Judge: Speak English or go back to jail - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-28-2008, 08:40 PM

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - A judge known for creative sentencing has ordered three Spanish-speaking men to learn English or go to jail.
The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said.

The men, Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez and Rafael Guzman-Mateo, plus a fourth defendant, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario, all needed translators when they pleaded guilty Tuesday.

"Do you think we are going to supply you with a translator all of your life?" the judge asked them.

The four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, were in a group that police said accosted two men on a street in May. The two said they were asked if they had marijuana, told to empty their pockets, struck on the head, threatened with a gun and told to stay off the block.

Attorneys for the men said they were studying the legality of the ruling and had not decided whether to appeal. One of the attorneys, Ferris Webby, suggested that the ruling was good for his client, Guzman-Mateo. "My client is happy," Webby said. "I think it's going to help him."

The judge sentenced the four men to jail terms of four to 24 months. But he gave the three men, who already had served at least four months, immediate parole. Reyes-Rosario is jailed on an unrelated drug charge.

Olszewski ordered the three to return with their parole officers in a year and take an English test. "If they don't pass, they're going in for the 24 [months]," he said.

Olszewski is known for outside-the-box sentencing.

He has ordered young defendants who are school dropouts to finish school. He often orders defendants to get full-time employment. But he also has his staff coordinate with an employment agency to help them find the jobs. *

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/nati...k_to_jail.html

dawsongirl · 03-28-2008, 09:20 PM

Good for him. If they plan on staying in the US, they should learn English.

Ireneparalegal · 03-28-2008, 09:28 PM

I assume they are citizens. The article doesn't state they are here illegally. I doubt the judge would give them that option if they weren't citizens.

If this can make them pay back their victim for restitution, then I am for it. Any deterrent to crime, I am for it.

Brian Damage · 03-28-2008, 11:38 PM

If they are citizens, they should be locked up anyway and forced to speak this language. I hate that these people get a free ride.

Ireneparalegal · 03-28-2008, 11:41 PM

Oh I agree with you Brian. I read the article and it appears they are out on parole. So they have been in prison for this crime. Part of their parole, from reading this article, is the judge is telling them to complete these things or else go back and do more prison time. No different than when one is on probation. Complete your probation as directed or you get violated and you go back to jail.

Janice · 03-29-2008, 02:50 AM

I love the no-nonsense approach of this judge. A man after my own heart.

*ClassicPinUp* · 03-29-2008, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

If they are citizens, they should be locked up anyway and forced to speak this language. I hate that these people get a free ride.

Augustus McCrae · 03-29-2008, 02:21 PM

We need more judges like this one! Start making people more responsible for themselves and their actions.

vtunie · 03-29-2008, 02:29 PM

Do you guys really think mugging victims care which language they are accosted in?

junecleaver · 03-29-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Augustus McCrae

We need more judges like this one! Start making people more responsible for themselves and their actions.

Exactly. Pretty sure if we go to their country, they ain't gonna accomodate us with an english translator. You plan to go on someone else's soil, you'd better learn their language the best you can before going.

Max Whittaker · 03-29-2008, 08:51 PM

Seems fair to me.

Augustus McCrae · 03-29-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtunie

Do you guys really think mugging victims care which language they are accosted in?

I think the judge is giving them a chance to become productive assets to society. The only fault I can see with his logic is if one or all go out and commit some major crime. The judge will catch alot of heat for not locking them up in the first place.

Ireneparalegal · 03-29-2008, 10:04 PM

I think it is being missed by a few here. The guys were IN PRISON. They are now out on parole. That is what happens when you do your time in prison. If they don't do what the judge says (violate parole), they go back.

Furienna · 04-13-2008, 04:27 PM

Over here in Europe, we have similar problems with people from the Middle East and Africa. Of course, a lot of them do behave themselves, but some of them, especially young people, tend to end up in criminal gangs.

It's a good thing if these guys learn to speak English, since the US is a English-speaking country, not a Spanish-speaking country.

Jo_Luvs_Ketchup · 04-13-2008, 06:10 PM

Omg it's so cool to have a story on SO from home! lol

03-28-2008, 08:40 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Judge: Speak English or go back to jail WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - A judge known for creative sentencing has ordered three Spanish-speaking men to learn English or go to jail. The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said. The men, Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez and Rafael Guzman-Mateo, plus a fourth defendant, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario, all needed translators when they pleaded guilty Tuesday. "Do you think we are going to supply you with a translator all of your life?" the judge asked them. The four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, were in a group that police said accosted two men on a street in May. The two said they were asked if they had marijuana, told to empty their pockets, struck on the head, threatened with a gun and told to stay off the block. Attorneys for the men said they were studying the legality of the ruling and had not decided whether to appeal. One of the attorneys, Ferris Webby, suggested that the ruling was good for his client, Guzman-Mateo. "My client is happy," Webby said. "I think it's going to help him." The judge sentenced the four men to jail terms of four to 24 months. But he gave the three men, who already had served at least four months, immediate parole. Reyes-Rosario is jailed on an unrelated drug charge. Olszewski ordered the three to return with their parole officers in a year and take an English test. "If they don't pass, they're going in for the 24 [months]," he said. Olszewski is known for outside-the-box sentencing. He has ordered young defendants who are school dropouts to finish school. He often orders defendants to get full-time employment. But he also has his staff coordinate with an employment agency to help them find the jobs. * http://www.philly.com/dailynews/nati...k_to_jail.html
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

03-28-2008, 09:28 PM	#3
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I assume they are citizens. The article doesn't state they are here illegally. I doubt the judge would give them that option if they weren't citizens. If this can make them pay back their victim for restitution, then I am for it. Any deterrent to crime, I am for it.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

03-28-2008, 09:20 PM	#2
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	Good for him. If they plan on staying in the US, they should learn English.

03-28-2008, 11:38 PM	#4
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	If they are citizens, they should be locked up anyway and forced to speak this language. I hate that these people get a free ride.

03-28-2008, 11:41 PM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Oh I agree with you Brian. I read the article and it appears they are out on parole. So they have been in prison for this crime. Part of their parole, from reading this article, is the judge is telling them to complete these things or else go back and do more prison time. No different than when one is on probation. Complete your probation as directed or you get violated and you go back to jail.

03-29-2008, 02:50 AM	#6
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I love the no-nonsense approach of this judge. A man after my own heart.

03-29-2008, 02:21 PM	#8
Augustus McCrae Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 04, 2008 Posts: 562	We need more judges like this one! Start making people more responsible for themselves and their actions.

03-29-2008, 02:29 PM	#9
vtunie Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 23, 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 592	Do you guys really think mugging victims care which language they are accosted in?

03-29-2008, 08:51 PM	#11
Max Whittaker I want Serenity back Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 30, 2001 Posts: 6,180	Seems fair to me.

03-29-2008, 10:04 PM	#13
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I think it is being missed by a few here. The guys were IN PRISON. They are now out on parole. That is what happens when you do your time in prison. If they don't do what the judge says (violate parole), they go back.

04-13-2008, 04:27 PM	#14
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	Over here in Europe, we have similar problems with people from the Middle East and Africa. Of course, a lot of them do behave themselves, but some of them, especially young people, tend to end up in criminal gangs. It's a good thing if these guys learn to speak English, since the US is a English-speaking country, not a Spanish-speaking country.

04-13-2008, 06:10 PM	#15
Jo_Luvs_Ketchup Member Eternal Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 09, 2003 Posts: 4,195	Omg it's so cool to have a story on SO from home! lol