What's up with the ridiculously loose jail sentences in the 80s and early 90s?!

[Howard_Stern]

Loved the show as a kid and have been binge watching like crazy. I'm up to season 4.

I need to hear opinions on this because it baffles me and I point it out to my GF every time.

Why are so many people tried and convicted of murder but get like 8-12 years and always released?! It's INSANE!

On one episode, a guy murdered four people and got like 16 years and released early too. I even joked to my GF that he got 4 years per murder.

Then you have someone kill one person on a different episode and they get life without parole.

You also have all of these scammers and swindlers who hustle women out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, run from police, get caught, post bail and RUN AGAIN! Get caught and serve like 4 years LOL!

The Mexican Drug Lord litetally smuggled HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars of coke over the border, runs from the police and hides and he gets 10-12 years. People serve a decade in jail for possesion of marijuana LOL.

Please explain these to me gang. Were times just different? I know my examples were all over the place but go back and watch season 1 and 2 specifially and be ready to laugh at these sentences people get for multiple murders, fleeing, posting bail and fleeing, escaping jail and fleeing, and they don't even get time added, it's insane and baffling to me.

[Kane]

It's a complex subject, but I would cite the sentencing guidelines of that time period and before as one of the reasons. The guidelines have since changed in many (if not all) states over the years, but such changes are not retroactive. For example, if you committed a murder in the 1975 in a state that gave you no more than life with parole and you were convicted of it today, you would be sentenced based on the 1975 sentencing guidelines, not on the guidelines of today.

Plea agreements are another factor. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for murderers to make plea agreements that spare them from sentences as stiff as, say, life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty

[LooksLikeCRicci]

Originally Posted by Kane

Plea agreements are another factor. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for murderers to make plea agreements that spare them from sentences as stiff as, say, life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty

Also, when you're dealing with a crime that happened a long time ago, memories begin to fade, evidence may disappear by accident, etc. You also have to consider the wishes of the victim/victim's family-- do THEY want to go through the emotional toll a trial takes? Sometimes, its better to know they are going to jail for sure as opposed to taking a run at the case in trial and getting a runaway jury that could hang, or worse, acquit.

I agree with your frustration on some of these sentences, though....

[Howard_Stern]

I kind of see why people have the balls to pull these scams, rob banks, sell drugs and kill. They literally get a slap on the wrist. Im halfway through season 8 and they've finally started giving more strict sentences but majority are a joke.

Watched one last night where a woman helped a prisoner escape and aided him and broke multiple laws and hid for a decade. They finally get caught and he gets nothing added to his sentence and she serves two months LOL.

What a joke. And how is it so easy to escape from jail and why doesn't anyone ever care? People constantly murder, get out on bail and then run off hiding. Do judges seriously think they won't do this or do they not care because they only want the bail money?

I think in 8 seasons of binge watching there's probably been less than 5 times I've seen time added for someone either escaping jail or running and hiding while out on bail.

It's quite infuriating seeing all of these guilty murderers released too, maybe 1/4th of them actually get life or a death penalty, almost every update says they died in jail or have since been released.

And bank robbers or scammers who take women's money, they always get a slap on the wrist. I'm truly baffled how lenient these sentences usually are.

[dynoguy88]

Originally Posted by Howard_Stern

What a joke. And how is it so easy to escape from jail and why doesn't anyone ever care?

It's extremely frustrating how easy it was for some of these killers to escape.

David Harry Fisher killed Laura Burbank, got convicted and was sent to a minimum security prison. One day, he simply walked away. It was eight hours before anyone noticed he was gone during the midnight bed checks. By that time, he was long gone and spent the next 15 years a free man because there was no security guards to keep him from walking off. This guy didn't steal a candy bar from a gas station. He raped, beat and killed a 13 year old girl and then kept her underwear as a souvenir. Shouldn't it have been harder for him to escape?

John Yount's escape was even more stupid. Also convicted for murdering a teenage girl, his good behavior earned him the right to work outside the prison walls bailing hay on some farmland unsupervised. After the officer dropped him off, he's driving away and just so happens to pass Diane Brodbeck. The officer even recognized her behind the wheel and said, "that's John Yount's girlfriend. I wonder what she's doing here." But he makes no attempt to turn around or even put two and two together that it's no coincidence this convicted killer's girlfriend just so happens to be driving down this desolate country road to pick him up in order to escape.

