Should Prisons Be Legal? Prisons?

845 Words4 Pages
Since its introduction in 1166 A.D., jails have been a place for the judicial system to send those who are deemed unacceptable by society’s standards. Throughout history, jails have housed paupers, vagrants, thieves, murderers, debtors, orphans, prostitutes, and the mentally insane. However, in today’s society it is essential that we as educated professionals assess each individual case and determine if the jail environment is helpful or rather harmful to the defendant. As a judge, it is essential that when determining an appropriate sentence that the law surrounding the crime, the severity of the crime, the environmental factors, and the offender’s mental status be considered. In the case of JimmieJo, there are multiple factors and catalysts which must be reviewed before accepting the proposed plea deal. To fully understand each option, it is essential that we first review the facts of the case. JimmieJo, a homeless man, was arrested after allegedly assaulting another homeless individual who JimmieJo believed was attempting to steal his belongings. Seems pretty straight forward, however, JimmieJo has been repeatedly diagnosed as borderline developmentally disabled, bipolar and alcoholic. Unfortunately, JimmieJo has had a long history of violations, some of which have resulted in his being incarcerated periodically throughout his teen and adult years. To many people, JimmieJo may seem like just another habitual offender or as just a homeless man looking for free
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