe it's because they do give the death penalty?

Why do I keep feeling like I'm at the coliseum listening to crowds roar as the beasts enter the stadium?

God Bless,

Zenovia

I don't know - I just know that the whole thing makes me uncomfortable

We seem to have the ability to treat people who offend differently according to what is seen / perceived as their status.

I'd still rather have Paris Hilton on the loose than Willie Horton, and I don't mean the former left fielder for the Detroit Tigers.

I for one think the sentences that are meted out sometimes are ridiculous.

Does Paris deserve a 45 day sentence? No - perhaps 2-3 weeks plus community service...LOTS of community service.

You hear about people getting 99 years for growing their own marajuana...and others getting 3 years for murder.

Pardon me, but where is the justice there?

Gordo

Gordo:

There is no justice there.

Ryan

Terry:

Would you care to comment more about that?

Thank you,

Ryan

Ms Hilton has violated her probation several times related to a alcohol related incident which led to a suspended license and now jail time.

What a injustice, one is held responsible for ones actions...

james

I don't have an issue with her serving jail time...just with the amount. I believe I said in an earlier post that jail could probably be of benefit to her, IMHO, altough it sounds like she also has profound medical needs that are not being me for some reason.

Gordo

FOX 411: Paris Hilton Burns While Others Walk
Friday, June 08, 2007

By Roger Friedman

Paris Hilton Burns While Others Walk

Paris Hilton is out of jail and now the District Attorney is upset.

The whole thing has become ridiculous, hasn�t it? California officials are obsessed with humiliating a blonde heiress, a girl as dangerous as a dab of Cool Whip on Jell-O.

At the same time, they don�t seem to mind that O.J. Simpson, whom a civil jury found responsible for the deaths of two people, is playing golf in Florida and laughing at them as he cleverly makes deals to collect fees for books and autographs.

Robert Blake, tried for killing his wife, is snacking in Malibu. Michael Jackson, subject of one child molestation trial and several investigations, lives in Las Vegas in the lap of luxury, travels around the world, and still entertains children at home.

Phil Spector, while awaiting trial for an alleged murder committed three years ago, has lived at home in a mansion and never spent an hour in jail. It took two whole trials to put the Menendez brothers away for killing their parents.

But Paris Hilton? Dopey, self-absorbed, semi-literate, rich and an affront to the working man, she must pay for her crimes. This one, they�ve nailed.

She managed to get out of jail after three days, but now the DA is threatening to put her back in. A home imprisonment with an ankle bracelet isn�t enough. They�re going to torture her in a bare cell, solitary confinement, for a month, until she learns her lesson.

If they couldn�t get Simpson, Jackson or Blake, and if they can�t get Spector, they�re going to get Paris Hilton to prove a point.

It�s too funny. But that�s California, and Los Angeles, specifically.

You know what guys? Leave her alone already. Pick on someone your
own size.

www.foxnews.com [foxnews.com]

*****************************************************************
Friday, June 8, 2007

Singer Michael avoids jail term

George Michael has been sentenced to 100 hours of community service and banned from driving for two years at Brent Magistrates court, north London.

The 43-year-old had pleaded guilty to driving while unfit, blaming "tiredness and prescribed drugs" for the offence.

He was arrested in October last year after being found slumped at the steering wheel of his car.

The pop star, who performs at Wembley Stadium this weekend, has expressed regret over the incident.

"I was ashamed I had done something really wrong in putting other people at risk," he told the court.

Following sentencing, the singer was in a bullish mood outside the court, smiling and laughing with fans.

Reading from a prepared statement, he called the media coverage of the case "farcical" and said reporters had concentrated on the prosecution's case.

"I'm glad to put this behind me," he added. "Now I'm off to do the biggest show of my life."

www.bbcnews.com [bbcnews.com]

I have to say this unbalance concerning social status has been in place in all of recorded history. If a bug is killed for just being there nobody cares. Unfortunantly there is a social ladder from bugs to animals to poor to wealthy/intelectually elete.

My sentiments as well.

Let's be honest. This would never be a topic but for the (tawdry) celebrity of Paris Hilton.

Minorities and poor people are stuck in American jails, often in awful conditions, sometimes far in excess of any just punishment for their crimes. Does anyone remember (or care) about the poor guy who got sentenced to life in prison in California for stealing a pizza . . . because it was his third felony under a "three strikes and you're out" law? That was an extreme case, but there are many other cases . . . as many a DNA test is showing by overturning convictions . . . in which people's sentences are unjust, and they get sick or have nervous breakdowns while in prison, and yet they are left there to languish. And in so many of those cases . . . and they number perhaps in the thousands. . . the real underlying crime is being a minority or poor (or, sometimes, just mentally challenged) in America.

And then, lo and behold, a rich (white) celebrity 1) actually gets a prison sentence for committing a crime, 2) then gets released from jail to house arrest in her mansion after spending only 3 days in jail, and 3) then is returned to jail? If our criminal justice system is not a total hypocritical mess, she needs to stay in jail till her term is complete.

-- John