By: Bri

Bri — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:01:42 +0000

michael, could you supply an actual citation for this case? i’m having difficulty looking up the opinion.

By: jerrybrice

jerrybrice — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 09:04:55 +0000

During the final hours of his California Governorship, Arnold Schwarzeneggar commuted Sarah’s sentence to 25 to life, with the possibility of parole…
There is light at the end of the tunnel!

By: Terence

Terence — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:38:52 +0000

Out of all the comments that I read, and the articals I have seen….it appears no one has posted the name of the jugde that handed down the sentence. What was the jury thinking? I know they are not scared to do so…are they?

By: iamfree

iamfree — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:42:35 +0000

No, it was not self-defense. She was no longer with the pimp. She was living with another man. She lured her former pimp, slept with him, shot him to death and robbed him postmordem. Even she admits that what she did was wrong.

The issue here is whether or not there should be some action by the legislature to provide lesser sentences for juvenile offenders who commit crimes like hers in light of their emotional and mental immaturity. Had she been a 16-year-old from a good home with no mitigating circumstances, I frankly would have no problem with a life-without-parole sentence. In her case, however, I feel that she was essentially turned into a sociopath by the circumstances of her life, and if she has been healed and rehabilitated, she should go free.

By: Lesley E. Jordan

Lesley E. Jordan — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:40:33 +0000

I agree, my people commit a disproportionate number of crimes in both the black community and in general.

By: nocona

nocona — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:45:54 +0000

We need to exercise caution here folks. I have some issues here with the train of thought that seems to be rolling around.
(1) Mentally no one ever is fully developed. I don’t see the big picture the same way as my elders (I’m 40), My 21 year old doesn’t see and analyze things the way I do, my 13 year old doesn’t analyze and see things to the level of my 21 year old does. And a 9 year old isn’t on the same level as my 13 year old. And the 70 year old, Old Sect Amish lady, will not be even in the same book as a 25 year old woman that has been left by her husband to raise their kids by herself.
But at what age does someone realize when you kill someone it is permanent? Should we govern by broad strokes stating that the age of 12 is the age of accountability for everyone no matter the documented mental development of the individual? Is EVERYONE under the age of 18 pliable? After you turn 18 does a switch flip in the brain that slows the success rate of reform? Is the 16 year old that brutally kills the gay student as easy to reform as the 27 year old that kills her husband that was molesting their 2 year old daughter? How about the teenager that goes to school and shoots everyone there that was brutally bullying them and the school and parents did not intervene? You’re so focused on a tree you’re not seeing the forest.
Maybe maturity level should be the guide post here. Is there a way to have it tested? How do you implement testing on everyone across the country? How do you determine the test is not being falsified? You don’t want them to flunk the test to get out of trouble so it needs to be done periodically, before the crap hits the fan. What happens when the 30 year old with kids tests below level? Because I guarantee they exist. Do we use the maturity level test to determine when they can go to work, get a drivers license, get married, have kids? Surely if we are going to use maturity level to determine if they are accountable for their murderous actions we would use it in regards to ALL other aspects of human life as well. Should we implement an IQ test to go along with the maturity level test as a way of diagnosing bigger problems? A standardized IQ and maturity level required for all things important in society. Especially having children which is the biggest responsibility a person will ever have! Truly, If you screw up your child it will be affected for generations and society will have to deal with the shortcomings of your family
(2)Her going back and killing and robbing her EX-Pimp is the same as me going back and killing and robbing my physically abusive ex-husband. It is a harsh but true fact. Other than I was raised in an adoptive home that at least tried to teach me right from wrong. So maybe she really needed to “off” her worthless parents since “Cause in fact” would place blame with them. Mom and Dad both get a tall tree and a short rope since none of us would even be blogging about this if they would have been worth the powder and lead to blow their brains out. Why is it everyone is willing to kill the pimp themselves but mom and dad gets a pat on the hand? Dad gets off the hook by splitting and mom checks out withdrugs and its okay! I am really struggling with the idea circulating in this country that parents are not liable or responsible for their kids. I hate excuses. The pimp wouldn’t be in the picture if the parents were plain and simple.
(3)And when do we allow ourselves to become judge and jury? Its okay for her to kill a pimp because we see that pimp as a leech on the butt of society. Who gets to decide who the leeches are? Do we justify the murder of gays because homosexuality goes against the Torah and the Bible, as does being born a basterd? We kill off the prostitutes because they spread disease, detract from how women view themselves as a whole, and reportedly affect the stability of marriages? Of course we kill off all pedophiles because; well they are truly the worst of all humanity. But how about the parents that don’t take care for their kids and raise them properly to become active contributing members of society, are the kids justified in killing them off? Do we kill off everyone that is on Social Security Disability and welfare because they are not contributing members of society? The KKK will want everyone that is not white eliminated. The Christians will be getting rid of all the Pagans. Muslims will get rid of everyone that is not Muslim. Single moms will eliminate every man that has left a child. Good parents will get rid of all the parents that took drugs, drank or smoke while pregnant, that ever let a child be abused or that put their job as more important than family. Environmentalists will get rid of all CEO’s that have companies that pollute. How about politicians, give themselves raises, make crazy freaking laws which they themselves don’t obey, they would be toward the top of my list of “First to Go”. Be careful when you assign value to human life, your value may be as fertilizer in a remote corn field.

