[fintstone]

Originally Posted by gordner

The justice system you have so many issues with would, in this example, seem to have worked quite well. He was punished for the crime he committed, and it seems reformed at the same time. Is that not the intent of the system?

Not that I do not agree with much of your chastising of the system, just seems it would be better added to a thread that does not demonstrate the successes possible under the system as it stands. This guy is like a poster book for what incarceration is supposed to achieve.

It worked quite well for him, not so much for his victim or dissuading others to follow in his path.

If you are making a case for rehabilitation, you could probably use this as an example...but incarceration should have multiple goals. They are often referred to as:
retribution, incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation. These involve, IMHO...keeping criminals off the street, punishing criminals sufficiently that they do not repeat, setting an example with enough severity that others do not commit similar crimes, stigmatizing violent criminals (not celebrating them) enough to act as a deterrent for others. I am not certain that this case meets all those requirements. The book seems less an act of contrition than a jump start to the writing career of a close relative. Society would have benefitted more from his silence.