This Man Has Been In Prison For The Past 38 Years Since He Was Sentenced To Life For Stealing $9 In 1982
Back in 1977, the Alabama Legislature passed the Habitual Felony Offender Act to crack down on repeat criminals. According to the Department of Corrections, at that time, the prison population was 3,455. After a decade, this number skyrocketed to 13,541. And fast-forward to 2014 – the number of prisoners has increased by 840 percent, to 32,467.
Investigative journalist Beth Shelburne recently shared the story of a man currently imprisoned in one of Alabama’s most notorious prisons. She talked to Willie Simmons – a man who got a life sentence without parole – to shed light on the injustice created by the “habitual offender” laws.
More info: Twitter
Image credits: bshelburne
“Today I talked to Willie Simmons, who has spent the last 38 years in prison for stealing $9,” Beth began her Twitter thread. Willie Simmons is a man from the small town of Enterprise, Alabama. He got into hard drugs when he was just a teenager. When he was 25, “the state said he should die in prison.”
Image credits: bshelburne
Image credits: bshelburne
Image credits: bshelburne
Willie was convicted of first-degree robbery and was sentenced to life without parole in 1982. He was prosecuted under Alabama’s Habitual Offender law as he had three prior convictions. According to the journalist, these convictions were grand larceny and receiving stolen property. However, she says that she was only able to locate the grand larceny conviction from 1979, for which Willie served a year. Willie himself was uncertain and couldn’t really remember how much time he had served for the offenses.
Image credits: bshelburne
Image credits: bshelburne
Image credits: bshelburne
Image credits: bshelburne
Willie is serving his sentence in Holman Correctional Facility in Escambia County, Alabama. He says that he hasn’t had a single visitor since 2005 after his sister passed away, but he is trying to look at life in a positive light. According to Beth – the journalist – he is currently studying for his GED and is trying to “stay away from the wild bunch.” The man didn’t try to deny his crimes, and he takes full responsibility for them.
Image credits: bshelburne
Image credits: bshelburne
Image credits: bshelburne
Image credits: bshelburne
Beth ends the now-viral thread by saying: “When tough-on-crime people say everyone in prison deserves to be there, think of Mr. Simmons. We should be ashamed of laws that categorically throw people away in the name of safety. We should question anyone who supports Alabama’s Habitual Offender law. It needs to go.” What do you think of Alabama’s Habitual Offender law? Do you agree with the author — that it should go?
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Share on FacebookAmerican has a messed up justice system,class system and attitude to poor people in general. Rather than help poor people have a better life so they dont turn to drugs it spends billions on hiding away the "problem" & the rich think the poor are scum.Many fall into drugs because they have nothing in there lives at all, they are born poor with no hope and end up exactly on the path expected. American could save a lot of money if it had a fairer society but then thats capitalism, keep the downtrodden down and look down your nose at the scum. "but he stolen money from some guy he deserves to go to prison" I am sure some will scream but what about restorative justice? would it not be better when this guy committed his crime to put him on a mandatory drug course to get him clean, help him into work and make him face his victims and pay back what he stole? America is a Christian country without Christian values, thats clear from a non American Atheist.
He stole $9 and got life. How many finance rats were even punished for the crisis they created in 2008?
And how many rich and/or famous junkies get to go to expensive spa-like rehab facilities and either never see the inside of a courtroom, or go once and get a slap on the wrist and small fine or easy community service—-if they’re found guilty at all?
Load More Replies...That's really sad. The whole US justice system seems to be broken. I mean, the fact alone that there are private, for-profit prison companies with a lobby ...
Actually, it works quite well if you look at it as a tool of institutionalized racism, which appears to be its objective. Rich people get off all the time - One of Trump's buddies only has to serve 45 days in jail for WORKING TO RIG AN ELECTION. Yet this poor person has spent his life in prison. The system appears to be doing exactly what its manipulative, soul-less authors intended.
Load More Replies...all the money that the US government has spent on him, would have been better used to re-educate the people, teach them a trade, provide a little flat, and reintegrate them in society.
The USA should shut the f**k up about what other countries do and sort out it's own appalling human rights abuses first.
