Of course it's Texas

[Guvnah]

@Smyrna

the extent of the punishment does not fit the crime.

Agreed.

[Janet_Miller]

The problem with a white majority population is…?

[WuWei]

@Guvnah

@TheDoctorIsIn

Do you think it’s stupid to for him to wait - or is it stupid that he had to wait that long?

Nobody HAS TO WAIT that long. So yes, it’s stupid that he did.

Performative that he did.

[johnrandolph]

@JayJay

@Janet_Miller

I wonder did Hervis Rogers’ parole officer fully explain to him the conditions of his parole, since according to the linked article in the O P, it isn’t specified id documents given to parolees they can’t vote.

It’s an officer’s job to explain to their clients conditions and restrictions imposed on them while serving their sentences.

The document he got did not tell him he couldn’t vote. From the OP article

Hooper provided a copy of Rogers’ certificate of parole, from May 2004. The document contains a lengthy description of instructions for people on parole but does not say they cannot vote.

Yes he technically broke the law, but $100,000 bail and then a potential sentnce of 25 years to life is ridiculous.

Especially if it wasn’t explained to him by anyone that he had to wait until parole was completed.

Page 2, #2 I shall commit no offense against the laws of this state or any other state or of the United States.

[johnrandolph]

Rogers was convicted of Burlgary, his second conviction, and the three strike rule, with its 25 to life punishment is generally reserved for a third felony. I am not familiar with it being used on misdemeanor cases. I will admit to being out of the CJ field for a while and have intentionally not kept up.

[JayJay]

That doesn’t change the point that it is excessive.

[JayJay]

And a person is going to look at that and think “that means I can’t vote”.

Riiight.

[WuWei]

@JayJay

That doesn’t change the point that it is excessive.

I agree it was excessive.

[johnrandolph]

@JayJay

And a person is going to look at that and think “that means I can’t vote”.

Riiight.

Dudes have gone back because daddy had an old rusted up .22 under the seat of the farm truck, weren’t aware of it, and used the truck to go get tractor parts. Felon in possession of a firearm. Parole is meant to be a ■■■■■■■ nearly impossible to complete deal.

[JayJay]

I get it.

Perhaps it shouldn’t be.

[SixFoot]

@conan

He broke the law and voted illegally did he not?

Yep. The sentence is either completed or it’s not.

But, this has to do with voting, hence the poutrage.

[Paul_Thomson]

@JayJay

Yes he technically broke the law, but $100,000 bail and then a potential sentnce of 25 years to life is ridiculous.

Especially if it wasn’t explained to him by anyone that he had to wait until parole was completed.

There are many laws this person could have broken. Are you saying that parole officers need to go through every specific law with their clients and explain to them what they cannot do relevant to every law?

[JayJay]

They should go through those that might not seem to be a big deal that a person might not think is a crime…yes.

[Paul_Thomson]

@JayJay

They should go through those that might not seem to be a big deal that a person might not think is a crime…yes.

How many laws does that cover? The paroled criminal is responsible to ask whether something they intend to do is legal. It is not the parole officer’s responsibility to guess which specific laws their client might consider breaking.

[WuWei]

@JayJay

They should go through those that might not seem to be a big deal that a person might not think is a crime…yes.

That’s astounding.

[johnrandolph]

Having dealt with POs from other states I was surprised to find that Texas is a bit more lenient/liberal with parolees than some other states.
Caseloads of 140 - 160 parolees per officer are not uncommon (limit by law is 75). Sitting down with them and reading through penal codes, civil codes, municipal ordinances, traffic codes, health and safety codes, etc. is not feasible.
A few were smart enough to call and ask if something they were going to do would trip them up.

[zantax]

Pretty sure all of that info is online as well. I don’t think I ever saw anyone get off by saying, you didn’t specifically tell me not to break that law.

[Rurudyne]

“ In Texas, it is illegal for anyone convicted of a felony to vote until they complete their sentence, including probation and parole. ”

The guy violated the law. It doesn’t matter if he knew it was illegal or not. Ignorance of the law (that’s actually lawful) is no excuse. No big deal that he’s getting charged.

[tzu]

Y’all better stay away from Capitol Riot threads for a bit.

[Rurudyne]

January 29, 2017 … mostly peaceful Democrats destroying stuff in DC.