Parole Denied

[George K]

Bill Cosby:

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2021/05/27/bill-cosbys-request-for-parole-denied/

Bill Cosby’s request for parole has been denied. The Pennsylvania Parole Board turned down the former comedian’s attempt on May 11, citing a number of reasons for their decision.

Among them, Cosby won’t participate in a treatment program for sex offenders and violence prevention. The board also cited a negative recommendation from the Department of Corrections, and a failure to develop a parole release plan.

A spokesperson for Cosby says the denial is not surprising as he continues to proclaim his innocence.

Cosby was convicted on sexual assault charges in 2018. He was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison.

[Jolly]

He's what, 83?

What threat does he pose to society?

[Mik]

I wondered about that myself. They've already ruined his life.

[Jolly]

Just as I have no problem with the death penalty, I also have no problem paroling convicts who pose little or no risk to society.

Cosby fits that criteria.

[Catseye3]

I don't know what to think about this.

On the one hand, you can't be a part of a larger institution -- in this case, prison -- and be like I refuse to do this, I refuse to do that, and expect to get concessions. Among other things, what would that say to the other inmates? He was tried and convicted; there are rules.

OTOH, how fair was his conviction? I didn't follow the story in detail; I have the feeling it wouldn't have helped to get at the truth, anyway. But it never seemed to hang together just right.

Mainly I've always felt it's been a sad thing, this ending to his life's work.

[Mik]

In the back of my mind i always wondered if he was attacked because of his condemnation of black culture.

Just in case you had never heard it, he spoke the truth.

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5345290

[Axtremus]

What are the reasons to keep some one locked up in jail?

1. Mitigate threat to society. Crosby may be too old to cause physical, sexual harm by himself, but given Crosby’s resources, he has to means to exact revenge on the accusers and witnesses who put him in jail.

2. Rehabilitate the offender. Has Crosby been rehabilitated? Is he too old to be rehabilitated? Should society simply give up to rehabilitate those deemed “too old”?

3. Punishment. Should age be sufficient to let one escape from punishment? Certainly I can entertain the argument that says the form of punishment should be adapted to fit the health condition of the one being punished, but not so much to let one completely escape all punishment just because of age.

4. Example to society. Moral hazard. Letting one old person off the hook simply for being old may just give other old people the idea that they too can commit certain crime without consequences.

5. Justice for the victims. To @Mik’s comment that says “they’ve already ruined his life,” the fairly typical retort would be “what about the lives he ruined?”

Was Crosby convicted the right way? If the conviction itself is wrong, then overturn the conviction. I don’t see parole as the right fix to right a wrongful conviction.

[Doctor Phibes]

@mik said in Parole Denied:

They've already ruined his life.

I'm pretty sure he had a hand in it too.

It probably wouldn't hurt to parole him, however there are plenty of people who do a lot more time for doing a lot less than he did.

[Copper]

If he decided to become black, things would go better for him.

[Jolly]

@axtremus said in Parole Denied:

What are the reasons to keep some one locked up in jail?

1. Mitigate threat to society. Crosby may be too old to cause physical, sexual harm by himself, but given Crosby’s resources, he has to means to exact revenge on the accusers and witnesses who put him in jail.

2. Rehabilitate the offender. Has Crosby been rehabilitated? Is he too old to be rehabilitated? Should society simply give up to rehabilitate those deemed “too old”?

3. Punishment. Should age be sufficient to let one escape from punishment? Certainly I can entertain the argument that says the form of punishment should be adapted to fit the health condition of the one being punished, but not so much to let one completely escape all punishment just because of age.

4. Example to society. Moral hazard. Letting one old person off the hook simply for being old may just give other old people the idea that they too can commit certain crime without consequences.

5. Justice for the victims. To @Mik’s comment that says “they’ve already ruined his life,” the fairly typical retort would be “what about the lives he ruined?”

Was Crosby convicted the right way? If the conviction itself is wrong, then overturn the conviction. I don’t see parole as the right fix to right a wrongful conviction.

Capital punishment for all offenders. Meets 4/5 criteria.

[brenda]

Yes, sex offenders can still offend into their 80s by changing their target to children. Since he hasn't shown that he's willing to accept treatment, he's probably considered a risk for reoffending. His attitude may be what's keeping him there.

[Jolly]

Maybe he doesn't think he's guilty?

[Mik]

Assuming that is his belief you have to respect him for not folding.

[Jolly]

I don't know if he is or not. I do have a problem with trying any sexual harassment or assault case in the days of Believe All Women. I think women lie just as much as men.

OTOH, if you talk to the cons in the joint, every one of them will lie and say he's innocent.

[brenda]

@jolly said in Parole Denied:

Maybe he doesn't think he's guilty?

@jolly said in Parole Denied:

Maybe he doesn't think he's guilty?

I'm sure he doesn't think he's guilty. That doesn't change his situation, nor does it change the criteria for his release.

[Jolly]

Yes, it does.

Should an innocent person admit guilt?

[George K]

@jolly said in Parole Denied:

Should an innocent person admit guilt?

I'm not sure that agreeing to participate in the treatment programs is necessarily an admission of guilt.

Other reasons for the denial include:

1. a negative recommendation from the DoC
2. no "parole release plan"

I think if he REALLY wanted out, it would be trivial to go to the programs required and to do the paperwork.

[Jolly]

It might well be. I admit I'm playing a bit of Devil's Advocate. And as I said, Crosby may be guilty as sin. I went back and looked and he has always maintained his innocence.

But the time period in which he was tried, was at the height if the #MeToo movement. Prior bad conduct witnesses were allowed at his trial, which is not always allowed and judicial review does admit that without those witnesses, he was less likely to be convicted, as his accuser's testimony was uncorroborated.

[Rainman]

It's Bing Crosby. It's Bill Cosby. C'mon man!
And it's Bing cherries, and Bill payments.
See? It's called English, and there's a different word for almost everything.

I wonder if he's broke, after all the lawyers took his money. Maybe he doesn't want out so much. In his 80's, many of his friends made over the years have likely died. Sad. The whole thing including those gals that were doped up, is sad. Most of them are old now, or already dead. Everyone's getting old. The planet is slowing down. We're all doomed anyway. Depressing.

Thanks, Bill!

[Horace]

It's pragmatic to never admit guilt at his age, even if it means he has to spend the last few years in prison. Admitting guilt will destroy his legacy more so than it's been destroyed now. I imagine he cares about that. I also imagine that he knows he's guilty.