Absolutely ridiculous. I live in Alabama and we are so behind in everything like this and the lottery. The state is so conservative (not me) I feel like we are moving backwards. Thank you for pointing out this injustice this man is suffering. Maybe shedding a light on it will help things move forward for a change.
And the laws of Oregon, a far leftist state, are just as screwed up as your conservative state. So politics make no difference. A year and a couple days ago, the First Step Act was signed into law to help correct these injustices. Were you even aware? Why did it take a conservative congress and President to do this and not liberal ones?
Load More Replies...He stole $9 dollars which is equal to $38 now. Still theft under 500 and not something you can send someone to jail for. Ive been Loss Prevention and the Police have either made the person pay for the food they couldnt resell or the suspect got a fine.
Thank you. Most commenters here are sadly gullible.
Load More Replies...Infrastructure: we can't afford it. Universal Health Care: we can't afford it. Free Public College Education: we can't afford it. War and Prison: oh yeah, we got that covered.
What a glorious Democracy of the Free! Steal 9 dollars - get life in prison. Steal millions - and you may become president ... Alabama reminds me more and more of North Korea. Hard, heartless, and frightened of shadows.
All while rapists, pedophiles and other horrific people get slaps on their hands. Where's the justice?? My heart hurts reading this. Something needs to change. Fast.
Ikr??? Punishments should fit the crime!!!!!Anyone who rapes a child should get prison for life no question. You stole $38? Should be a bit of jail time.
Load More Replies...But idiots like Brock Turner, the rapist, are out running free....smh
BUt they still are in the sex offenders register and since their name come up regularly there are always people looking them up and finding what he did, where he lives and what car he drives now.
Load More Replies...And now the (soon to be 'ex') Republican governor of Kentucky, Matt Bevin, just pardoned over 600 convicted criminals before leaving office. Sounds great, right? Well, many of the the released criminals are convicted rapists, convicted child molesters, convicted MURDERERS. He didn't review the pardons with the prosecuting attorneys or with the victims and/or their families. He just carte blanche released them. Yes, this poor man should have been released decades ago, but what this a$$hole governor did was reprehensible. I hope he's held accountable when the murderers, pedophiles, and rapists he released continue with their crimes and destroy even more lives.
You know that whatever the criminals do, Matt Bevin will not held be accountable for setting them free into society. He will have his crocodile's tears on the ready, he will launch an attack on the current democratic governor, blaming him for the crimes committed by criminals mr. Bevin himself released. That's how the republicans play the game.
Load More Replies...Pity he wasn't born a rich white guy, he'd probably be president today
Funny how it was supposed to be a three strike rule, but the reporter can only find a record of one crime. Hands up everyone who thinks a junkie was gaslighted into thinking he did three crimes, then railroaded into prison for life. (We need an emoji for this.)
His most heinous crime is being poor whilst black. Far worse crimes are committed every day by CEOs and, dare I say it, the current President of the United States. How's that 'freedom' working for you, America?
Meanwhile the Kentucky governor commuted the sentence of a convicted child rapist after only serving a few months.
This story is really heartbreaking. The poor and vulnerable are crushed in system where the amount of money is determinative for what punishment you get. Here in the Netherlands we complain somtimes that crimonals are not punishedhard enough. For what this man had done, he would have probably not even spend a week in jail. And people like him would receive help to get out of their prblamatic lifestyle. A lifesentence for him crimes is out of proportion, evil, cold, harsh, shamefull and destructive. Deeply tragic.
Growing up in Australia I remember learning about the ridiculous reasons people were sent there from Britain as prisoners - stealing a loaf of bread, stealing some lace, etc. We were all outraged and glad that this sort of thing no longer happens; that the justice system is fairer. Of course, we were all deceived; this is just as bad, if not worse. At least the prisoners transported to Australia later had a chance to build their lives back. What has been gained by keeping this man locked up all these years? Especially after he's gained his sobriety and shown a DECADE of good behaviour?!
Alabama is a s****y state period. Disgusting that taxpayers are having to pay to keep someone locked up for decades for a petty crime. Sure I believe repeat offenders should get stiffer punishments, but 20+ years? That's ridiculous especially since his crimes were non violent.
