Comments about ‘Mother of '03 DUI victim fights parole’

What a terrible accident and a tragedy to lose a child in that manner. Certainly, Mr. Jacques (the admittedly guilty drunk driver) should spend more time behind bars so that justice is more adequately served. From the bitterness of the statements from the Smith family, however, perhaps they should try to forgive Mr. Jacques just as Christopher Williams and Gary Ceran forgave the drunk drivers that killed their (Ceran and Williams) wives and children. Forgiveness does not mean that justice will not or should not be served: but it does bring peace and healing to a grieving family.

To Outsider looking in: when you've experienced the loss of a child due to a drunk driver and the daily reminders and challenges that Mrs. Smith is courageously facing, you can begin to talk about forgiveness. Forgiveness is a personal journey. When forgiveness is finally attained, it does not remove the punishment justly deserved.
Mrs. Smith and her beautiful family has my admiration and my prayers. She is working to make sure that if your child gets killed by a drunk driver, the criminal will not get away with a slap on the wrist, only to do it again.

What is the point of the incarceration, really? I don't know Mr. Jacques at all. But what if he has totally changed his life around in prison? It has been 3 years--that can be a pretty long time for someone that maybe had never had any other problems or brushes with the law ever (I don't know if he did or not). Yes, killing that child was awful. Yes, the family will mourn for life. But that doesn't mean we need to have him locked up for life. This wasn't pre-meditated murder. It was a very selfish, stupid decision to drive drunk. I think the question should be: What is the likelihood that he will ever drink again? If it's high, then keep him locked up. If it's low, let him return and be a productive member of society. Wouldn't that serve society better to have him return and be productive, rather than take up a prison bed? There are worse criminals out there that should be locked up, ones who premeditate awful crimes. Remember, the two who escaped from jail were extremely violent individuals who, in part, escaped from a lower-security jail because of prison overcrowding.

I vividly remember this event. So well, in fact, that I can't believe this mother is already having to worry about parole for this guy. Heartbreak.

Forgiving helps the hurt family the most. That's all I have to say about that.

What's the point of incarceration? Just because this may have been an isolated or "selfish" incident do we not believe in suffering the consequences of our actions? Does the driver not qualify as a murderer just because he acted selfishly? All murderous acts are selfish. Does that excuse the murderers from serving their time to society for taking the lives of others? This "selfish" act snuffed out the life of a young boy. If we take seriously the notion of protecting the general public against drunk drivers this murderer will stay in jail for most of his life. What's wrong with Utah? Why can't we send a clear message that drunk drivers will be punished severly? Or are we too concerned with over-crowded prisons? The answer is to build more prisons, not release the murderer.

Drunk driving is 100% preventable. It just hast to hurt enough.Potential perpetrators have to willingly decide against it before they take a drink. At this moment that is not the case. What will it take? First offence 30 days in jail, suspend license for 12 months and $10,000 fine. Im ok with that. If it hurts enough, this will not be as big a problem.

To Justmaybe: It may be true that this man has changed and turned his life around. However, you need to understand that his incarceration in not to rehabilitate him. It is a consequence of his actions. He may be a saint now, but he still must deal with the consequences of his choices on that night. This points one of the overwhelming problems of our society today. We try to make everyone feel good and help them escape the teacing consequences of their actions.

I can't believe that the jail time for a "third-degree felony charge of driving under the influence/causing serious bodily injury" is only zero to five years in prison. No wonder people keep doing this. If the only consequence for driving drunk is the possibility of prison time even if he causes "serious bodily injury" that will affect the victims for the rest of their lives, like it has for these two children, people like Jacques are never going to stop. And being forgiven does not mean that one doesn't have to face the consequences of their actions. I hope that the Smith family can forgive this man, simply so that they can heal. That doesn't mean that I want to see him step foot out of prison for quite a long time, whether he's reformed or not. And forgiving someone is a personal decision. Whether the Smith's decide to forgive him or not, it's not the business of any of us here on this comment board. Liza, Autumn, Desi, and Mr. Smith--I pray that you will find solace and peace.

Imagine that the perp in this case has turned his life around in prison and he is released. Then he goes around to high schools to give presentations about the effects of drunk driving. He tells them how he ruined the lives of an entire family, killing one young child and maiming, crippling, and permanently disfiguring two others.

