Generous Governor Pardons Men Who Murdered Their Wives

[EmperorNorton]

http://jezebel.com/5874696/generous-...s?popular=true

Generous Governor Pardons Men Who Murdered Their Wives

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour is leaving office today, and he's done something to ensure that a certain group will never forget him. People whose family members were murdered now have to live with the knowledge that their loved one's killer is on the loose because Barbour decided to pardon several inmates, including many who killed their wives and girlfriends.

CNN reports that on Sunday afternoon five men serving life sentences, David Gatlin, Joseph Ozment, Charles Hooker, Nathan Kern, and Anthony McCray, were pardoned by Barbour. Each was serving a life sentence and working as a "trustie" at the governor's mansion. In return for good behavior, trusties are allowed to work and live in the mansion.

When Barbour was criticized in 2008 for releasing criminals who had good cooking and serving skills, he said releasing the trusties is a decades-old tradition in the state. According to the Associated Press, governors from both parties have pardoned them in the past, but now many are reconsidering if it's wise to allow one person to undo a life sentence, particualarly after hearing about the men's crimes. Most of the men are serving murder sentences, and both Gatlin and McCray were convicted of killing their wives. In 1993, Gatlin walked into the home of his estranged wife, Tammy Ellis Gatlin, and shot her in the head while she was holding their baby. He then shot her friend Randy Walker through the head, but he managed to survive. Tammy's mother, Betty Ellis, said:

Is Gov. Barbour going to pardon us from our aches and pains and heartache that we have to suffer? Is he going to pardon a child that had to grow up without a mother? Is he going to pardon me from never being able to feel her arms around my neck again? What is Barbour going to do about that?

In 2001, Anthony McCray confessed to murdering his wife at a cafe. They were arguing and McCray left the building, when he returned he had his gun in his hand and shot Jennifer Bonds McCray in the back. Her sister said:

It's very painful for my family that he was released. When he killed her, she had a 3-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son, who have been raised by my other sister ... It's a shame before God. It's almost like you kill somebody and nobody cares.

In 2008 Barbour released five murderers, four of whom had killed the women in their lives. Barbour's office hasn't responded to protests from the victim's families, or requests for comment. Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps explained that murderers are often allowed to take the positions in the Governor's Mansion because they've been around longer than other inmates and have earned the trust of prison officials. "I have sympathy and empathy for the victims," Epps added. "I've been a crime victim, but the point of the matter is this is just something that happens." It's not like Mississippians have any control over this. Your family member might be brutally murdered, and sometimes the governor just decides to let them free for no good reason.

A bit over-the-top on the generosity much?

[Ziggy Stardust]

Reverse Oedipus complex?

[termite]

Stupid tradition applied by stupid people for stupid reasons.

[Veldan Rath]

The ability for a Governor or President to give a pardon is NOT a stupid tradition. However, the above use of that power does seem silly, but I'm sure there are some on this forum that wold argue that if they have been rehabilitated, then why keep them incarcerated except for the revenge motive?

Or are we just complaining due to the political party this Governor belongs to?

[Aimless]

The ability for a Governor or President to give a pardon is NOT a stupid tradition. However, the above use of that power does seem silly, but I'm sure there are some on this forum that wold argue that if they have been rehabilitated, then why keep them incarcerated except for the revenge motive?

I'm not sure many here would argue for the arbitrary--and somewhat suspect--circumvention of the law, but I might be wrong.

[Veldan Rath]

I'm not sure many here would argue for the arbitrary--and somewhat suspect--circumvention of the law, but I might be wrong.

What, the power for the executive branch to issue pardons, or just this example of it?

[Ominous Gamer]

I think the kicker here is that out of the almost 200 pardons he issued, a handful "worked" under him. So people think its a "scratch my back" type of thing or something. Even though out of all those almost 200 pardons, most weren't in jail (~90%). A pardon removes the barricades that a conviction puts in the way of gaining employment after rehabilitation.

I'm not at all trying to justify the act of murder, but 20 years in the American prison system for an act of passion doesn't seem that lopsided.

Now, if that sounds to pro-R, I want to point out that this guy did it in the most sleezy and likely illegal way possible, and most of the pardons are invalid.

[Veldan Rath]

What am I missing, aside from the Gov missing the 30 day rule, that was sleezy? (I'm admitting I may have not caught something in the article)

And I love the AG saying it's not Political but calls the Gov Boss Hogg.

Yeah, not political at all.

[Ominous Gamer]

I think pardons that are done only days before leaving office are sleezy. It shows a blaring disrespect, and a total lack of understanding for the details surrounding the cases. Especially when done in lumps like this.

[Veldan Rath]

We agree, but every executive does this, R and D alike.

[Ominous Gamer]

This is true.

[Loki]

I can't imagine how he could have possibly thought this was a good idea. And if he couldn't use his brain, where were his advisors? Unbelievable.

[Nessus]

but I'm sure there are some on this forum that wold argue that if they have been rehabilitated, then why keep them incarcerated except for the revenge motive?

It seems rather doubtful that a for-profit prisoning system in a rape culture would be capable of any sort of rehabilitation.

[GGT]

It seems rather doubtful that a for-profit prisoning system in a rape culture would be capable of any sort of rehabilitation.

Hey Nessie, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a recent study showing 1/3 of today's youth will be arrested, vs 1/5 just twenty years ago. Some of that's indicative of the US "War on Drugs", where we funnel billions of dollars into public policing agencies....instead of public education. Some of it's a reflection of Lobbyist powers, where private jails (especially for the juvenile groups) can promise to incarcerate a minor for $30,000/year, with no tax increases.

Our state judicial branches are pressured to sentence kids to "private prisons", because they promise inexpensive incarceration without taxing the 'citizen' too much. Instead of pressuring local public schools to spend $10,000/student/year in educational costs, we end up sending Little Johnny to jail for $30,000. And Johnny may not be released after doing his time with a GED or trade skill, let alone rehabilitated into a productive member of society. Because, you see, public schools are funded in large part by local property ownership taxes, whereas jails and juvenile detention centers are funded largely by state income and consumption taxes. Both use federal taxes too, but the degree varies by state.

*WARNING*

[agamemnus]

Sick.