I would rather make the boy that was sent to prison guilty of murdering his class mates my poster child. At least in his argument he was still being abused on a daily basis. His hope for escape was destroyed the night before his breakdown (US military turned him down because he used prescription meds to control ADHD) the school and parents were aware and done nothing. Again you don’t know what it is like till you walk those shoes yourself. Or how about the man in Florida that just got nailed by the justice system for finally freaking out and boarding a bus full of kids and screaming (didn’t touch one of them) at them for bullying his child that has cerebral palsy? Have you reviewed his sentence?
Or my favorite is the 20 prisoners in Virginia that are kept in solitary confinement because they won’t cut their hair for religious reasons, really, some of them have been in SOLITARY confinement for 15 years. Several religions emphasize or require not cutting hair. And of course if you’re so hard core as to require solitary confinement you are not eligible for parole. At least this chick gets to talk to people while doing her time.
Truly there are other cases out there that have more merit and need to be recognized more than this one.
Be careful of the can you open, it may look like ordinary worms but what if it is more?
Traditional natives have a 7 generation rule. Everything is weighed by its impact on the future generations. That is something that white society should implement on daily life and the legal system.
We could allow voluntary tubals and vasectomys for anyone wanting them. Just think, if this girls mom had been allowed to have a tubal done when young than have it reversed when she found herself ready. This whole mess could have been avoided. And look at the money the tax payer would save in prison cost, foster care, legal fees, medical care for addicted babies, etc. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Currently we are sticking Neosporin band aids on gangrene.

By: Tess Jungblut

Tess Jungblut — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:37:59 +0000

I must be a horrible experience, what happened to Sara. I can relate to her, I was sexually abused and my life when not over a path of roses, no the roses were cut off, and they left the thorns for me to walk barefoot over.

I wonder, Sara must have developed in her young years some kind of mental condition. Maybe some kind of Borderline?

Have they considered that?

To assume that the little girl is as ‘normal’ as children of that age that live in a ‘normal’ loving parented and secure environment, is totally wrong and is a proof of mal justice.

She deserves a new trial … . And she deserves well looked after with loving care.

Best Tess

By: Sara Kruzan snapped at sixteen and killed her rapist and pimp · Tessonome

Sara Kruzan snapped at sixteen and killed her rapist and pimp · Tessonome — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:24:28 +0000

[...] human trafficking victim Sarah Kruzan, here you can read the comlete story, was sentenced to life in prison without parole when, in a desperate act to escape captivity, she [...]

By: shartfield

shartfield — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:04:19 +0000

you said because of her upbring she did not have any morals but what kind of grossly ignorant person thinks its ok to kill someone.

Comments on: Inchoate Justice: Should We Reconsider Sarah Kruzan?