Current Events > Life without parole for stealing a jacket.

(+) Yeah! (+)

At about 12.40pm on 2 January 1996, Timothy Jackson took a jacket from the Maison Blanche department store in New Orleans, draped it over his arm, and walked out of the store without paying for it. When he was accosted by a security guard, Jackson said: I just needed another jacket, man.

A few months later Jackson was convicted of shoplifting and sent to Angola prison in Louisiana. That was 16 years ago. Today he is still incarcerated in Angola, and will stay there for the rest of his natural life having been condemned to die in jail. All for the theft of a jacket, worth $159.

Jackson, 53, is one of 3,281 prisoners in America serving life sentences with no chance of parole for non-violent crimes. Some, like him, were given the most extreme punishment short of execution for shoplifting; one was condemned to die in prison for siphoning petrol from a truck; another for stealing tools from a tool shed; yet another for attempting to cash a stolen cheque.

It has been very hard for me, Jackson wrote to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as part of its new report on life without parole for non-violent offenders. I know that for my crime I had to do some time, but a life sentence for a jacket value at $159. I have met people here whose crimes are a lot badder with way less time.

Senior officials at Angola prison refused to allow the Guardian to speak to Jackson, on grounds that it might upset his victims even though his crime was victim-less. But his sister Loretta Lumar did speak to the Guardian. She said that the last time she talked by phone with her brother he had expressed despair. He told me, 'Sister, this has really broke my back. I'm ready to come out.'

Lumar said that she found her brother's sentence incomprehensible. This doesn't make sense to me. I know people who have killed people, and they get a lesser sentence. That doesn't make sense to me right there. You can take a life and get 15 or 16 years. He takes a jacket worth $159 and will stay in jail forever. He didn't kill the jacket!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/13/us-prisoners-sentences-life-non-violent-crimes?CMP=share_btn_tw

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I swear LA is like a state that got stuck in the era right after reconstitution .
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I don't get why this is enforced.
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tbh only the people who passed these sentences should die in jail in this situation

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America doesn't care about rehabilitation, or justice. Just how much they can get money through exploiting others.
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LightningAce11 posted...

America doesn't care about rehabilitation, or justice. Just how much they can get money through exploiting others.

Dunno how much they're making off this dude that couldn't afford a $159 jacket
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ra2i2ZcfkU" data-time="
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Louisiana has some of the strictest habitual offender laws in the US. IIRC, it's something like life in prison after 4 or so felonies. Incidentally, they also have one of the highest incarceration rates.
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Does shop lifting have a law where if you did shop lift you can potentially have a jail sentence at X amount of years?
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wasnt it his 4th felony offense or something?
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Am I supposed to feel bad for him? Maybe don't fucking steal next time.

Honestly, I support these kind of sentences. Put extreme sentences on these sort of things if you really want to stop crime.

SH_expert44 posted...

wasnt it his 4th felony offense or something?

How is this not in the srticle?
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Unsugarized_Foo posted...

Dunno how much they're making off this dude that couldn't afford a $159 jacket

About $1000 a day.

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LightningAce11 posted...

America doesn't care about rehabilitation, or justice. Just how much they can get money through exploiting others.

Thats not true at all. My state offers tons of rehabilitation programs, Ive been in them. Youve probably never even been arrested, you only base your opinion off shit you see online.

Theres probably something extra about this case, that isnt mentioned, although i wouldnt defend Louisiana's incarceration techniques. Locking people up should be a last resort.

Yeah in this instance, it was his 4th felony.

I mean, it's kind of awful for non-violent crimes, but after three felonies, learn your fucking lesson and stop.

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4th felony? Fair. Rot in there =)

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cardoor123 posted...

Am I supposed to feel bad for him? Maybe don't fucking steal next time.

Honestly, I support these kind of sentences. Put extreme sentences on these sort of things if you really want to stop crime.

This is a garbage fucking take.
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With the way that he was so casual and blatantly not giving a shit about he did, this guy was definitely commiting other crimes. With an attitude like that after three felonies, he wasnt going to learn.

I was completely outraged a few minutes ago. Now its just, "Well yeah, dick. Thats what happens."
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Jerry_Hellyeah posted...

With the way that he was so casual and blatantly not giving a shit about he did, this guy was definitely commiting other crimes. With an attitude like that after three felonies, he wasnt going to learn.

I was completely outraged a few minutes ago. Now its just, "Well yeah, dick. Thats what happens."

So have you broken to the speed limit over 3 times in your life ?
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Jerry_Hellyeah posted...

SH_expert44 posted...

wasnt it his 4th felony offense or something?

