# Burgler goes free because he's sorry **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 26, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848 "2011-10-26T13:32:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/21 "2011-10-26T17:07:42Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > …and he will let you know about that from his cell phone. Make that from what was formerly your cell phone. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/22 "2011-10-26T17:40:17Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > Make that from what was formerly your cell phone. lol. No, I meant a cell phone. Happened to me once where a family member I loaned money to told me he couldn’t pay me back cuz he was broke…and told me that on his cell phone. Wasn’t expecting to be paid back when I loaned it but still…at least make the effort to appear broke. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/23 "2011-10-26T17:47:18Z")
It’s 2011. You can get a cell phone for free and service for $20 a month. Hardly an extravagance. If he told you from his iPhone 4S with custom crocodile-skin cover, you can be mad. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/24 "2011-10-26T18:04:47Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It’s 2011. You can get a cell phone for free and service for $20 a month. Hardly an extravagance. > > If he told you from his iPhone 4S with custom crocodile-skin cover, you can be mad. Tracfone: $15 for the phone and 40 minutes a month for $7 for the prepaid card I got. I don’t use it much, but it’s handy sometimes, and cheap if you don’t use it too much. ---
**Author:** ![SeaCanary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@SeaCanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaCanary)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/25 "2011-10-26T18:17:23Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > There’s never been a better justification of castle doctrine than this OP. > > \ > > I say if he comes near your house again, shoot the bastard. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > If that’s the best justification, then the argument for the castle doctrine is pretty shitty. The sensible thing to take away from this is that Colorado’s sentencing system doesn’t make sense, not that you should shoot people. I’m not saying I agree with shooting the bastard, but I understand it. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/26 "2011-10-26T20:18:12Z")
Be thankful you don’t live in [Spokane](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016411446_apwaspokanepropertycrimes.html). From now on 95 percent of property crimes won’t even be investigated. Budget problems, doncha know. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/27 "2011-10-26T22:41:42Z")
I live in Denver. I have some students that could be hired if you were interested in revenge. 😉 And yes, CO does have voter-approved retentions. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/28 "2011-10-27T00:31:10Z")
> [@pohjonen](#): > > Be thankful you don’t live in [Spokane](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016411446_apwaspokanepropertycrimes.html). From now on 95 percent of property crimes won’t even be investigated. Budget problems, doncha know. Taxes are low though, so it’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/29 "2011-10-27T00:49:56Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Please tell me that in Colorado we can vote out judges. I’ll not comment on the case since I’ve no idea whether he was sentenced to time served, is on probation, or what; I’ll simply assure you that, yes, in Colorado district and county judges, judges of the court of appeals, and justices of the Supreme Court are subject to retention votes, every four to ten years depending on the level. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/30 "2011-10-27T01:00:55Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > I have nothing but sympathy for you. My kid accidentally left a 2-inch screwdriver in his backpack and the school found it–DA has a kitten and wants to stick him in juvie for felony “bringing a deadly weapon onto school property”. Wait. WTF? I want to know more about this. What more is there to this story? This just sounds absolutely nuts without further context. ---
**Author:** ![SweetLucy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@SweetLucy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetLucy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/31 "2011-10-27T03:28:28Z")
I thought the criminals usually go free because they all had bad childhoods :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848/32 "2011-10-27T04:53:50Z")
> [@SweetLucy](#): > > I thought the criminals usually go free because they all had bad childhoods :rolleyes: Well, we’re _supposed_ to, but them asshole judges just sometimes forget the rule. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burgler-goes-free-because-hes-sorry/600848.md?page=1)