Have you ever been in jail? I have. As a matter of fact, I’m currently serving a life sentence in Nebraska. When I was 18 years old, I was dumb enough to go along with a plan to rob a convenience store. Tragically, the clerk was accidentally shot and didn’t make it. The choices I made resulted in her death. I take full responsibility for the reckless disregard I had for others’ safety. It’s heartbreaking to think about the harm I’ve caused. At that time, I deserved to spend the majority of my remaining days in prison. It’s been thirty years now. I just wonder if there will ever be a day when I walk out a free man.
This brings me to my next question. Do you think an 18 year old deserves to die in prison for decisions made while under the influence of peers, drugs, and alcohol? Or do you believe in giving youthful offenders a second chance?
Here’s another question. Do you think that a sentence that was constitutional when it was given, can become unconstitutional over time? For instance, a mandatory life without parole sentence is handed down for first degree murder. Thirty years later, the person who received that sentence is now a college graduate, has written two books, volunteers as a peer support specialist, is substance free, loves Jesus, and has become a person who society would normally respect, if it wasn’t for his catastrophic youthful indiscretions. Is that sentence still fitting for this person?
Disproportionate sentences are defined as sentences which are not proportionate to the offender, the crime, or the interests of justice. These sentences are unconstitutional. When a person convicted of a crime genuinely changes their character defects, resulting in a different set of circumstances, which, if available for review at the original sentencing would have changed the result (despite a mandatory sentence), this sentence, in my opinion, is now disproportionate. What do you think?
Let me know your thoughts at toddlcook2.0@gmail.com. Please put “Disproportionate Sentence” in the subject line of your email. Thanks!
Contact Info:
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Todd L. Cook #47656
P.O. Box 22500
Lincoln, NE 68542-2500
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