Do We Really Change That Much? New Ohio Law May Show Us. - Above the Law
Ohio Senate Bill 256 gives adults who were convicted of serious crimes as children a chance at parole later in life. Two individuals, Clarence Coleman and Mincey Meece, could have their original sentences shortened by decades as a result. And at least one of the survivors of their crimes is concerned. Svetlana Shtrom’s father, Moisey Shtrom, was killed by a then 16-year-old Mr. Coleman. Discovering that Coleman may walk the streets with the rest of us led her to ask a few questions:
“What has this offender done to position himself for a productive life? Is he ready to come out, and is our safety guaranteed? Not just my family, but anybody and everybody… He bashed my father’s head in because he was angry. Is he still angry?”
I think these questions are valid, and it would make just as much sense to ask them of Ms. Meece and everyone else who has been imprisoned for violent crimes. My hope is that Mr. Coleman and Ms. Meece have done some self reflection and soul searching for the time that they’ve been imprisoned, about 30 and 25 years respectively.
It’s also painfully obvious that Shtrom’s questions carry so much weight because our prisons are based on a model that is for profit rather than penitence. The United States has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world, with Ohio clocking in at about 30%. Other countries with models that focus more on rehabilitation have programs in place that could answer questions like Ms. Shtrom’s with not only well wishes and prayers, but with data and praxis to boot. As Ohio and other states pass laws that give the currently incarcerated another chance to see a sunset without bars between them, I hope that laws will be passed that ensure some progress is being made in their cells as well.
New Ohio Law Allows 2 Prisoners Convicted Of Heinous Crimes As Juveniles Chance At Parole [Local 12]
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s. Before that, he wrote columns for an online magazine named The Muse Collaborative under the pen name Knehmo. He endured the great state of Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at [email protected] and by tweet at @WritesForRent.
source: https://abovethelaw.com/2021/11/do-we-really-change-that-much-new-ohio-law-may-show-us/
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