How is this not in the srticle?

Because that instantly snips any heartstrings the article was trying to lash together.

Is there any more information on his other crimes?

Felonies are a serious crime including manslaughter, serious bodily injury, rape, first and second degree murder.

https://www.ambeaulaw.com/felony-criminal-defense/

First degree robbery is listed there, but from the story he didn't use exessive force, intimidation, and was not armed or percieved himself to be armed and the most important part, he didn't take anything that was in direct control of another person.

https://www.neworleans-criminal-defense.com/attorney-blog/2011/11/25/first-degree-robbery/

Also the price of item he tried to steal was less than 500$ so it should have been classified as a misdemeanor not a felony. Now Louisiana law carries harsher punishments the more you break the same law. Even if that were the case with this man, you have to ask yourself; Is someone that steals something 4 times the same as a rapist or murderer?
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cjsdowg posted...

Jerry_Hellyeah posted...

With the way that he was so casual and blatantly not giving a shit about he did, this guy was definitely commiting other crimes. With an attitude like that after three felonies, he wasnt going to learn.

I was completely outraged a few minutes ago. Now its just, "Well yeah, dick. Thats what happens."

So have you broken to the speed limit over 3 times in your life ?

Umm....yeah? Please do go on, I gotta see where youre going with this.
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Jerry_Hellyeah posted...

cjsdowg posted...

Jerry_Hellyeah posted...

With the way that he was so casual and blatantly not giving a shit about he did, this guy was definitely commiting other crimes. With an attitude like that after three felonies, he wasnt going to learn.

I was completely outraged a few minutes ago. Now its just, "Well yeah, dick. Thats what happens."

So have you broken to the speed limit over 3 times in your life ?

Umm....yeah? Please do go on, I gotta see where youre going with this.

He's saying the next time you break the speed limit, under Louisiana law you could be charged with a felony because of a repeated offense and be sent to prison for 45 days to life in prison depending on the severity of the crime. And if you were treated like the guy in the article you would have life in prison.
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Speeding isnt a felony. The guy knew he had 3 felonies already and he was still stealing shit.

I dont even think he should do life, but its still stupid of him.

Thanks Keith, I woulda just gotten modded for calling someone something.
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What were his other felonies? Unless they were a lot worse I think life in prison is pretty fucked. Like that should be for murders, rapists, etc.

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Keith_Valentine posted...

Speeding isnt a felony. The guy knew he had 3 felonies already and he was still stealing shit.

I dont even think he should do life, but its still stupid of him.

It is as much of a Felony as walking off with jacket .
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Sounds like a career criminal that keeps getting felonies
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Keith_Valentine posted...

Speeding isnt a felony. The guy knew he had 3 felonies already and he was still stealing shit.

I dont even think he should do life, but its still stupid of him.

What he stole wasn't a felony either. I still don't see any proof that this was his 4th felony but for the sake of argument lets say it was.

The jacket the dude tried to steal was valued at 159$, a felony in Louisiana is stealing valuables in the 500$ and up range with the severety of the punishment increasing with the amount of valuables stolen. 159 to 500 is a huge jump thats like 3 times the amount needed for it to be felony. Thats like in your case if you were caught speeding, they tripled the speed you were going just to get felony charge. I know its kind of an unfair comparison, but in one of these scenarios the person is directly endagering the lives of themselves and those around them.

While i agree this guy needed to be punished for what he did and we should all follow the laws, but sometimes the laws are broken and thats why they change. Honestly more info on the case would be helpful because i do beleive in the justice system to a degree.
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he was going to keep stealing if he hadn't been locked up for good

Kaiganeer posted...

he was going to keep stealing if he hadn't been locked up for good

How could anyone possibly know that? And how do we gauge prison time (in this case life in prison) to what was stolen? By dollar amount? Then what is the price of mans life? I'm sure the amount of tax dollars that went into feeding and clothing him for the past 16 years exeeds the 159$ in potential damages he caused (potential because he got caught and i assume the clothing store got the jacket back anyway). And the next 20-30 years he lives will cost more from his other crimes that we don't know more about.

Based on what we know, my opinion is he was old and out of options and wanted to go to prison because it was easier than whatever he was doing now. Judge knew this and gave it to him and thats why the prison barred the news team to talk with him directly. But thats just in my made up fantasy land where everyone is happy.
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ultimate reaver posted...

tbh only the people who passed these sentences should die in jail in this situation

This. Hell, I'm sure the states that do shit like this still have executions. I'd be all for that for those that pass these sentences.
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When your sentencing scheme manages to be more nonsensical than the federal Guidelines.
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GrAyFoX312k posted...

