As I’m sure everyone knows by now, Brian David Mitchell has been convicted of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart and will face a sentence of up to life in prison. He won’t be sentenced till May. My guess is that he’ll spend most of his time in solitary to protect him from the other prisoners.
Elizabeth is, understandably, very happy with the verdict. She may be even happier that the case, after, what, eight years, is finally, finally finished.
The Charley Project Blog 
he should have to be in general population
Everybody always says that we should let prisoners do their own brand of justice on the lowest types like Mitchell, but the trouble is, if you let them do that, there’s a break down in discipline and order in the prison, and believe me they will not just beat up on the child molesters and such.
A guard’s job is hard enough as it is without letting the inmates do it ttheir way.
Treat prison inmates like sled dogs and beat them for any infraction. They will know their place if the punishment is dire enough and most will be all to happy to exert their violence against allowed targets like child rapists and the like since they cannot be violent elsewhere. If enough inmates are “shot while attempting to escape”, most stop causing problems.
OK, I was being a little over the top here. But I do believe that most child molesters would somehow find the will to resist their urges to molest if they knew they would go into general population if caught and very bad things would happen to them. Not all by a long shot, but enough. Some people would argue that would cause molesters to kill their victims to avoid being identified. I think a couple of years ago, Louisiana wanted to make a conviction for first degree child rape eligible for the death penalty. People who were child advocates were against it because they thought molesters would kill the kids because they had nothing to lose by it if they faced the death penalty anyway.
Comments?
I don’t believe in the death penalty, period. I’m sure the Supreme Court would rule it unconstitutional for non-homicide offenses, if it hasn’t already.
I also don’t believe in deliberately giving prisoners the opportunity to rape and torture each other. Violence only begets violence. Most of those people are going to get back on the street eventually, and having spent the last several years torturing or being tortured is not going to help their readjustment to society and their chances of rehabilitation. Furthermore, the violence in our prisons reflects very badly on America as a nation and a society.
I always believed that having a few professionals work him over every time he started his chanting, hymns and all that, would work wonders on his attitude and perhaps a bit of REAL physical pain would help introduce the idea that he was NOT doing God’s work and that He is probably not very happy with him for committing acts of great evil, then claiming to be doing it in His name.
Physical pain trumps whatever belief system or attitude problem a person has. I hope he is introduced to some before he crawls inside his head to escape his well deserving share of it and live in a Thorizine haze where his version of God praises him for being a Martyr.
I really hope that Brian Mitchell gets what’s coming to him because he had no business doing that to Elizabeth.
What that poor child lived through….she really seems to be a very strong girl. At least that man is behind bars and will die there…
that being said. I have to wonder about the judgement of her parents. I know they believe they were doing the right thing and helping people. But hiring homeless bums to do work on their house, with two little girls there? Just because the guy quoted jesus etc? sorry, but they do not come off as being the smartest people on earth. Sadly, their lack of discretion played a part in this horrible tragedy. I think we all need to use that as an example. Not that we have to be suspicious of everyone, but when you see someone who is obviously mentally ill, you don’t just let them into your home! Even if you feel sorry for them!
I agree. Most people with any kind of sense would look at a wierd, scroungy street preacher and know enough to not get involved with him and especialy don’t have him to your home, kids or no kids. The Smarts just were not very smart about that.
An. Not to sound like a jerk, but Mormons tend to be very overly trusting of people that talk their kind of religion. That’s probably part of why Elizabeth was so easy for Mitchell to manipulate like he did, she was used to doing what a man said to do if he used their religion to back himself up.
And they did not do too good after Elizabeth was kidnapped, because it was months before they “remembered” Mitchell, and in the meantime that other man had been questioned and Ed Smart pretty much pronounced him guilty in public and the guy had some kind of stroke and died.
I am just happy that Elizabeth came out of this a winner, as she seems to be a well adjusted and strong young woman. She gets to see her kidnapper put away forever, and of course since inmates LOOOOOVE child rapists so much and will be isolated he really will never see the light of day again, and she has a bright future ahead of her. If she can survive this she can survive anything
I didn’t mean to put him in general population to be beaten by other prisoners. I meant, because he thinks there is nothing wrong with him. I guess it’s the words “Protective Custody”.
What happened with the woman….what’s her name..Wanda??
Elizabeth is successful.It’s so hard to imagine being raped 4-5 times a day. Good thing she has a family support system.
It’s sad, the family offered to HELP this guy by hiring him.
I think society really wants truth in sentencing. Not life in prison then parole after 10 years.