Irish Judicial Decisions That are soft on criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143462#Comment_119143462

17 years old isn't a child. Less than a hundred years ago, he'd had been considered a man by society. Even nowadays, young people are incredibly clued in, aware, and generally adult-like at 16. They're a far cry from what most 16/17 year olds were like when I was growing up. The innocence is mostly gone, due to the world we live in. As have the general respect for social taboos and laws, it seems.

I'd be perfectly fine with 17 year olds being sent to prison if they behave that way. Actions have consequences, and we should all be responsible for what we do. Although, I don't think the current state of our prisons and rehabilitation process would be particularly effective for an answer.. but at the same time, people of all ages should be aware of the seriousness of their actions.

As for America, it's a very different society and range of cultures involved. The existence of institutional and traditional racism is also a major difference, one the affects a wide range of people including whites (rednecks and the poor). The breakdown of their prisons comes from many factors.. it's not as simplistic as you want to suggest, nor is it the complete failure you want to present it as. Rehabilitation has been a general failure, but that's the case pretty much everywhere... but it has had some success in the US. Just as their attention to punishment as a deterrent had both successes and failures.. the real problem being with mainstream society, and the triggers that continued to push people into crime, and the issues with those released from prison having few options except to reoffend. American society is incredibly messed up. Irish society only marginally so. Comparisons with the US makes no real logical sense, as the scenarios are completely different.

There are plenty of facilities in Ireland for young people, along with far more in the way of opportunities for advancement/improvement than were ever available when I was a young person. It will never matter how much is provided to them, it will always be considered lacking, because it's an excuse. An excuse for poor parenting, poor indoctrination regarding our laws, the breakdown of social taboos, and the lack of focus on steering teens towards education/employment. Instead, they're left to themselves, given far too much freedom, and forgiven when they do drugs or engage in "minor" violence.

Caquas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119151547#Comment_119151547

Sexual offences are the only area where our judges hand down commensurate sentences.

It leads to the odd situation where these young men would have got much lighter sentences if they had picked up a random guy and beaten him to within an inch of his life just for kicks. I would guess a maximum of 5 years with 2 suspended for the “ringleader” of that attack and maybe 18 months for anyone who just gave the victim the odd kick in the head. Total of maybe 12 years for the whole gang with up to 6 years suspended. And that assumes the judge didn’t buy any hard luck stories about their childhoods.

Instead, the 5 rapists got a total of 66 years. The severity of these sentences will be appealed, especially the derisory one year suspended on a 20 year sentence. Has anyone in Ireland been sentenced to 20 years for a non-sexual crime? Mandatory life sentences for murder can result in release after 12 years.

Beasty

See this thread

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058248589/rape-trial-verdict-rte

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