Then he talks about the sentence he has served. Which would be more convincing: "I then gave up three years of my life while incarcerated," or, "I then gave up fifteen years of my life while incarcerated." Which sends a stronger message to the high school students listening to him?

Question:
What is more dangerous, a drunk with a gun? or a drunk with a car?
If he had a gun, you know what would happen. Bad, bad.
He has a car? Its okay. Slap on wrist.

What is wrong!?

More people die of those idiots driving drunk that people do of guns! WAKE UP! Driving drunk is murderous!

What about the people that furnished or sold him the drug? Is there no responsibility on their part? Or the society that allows it?

I remember very well the incident. It was horrible for the family and the brothers and sisters, one of whom I knew very well. The father was totally hearbroken and this drunk driver, who had many other problems as well, has a responsiblity to society to fill out his total sentence without probation. The previous point about forgiveness is very relevant for this family. It doesn't change what happened but it makes life more bearable.

Although it is good to hear that Mr. Jacques has turned his life around, in prison, I believe he is right where he needs to be for now. Sure, it was an accident and nobody really has intentions of killing anyone when they drink and drive. But he DID drink and chose to drive; unfortunately he ruined/affected a bunch of other people's lives in the process. I feel for him and hope that he can eventually become part of society again; but not yet. He needs to stay where he is and fulfill his sentence. Punishment is there for a reason and we shouldn't lessen the punishment just because someone is improving himself. If you grounded your child for a week but the child was behaving wonderfully after 3 days, what message would you be sending if you said "Ok, since you're being good, you're not grounded any more." No way. Tell them, "I'm so proud of you for behaving and you are doing a great job, but sorry, you are still grounded for 4 more days." There are valuable lessons to be learned in punishment and we shouldn't take that away by lessening people's sentences.

At what point as a society do we say enough is enough? Should this man's sentence be death or life in prison? That's the logical conclusion of many of the comments posted here. Frankly, that's a frightening thought in light of the constitution's 8th amendment. The United States already leads the world in incarcerated persons, and the number in Utah has increased more than 40% over the last five years. Leaving this guy in prison forever won't bring Buddha back. At some point the Smith family needs to forgive and let go. And, if society insists on locking drunk drivers up forever, it can't complain when murderers are kept in medium security jails because there's no room at the prison.
As someone who has experienced a tragedy similar to the Smith's, I can only say"Outsider looking in" is right...to heal, you gotta forgive.

Who was the judge who sentenced Jacques? Surely he or she could have done better for the family and for society. Perhaps the prosecuters are to blame for bringing the wrong charge or for not seeking a stiffer penalty.

He is not just a drunk driver. He accepted the responsibility and the consequenses of his actions when he decided to drive.
Sure some drivers make it home safely, sure some get off with a fine, but sometimes they commit manslaughter.
By driving drunk he accepted that as well as the consequences if he got caught, he took the chance he should pay the price.
Its no different than a death resulting in a bar fight or a murderer saying I didn't mean to kill.
They accepted all possible consequences when they began the act.

To Just Maybe: You said "This wasn't pre-meditated murder." -- He may not have intended to murder someone but it WAS premeditation that he went to have a "drink or two" and then got in his car to drive. He planned to drive after drinking. That is PREMEDITAION. What ever happens after that is something that he needs to take responsibility for.

And what is with all of you who are saying that the family needs to "forgive and let go" -- this family lost a loved one from a STUPID act that should not have happened. They have a RIGHT to still be angry. All they are asking for is that this man remain in prison for a while longer. He needs to pay a debt to this family, first by serving time and then after he's released he should help cover expenses on medical bills, Expenses that HE caused!

I kinda hope he gets out so that some ambulance chasing lawyer can slap a $25 MILLION dollar suit in him, and he can spend the rest of his life working for the benifiet of the family. (and the laywer)and yet we think all lawyers and law suits are bad.

The parole board would be doing me a personal favor to keep this guy behind bars. I travel in Utah from time to time and don't need his vehicle aimed at my family. Perhaps the next guy will think hard before he gets behind the wheel. Alas, it will never be so until the states get tough on these drivers who drive drunk. I say execute them. It is no accident that they were on the road and it is their fault. Most folks would not drink and drive BECAUSE of the risk to others. There are others who take the risk because they know nothing much will happen to them.
It will keep one more drunk driver off the road if they keep him in. He can do no harm in the prison bakery.