Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison?

Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (Full Version)

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Marini -> Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 12:01:53 PM)
Paula Cooper was released from prison today, at age 43. Paula Cooper was sentenced to death, after she plead guilty to her participation, in the torture and murder of a 78 year old Bible studies teacher in 1986. Paula Cooper was sentenced to death at the age of 16, and was the youngest woman ever sentenced to death. Cooper's death sentence was later over turned, and changed to 60 years. I remember when this crime was committed and I was always struck by the young age of Paula at the time, and the brutality of the crime. Here is a link to Paula's release today. Huffington Post, Paula Cooper released from prison today I have mixed emotions about Paula being released. I was not comfortable with Paula being sentenced to death, BUT I am not sure that she should have been released at age 43. Also, since she was one of 4 girls involved, why was Paula the only one convicted to death, and why so little press coverage involving the other 3? I look forward to reading your thoughts and opinions about the crime Paula Cooper was involved in, her sentencing and her release today. She was released with $75 and a Bachelor's degree. Based on all the evidence and the fact that she has never denied her involvement {Paula is stated to have stabbed the victim{Ms.Pelk} 33 times with a butcher knife}, maybe Paula should have sat in jail at least until the age of 50. Peace

tazzygirl -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 12:10:01 PM)
She served 26 years of a 60 year sentence. Even if it had been life, she would have been eligible for parole in 30.

Marini -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 12:11:54 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: tazzygirl She served 26 years of a 60 year sentence. Even if it had been life, she would have been eligible for parole in 30. This is "our" criminal justice system, thanks tazzy.

Rule -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 12:20:07 PM)
I hope that she will lead a happy life that benefits her society.

Marini -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 12:51:01 PM)
quote: what benefits her society. I rarely try to decipher what you are saying, but what does this mean? What in the world is "her society"?

Rule -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 12:59:44 PM)
quote: so·ci·e·ty Noun The aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community. The community of people living in a particular region and having shared customs, laws, and organizations. I got this definition from the Internet. It accurately describes what I meant. If anyone knows of any other definitions of 'society' that have eluded me, and that may have caused any confusion, I will appreciate it to be educated on those other definitions.

Marini -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 1:09:13 PM)
What did you mean by saying she will return to "HER SOCIETY"??? Isn't her society, our society? Are there different societies? Thank you for your response in advance! I will not go back and forth with you, and de-rail my own thread!

Rule -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 1:25:40 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Marini What did you mean by saying she will return to "HER SOCIETY"??? I haven't said anything about her returning. quote: ORIGINAL: Marini Isn't her society, our society? Only if you mean Western society of Christian society, or perchance other societies that you, I and she have in common. (For example: she may be a member of CM.) quote: ORIGINAL: Marini Are there different societies? There most certainly are. For examples: The society of English language speakers, the various societies of butchers (and those of other guilds and crafts), the society of learned people, any neighbourhood or village or city, the societies of stamp collectors. It goes on and on.

tazzygirl -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 1:41:20 PM)
Society put her in prison. Society has released her to return to the bosom of its embrace. In this context, there is only one society.

Marini -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 1:42:56 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: tazzygirl Society put her in prison. Society has released her to return to the bosom of its embrace. In this context, there is only one society. Hugs tazzy, we are on the same planet, unlike many around here.

Rule -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 1:59:23 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: tazzygirl Society put her in prison. Society has released her to return to the bosom of its embrace. In this context, there is only one society. So you are referring to State laws? Or was she tried under Federal laws? Either way: it is her society, not mine. (I am Dutch.)

Marini -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 2:03:05 PM)
quote: Either way: it is her society, not mine. (I am Dutch.) Now, I understand what you meant by society, Rule. We are all on the same planet though. Rule, what sort of sentencing do you think Paula would have received under Dutch law? Do you think she would have been released this early under Dutch law?

Rule -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 2:31:45 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Marini Rule, what sort of sentencing do you think Paula would have received under Dutch law? Do you think she would have been released this early under Dutch law? In The Netherlands a life sentence is life - or at least twenty years. Most likely she would have gotten at most sixteen years, if tried as an adult (= 16 or older; she was fifteen when she committed the murder and torture). Torture of course is aggravating the sentence. If given sixteen years, she would have been out in eleven years.

