But, people who are notorious law offenders being allowed to walk free are the ones we can change our system for. Yes, there are cases of excessively harsh penalties against less “criminal” citizens, but my guess (without concrete evidence) is that they are far less in common than the above examples.

I’m not advocating a 1 strike and you’re out system (except for violent crimes or other similarly harmful actions), but I am going on record saying that people with habitual run ins with the law deserve to spend some time away from society… including plea bargains, sentence reductions, or whatever the case may be.

“Francis M. Hernandez… a suspected illegal immigrant from Guatemala… ‘has been’ accused of causing a horrific crash at a suburban Denver ice cream shop that killed three — including a 3-year-old boy.

Hernandez was arrested more than a dozen times (at least 16) since 2003 by nine different state police departments, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation says. Some of the arrests were for criminal impersonation and forgery; the bulk were for traffic violations, including driving without a license and without insurance.

Hernandez has used …12 aliases and two dates of birth.”

The illegal immigration portion is only a part of the problem, the major issue here is his prior record. How can a man, who isn’t supposed to be in our country anyway, be allowed to go free with his arrest record since 2003? Amazingly inadequate application of justice within our system.

Now a 3 year old and 2 women have paid the price of their lives for the freedom this man has enjoyed, both illegally and by lack of structure within our judicial system.

I agree, our justice system probably cannot be fixed because the costs associated with it will be more than we are willing the pay and also, special interest groups would never allow it to happen. Protect the innocent has been replaced with “Protect the innocent… as long as it’s worth the money.”

The locks are there to stop the entry level guy, the first mistake guy, the bad decision guy. Penalties for crimes are the same. The hardcore criminal will not care about the consequences but the average criminal will. If you create a system that deters the entry of wannabe criminals, crime will decrease because the barrier (penalty) is so high. You will be left with the hardcore criminal crowd and they are what the laws and sentences should be directed at.

Sure, we all make mistakes, but sometimes, 3-4 “mistakes” are not exactly mistakes. At some point, it is just who you are. The guy in this article was not making a mistake, he was a repeat offender who should have been sentenced as a criminal, not as a “mistake” by an average citizen.

Would these lawyers be so eager to stand up for these criminals and a few thousand bucks to get them off?? I don’t think so, if they do the crime they should spend the time.

They should start sending people to Arizona and let Joe Arpio show them how criminals are supposed to be treated if convicted. No tv’s, no air conditioners,no fancy gym,no fancy meals. What they do receive is PINK UNDERWEAR,PINK OUTER CLOTHES, PINK HAND CUFFS AND A TENT TO SLEEP UNDER. Oh yeah they also get .65 worth of bologna and bread for their meals. Most of the prisoners that are sent to solitary confinement volunteer for the chain gang to clean up roadways or whatever is needed. They don’t have to worry about too many criminals wanting to return to Big Joes boarding house. Oh, and in case you haven’t heard it gets up to around 120 degrees here during the day sometimes.

Just think if every county in every state had a Big Joes boarding house to send some of our corrupt lawyers and judges also, along with their criminal friends, maybe the civilized people could relax some and enjoy life as it should be!!!!

And yes, the deterrents this man faced on his previous altercations were definitely not enough to make him rethink his actions. Primary issue is because our justice system reduces sentences to move the cattle (criminals) along through the system. We need to force the criminals to pay for their mistakes and in the end, our society will be a much safer place.

How many innocent deaths is it going to take to realize that we need to change how we penalize our criminals?

You are right.. the system is too worried about the rights of the wrong – doer and not enough for the victims. THAT’S WHY THIS BOY HAD 4 PREVIOUS DWI’S. The consequences weren’t hard enough to steer him away from this behavior.