This is criminal! How can it be legal to incarcerate someone for LIFE for stuff like this?!
It's not about what was in the wallet, it's what he did to get it. It must have been pretty scary for the victim. It's not for me to say if he should still be in jail but let's not wash over the assault.
How many frat boys get away with rape because putting them in prison "might ruin their futures"? How many rich greedy "entrepreneurs" get away with ripping off the public and get away with a slap on the wrist?How many appallingly cruel child and animal abusers get away with - literally - murder? This man has served more than his time. LET HIM OUT.
While this is obviously crappy people are missing part of the issue. He was charged with 1st degree robbery. That doesn't mean he took 9 dollars off of a bar or some other mundane way. 1st degree robbery means someone was either seriously injured or he had a weapon. He is a "violent" criminal. Once again don't believe he deserves the time he's been in as i believe in true rehabilitation,but he wasn't sentenced for the 9 dollars. The 9 dollars is what the victim had. He was sentenced due to tje violence.
Being locked away all that years for stealing $9 may seemed out of proportion. But what if it had prevented murders? People addicted to drugs can be driven to desperation including murders. Of course, we all want to spend other people's tax money to have effective programs that seek to rehabilitate people like him, train him and employ him so that he can become contributing member of society. But such programs will defeat the purpose of having jails. People breaking the law will have no fear knowing that even in jail people will help them to get out.
and murderers and rapists walk the streets on parole. indeed a broken system
Habitual offenders law, needs to be revised and done so immediately. For those committing a violent law, and committed a crime where grave bodily injury resulted in, or death, or commission of a crime resulting in murder, then, yes, that needs to remain as is. Have them serve the full sentence. But first of all, parole non violent offenders that have served a sentence commiserate with their crime. Crimes where theft was less than 100.00 dollars, and no grievous bodily injury was committed, release them. Life isn't fair. Having committed that crime as someone less than or of the age of 25, with no grievous bodily injury was committed, then again, life is not A lawful sentence! Release them. If murder resulted in the commission of a crime, then yes, that law would be applicable. But this law takes none of this into the sentencing! It doesn't take into thought, the person was a teen, and that it's been proven by scientific fact, teenagers are not in their right mind! Continued..
One extreme of the other! In the UK, "life" on average is around 14 years. And we'll release you on probation after a decade, even if you're a murderer! And you can literally rack up HUNDREDS of petty crimes on your rap sheet and still stay out of prison! Both systems sound utterly broken.
Do we have sufficient detail about his prior felony offenses to make better sense of why he received a life sentence for what appears to be a petty crime?
Do we have sufficient detail regarding his prior felony offenses which made it so he would receive a life sentence for what seems to be a petty crime?
Not only is this a s****y, unjust law, it's a s****y, unjust , RACIST law, meant to keep impoverished people of colour like Mr. Simmons down. I knew right away, before I even saw his photo that the man who sat rotting in a jail cell for nine lousy dollars was gonna be some race other than white. Just more poor-bashing, more abuse of anyone who wasn't Caucasian. I wonder, too, if the prison this man is in is a private prison, and if so, how much money the company that runs it gets for keeping Mr, Simmons locked up? The United States has more people per capita incarcerated than any nation on Earth other than China (Or maybe North Korea, but we don't have stats for them--I'm not even certain we have accurate stats for China). That should make you ask some serious questions of your government. Ian Carter: the U.S. is NOT a Christian country--a lot of people try to claim it is, but they're wrong. Their Constitution in no way established their nation as a Christian one because of the religious in-fighting the Colonies left behind in Europe. No one religion rules, that's the law--or it's supposed to be.
After MR., Simmons was drug free in prison for a long time, they should have released him, not a violent man in prison, a great number of people who commit a serious crime, and the sentence does not fit the crime, as is for MR., Simmons, his punishment is overboard, ludicrous, it is time to set the man free, whoever has the power, compassion !!!
Also r******d as f*****g hell is those still forever in jail for laws repealed or those that are innocent. Or the extreme f*****g b******t of one story I recall breaking out to prove innocence and going to jail for breaking out of jail
Sickening that the penalty is so hugely inflated relative to the crime.
