Is property still more valuable than life or security?
By MichaelJay
@MichaelJay (1100)
July 24, 2008 3:13am CST
So, the insurance swindling death-faking couple the Darwens (see the article if you are not familiar with the story)
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080723/tuk-uk-britain-canoeist-fa6b408.html
both got 6 years in jail.
They fleeced the insurance companies and put their children through hell.
Many would say they richly deserve their jail time.
However, locally another story caught my eye.
Three drunken thugs who viviously attacked firefighters called out to tackle a blaze these yobs started were given 6 month suspended jail sentences and 'community service'.
Isn't there something wrong here?
The Darwens should be doing community service - it's going to cost the British taxpayer a million pounds to keep them in jail and THEY should be the ones on community service. There was no violence associated with what they did and six years of sweeping streets, cleaning toilets, and collecting garbage would help the community rather than costing it. Also, for wannabee millionaires like them the punishment would fit the crime.
The young thugs should be banged up for a year of strict boot camp and hard labour - find 'em some rocks to break.
What infuriates me is that the Darwens bucked the system and committed a crime against the insurance companies and banks - Heaven forfend! I'm not condoning that in any way but it does seem disprportionate and an insult to the selfless firefighters that property seems to count more than person.
4 people like this
7 responses
@milkfish (371)
• Philippines
24 Jul 08
This world is really getting more materialistic, people seem to treasure wealth rather than their own life. We should remember that these material peossesions are but temporary, we cannot bring them to grave. We can buy all the expensive things but we can never buy peace of mind and happiness.
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
25 Jul 08
The justice systems around the world really need to seriously think about who they do and who they don't send to jail. There are way too many people going to jail for non violent crimes etc that could be made to do community based work, like at our animal shelters or cleaning graffiti off walls etc.
Sadly, the age of an offender and priors are taken into consideration, and our young offenders are basically getting off. That is not the right message to be sending to the next wave of rat bags.
Fraud is a non violent crime, and you are right, they should be made to do 6 years of community based work. 20 hours per week would do so that they could still have a part time job to actually live.
A lot of it has to do with how likeable a persons lawyer is though. The more they can divert the jury's attention away from the facts, the less severe the punishments handed out.
2 people like this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
17 Apr 09
I do think the thugs should be doing some jail time...firefighters already risk their lives to battle fires but to be attacked while trying to do it is plain stupid. So, yes, I would have given them at least a year in jail and then 2 years of community service...maybe washing and polishing the firetrucks and cleaning up after fires.
As to the Darwens...if I remember the story right it was a scam by the husband and wife and the kids didn't know. I think they both need some jail time, at least a couple of years, so that others know that this type of thing isn't acceptable. Also I think they should both be made to repay any money they received, then give them 2 years community service.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
@terri0824 (5203)
• United States
26 Jul 08
I have to agree with you here. It seems that the time doesn't fit the crime. I don't condone what the Darwens did either. But the thugs should be behind bars and they should be doing community service. What has happened to the justice system?
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
24 Jul 08
These are the sorts of things that make me despair of my Country and make me understand why things are the way they are today. I totally agree with you, while what the Darwins did was bad, they did it through greed and the fact that they had got into so much debt they could not see any other way. But they must not be excused, but to throw them in jail for that time, while others get LESS time for murder literally just absolutely amazes me. It is all wrong.
2 people like this
@paid2write (5201)
•
25 Jul 08
I was reading about the Darens in the newspaper yesterday and I was pleased they both got jail sentences, but I think you do make a very good point.
I would like to see this greedy, lying, swindling couple having to clean toilets and do other dirty jobs. It would be a better punishment because they would have to live in the community they served as well.
In prison they could be treated more like celebrities by the other prisoners, because they have been in the papers, and many of the criminals wouldn't think they had done anything very wrong.
I would also like to see those agressive thugs put away for a long time and not be allowed to stay in the community.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
31 Mar 09
It sounds to me like that couple does not have their priorities in the correct order. I am glad they got caught for their stupid scam. People who scam the system like that deserve whatever punishment they get. My husband and I are not wealthy by North American standards, but someone in Zimbabwe might bed to differ. We are happy with what we have.