Marini -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 2:34:19 PM)
quote: In The Netherlands a life sentence is life - or at least twenty years. Most likely she would have gotten at most sixteen years, if tried as an adult (= 16 or older; she was fifteen when she committed the murder and torture). Torture of course is aggravating the sentence. If given sixteen years, she would have been out in eleven years. Thanks for responding. I don't see a big difference in the sentencing in this case.

tj444 -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 3:46:50 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Marini quote: In The Netherlands a life sentence is life - or at least twenty years. Most likely she would have gotten at most sixteen years, if tried as an adult (= 16 or older; she was fifteen when she committed the murder and torture). Torture of course is aggravating the sentence. If given sixteen years, she would have been out in eleven years. Thanks for responding. I don't see a big difference in the sentencing in this case. well.. originally she was set to die, given how long and tedious the US system is with appeals of the death sentence, etc.. that would be a form of torture imo.. then thinking you might spend 60 years in a box, another form of torture, if she had spent 60 years she would have been 76 or so when she got out (assuming she even lived that long).. From what i have read, there can be vast differences in sentence length for the same crime from one state to another.. so maybe the state she was in made a difference in her getting out now & if she had been in a different state, it might not be for another 10 or 20 years.. anyway.. I also expect maybe the Dutch might do more on the rehabilitation side than the US does? I think they are more inclined that way, where as the US its a punishment & paying for your crime.. getting "justice" and all that..

TheHeretic -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 7:02:56 PM)
This may be the first time I've ever heard of the case, so I'm looking at it without any lingering memories. I believe that some crimes demand the death penalty, but I'd have to learn a lot more about the case to form my opinion on whether that standard was met. Her age at the time of the crime would play into that. She served 26 years in prison for a murder with special circumstances she committed as a teenager. I know a guy who did 18 years for that, and now does some really exceptional work with at-risk kids.

kdsub -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 7:08:00 PM)
Damn...this animal stabs a helpless 78 year old woman not just once or twice but 33 times.. she should at the least be kept away from civilized humans for life. Butch

Marini -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 7:39:53 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: TheHeretic This may be the first time I've ever heard of the case, so I'm looking at it without any lingering memories. I believe that some crimes demand the death penalty, but I'd have to learn a lot more about the case to form my opinion on whether that standard was met. Her age at the time of the crime would play into that. She served 26 years in prison for a murder with special circumstances she committed as a teenager. I know a guy who did 18 years for that, and now does some really exceptional work with at-risk kids. I'm surprised you missed this story Rich. It was front and center news for years in the late 80's. I actually learned about the case from watching 20/20. I am on the fence on this one, I just wonder about the judicial system. If this was a case in which she might not be guilty, that would be one thing. We have chatted a lot about serious crimes committed by juvenile offenders on here. The girls approached the victim who was a Bible school teacher and claimed they wanted to learn about the Bible. Then the victim was viciously attacked. Something about the victim being stabbed 33 times at the age of 78, the circumstances, the brutality and the young age of the girls, is just compelling. Human life is not worth that much. At least Paula got a degree while she was in prison, 43 is fairly young. This is the state of this country these days.

kdsub -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 7:45:10 PM)
Just me perhaps but I think there is something fundamentally wrong in the mind of someone that would do such a thing that time would not change... Or at least a change could not be trusted in society. I know I will be called full of crap and many examples will be thrown at me but I believe no one really changes deep inside. They may conform but not truly change. Butch

Marini -> RE: Should Paula Cooper have been released from prison? (6/17/2013 7:47:18 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kdsub Just me perhaps but I think there is something fundamentally wrong in the mind of someone that would do such a thing that time would not change... Or at least a change could not be trusted in society. I know I will be called full of crap and many examples will be thrown at me but I believe no one really changes deep inside. They may conform but not truly change. Butch I think she should at least have remained in prison until she was at least 50. Many here seem to feel it is okay. Can you imagine stabbing someone almost 80 years old, 33 times? You and I Butch probably belong in another world. Peace

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