After reading the intro and seeing that it was in America, I thought "He must be black then". Quelle surprise, he is. If it had been a white man, he would have been let off.
People without compassion have no business making laws or enforcing them ... or being in politics ... or any form of government what so ever.
Wow. So many comments. Nasty. From all over and both sides. All I would want to know is if I can send him money into his commissary and see if anyone knows a lawyer who would do pro bono Would sign a petition. Seriously I would like to donate to his commissary.
The US are just SO f*cked up. Next time, I'm in church, I'll go light a cnadle for my place of birth, which has its issues but at least is reasonably sane.
This is nuts! I remember the 80s like it was yesterday an believe me, we DID know better than this back then. Laws like this are made by politicians to look good in an election and get a few extra votes from the kind of moron who thinks this is a good idea. I don't live in the US and reading things like this, I'm actually glad I don't. I don't understand why they're still justifying this even now. Mr Simmons SHOULD have gone to jail, but not for 38 years, it's nuts..
Hey folks, I'm not in the US. But it sure looks like you could write Willie Simmons through this website - why not give it a try and give him something decent to look forward to and read? https://pigeonly.com/write-a-prisoner/holman-correctional-facility-inmate-jail-mail/
Unconstitutional in the United States! How is it allowed to continue in some of the states? It shouldn't be. Period. So find a lawyer that is famous in defending Constitutional law, for its citizens. Make this HOL,be revised, to reflect the rights and their constitutional rights as a citizen, in the revisions of this law. It is only fair and only right, for all citizens to have their rights reflected in their commission of a crime as well as the sentences imposed. The law is not the place, nor is there any place for discrimination against race, color or age, in the prosecution of crimes under the unfair laws in place in states like Alabama, where discrimination by race, is practiced under the law. This is not the law, it is out and out discrimination under the law, and that, is a violation of the offenders' constitutional rights. Change it, make it reflect non discriminatory practices as the law, not because of the law. Hold their constitutional rights sacred, and respected by the
The HOL is unfair, as it treats all crimes the same, and they aren't. So revise the law! Revise the statutes of this law. Make sentences fit the crime, fairly. But no one should receive life, for a crime like stealing $9.00. That is complete gross neglect , under the letter of the law, and not a federal offense! Alabama seems to be stuck in the pre 20th century where black citizens are concerned! It reeks of racial discrimination! Going against federal laws, and doing this by making their own laws that are unfairly harsh for young, black offenders, and black offenders period. What an unrealistic and fatal way to prosecute black offenders, young offenders, period. The unfair racial discrimination practiced in Alabama, and other states, has to go against the constitutional rights of these offenders! Bring a revision of the law, into non discriminatory practice of the law, in to the 21st century. Abraham Lincoln made slavery Continued...
This is the sort of case where governors need to start using their power to pardon and release people when it becomes obvious that no justice is being done and the person is not a threat to others if released.
He went to jail because he was and still is a BLACK MAN!! There are many black men and black women in jail just because they are black. This has been going on forever. So this title of for $9 is just BS. This is an excuse and I’m sick of it. He and other black men and women should not be in jail for that long for NOTHING. It’s sad.
Americanistan is THE most disgusting fxcked up country on the face of the earth.
Carol I think you need to do more research on the opiod epidemic before you make comments. I have only one account with which I can give you a down vote, but I really feel your type of attitude is the reason we have so many nonviolent offenders serving life in the U.S .
not for "stealing 9$". For a) assaulting the victim AND b) that being his third? offence of the kind. Violent offenders should be culled, not tolerated.
These aren't in the right order, I am sorry! But it's important to read my posts. Thank you!
He didn't "get life for stealing $9"... he got life for being a habitual offender - it's known as the "three strikes rule" - you get caught breaking the law and convicted multiple times then on the third conviction, you get life in prison... because you obviously can not be rehabilitated after proving you didn't learn the lesson about breaking the law the first few times... The system isn't racist, and it isn't set up to keep poor people down... I was born into a dirt poor family and have been poor my entire life... but I have never broken the law beyond getting a speeding ticket... break the law, pay the price.
