Kidnapped woman hidden in CA backyard for 18 years

[Scepticalscribe]

A truly appalling case and - with the exception of the very clued-in UC policewoman who felt something was off-key when she met the two young girls and Garrido himself and followed it up - none of the authorities concerned can be said to have covered themselves in glory.

 

[mscriv]

Update

Here's a story with some updates on the young woman and her children.

Full story here.

She looks good. Rather young Jodie Fosterish if you ask me. I hope she and her children can recover as much as possible and resume a semblance of normal family life.

 

[IntheNet]

Do you really think the death penalty would help?

Perhaps you could explain? Not in favor of capital punishment as a penalty for this crime against the victim? Why not?

I have a few ideas of what should really be dispensed here; not many involve a humane needle in the arm but that is the legal basis that society deems and most, I feel, would support it being carried out in this case.

Nonetheless, I'd like to hear your view...

 

[skunk]

Perhaps you could explain? Not in favor of capital punishment as a penalty for this crime against the victim? Why not?

I have a few ideas of what should really be dispensed here; not many involve a humane needle in the arm but that is the legal basis that society deems and most, I feel, would support it being carried out in this case.

Nonetheless, I'd like to hear your view...

I am not in favour of capital punishment period. Is it going to prevent this man doing such a thing again? No, he'll be in jail for so long anyway that won't be an issue. Is it going to prevent anyone else doing such a thing? Probably not: this happens so rarely, and the person has to have such a peculiar drive to carry it off that it probably wouldn't affect any other potential perps. Is it going to help the victim or the children? Probably not: she had a relationship of sorts with him for many years and he is their father, after all. Even in your country, which has areas which support the death penalty, there is little reason to apply it for what is not a capital crime. You can't just make ad hoc exceptions for a particularly emotive crime.

 

[IntheNet]

I am not in favour of capital punishment period. Is it going to prevent this man doing such a thing again? No, he'll be in jail for so long anyway that won't be an issue. Is it going to prevent anyone else doing such a thing? Probably not: this happens so rarely, and the person has to have such a peculiar drive to carry it off that it probably wouldn't affect any other potential perps. Is it going to help the victim or the children? Probably not: she had a relationship of sorts with him for many years and he is their father, after all. Even in your country, which has areas which support the death penalty, there is little reason to apply it for what is not a capital crime. You can't just make ad hoc exceptions for a particularly emotive crime.

Thank you for your explanation of your views; though they are well expressed I disagree.

Here in the United States, we have clear and some might say strict laws regarding the offense perpetrated on the victim and its legal punishment. As I said previously, most of the public here would support this punishment in this case. I disagree with your assessment of its value; I firmly believe the strength of capital punishment is serving as a preventative mechanism in the law so that some would not ever commit such an offense. Though it clearly did not work in this instance, nobody can adequately cite how many offenses in society are not committed due to strong punishments in place serving a strong deterrent value:. Secondly, there is also value in the execution; it provides closure for the victim and saves the state costs in maintaining the life of the guilty. In today's economy we should not burden states with maintaining occupied cells on death row when other alternatives exist. Though life in prison is a frequent punishment in cases like this, the number of years the victim was held and the sheer horror she was placed in by the guilty warrant its prompt termination so society is not further burdened.

 

[skunk]

Thank you for your explanation of your views; though they are well expressed I disagree.

Here in the United States, we have clear and some might say strict laws regarding the offense perpetrated on the victim and its legal punishment. As I said previously, most of the public here would support this punishment in this case. I disagree with your assessment of its value; I firmly believe the strength of capital punishment is serving as a preventative mechanism in the law so that some would not ever commit such an offense. Though it clearly did not work in this instance, nobody can adequately cite how many offenses in society are not committed due to strong punishments in place serving a strong deterrent value

If nobody can adequately cite the deterrent value of execution, it is clearly an inadequately proven deterrent.

Secondly, there is also value in the execution; it provides closure for the victim and saves the state costs in maintaining the life of the guilty

Actually, the costs of each alternative are more or less comparable. The point of the justice system is not to provide an opportunity for vicarious revenge or closure for the victim but to be seen to uphold and enforce the law.