These events happened in the 70's and 80's but I don't think that should be used as an excuse. If you murder someone now or 40 years ago, it shouldn't be THAT easy to escape.

[Howard_Stern]

Originally Posted by dynoguy88

It's extremely frustrating how easy it was for some of these killers to escape.

David Harry Fisher killed Laura Burbank, got convicted and was sent to a minimum security prison. One day, he simply walked away. It was eight hours before anyone noticed he was gone during the midnight bed checks. By that time, he was long gone and spent the next 15 years a free man because there was no security guards to keep him from walking off. This guy didn't steal a candy bar from a gas station. He raped, beat and killed a 13 year old girl and then kept her underwear as a souvenir. Shouldn't it have been harder for him to escape?

John Yount's escape was even more stupid. Also convicted for murdering a teenage girl, his good behavior earned him the right to work outside the prison walls bailing hay on some farmland unsupervised. After the officer dropped him off, he's driving away and just so happens to pass Diane Brodbeck. The officer even recognized her behind the wheel and said, "that's John Yount's girlfriend. I wonder what she's doing here." But he makes no attempt to turn around or even put two and two together that it's no coincidence this convicted killer's girlfriend just so happens to be driving down this desolate country road to pick him up in order to escape.

These events happened in the 70's and 80's but I don't think that should be used as an excuse. If you murder someone now or 40 years ago, it shouldn't be THAT easy to escape.

My apologies for not having the names but here is two more I saw tonight.

On one, they let a guy work and hang out in an officers house with his wife all day. Even hanging with his kids. Are you kidding me?! The guy is in jail for MURDER but because he "acts like a good prisoner" people suddenly think he's a good guy?! He eventually kidnaps the guys wife and supposedly held her hostage for a decade. That's insane!!!

And another one, a young girl in love with a guy who was very controlling, would always call her constantly to check on her even from jail. She and her friend help him escape. She doesn't even get jail time when they are finally caught, only probation. How? You helped a criminal escape, how does that not get you arrested??

I'm not condoning committing crimes but I see why these arrogant nuts aren't affraid because half of them get off, especially the ones where they hustle women and drain their bank accounts. I've never seen any of those cases get more than a year or two max.

I also laugh at the ones where a business embezzles money, in a few cases millions of dollars, on one case it was 17 million. They hide the money in overseas accounts or buried somewhere safe and then get arrested. They get sentenced to ten years max and then get out usually after seven years. They then get to continue living life as multi-millionaires. Absolutely baffling. I'd imagine lots of people would serve seven years and then get to enjoy the next fifty years of their lives with 17 million dollars.

Saw one earlier too where a rapist at Texas A&M raped two girls. His bail was $150,000. People who kill multiple people don't get bail that high. He posts bail (probably rich parents) and then skips town. He is finally caught and gets 99 years with no parole. I'm cool with that and all but how does a guy who rapes two women and doesnt kill them get 99 years but there's dozens of other cases where multiple people are murdered and they get 20 years and out after like 15? Rape is absolutely horrible, don't get me wrong, but the girls didn't get killed, I would think murderers would get a longer sentence than a rape no?

[dynoguy88]

I hear you. A thread of slap on the wrist punishments could go forever, it seems.

I was just complaining in another thread a few weeks back about Paul Stamper's punishment. He was captured the night of the UM broadcast. He pleaded guilty to kidnapping, attempted murder, and prison escape and was sentenced to thirty-five years in prison. He later got released on parole in 2002 after serving only ten years. I had to pick my mouth off the floor when I read that text update. I just couldn't understand how that parole board could release that POS after a mere 10 years.

And Ryan Love murdered taxi driver Lucie Turmel by stabbing her with a knife repeatedly in the neck. He did it to steal the $100 in cab fare so he could flash the cash to his loved ones at a family reunion, which he proudly did. He was charged with second degree murder and paroled after 19 years.

