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Why do felon cops so frequently receive ultra-lenient sentences?

minarchist

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If rape is commonly punished by 20 years in a given state, a cop convicted of rape in that state may spend only 2 years in prison. There seems to be a "divide by ten" rule of thumb when it comes to punishing cops who break the law. Why is this the case?

I think that the same mentality behind lemmings complaining about criticism of the many problems with cops in this country is also behind these lenint sentences, because these lemmings unfortunately end up on juries. These are the very same type of sheeple who enabled the holocaust.
 

skidmark

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Could it be because, from the citation you provided -

On July 8, 2010, the jury returned its verdict: Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and not guilty of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter

which carries a penalty range of http://www.shouselaw.com/involuntary_manslaughter.html

Penal Code 192 PC California's involuntary manslaughter law is a felony. A conviction subjects you to

formal probation with up to one year county jail, OR
a two, three, or four-year California state prison sentence.

Plus these additional consequences:
a maximum $10,000 fine,
the loss of the right to own or possess a firearm pursuant to Penal Code 29800 PC California's "felon with a firearm" law, and
possible professional discipline (if you hold a professional license).

So the jury decides that, of all the possible crimes the prosecution has thrown out there for them to consider the best they can come up with, beyond a reasonable doubt, was involuntary manslaughter. For which the judge nailed him with a mid-level sentence. And the feds are trying to deciding if they are going to try and convince another jury he intentionally deprived the victim of his civil rights - but three years later the feds have not yet made up their minds if they want to try for it or not.

Just what was it, again, that you were railing against?

I find it perversely amusing that you were not screaming for the blood of George Zimmerman, but are having a professional hissy fit over this guy's jury not nailing his hide to the courthouse door before they had him carted off to the gas chamber.

I find it offensive in the greatest possible degree that you describe those who complain about criticism of the many problems with cops in this country as lemmings. I find it further offensive in the greatest degree that you suggest that this lock-step irrationality of the masses is behind some conspiracy to impose lenint[sic] sentences. I even further find it offensive in the greatest degree that you are upset that these folks you describe as lemmings end up on juries. Finally, I find it offensive beyond description that you suggest that those people are the very same type who enabled the holocaust.

You have no knowledge of lemmings but rely on a myth created by Walt Disney's "Wonderful World of Color" television program for dramatic impact. You have no working knowledge of conspiracies and how they are carried out. Instead you rely on some sort of urban myth's irrational suggestion that literally thousands of people can be engaged in a plan to not attempt but to assure that police convicted of criminal behavior receive the least possible sentence. You have expended greateffort in suggesting and encouraging others to worm their way onto juries for the purpose of nullifying laws you do not approve of, while displaying great distress when those members of the community who somehow could not manage to get out of jury duty fail to disegard the lack of evidence and convict police officers mostly because they are police officers. You display what I can only presume is such little understanding of the dynamics of the rise of the Third Reich and National Socialism in Germany between the wars as to suggest that the "lemming mentality" is responsible for what has come to be known as the Holocaust - which is separate from the German variety of National Socialism.

Living in your mind must present a terribly frightening view of the world. Based on the way your belief system operates, it must be only by the grace of whatever diety you subscribe to that you have not been locked away because your irrationality interferes so much with your ability to functiuon in society.

stay safe.
 
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SFCRetired

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Montgomery, Alabama, USA
I'll add one little note to the comments of Skidmark and OC for Me: If you don't like this country, there are airplanes and ships leaving every day that will take you to any other country you wish to go to.

Yes, our country has some serious warts, but, as a man who has lived in quite a few other countries and visited many more, I can tell you that what we have in this country is a damn sight better than whatever is in second place.
 

77zach

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I don't appreciate the police. At all. However, I'm not seeing leniency after conviction so much. What I am seeing is cops getting away with, well, just about anything. The average Amerikan (sic) feels like they're part of the winning team if they show respect to people who wear state issued costumes. Today in a health food store, I was asked by the cashier if I was police or military. I asked her why that mattered, she said I would have received a discount. I was disgusted.
 
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77zach

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Do you have any particular instances in mind that we can look at and try to figure out what the circumstances behind them were?

-MH

That BART cop in California who murdered the man who was handcuffed on his belly. Summary execution. I'm not sure if he's even still in jail. We'd have been executed.
 

77zach

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I'll add one little note to the comments of Skidmark and OC for Me: If you don't like this country, there are airplanes and ships leaving every day that will take you to any other country you wish to go to.

Yes, our country has some serious warts, but, as a man who has lived in quite a few other countries and visited many more, I can tell you that what we have in this country is a damn sight better than whatever is in second place.

Yep, I've been searching diligently for a lifeboat, it's not going well. There are some freer countries/territories, but I don't have enough $ or the climate is too cold.
 

77zach

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Did not expect your thanks. What other country(s)/territories?

Uruguay, Liechtenstein. Then a bunch of islands nominally part of other countries but in reality do what they want. Some in the Pacific, some in the north Atlantic (freezing). There are some territories/communities between France and Germany and Switzerland that are basically anarcho communities, but they don't take outsiders.
 
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77zach

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Interesting.

It is. Up until about 30 years ago, you wouldn't believe how free France and Switzerland were. Even today, if you don't care about 1st and 2nd amendment rights there are many nations more economically free. Singapore, for example. The place is run like one big loving totalitarian family. With canings and a hang man's noose if you disobey.
 

minarchist

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I find it perversely amusing that you were not screaming for the blood of George Zimmerman, but are having a professional hissy fit over this guy's jury not nailing his hide to the courthouse door before they had him carted off to the gas chamber.

(1) Zimmerman engaged in clear cut self-defense and (2) Zimmerman didn't work for the state.
 

skidmark

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....
I find it perversely amusing that you were not screaming for the blood of George Zimmerman, but are having a professional hissy fit over this guy's jury not nailing his hide to the courthouse door before they had him carted off to the gas chamber.
....

(1) Zimmerman engaged in clear cut self-defense and (2) Zimmerman didn't work for the state.

This? This is where you want to make your stand?

I'm going to have to rethink that evaluation.

stay safe.
 

skidmark

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I don't appreciate the police. At all. However, I'm not seeing leniency after conviction so much. What I am seeing is cops getting away with, well, just about anything. ....

I agree with you. But how many are willing to demand they adhere to the same rules as the rest of us? It takes time and dedication, and the ability/willingness to confront them relentlessly until they return to the fold.

stay safe.
 

JoeSparky

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That BART cop in California who murdered the man who was handcuffed on his belly. Summary execution. I'm not sure if he's even still in jail. We'd have been executed.

And based upon my recollection of the IMMEDIATE emotional breakdown of said officer in this specific incident I do believe he thought and believed he had his TASER in his hand and not his firearm. Tragic death? Absolutely! but NOT A SUMMARY EXECUTION in any way! Certainly, a demonstration of lack of training and also the UNWISENESS of placing both taser and firearm on the same side of the uniform! Neither of which is or was AN INTENTIONAL ACT as a summary Execution would be!

Notice: I never said or claimed the use of the taser was justified or appropriate!
 
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