Mentally ill homeless man spends 17 months behind bars for stealing a soda from Wal-Mart

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/270770,CST-NWS-jail24.article

CROWN POINT, Ind. -- Officials are at a loss to explain how they allowed a homeless, mentally ill man accused of stealing a soda to languish in jail for 17 months.

Edward Perez's lawyer, his court- appointed psychiatrist, the judge in his case and Lake County jail officials apparently thought he had been released a year ago.

The mistake wasn't discovered until this month, after a new warden ordered a review of inmates' files, Sheriff Roy Dominguez told the Post-Tribune.

[youngdem]

1. There are DOZENS of people in New Orleans still held for petty pre-Katrina charges

Many have served many times longer than they ever would have been sentenced to for their alleged crimes.

Meanwhile, the jail is full so new arrests for violent crimes are often Released on Recognizance.

:crazy:

[RestoreGore]

2. There are also thousands in our jails in this country who are mistreated and tortured as well

And who cares? We are a country without a soul. Privitization of our prison systems has jolted the prison population up and expect it to rise some more. There is much money to be made from this legalized slavery.

[Benhurst]

3. Gosh, this would make a good book. No, wait ...

It's already been written: Les Miserables.

[indepat]

4. Let the punishment fit the crime

[lpbk2713]

5. And how many thousands of dollars were expended

on defending Wally World's precious resources?


Hey it's OK. Taxpayers' money is only like play money to anyone in government anyhow.

[shain from kane]

6. A bar of soap and some shoe polish will get him out of jail.

Does anyone know the reference?

From Wikipedia ---

"On March 3, 1934, Dillinger escaped from the "escape-proof" (as it was dubbed by local authorities at the time) Crown Point, Indiana county jail which was guarded by many police and national guardsmen. Newspapers reported that Dillinger had escaped using a wooden gun blackened with shoe polish."


I thought it was a gun carved from a bar of soap, but that's Wikipedia for you.



Edited to add reference.