When I lived in a quiet little community in California, a crime took place that shocked everyone. There were so many rumors, it was years before I found out the truth of things. I had moved back to Michigan so lost touch with it all. Two of the boys convicted lived directly across the street from me. My kids were younger so didn’t really have contact with them. My youngest daughter was friends with their little sister though.
Basically, it was a short teenaged brawl, except one kid ended up dead. The aftermath is the real tragedy though I think. The teenagers involved all got life without parole under California’s Felony Murder rule. Now mind you, one of those kids did kill someone, the others did not. Whether it was during the commission of a crime is questionable. No, I guess buying pot is a crime but the prosecution asserted that they went there to steal pot. Then there is the fact that the one who died was the son of a LAPD officer. Upstanding young man he was, hanging out with a drug dealer. They were all troubled youths but now they have had their entire lives taken away. The parents of the one who died are very bitter and vindictive and seem to think this was an appropriate punishment. It won’t bring their son back. He was clearly no angel himself, I wish they could see it for what it was.
I’ve been working on Prison News Blog and it really brought me back to the injustice for these boys. There was a 60 minutes episode on this case that is excellent (see below), it’s too bad prison sentences are so hard to amend. Documentary filmmaker William Gazecki examines this case in the documentary Reckless Indifference, it’s a good movie to see.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ0P66NGQ0U
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jashfN3CbuI
Is prison for punishment or rehabilitation? To me, there are priorities:
- To keep society safe from serial offenders; murderers, rapists and violent predators. Lock them up permanently, no second chances. But do you know how many child predators are released after very short sentences?
- Punishment. Yes, I think many crimes deserve the punishment of incarceration for a period of time. But having people languishing in prison for years for non-violent crimes, that is a crime itself.
- Rehabilitation. It’s something we had better start trying to work on. Our prison system now has more than 1 out of every 100 adults incarcerated. Most do not deserve long prison sentences but helping them learn skills so they can be successful on release would be in this countries best interest.
More reading on the case from Brandon Hein’s website. His parents have been the most vocal about getting the word out to the world. I hope these boys see justice someday. Even the one who killed, in the heat of the moment, protecting his brother, does not deserve life without parole. Rolling stone magazine had an article titled “Lynching in Malibu” that explains the facts of the case, including the fact that the brawl took about 60 seconds.
A petition for Brandon Hein here. I’d like to see one for all of them. This recent article is from a minister who came to know Brandon while he was awaiting trial.
There are many kinds of injustice. It’s an injustice that a boy is dead because of a stupid fight. It’s an injustice that the rest have lost their freedom for the rest of their lives for the same stupid fight. It’s an injustice that we let repeat predators loose everyday and then keep these people locked up for life.
A tough, complex reality you’ve brought up here.
Yeah it sure is. I get agitated when I see so much that needs fixing here in America.
Beautifully said. It’s a broken system, the severity of which cannot be fully understood until seen from the inside. Unfortunately, by then it’s too late. We need prison reform in this country now.
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Yes, it’s a tragedy of massive proportions. I hope out country will see the need for some serious reform in the near future.
You’ve worded this article perfectly, I feel the exact sameway. I remember when this happened and it was so sad for all the families it affected. Let me know about a petition, I’ll sign.
Hi Dee, the petition for Brandon is here: http://www.petitiononline.com/FBH/petition.html. I think they all should have one, but maybe if this one gets enough attention it’ll do some good.
Hi, I just signed the petition, I hope many others do as well. Dee
I’m glad Dee, I’m encouraging everyone to sign it.
signed and posted to facebook 🙂
Good deal Mir! Maybe it’ll help. I hope so.
a difficult issue as you point out. there isn’t an easy solution, but the sentence seems a bit harsh. does life without parole really mean exactly that? that seems too draconian for any punishment, unless there is a likliehood of re-offending. I have signed the petition.
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It means exactly that Art. Which is totally draconian. I hope they get justice someday.
I watched Reckless Indifference.
The victim’s parents are scary, the Idea that they comment about “those people”
They need to look more closely at their dead son.
It sounds harsh but those boys would not have gone to the property, if for that the drug dealing.
The District Attorney comments at near end of film are horrible. Especially after it was discovered, the knowingly false testimony.
Just maybe I am proud in Canada our justice system is more fair
You are so ridiculous, it’s painful. You lived across the street?. From who? Mom, or dad? Cause Jason had a black eye from his own father, and their mother pawned them off on anyone she could. CAUSE THEY WERE ALWAYS OUT OF LINE!
Since I was not only there that day, but friends with both sides I’d love to know how you came across your “inside” information? Don’t remember you being there.
They went there to rob them. Not buy anything. But, since in your shortsided opinion a kid “selling weed” is a drug dealer, it’s no big deal.
Do you have any idea what scumbags these kids were? Why they went to a continuation school, INDIAN HILLS? How all of them were known for stealing/robbing from anyone they could? No? There’s a shock.
Their own parents wanted NOTHING to do with them.
“He was clearly no angel himself”? FOR SMOKING POT AT 16???? You piece of shit! Selling dirt weed at 15/16 makes you a drug dealer, huh? Makes it ok for murder?
You have no idea who these “kids” were, or what terrible little fucks they lived there life as. They got what they deserved.
Guess you forgot to mention THE DOZENS of people who testified about being robbed by these “thugs”.
You and “Dave Canada” should go happily play in traffic together.
First Hunter, let me say I’m sorry you were there and had to experience that. I guess because of that I can understand your anger. I have no emotional investment in the situation other than it’s just sad all the way around.
I don’t recall saying I had any “inside” information. I listed right in the post where I got my information from. If they are incorrect you should probably contact them and let them know. No, I don’t believe anyone deserved to be murdered. But both sides were breaking the law. And I’ll even agree that the pot law it stupid as hell and no big deal. But clearly it attracted trouble. And yes, getting murdered over it is a big deal.
But with that said, the thing is, not all of them murdered. And they were kids. And for that life without parole is just ridiculous. There are people charged with premeditated murder who do way less time than that. And not only do I not believe it was premeditated, not all of them committed murder.
And no, I’m not ridiculous, I’m just a person who clearly has a different opinion than you and the last I knew, that was okay.