Burglar abuses dumb victim in apology letter

[Guest guest]

http://news.yahoo.com/burglar-abuses-dumb-victim-apology-letter-134429050.html

Burglar abuses " dumb " victim in apology letter

Reuters – Thu, Nov 24, 2011

LONDON (Reuters) - A convicted burglar forced to write a letter of apology

delivered a barely literate diatribe in which he blamed his " dumb " victim for

the crime because the kitchen window was open.

The letter from the unnamed crook, which was not delivered to the victim, was

released by West Yorkshire police in Leeds to demonstrate the mindset of the

criminals who target people's homes.

The 16-year-old burglar was told to write a letter of apology as part of an

Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP), a non-custodial plan

for young offenders.

Instead of apologising for his offence, the teen thief wrote: " I don't no (sic)

why I am writing a letter to you! I have been forced to write this letter by

ISSP.

" To be honest I'm not bothered or sorry about the fact that I burgled your

house. Basicly (sic) it was your own fault anyways (sic). I'm going to run you

through the dumb mistakes you made. "

The young offender went on to say the victim failed to draw their curtains

before they went to sleep and were " thick enough " to leave their downstairs

window open.

" But anyways I don't feel sorry for you and Im (sic) not going to show any

sympath (sic) or remores (sic), " the teen concluded.

West Yorkshire police Chief Inspector urged property owners to

take more care when securing their homes.

" The contents of the letter are disgusting but it does highlight the cold and

dispassionate way burglars select a property to target. "

(Reporting by Casciato)

[Guest guest]

Programs like that don't work because people like this are likely narcissists and/or psychopaths. They just don't care one bit about their victims and probably enjoy inflicting pain on them.

I've read about something that might work. First, do away with the juvenile justice system and sealed records. Young offenders would still go to special prisons and not adult ones though. The difference is that the first offense they commit, unless it is felony grade, would be suspended. Then, if they commit a second offense, they are not only punished for that offense, but sentence is imposed for the first crime as well, sentences to be served consecutively and the second offense to be counted AS the second in terms of punishment.

I would also require the defendant's entire criminal history to be read into the record at the start of each trial. Not just convictions, but all brushes with the law. Not doing that is one of the things crippling the justice system in the US.

In a message dated 11/25/2011 2:42:20 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, no_reply writes:

The 16-year-old burglar was told to write a letter of apology as part of an Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP), a non-custodial plan for young offenders.