So when dangerous, repeat-offending, gun-pointing, bank-robbing, heroin-addicted, drug-dealing felons get taken off the street for good we are to feel sorry for them? What about the trail of victims? This man only stopped victimizing because he got caught, as with most repeat offenders.

I support mandatory sentencing laws. They are the will of a people sick of being preyed upon by repeat offenders who flout law and the slap-on-the-wrist judges, plea-bargaining AG's and lenient parole boards who whittle away our protection at every step of the justice process.

These laws were passed because society deserves to be protected from those who would prey on us but for their getting caught, and the Supreme Court has upheld our will.

Punishment required, but even this has to be deemed excessive.

First, sentencing is not about taking convicted felons off the street "for good". It's about taking them off the street for a time compensurate with the crime.

The arguement against minimum mandatory sentencing has little to do with sympathy for the convict but is about believing in the system. Judges are typically chosen after spending years on the other side of the bench. This experience and the fact that they are much more informed of the particulars of each case make sense that sentencing be their responsibility. To have politicians, far removed from the courthouse, mandate sentences removes all options, and responsibility, from the judges. Why even have the judge if the sentence has already been legislated?

Someone walked into a store and told the clerk to give him $50. He showed the clerk the BUTTER knife he had in his pocket. Had he been convicted under these sentencing guidlines he would have spent 5 years in prison. He wasn't on drugs, wasn't on booze. He was stupid and trying to buy gas to see his girlfriend. Luckily he had a creative DA and a great PD. Spent 1 year in jail for it. Seems fair to me, but 5yrs?

Compare this drug related crime with crimes which are reported each and every day here in Utah involving human life. He would do much less time if he had assulated or even killed someone!! The system is out of whack!! Society's priorities are misplaced (on the dollar, not on life). The prison system breeds repeat offenders because there is no longer any "correctional" or "re-habilitation" to it. Simply punishment for punishment sake; tended over by "guards" who are simply the same as the inmates only in a different uniform. It is so difficult for someone to really go through the process, pay his "debt to society", change and become productive. Minimum mandatories need to be repealed. Let judges do their jobs.

Case in point to my earlier posting: the man who tragically killed his girlfriends infant son was sentenced to two years!!! What is the price of human life?

I just want to say that I am disgusted that the guards are being called the same as inmates.

Sorry to upset you Sarah. But there are instances of guards letting their authority go to their head and exercising "unrighteous dominion" over others (yes, that is a reference to LDS scripture, D&C 122). In a brutal environment like prison it happens all too often. I am not pro-drugs, and am definitely not pro-crime. But the USA has the highest percentage of it's populace in prison of any country. Definitely not what the founding fathers intended. Clearly something is broke and needs fixing!

Now he will have a chance to overcome his hopeless addiction. I realize that there is most likely dope in prizson. However it will at least not be that easy to obtain. If you have a Big Open Yard you will have Big Open Yard Problems. Mules abound. I am not sure what the Good Time Situation is in Utah but 57 years is a long time regardless. He should be real clean when he comes out.

Having walked both sides of the criminal justice system. I really have to say that this sentence is outrageous. Sex Offenders, Murderer's, Child-molester's would serve a fraction of what this sentence entails.

The system is truly broken. We need to return to a rehabilitative type correctional system and rid society of this "Lockem up and throw away the key mentality".

Yesterday I read an article in The Deseret News about a woman who admitted to purposely murdering her two young children. She is only getting 15 years. Now we have this man, who didn't kill anyone but he is getting almost four times the sentence. What is wrong with the justice system in this state?

No one wants lawlessness or for our state/country to fall apart but you don�t have to be a genius to know that it is, we all know it. The �system� is broken! He�s crazy to rob a bank and we�re crazy to lock him up for 57 years. But don�t worry he won�t be doing 57 years, this country will fall apart long before then, I bet my life on it and hopefully those left can rebuild and maintain a much better system, I think we will� because something�s got to give and my head spins every time I read a news report, where is common sense, on both sides?

he will be going to a federal facility, where they only receive 54 days off per year.........so he will serve almost 47 1/2 yrs on a 57 year sentence, and child molestor and child murderer dont serve anywhre new that time, something needs fixed