Hi Nunya. I hear what you're saying, but I think there would be less costly and more efficient ways to detoxify his behaviour than waiting until 20+ years of prison broke him. Think of how much money it will have cost to keep him in prison for all that time. It would surely have been cheaper, not to mention vastly more humane, to send him into rehab. Although his last crime was violent (not his first two though), he only wrestled someone to the ground, he didn't stab them or anything. I would also like to challenge your assertion that he would have taken until 2001 to get off drugs if he hadn't been in prison. Personally, if I found myself in such a dangerous and hopeless situation as being locked away in a US prison for life, surrounded by violent inmates, I would look for any escape, including drugs. I think the totally disproportionate sentence would have massively added to his impulse to take drugs and not in any way taught him a lesson.
Load More Replies...'Funny' that you would mention the so-called opium epidemic. To my knowledge, not even one of the members of the Sackler family is behind bars for mass murder, as more than a few of them ought to be. There are a few lawsuits going on, but in the meantime, the Sacklers are free and busy hiding the blood-money billions away in off-shore accounts. If you are poor and steal a small amount of money, you go to prison for life. Who do you really think have posed a greater threat to their fellow Americans, Mr, Simmons or the Sacklers?
Load More Replies...American has a messed up justice system,class system and attitude to poor people in general. Rather than help poor people have a better life so they dont turn to drugs it spends billions on hiding away the "problem" & the rich think the poor are scum.Many fall into drugs because they have nothing in there lives at all, they are born poor with no hope and end up exactly on the path expected. American could save a lot of money if it had a fairer society but then thats capitalism, keep the downtrodden down and look down your nose at the scum. "but he stolen money from some guy he deserves to go to prison" I am sure some will scream but what about restorative justice? would it not be better when this guy committed his crime to put him on a mandatory drug course to get him clean, help him into work and make him face his victims and pay back what he stole? America is a Christian country without Christian values, thats clear from a non American Atheist.
He stole $9 and got life. How many finance rats were even punished for the crisis they created in 2008?
And how many rich and/or famous junkies get to go to expensive spa-like rehab facilities and either never see the inside of a courtroom, or go once and get a slap on the wrist and small fine or easy community service—-if they’re found guilty at all?
Load More Replies...That's really sad. The whole US justice system seems to be broken. I mean, the fact alone that there are private, for-profit prison companies with a lobby ...
Actually, it works quite well if you look at it as a tool of institutionalized racism, which appears to be its objective. Rich people get off all the time - One of Trump's buddies only has to serve 45 days in jail for WORKING TO RIG AN ELECTION. Yet this poor person has spent his life in prison. The system appears to be doing exactly what its manipulative, soul-less authors intended.
Load More Replies...all the money that the US government has spent on him, would have been better used to re-educate the people, teach them a trade, provide a little flat, and reintegrate them in society.
The USA should shut the f**k up about what other countries do and sort out it's own appalling human rights abuses first.
Absolutely ridiculous. I live in Alabama and we are so behind in everything like this and the lottery. The state is so conservative (not me) I feel like we are moving backwards. Thank you for pointing out this injustice this man is suffering. Maybe shedding a light on it will help things move forward for a change.
And the laws of Oregon, a far leftist state, are just as screwed up as your conservative state. So politics make no difference. A year and a couple days ago, the First Step Act was signed into law to help correct these injustices. Were you even aware? Why did it take a conservative congress and President to do this and not liberal ones?
Load More Replies...He stole $9 dollars which is equal to $38 now. Still theft under 500 and not something you can send someone to jail for. Ive been Loss Prevention and the Police have either made the person pay for the food they couldnt resell or the suspect got a fine.
Thank you. Most commenters here are sadly gullible.
Load More Replies...Infrastructure: we can't afford it. Universal Health Care: we can't afford it. Free Public College Education: we can't afford it. War and Prison: oh yeah, we got that covered.
What a glorious Democracy of the Free! Steal 9 dollars - get life in prison. Steal millions - and you may become president ... Alabama reminds me more and more of North Korea. Hard, heartless, and frightened of shadows.
