# They let Phil Spector out of jail to see a PRIVATE dentist!!!?!!!?!?!??!?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 3, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802 "2009-12-03T03:28:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/21 "2009-12-03T12:43:55Z")
I dunno what the big deal is about - John Sachs got out for his daughter’s wedding, and who knows how many people he’s killed or had killed. ( 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/22 "2009-12-03T12:56:10Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I dunno. I’ll have to think about it. > > My impression is that as a ward of the state for the duration of his incarceration, his personal assets should be just as out of reach to him as is the rest of the outside world. Paying for his legal representation could be handled by a trust, should he wish to set one up. > > **Say he wants to pay his respects at the gravesites of his parents on the anniversaries of their deaths. Should he be allowed those little field trips**? Prisoners in Ireland are often allowed out to go to funerals. Surely you have something similar? > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, I guess it’s safe… ? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/23 "2009-12-03T13:42:49Z")
We send inmates out to specialists when their needs can’t be met in the prison. This includes certain dental and oral surgery procedures, heart catheterizations, colonoscopies, misc. surgeries, etc. The prison health facilities are usually not much more complex than your local doctor’s or dentist’s office. It is much more cost-effective to send inmates out under guard for procedures than it is to try to staff and maintain a surgical clinic inside the prison. No surprise from me here. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/24 "2009-12-03T13:50:07Z")
If it wouldn’t have been paid for by the state, it shouldn’t be allowed. You are supposed to lose privileges when you are put in jail. ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/25 "2009-12-03T13:51:51Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > If need be is the catcher though. There’s no indication that this was a specialist, it’s just his personal dentist. This wasn’t a necessity, this was a privilege being afforded to Spector because he’s got wealth in a bank account outside of prison and because he hasn’t broken any prison rules so far. > > But this had nothing to do with _need_. This wasn’t a specialist visit nor an emergency. There’s no excuse for this kind of privilege to be given to a prisoner – especially one serving a life sentence for murder – just because they were wealthy on the outside. So you know as a fact that Spector didn’t need some sort of specialized dental care? ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/26 "2009-12-03T14:07:26Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > Prisoners in Ireland are often allowed out to go to funerals. Surely you have something similar? Yeah, but a funeral is normally a one-time event whereas an anniversary happens on an annual basis. > [@](#): > > ? I believe **Bryan** is riffing on the oft-quoted line _Is it safe?_, said repeatedly by Christian Szell in _Marathon Man_ while dentally torturing Thomas “Babe” Levy to extract information (rather than teeth). ---
**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:** [December 3, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/27 "2009-12-03T14:26:23Z")
This is, like, the worst pitting ever. Unless Spector was at liberty for a week or something in order to see his dentist, what’s the big friggin’ deal? > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > We’ll see how many people get your joke. > > Stranger _looks blank_ ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/28 "2009-12-03T14:39:39Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > We’ll see how many people get your joke. > > Stranger > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > _looks blank_ Aha! I’m on somebody’s ignore list. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/29 "2009-12-03T14:52:49Z")
Looks like he has to make do with the prison barber, though. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/30 "2009-12-03T14:59:26Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > Aha! > > I’m on somebody’s ignore list. I read your post and _still_ didn’t get it. :o ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/31 "2009-12-03T16:01:23Z")
Apropos of nothing, I once had a guy on my caseload escape from custody on a trip to the dentist. Went right out the window when the hygienist stepped out for a second. The guys who were supposed to be guarding him were sitting on their asses in the lobby reading magazines. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/32 "2009-12-03T16:39:38Z")
> [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](#): > > Apropos of nothing, I once had a guy on my caseload escape from custody on a trip to the dentist. Went right out the window when the hygienist stepped out for a second. The guys who were supposed to be guarding him were sitting on their asses in the lobby reading magazines. Probably looking for the one-armed man. Tell me you rallied your team with a cutting speech like, “What I want from each and every one of you is a hard target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area.” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/33 "2009-12-03T17:13:00Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > The dentist coming to the prison would still be an example of people with money, getting access to things people without money do not have **in jail**. Jail should be uniform in its treatment of people, regardless of financial standing. That’s the way it has been, is, and will presumably be forever. People with money (like **Rand Roverfucker** - whatever happened to that troll?) are just better than you and me. Time to accept it. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Real_Regency_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/34 "2009-12-03T17:33:11Z")
BFD. The UNC Healthcare System sees hundreds of prisoners a year when they need a level of care not offered at the facility they’re housed in. Outside wealth has nothing to do with it, but if the prisoner can foot the bill, let 'em. CA needs every dime it can get. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/35 "2009-12-03T17:35:06Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > That’s the way it has been, is, and will presumably be forever. People with money (like **Rand Roverfucker** - whatever happened to that troll?) are just better than you and me. Time to accept it. > > -Joe He got a papercut in the mailroom of the law firm where he worked, and tried to sue one of the partners over it, claiming gross negligence. He acted as his own lawyer, and screwed up the case so badly that the judge ended up sentencing him (as the plaintif!) to 80 years in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/36 "2009-12-03T17:45:17Z")
> [@Rex\_Goliath](#): > > What if the dentist came into the prison? Would you be angry about that? I’d be less angry, but I don’t see why that puff-haired ass should get to call in a fancy specialist for something like (what I assume) is routine dental work. Then again considering how biased the California criminal justice system is towards famous slimeballs I can’t say I’m at all surprised by this. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/37 "2009-12-03T17:46:36Z")
It occurs to me that Phil Spector probably isn’t much of a flight risk… ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/38 "2009-12-03T17:52:50Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It occurs to me that Phil Spector probably isn’t much of a flight risk… That’s not the point, though. It’s preferential treatment for a celebrity that I’m objecting to. D’you think they’d let some anonymous member of the Crips convicted of a drive-by shooting to go out for a private dental appointment? Even if he could cough up the money to reimburse the state? Like hell they would. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/39 "2009-12-03T18:00:51Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > D’you think they’d let some anonymous member of the Crips convicted of a drive-by shooting to go out for a private dental appointment? Even if he could cough up the money to reimburse the state? Yes, they would, if they thought he wasn’t a flight risk while going to the dentist. He didn’t get a trip to Disneyland. He got a trip to the dentist. In the company of a CO, driven there in the back of a prison van. And then he went right back to his cell. And the taxpayers saved $X. What’s the big deal? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802/40 "2009-12-03T18:03:53Z")
those prison dentists are hell on my veneers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-let-phil-spector-out-of-jail-to-see-a-private-dentist/519802.md?page=3)