Lots if information as decided by Parliament or by the judiciary. Protecting children and protecting proprietary information come to mind. Filing under seal, closing courtrooms, and restricting disclosure of criminal records are nothing new. It’s a matter of finding a balance between freedom of information and protection of privacy, and a balance between state and individual priorities. Lots of grey, and little black and white.
A humane society doesn’t release people back into society who have a reasonable chance of repeating a crime as heinous as killing 3 children. Anyone who could do that once is so beyond the measure of anything sane that the chance of coming back completely is slim. This is a stupid mistake to let him out and not humane to the society he is being released into.
Agreed- what I was suggesting by the rhetorical question aimed at people advocating ‘my free speech is better than yours’! Different polities come to different restrictions on the limits of free speech.
Most of the rest of the western world (Europe, Old Commonwealth, the rest of the Americas, etc.) does tend to release all but the obviously most dangerous lifers. It must always be remembered that the US approach to retribution is an outlier compared with other established democracies. As with the DP, the penal activities it engages in place it in the same category as considerably less attractive political structures.
If that were true, he wouldn’t need a new identity. So apparently Europeans aren’t as sensitive to the human rights of murderers as you assert.
But I still don’t see the problem. You think your system is better than that of the US. Goody gumdrops for you. If you think the restrictions on the press, the expense of creating a secret identity, and the possibility that he will kill some more people, are worth it, then knock yourself out and get to it. But whining about it on a US messageboard doesn’t accomplish anything.
Regards,
Shodan
Nice straw man. I didn’t say that the mob were more sensitive, (though they probably are), just that the judicial procedures are fairer and more humane.
I thought this was a rather international board that happened to be based in Chicago, based on Knowledge rather than nationality.
One of the drawbacks of the American system (I was educated there) is a certain narrow view and failure to understand that things can be done differently but well else where. Most of the rest of the world save China and Russia are forced daily to consider how things are done differently by their powerful near neighbors; this is missing from the general US perspective, and it is worth pointing out that there are alternate ways that are not controlled by the US Constitution, that may meet similar problems with different (maybe better) solutions.
And to add to the above, the history of the reaction to Mob attacks on criminals and such in the community has been extremely heavy in the UK. People attacking child killers or molesters in the community receive long sentences appropriate for the level of their criminality. Juries do convict them and killers have been jailed for 30 plus years the way that sentencing is structured in England.
The rule of law applies to the mob as to everyone The rule of law does not guarantee peace, but it does seek Justice.
The USA has by far the highest incarceration rateof any country in the world. The USA’s incarceration rate is over 465% higher than the UK’s incarceration rate, but despite this, the murder ratein the USA is 400% higher than in the UK. When comparing the UK with the USA, Americans are neither as free nor as safe. But of course the facts make little difference when conversing with people who have entrenched beliefs and limited interest in looking outside their own walls.
You said the mob was under the rule of law. If that were the case, you would not need to worry about this murderer being harmed after his release.
If things are being done so well in the UK, why are you whining about the difficulties with this murderer’s release?
Regards,
Shodan
I could name plenty of similiar incidents on your side of the pond. Throwing stones indeed. :dubious:
He’s not whining, he’s stealth bragging.
Well there you go, people attacking child killers or molesters are given longer terms than the child killers and molesters. Brilliant! Certainly no injustice in that.
Actually the sentencing guidelines are very specific about the levels of sentences and all face the same standard.
Good straw man though- I did not say that child killers and molesters get lesser sentences than their attackers- tighten up your logic and don’t argue from one historic case to what is happening now! Sentencing has changed somewhat in the last forty years.
Incdidentally, if you want a good overview of the development of modern law from suitable for a well read layman such as youself, read The Trial.
It examines many of the issues which are raised in this thread and explains the rationale behind many legal practices.