All while rapists, pedophiles and other horrific people get slaps on their hands. Where's the justice?? My heart hurts reading this. Something needs to change. Fast.
Ikr??? Punishments should fit the crime!!!!!Anyone who rapes a child should get prison for life no question. You stole $38? Should be a bit of jail time.
Load More Replies...But idiots like Brock Turner, the rapist, are out running free....smh
BUt they still are in the sex offenders register and since their name come up regularly there are always people looking them up and finding what he did, where he lives and what car he drives now.
Load More Replies...And now the (soon to be 'ex') Republican governor of Kentucky, Matt Bevin, just pardoned over 600 convicted criminals before leaving office. Sounds great, right? Well, many of the the released criminals are convicted rapists, convicted child molesters, convicted MURDERERS. He didn't review the pardons with the prosecuting attorneys or with the victims and/or their families. He just carte blanche released them. Yes, this poor man should have been released decades ago, but what this a$$hole governor did was reprehensible. I hope he's held accountable when the murderers, pedophiles, and rapists he released continue with their crimes and destroy even more lives.
You know that whatever the criminals do, Matt Bevin will not held be accountable for setting them free into society. He will have his crocodile's tears on the ready, he will launch an attack on the current democratic governor, blaming him for the crimes committed by criminals mr. Bevin himself released. That's how the republicans play the game.
Load More Replies...Pity he wasn't born a rich white guy, he'd probably be president today
Funny how it was supposed to be a three strike rule, but the reporter can only find a record of one crime. Hands up everyone who thinks a junkie was gaslighted into thinking he did three crimes, then railroaded into prison for life. (We need an emoji for this.)
His most heinous crime is being poor whilst black. Far worse crimes are committed every day by CEOs and, dare I say it, the current President of the United States. How's that 'freedom' working for you, America?
Meanwhile the Kentucky governor commuted the sentence of a convicted child rapist after only serving a few months.
This story is really heartbreaking. The poor and vulnerable are crushed in system where the amount of money is determinative for what punishment you get. Here in the Netherlands we complain somtimes that crimonals are not punishedhard enough. For what this man had done, he would have probably not even spend a week in jail. And people like him would receive help to get out of their prblamatic lifestyle. A lifesentence for him crimes is out of proportion, evil, cold, harsh, shamefull and destructive. Deeply tragic.
Growing up in Australia I remember learning about the ridiculous reasons people were sent there from Britain as prisoners - stealing a loaf of bread, stealing some lace, etc. We were all outraged and glad that this sort of thing no longer happens; that the justice system is fairer. Of course, we were all deceived; this is just as bad, if not worse. At least the prisoners transported to Australia later had a chance to build their lives back. What has been gained by keeping this man locked up all these years? Especially after he's gained his sobriety and shown a DECADE of good behaviour?!
Alabama is a s****y state period. Disgusting that taxpayers are having to pay to keep someone locked up for decades for a petty crime. Sure I believe repeat offenders should get stiffer punishments, but 20+ years? That's ridiculous especially since his crimes were non violent.
This is criminal! How can it be legal to incarcerate someone for LIFE for stuff like this?!
It's not about what was in the wallet, it's what he did to get it. It must have been pretty scary for the victim. It's not for me to say if he should still be in jail but let's not wash over the assault.
How many frat boys get away with rape because putting them in prison "might ruin their futures"? How many rich greedy "entrepreneurs" get away with ripping off the public and get away with a slap on the wrist?How many appallingly cruel child and animal abusers get away with - literally - murder? This man has served more than his time. LET HIM OUT.
While this is obviously crappy people are missing part of the issue. He was charged with 1st degree robbery. That doesn't mean he took 9 dollars off of a bar or some other mundane way. 1st degree robbery means someone was either seriously injured or he had a weapon. He is a "violent" criminal. Once again don't believe he deserves the time he's been in as i believe in true rehabilitation,but he wasn't sentenced for the 9 dollars. The 9 dollars is what the victim had. He was sentenced due to tje violence.
