# Should Charles Manson be released? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 5, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920 "2012-04-05T16:24:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/162 "2012-04-17T11:43:07Z")
> [@2sense](#): > > For that one crime, perhaps. But what about all the others? How is the magnitude of the crimes of rape, kidnapping, armed robbery, and the like determined? Is that not why we have juries and parole boards? ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/163 "2012-04-17T15:34:41Z")
No. Sentencing is done by judges according to the guidelines established by law. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/164 "2012-04-17T15:44:19Z")
> [@2sense](#): > > No. Sentencing is done by judges according to the guidelines established by law. Always? I thought there was a sentencing phase when the jury decided upon a sentence. And surely parole boards decide if a person gets parole rather than a judge. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/165 "2012-04-17T16:16:26Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Always? I thought there was a sentencing phase when the jury decided upon a sentence. I think that only happens in death penalty cases. ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/166 "2012-04-17T20:34:23Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Always? I thought there was a sentencing phase when the jury decided upon a sentence. I guess so. But again they are deciding within the range of punishments deemed acceptable by law. > [@](#): > > And surely parole boards decide if a person gets parole rather than a judge. Criminals only get to see a parole board if the law permits it. Some here do not believe every criminal deserves a chance at parole. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/167 "2012-04-17T20:42:54Z")
> [@2sense](#): > > Some here do not believe every criminal deserves a chance at parole. Well, it ain’t doing Manson much good. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/168 "2012-04-17T21:10:12Z")
Wow. I’m amazed at some of the hysteria y’all are exhibiting. He’s a guy - a mentally ill fellow who many years ago convinced some people to kill some other people. Not a nice person, and as people have stated he doesn’t seem to have reformed or shown any remorse (mentally ill, see above) - but jaysus! He’s not the boogyman. He doesn’t have supernatural powers. He’s not from the Elemental Plane of Evil. His very existence in freedom will not poison the air for 20 miles around him. He won’t cause flowers to wilt or mother’s milk to curdle in the breast. He won’t even sneak into your house and eat all the ice cream. He’s one mentally ill human. No, he probably shouldn’t be free, but I agree with the person above who said he should be in a mental asylum rather than a prison. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/169 "2012-04-17T23:10:07Z")
Mentally ill or not, fuck Charlie Manson. Let him rot in a cell until it is time for him to rot in an anonymous grave. I favor burial at sea so that that groupies, weirdoes, crime junkies, etcetera will not be able to make a shrine out of his gravesite. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/170 "2012-04-18T01:16:43Z")
He knew right from wrong – he wasn’t so far gone that he couldn’t control his actions. So fuck no he doesn’t belong in a mental institution. No, I don’t believe in torture. But I do believe there are some crimes that are so heinous, you’ve forfeited the right to live the rest of your life outside of jail. And Charles Manson is in that catagory. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/171 "2012-04-18T01:55:28Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Wow. I’m amazed at some of the hysteria y’all are exhibiting. > > He’s a guy - a mentally ill fellow who many years ago convinced some people to kill some other people. Not a nice person, and as people have stated he doesn’t seem to have reformed or shown any remorse (mentally ill, see above) - but jaysus! > > He’s not the boogyman. He doesn’t have supernatural powers. He’s not from the Elemental Plane of Evil. His very existence in freedom will not poison the air for 20 miles around him. He won’t cause flowers to wilt or mother’s milk to curdle in the breast. He won’t even sneak into your house and eat all the ice cream. > > He’s one mentally ill human. No, he probably shouldn’t be free, but I agree with the person above who said he should be in a mental asylum rather than a prison. A lot of people in prison are mentally ill. Usually the worst people. It’s kind of a prerequisite for being a mass murderer after all. Manson is not some supernatural being. And I don’t think anyone other than you has suggested this. He’s just a really bad person. Nothing hysterical about thinking that. But Manson is responsible for his actions. He understood what he was doing at the time he planned and committed his crimes and afterwards. He also understood that what he was doing was illegal and he made efforts to conceal his involvement. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/172 "2012-04-18T02:10:24Z")
Sociopaths are considered insane, are they not? Lock him up somewhere secure for all time. I am certain he committed those crimes, but every jury that voted guilty was also sure, and I cannot condone the death penalty under any circumstances. A jury convicted [Leo Frank.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Frank) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/173 "2012-04-18T06:56:37Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Sociopaths are considered insane, are they not? > > Lock him up somewhere secure for all time. > I am certain he committed those crimes, but every jury that voted guilty was also sure, and I cannot condone the death penalty under any circumstances. > > A jury convicted [Leo Frank.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Frank) How is there any similiarity to Manson and Frank? What are you trying to imply – that Manson MIGHT have been wrongfully convicted? There is no doubt he did it – in fact, I believe he’s admitted he did it, and doesn’t give a shit who knows it now. Let him rot in jail. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/174 "2012-04-18T11:39:58Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > How is there any similiarity to Manson and Frank? What are you trying to imply – that Manson MIGHT have been wrongfully convicted? No, that that jurors who make mistakes are just as sure as Manson’s were. If you had the death penalty for “just really bad guys” you still might convict an innocent person. Rotting in jail is fine for him. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/175 "2012-04-18T12:38:34Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Sociopaths are considered insane, are they not? > > Lock him up somewhere secure for all time. “Secure” for who? Not fellow inmates, security or prison hospital personnel, assuming one gives a rap about those people. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/176 "2012-04-18T12:52:22Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > “Secure” for who? We have wardens and folks who can figure that out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/177 "2012-04-20T19:32:05Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If they’d carried out the sentence he deserved, his health would have declined a hell of a lot faster a good while ago. And we could have saved ourselves a good deal of trouble. > > Regards, > Shodan :D:D Well said! ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/178 "2012-04-20T21:29:10Z")
Haven’t actually read the posts, but no, the evil little piece of filth should have been executed, and I would gladly do it unpaid tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920/179 "2012-04-20T23:16:01Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Haven’t actually read the posts, but no, the evil little piece of filth should have been executed, and I would gladly do it unpaid tomorrow. Hell, there are people who would\* pay\* to do it. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-be-released/617920.md?page=8)