Should someone be kept in solitary for 2 years for drinking and driving?

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   cfinposted 11 years ago

   Should someone be kept in solitary for 2 years for drinking and driving?
   
   Has anyone heard about this? A man in New Mexico, USA  has been awarded $15.5M for being held in solitary confinement for 2 years without being granted a trial. He was suspected of drinking and driving. I have never heard anything like this in my life.
   
   How do you feel about this? Did he deserve it? Is this atrocious?

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   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   No. But I appreciate that they are getting harder on people who drink and drive. The number of people dying in Texas always looks horrific. He didn't deserve that severe though. Maybe a month would have done fine.

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      cfinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed! This case was especially ludicrous though. The guy didn't even get a trial.

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   JEDIJESSICUHposted 11 years ago

   I agree with lburmaster. While I think drinking and driving is terrible and first time and repeat offenders should get more than a slap on the wrist and a ticket, two years in solitary is a bit much. Maybe if they've broken the law half a dozen times and continue to do it, then sure, throw the book at them. However, you said he was "suspected" of drinking and driving. That's not even a positive "hey, this guy's blood alcohol content is well above the legal limit".

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      cfinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well until proven guilty at trial....
      
      He was apparently jailed and forgotten about. Very very odd story.

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   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   This type of behavior just shows again how broken our judicial system is. This is ludicrous. But, there are always two sides to every story. Was he withholding his identity? Was he cooperating with the public defender to get him a fair trial? Just some questions that come to mind. But, no this should have never happened. With that said drinking and driving should have stiffer penalties. Just ask the families who have lost loved one's to these stubborn idiots who choose to drink and drive to get from point a to point b. There is always another way, be it inconvenient or not.

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      cam8510posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am one of those stubborn idiots and I do not take offense at the reference.  But, an understanding of addiction would help answer the question. "why?".  The penalties in most states are very stiff.  Google Sobriety Court.  It is a wonderful program

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      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hello Cam, I am also a recovering alcoholic but have never gotten a DUI. Forgive me if you felt insulted. This was not my intention. I just feel for those who have lost loved ones to so many who choose to drink and drive.

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      cam8510posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      JThomp42, no I don't feel insulted.  As you know, recovering alcoholics understand pretty clearly that their behavior while using was extremely harmful to themselves, their families and society in general.  But we can get better, although not cured.

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   cam8510posted 11 years ago

   For me to actually answer this question would require a lot more information.  Any lawyer worth having would have had that ended pronto.  There is more to this story.  But, for the sake of the conversation here, I'll say a couple more things.  Many states have a law that renders the third DUI a felony.  In those cases, the offenders go to prison.  Maybe the person in question here was serving felony time in a local jail.  I am a member of AA and I rub shoulders constantly with people who have had DUIs.  I myself have two.  When a person is in the thick of addiction, they are likely to commit a variety of irrational, antisocial, criminal acts.  They are like little tornadoes running around making everyone's life they come into contact with miserable.  There should be harsh laws to deal with drunk drivers.  It is one of the ways to get the attention of the person so that he finally admits his powerlessness over alcohol.

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      cfinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed Cam8510. The problem with this case was that he had no trial and seems to have fallen through the cracks and was forgotten. Some people seem to think he deserved it. He grew fungus on his skin he was in solitary for so long.

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