Being locked away all that years for stealing $9 may seemed out of proportion. But what if it had prevented murders? People addicted to drugs can be driven to desperation including murders. Of course, we all want to spend other people's tax money to have effective programs that seek to rehabilitate people like him, train him and employ him so that he can become contributing member of society. But such programs will defeat the purpose of having jails. People breaking the law will have no fear knowing that even in jail people will help them to get out.
and murderers and rapists walk the streets on parole. indeed a broken system
Habitual offenders law, needs to be revised and done so immediately. For those committing a violent law, and committed a crime where grave bodily injury resulted in, or death, or commission of a crime resulting in murder, then, yes, that needs to remain as is. Have them serve the full sentence. But first of all, parole non violent offenders that have served a sentence commiserate with their crime. Crimes where theft was less than 100.00 dollars, and no grievous bodily injury was committed, release them. Life isn't fair. Having committed that crime as someone less than or of the age of 25, with no grievous bodily injury was committed, then again, life is not A lawful sentence! Release them. If murder resulted in the commission of a crime, then yes, that law would be applicable. But this law takes none of this into the sentencing! It doesn't take into thought, the person was a teen, and that it's been proven by scientific fact, teenagers are not in their right mind! Continued..
One extreme of the other! In the UK, "life" on average is around 14 years. And we'll release you on probation after a decade, even if you're a murderer! And you can literally rack up HUNDREDS of petty crimes on your rap sheet and still stay out of prison! Both systems sound utterly broken.
Do we have sufficient detail about his prior felony offenses to make better sense of why he received a life sentence for what appears to be a petty crime?
Do we have sufficient detail regarding his prior felony offenses which made it so he would receive a life sentence for what seems to be a petty crime?
Not only is this a s****y, unjust law, it's a s****y, unjust , RACIST law, meant to keep impoverished people of colour like Mr. Simmons down. I knew right away, before I even saw his photo that the man who sat rotting in a jail cell for nine lousy dollars was gonna be some race other than white. Just more poor-bashing, more abuse of anyone who wasn't Caucasian. I wonder, too, if the prison this man is in is a private prison, and if so, how much money the company that runs it gets for keeping Mr, Simmons locked up? The United States has more people per capita incarcerated than any nation on Earth other than China (Or maybe North Korea, but we don't have stats for them--I'm not even certain we have accurate stats for China). That should make you ask some serious questions of your government. Ian Carter: the U.S. is NOT a Christian country--a lot of people try to claim it is, but they're wrong. Their Constitution in no way established their nation as a Christian one because of the religious in-fighting the Colonies left behind in Europe. No one religion rules, that's the law--or it's supposed to be.
After MR., Simmons was drug free in prison for a long time, they should have released him, not a violent man in prison, a great number of people who commit a serious crime, and the sentence does not fit the crime, as is for MR., Simmons, his punishment is overboard, ludicrous, it is time to set the man free, whoever has the power, compassion !!!
Also r******d as f*****g hell is those still forever in jail for laws repealed or those that are innocent. Or the extreme f*****g b******t of one story I recall breaking out to prove innocence and going to jail for breaking out of jail
Sickening that the penalty is so hugely inflated relative to the crime.
After reading the intro and seeing that it was in America, I thought "He must be black then". Quelle surprise, he is. If it had been a white man, he would have been let off.
People without compassion have no business making laws or enforcing them ... or being in politics ... or any form of government what so ever.
Wow. So many comments. Nasty. From all over and both sides. All I would want to know is if I can send him money into his commissary and see if anyone knows a lawyer who would do pro bono Would sign a petition. Seriously I would like to donate to his commissary.
The US are just SO f*cked up. Next time, I'm in church, I'll go light a cnadle for my place of birth, which has its issues but at least is reasonably sane.
This is nuts! I remember the 80s like it was yesterday an believe me, we DID know better than this back then. Laws like this are made by politicians to look good in an election and get a few extra votes from the kind of moron who thinks this is a good idea. I don't live in the US and reading things like this, I'm actually glad I don't. I don't understand why they're still justifying this even now. Mr Simmons SHOULD have gone to jail, but not for 38 years, it's nuts..
