Deseret News | Reader comments: How does society punish a 32-year-old crime?

Reader comments
How does society punish a 32-year-old crime?

Anonymous | 7:12 a.m. May 6, 2008

This is a difficult situation, however, because as a society, we would never want to incentivize people to run from the law. If she is granted such mercy, then it will teach future criminals that they can get away with crime.

In addition to the rehabilitative role of criminal punishment, one must also consider the deterrent that it plays. The next drug dealer might think twice if he knows that his sentence will carry with him for the rest of his life.

Mayhem Mike | 7:45 a.m. May 6, 2008

Incarcerating LeFevre would be yet another example of the government wasting our tax dollars for absolutely NO benefit to taxpayers.

No Benefit? | 8:25 a.m. May 6, 2008

I beg to differ. If the rule of law isnt applied equally to all people then it isnt worth the paper its printed on.

Comments continue below

Frank | 8:45 a.m. May 6, 2008

I think this is a good situation where a pardon could make a difference. Let her confess and claim responsability for what she did do and let someone with the power to extend some mercy for this situation pardon it so we can move on.

I too am a stringent follower of the letter of the law and for setting examples. However sending her to jail helps neither her nor society. The only change jail will make on her is for the worse, and she is taking up valuable bunk space for an actual criminal.

Paul | 9:29 a.m. May 6, 2008

How about giving her a few thousand hours of community service and probation? Yeah, let her go home, but have her work off her sentence, helping others.

Roger | 10:35 a.m. May 6, 2008

Her drug crimes got her a prison sentence, but when she escaped she committed another crime. She may have changed while hiding from the law, which is admirable, but hiding from the law brings its own penalties. She would have my sympathies had she turned herself in on her own.

Anon | 10:41 a.m. May 6, 2008

By what right does anyone punish anyone else?

Time already served | 10:49 a.m. May 6, 2008

She already served a year in prison for her drug offense. She should be sentenced to time already served, with some period of probation, and possibly a fine.

Dumb | 11:27 a.m. May 6, 2008

At 32K a year for imprisonment, this will cost over $160,000. Look at her punishment in terms of were this money might have gone.

guess what | 12:05 p.m. May 6, 2008

wrong or rigth her situation became a life of insecurity for a young mistake.she became a good citizen and was dramatized with a long punishment of society.jail is not the solution for someone like her,show the world that the system is not perfect.do not spend tax payers money and teach society that at the end of the day something good has to give.

Soonerdawg | 12:29 p.m. May 6, 2008

All involved in the decision making concerning her future should consider the children in this case. She has three children, one of whom is a 15 year old boy. Let her go home an rear that child.

Chris Plummer | 12:31 p.m. May 6, 2008

A 30 year old drug crime, give her some community service. There should be a statute of limitations so that our taxes aren't wasted. Putting more drug offenders in jail is stupid and a waste of money. The criminal justice system is already breaking down with more people imprisoned and less money to go round.

Soonerdawg | 12:33 p.m. May 6, 2008

Roger - it is easy to say she should have turned herself in. However, rightfully she has an extreme mistrust of the legal system. Anyway, she tried to turn herself in, but was further disillusioned by the lawyers who took her money but gave her no advice.

Frank | 1:11 p.m. May 6, 2008

True, if she felt abused by her sentence the first time I don't see her laying down her trust to the legal system again by turning herself in. Thats if she is telling the truth about her over-sentencing.

Joe Moe | 1:16 p.m. May 6, 2008

I agree with Frank. It doesn't have to be a case of EITHER following the law OR mocking it. The system says she must do her time. Reason says the system may not be adequate in this case. That is why our constitutions provide for executive pardons.

Let the courts hand her over to prison, and let the executive consider a pardon or reprieve.

jake | 2:05 p.m. May 6, 2008

this is a joke she should serve her sentence + additional time for escape. If this where a murder or rapist or basically any other criminal everyone would be up in arms. Because she is a woman and white and supposedly repentant everyone thinks an injustice would be done to return her to jail. She did wrong and she needs to finish her sentence

jake | 2:22 p.m. May 6, 2008

Prison time is not a form of rehabilitation, it is a form of punishment. If we let criminals decide their own fate, what is the point of a judicial system. Who is to say she didn't break the law while on the lamb. In several instances she did, fake social security, tax evasion, escape. What about the lies to her family and friends. This is a disgrace, send her back. For those who complain about fairness and whats the point, ask yourself if your child died because of her drug peddling, would you be so lenient. What if she were a he and raped your child. What about the inequality that occurs now between rock cocaine and powder cocaine sentencing. No one is up in arms about that disparity. Yet hundreds if not thousands sit in jail based on this inequality. She committed a crime and was sentenced to prison time. Where is the fairness to society. Every criminal believes they are innocent, society and a judicial system determined that she was not and sentenced her as determined to be appropriate at the time, Put her in jail and keep here there + additional time just for principle.

States can't Afford Jail Space | 2:33 p.m. May 6, 2008

I'm glad she escaped. Serving that long sentence would have been a waste of her life. After she escaped she was a model citizen.

Now states are having to let real criminals loose because they can't afford the jail space. Hopefully mercy and public good and common sense will rule and Michigan will let her go.

Anonymous | 4:05 p.m. May 6, 2008

The real question her is:

How can justice be satisfied?

Answer that question and you know what must be done.

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