Talk at University of South Texas

So Robert and his wife Jan were invited to give a talk to some University of South Texas law students. I was very interested to see what my equivalents in Houston would think about the Death Penalty. Having spent most of my time here with young anti Capital Punishment lefty's (I kid, love you guys) I came to expect the same from them. How wrong was I!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to say it was so nice being back in the classroom (yes I am one of those sad people that actually miss the classroom atmosphere). It was a little daunting as no one knew who I was (not that I had any part to play) and there were some questioning glances in my direction (but I held my own).

So Robert began the talk, outlining what he was hoping to discuss with us all and Jan began talking about what constitutes Capital Offences. It then came to Robert showing the class a page of the questionnaire that is given to the jurors as part of the jury selection process (YES to all those Brits they jury select here and it's not picking a name out of a hat). This page questioned the juror on their views on the Death Penalty (whether they support and would vote for it or not?) The options went from 1.1 which was for those that were against it and would not vote for it under any circumstances and then there were the 5.5's who were on the opposite end of the spectrum. Needless to say you know where I would be by now. Robert then turns to the class and asks where the students there would fall, and then piped up Mr Beaumont "I'm a 5.5, if someone has killed someone he does not deserve to live" he then continued with some bull*hit about the legislature and what not (I stopped listening).

Another couple of things about that talk that stood out to me was this girl sitting at the back who seemed to be sitting on the fence with regards to her view on Death Penalty and then Robert played a small clip of a young man in jail (not for a Capital offence in that particular scene but ended up there later) who due to his refusal to go to his "house" (sick sick sick) was rushed by at least 5 police officers all shielded to apprehend (apparently that involves sucker punching again and again and again - why you have cuffs then I don't know). So anyway he then turns to the class and says "any thought?" I made a conscious decision to stay quiet, I don't think Houston was really ready for my rant. Then the on the fence girl puts her hand up and says with much passion "oh I/m sorry after watching that I definitely think(I took a sigh of relief hoping she was gonna jump on my side of the fence) that we should have death. If he's gonna behave like that then you really can't trust him". My faith in the youth of today was completely lost and I thought Houston has A LONG WAY TO GO.

Final rant before I leave y'all. We then turned to the subject of mitigation. For me this is a new area and I'm still learning about it so excuse my ignorance in some places. From where I sit I see mitigation as a crucial part of the process. It is here that we can explore everything. My theory here you see is that those that support the Death Penalty do so because of fear of these people that (sometimes) have done atrocious things, unspeakable, cruel, disgusting things. No one can understand why or how they can do those things its not good for society (both inside and outside prison) so they have to die. BUT what if we had the opportunity to diffuse that fear that lack of understanding. Not only that but it allows for the opportunity to open doors to the root cause of all these problems the poverty, abuse, torture that these people are living through each and everyday of their lives until one day it all gets too much. If we can walk around thinking you did bad so bad is gonna happen to you what makes you think these people don't walk around thinking the same thing. Thinking the world has let them down and no one is there to help them so some one has to pay right? isn't that the thought process involved here?

I just want to say that I am not excusing the nasty things that some of those charged with Capital have done at all, and I am not saying that everyone that has had a tough life leads a life of crime. However those that do tend to come from those backgrounds so surely its time for us to recognise those and do something about that????????


ANYWAY long story short (sort of) no one really gave mitigation any real value and brushed it under the carpet.

It was a surreal experience for me, not what I thought it would be.

Excuse my bad grammar and general use of the English language, these are my thoughts fresh and raw.