I still don't see any proof that this was his 4th felony but for the sake of argument lets say it was.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/la-court-of-appeal/1042986.html

Two burglary charges and a robbery charge between 1979 and 1996. Seems one of the charges was aggravated by a prior conviction for forgery as well.

That said, this link is from an appeals court ruling vacating the sentence on the grounds that his previous convictions did not constitute violent crimes under the repeat offender law to warrant a life sentence. I think there's something we're deliberately not being told here (just like this story is telling us he got a life sentence for stealing a jacket while deliberately not telling us that it was his fourth similar conviction within a 19 or so year span.)

Edit: Found it. What we're not being told is that the prosecution appealed that ruling to the State Supreme Court who sent the case back to the appeals court ordering it to follow sentencing guidelines. The first felony conviction constituted a violent crime under sentencing guidelines so the appeals court was reluctantly required to uphold the original sentence. He's not serving a life sentence for stealing a jacket, he's serving a life sentence for a continual pattern of criminal activity.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/la-court-of-appeal/1042986.html

My personal opinion on whether or not this is just depends on the prior convictions that, again, we're deliberately not being told about. (Although the second ruling upholding the conviction does imply that they don't necessarily agree with the decision.)
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Im fine with habitual offender laws. Its non violent shoplifting that shouldnt be a felony.

ultimate reaver posted...

tbh only the people who passed these sentences should die in jail in this situation

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Keith_Valentine posted...

LightningAce11 posted...

America doesn't care about rehabilitation, or justice. Just how much they can get money through exploiting others.

Thats not true at all. My state offers tons of rehabilitation programs, Ive been in them. Youve probably never even been arrested, you only base your opinion off shit you see online.

Theres probably something extra about this case, that isnt mentioned, although i wouldnt defend Louisiana's incarceration techniques. Locking people up should be a last resort.

Motherfucker you're out!!!!!!! I've missed your smartass
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Questionmarktarius posted...

Jerry_Hellyeah posted...

SH_expert44 posted...

wasnt it his 4th felony offense or something?

How is this not in the srticle?

Because that instantly snips any heartstrings the article was trying to lash together.

Not for Christians.

Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:21-22.
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Senior officials at Angola prison refused to allow the Guardian to speak to Jackson, on grounds that it might upset his victims even though his crime was victim-less.

lmao no, what a brazen lie from a shitty article. there are absolutely victims in a theft such as this. not to mention they left out a ton of info to try to make you feel sorry for this guy. fuck that tho, repeat criminals such as this one can get fucked

I'm glad I don't commit crimes so I don't have to worry about this stuff.
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BilalPowell posted...

I'm glad I don't commit crimes so I don't have to worry about this stuff.

Innocent people have been literally murdered by the justice system. That said, youre right theres no real utility in simply worrying about it.
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don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

for some completely asinine reason however, the crime in question is dealt with worse than rape, manslaughter, childporn and possibly even murder.

but you know... "isolated incident" etc.
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How is shoplifting a jacket a felony?

And how is this a victimless crime?
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PBusted posted...

Im fine with habitual offender laws. Its non violent shoplifting that shouldnt be a felony.

This. Article makes it sound like he got busted shoplifting and they called it "robbery" which is fucking bullshit.

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Funny how these articles always leave out information about the person repeatedly breaking the law. And this is just for the 4th time he was caught.

But murderers can get lighter sentences!

That doesnt mean every other criminal should be getting lighter sentences; murderers should get life in prison.
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Jerry_Hellyeah posted...

SH_expert44 posted...

wasnt it his 4th felony offense or something?

How is this not in the srticle?

Because it doesn't fit the spin they're attempting
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cardoor123 posted...

Am I supposed to feel bad for him? Maybe don't fucking steal next time.

Honestly, I support these kind of sentences. Put extreme sentences on these sort of things if you really want to stop crime.

this is the first time Ive had to tag someone damn

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If they had been light on the guy and if he committed a more serious crime down the road like murder or something then people would be like "this guy should have been locked up years ago".
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PrettyBoyFloyd posted...

If they had been light on the guy and if he committed a more serious crime down the road like murder or something then people would be like "this guy should have been locked up years ago".

Ok so we should probably go ahead and arrest everyone, right? Just in case.
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Tyranthraxus posted...

PBusted posted...

Im fine with habitual offender laws. Its non violent shoplifting that shouldnt be a felony.

This. Article makes it sound like he got busted shoplifting and they called it "robbery" which is fucking bullshit.

It was theft. His prior convictions were for robbery and two burglaries.
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