There's just too many examples of truly disgusting people not getting the punishment they deserve.

[Mike82]

Originally Posted by dynoguy88

And Ryan Love murdered taxi driver Lucie Turmel by stabbing her with a knife repeatedly in the neck. He did it to steal the $100 in cab fare so he could flash the cash to his loved ones at a family reunion, which he proudly did. He was charged with second degree murder and paroled after 19 years.

Sounds a lot like Darren Muise here in Nova Scotia. He horrifically murdered one innocent man in a way I don't even want to describe and was responsible for two other murders and was released after less than 20 years. There's also Karla Homolka but that gets me so angry I don't even want to think about it. If you ever get arrested for murder in Canada, just remember to practice saying sorry: it's a get out of jail free card.

There's just too many examples of truly disgusting people not getting the punishment they deserve.

I recently saw the case of James King.

Let me get this straight: he is convicted of second degree murder (even in Canada that's an automatic 10 years minimum), escapes and is recaptured and instead of welding his prison cell shut they decide to release him two years later!!! Of course, he kills again and gets another 9 years of freedom before being sentenced to death. Mercifully, he died in prison where he belonged.

I think the absolute worst was not UM but an episode of Rescue 911. If I remember the details right, a repeat drunk driver hits and seriously injures a child and gets....... one week in jail and a small fine. As a child seeing this, I actually screamed at the TV when I heard that one!

That's not even getting into guys like Donnie Hansen who only served a insignificant time in jail before being acquitted.

[Howard_Stern]

Originally Posted by Mike82

Sounds a lot like Darren Muise here in Nova Scotia. He horrifically murdered one innocent man in a way I don't even want to describe and was responsible for two other murders and was released after less than 20 years. There's also Karla Homolka but that gets me so angry I don't even want to think about it. If you ever get arrested for murder in Canada, just remember to practice saying sorry: it's a get out of jail free card.


I recently saw the case of James King.

Let me get this straight: he is convicted of second degree murder (even in Canada that's an automatic 10 years minimum), escapes and is recaptured and instead of welding his prison cell shut they decide to release him two years later!!! Of course, he kills again and gets another 9 years of freedom before being sentenced to death. Mercifully, he died in prison where he belonged.

I think the absolute worst was not UM but an episode of Rescue 911. If I remember the details right, a repeat drunk driver hits and seriously injures a child and gets....... one week in jail and a small fine. As a child seeing this, I actually screamed at the TV when I heard that one!

That's not even getting into guys like Donnie Hansen who only served a insignificant time in jail before being acquitted.

I saw a case on UM a few nights ago where a college girl who started SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) was killed by a drunk driver. The driver was drunk AND stoned. She gets out on bail without serving one second in jail. Any guess what she did afterwards?! Skipped town! Never been seen or heard from again! Didn't even lose her license either!

Classy move by Creighton awarding the poor girl her college diploma posthumously. Felt for the mom a lot during that part.

[dynoguy88]

Originally Posted by Mike82

I recently saw the case of James King.

Let me get this straight: he is convicted of second degree murder (even in Canada that's an automatic 10 years minimum), escapes and is recaptured and instead of welding his prison cell shut they decide to release him two years later!!! Of course, he kills again and gets another 9 years of freedom before being sentenced to death. Mercifully, he died in prison where he belonged.

Several years ago, James King was able to put up a profile on the prison website that matches the convicts up with pen pals. His requests were...

"I want to meet a white German woman who loves to talk about history and personal things."

and...

"I also would hope that she would be able to help me out financially sometimes, because my family is very, very poor."

He ended up dying within two years of making that profile. I just hope no woman out there was dumb enough to give him any kind of money or companionship.

[RaidenKhan]

Originally Posted by dynoguy88

And Ryan Love murdered taxi driver Lucie Turmel by stabbing her with a knife repeatedly in the neck. He did it to steal the $100 in cab fare so he could flash the cash to his loved ones at a family reunion, which he proudly did. He was charged with second degree murder and paroled after 19 years.

I’ve thought about this subject quite often during these Amazon binges as well, and that’s one of the cases where it made me the angriest.

Matt