Hey folks, I'm not in the US. But it sure looks like you could write Willie Simmons through this website - why not give it a try and give him something decent to look forward to and read? https://pigeonly.com/write-a-prisoner/holman-correctional-facility-inmate-jail-mail/
Unconstitutional in the United States! How is it allowed to continue in some of the states? It shouldn't be. Period. So find a lawyer that is famous in defending Constitutional law, for its citizens. Make this HOL,be revised, to reflect the rights and their constitutional rights as a citizen, in the revisions of this law. It is only fair and only right, for all citizens to have their rights reflected in their commission of a crime as well as the sentences imposed. The law is not the place, nor is there any place for discrimination against race, color or age, in the prosecution of crimes under the unfair laws in place in states like Alabama, where discrimination by race, is practiced under the law. This is not the law, it is out and out discrimination under the law, and that, is a violation of the offenders' constitutional rights. Change it, make it reflect non discriminatory practices as the law, not because of the law. Hold their constitutional rights sacred, and respected by the
The HOL is unfair, as it treats all crimes the same, and they aren't. So revise the law! Revise the statutes of this law. Make sentences fit the crime, fairly. But no one should receive life, for a crime like stealing $9.00. That is complete gross neglect , under the letter of the law, and not a federal offense! Alabama seems to be stuck in the pre 20th century where black citizens are concerned! It reeks of racial discrimination! Going against federal laws, and doing this by making their own laws that are unfairly harsh for young, black offenders, and black offenders period. What an unrealistic and fatal way to prosecute black offenders, young offenders, period. The unfair racial discrimination practiced in Alabama, and other states, has to go against the constitutional rights of these offenders! Bring a revision of the law, into non discriminatory practice of the law, in to the 21st century. Abraham Lincoln made slavery Continued...
This is the sort of case where governors need to start using their power to pardon and release people when it becomes obvious that no justice is being done and the person is not a threat to others if released.
He went to jail because he was and still is a BLACK MAN!! There are many black men and black women in jail just because they are black. This has been going on forever. So this title of for $9 is just BS. This is an excuse and I’m sick of it. He and other black men and women should not be in jail for that long for NOTHING. It’s sad.
Americanistan is THE most disgusting fxcked up country on the face of the earth.
Carol I think you need to do more research on the opiod epidemic before you make comments. I have only one account with which I can give you a down vote, but I really feel your type of attitude is the reason we have so many nonviolent offenders serving life in the U.S .
not for "stealing 9$". For a) assaulting the victim AND b) that being his third? offence of the kind. Violent offenders should be culled, not tolerated.
These aren't in the right order, I am sorry! But it's important to read my posts. Thank you!
He didn't "get life for stealing $9"... he got life for being a habitual offender - it's known as the "three strikes rule" - you get caught breaking the law and convicted multiple times then on the third conviction, you get life in prison... because you obviously can not be rehabilitated after proving you didn't learn the lesson about breaking the law the first few times... The system isn't racist, and it isn't set up to keep poor people down... I was born into a dirt poor family and have been poor my entire life... but I have never broken the law beyond getting a speeding ticket... break the law, pay the price.
Hi Nunya. I hear what you're saying, but I think there would be less costly and more efficient ways to detoxify his behaviour than waiting until 20+ years of prison broke him. Think of how much money it will have cost to keep him in prison for all that time. It would surely have been cheaper, not to mention vastly more humane, to send him into rehab. Although his last crime was violent (not his first two though), he only wrestled someone to the ground, he didn't stab them or anything. I would also like to challenge your assertion that he would have taken until 2001 to get off drugs if he hadn't been in prison. Personally, if I found myself in such a dangerous and hopeless situation as being locked away in a US prison for life, surrounded by violent inmates, I would look for any escape, including drugs. I think the totally disproportionate sentence would have massively added to his impulse to take drugs and not in any way taught him a lesson.
Load More Replies...'Funny' that you would mention the so-called opium epidemic. To my knowledge, not even one of the members of the Sackler family is behind bars for mass murder, as more than a few of them ought to be. There are a few lawsuits going on, but in the meantime, the Sacklers are free and busy hiding the blood-money billions away in off-shore accounts. If you are poor and steal a small amount of money, you go to prison for life. Who do you really think have posed a greater threat to their fellow Americans, Mr, Simmons or the Sacklers?
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