Response to prompt one
All states in the United States have life imprisonment except the state of Alaska. Smit (2006) .The president and the Governor are the only people given the powers to pardon those sentenced with life imprisonment. This kind of imprisonment was meant for correction for those who were able to change while they are in prison. Current rate standing at for every 10,000 people, 5 of them fall into this sentence Morris, (2018) . There is always a room for a Parole application after ten years for the victims. In some states such as California, one can apply after their 7th year in prison.
As an attorney, I will be on the side of the defense to defend Keith Hopkins Corporation and Mr. Hopkins himself. As an attorney it will be my duty to ensure that the life imprisonment verdict will not apply to my client. The sentence will be a harsh one as my client Mr. Hopkins did not rob with violence. Cases that our law provides for life imprisonment are such as the first degree of murder. According to Song (2018). This is where one decides to kill another person unlawfully. Another case is where the court did not understand quite well is robbery with violence. Mr. Hopkins did not rob anyone with violence but the complaint did not understand what the whole deal all about. Therefore life imprisonment will be harsh on my client and I will give my reason as well as the evidence to make the judges reduce the sentence even if possible set Mr. Hopkins free.
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Response to prompt two
According to our constitution amendment 14 section 1, it’s clearly stated that all United States citizens shall not be subjected to a law that abridges their privilege. The privileges include depriving one person’s life without due process of the law. At the same time, section 1 adds that one shall go through the jurisdiction with equal protection of the laws that govern Americans. Robbery with violence will advocate for life imprisonment. As stated above my client did not rob anyone with a violence of any kind. Compliant paid some money to Keith Hopkins Corporation which was to be used as an investment. By the time he needed the money back, the money was not available as he needed. The contract signed between both parties indicated the risks which were involved with the investment. The complainant chooses not to read the risk during the agreement. The documents will be presented before the jury and let them decide on why life imprisonment will be a harsh one on Mr. Hopkins.
Looking back on those who were once convicted with life imprisonment our court will be satisfied that indeed Mr. Hopkins cannot be imprisoned for life. Back in 1954 a sergeant Maurice L. Schick was prisoned for life after a review by the president. Sergeant Maurice killed eight-year-old Susan Rothschild in Japan. One of the oldest prisoners in the United States of America Mr. Francis Clifford Smith is serving 68years in jail. He murdered a watchman as he was robbing a yacht in1949. He was sentenced to life imprisoned in 1954. According to Leighton, (2008) one of the oldest juvenile convict Joseph Ligon is still serving his life imprison without parole for murder. All the past life imprisonments have either involved murder or rape. Therefore my client doesn’t deserve such kind of sentence.
Response to prompt three
There are several other alternatives for imprisonment that the court can give to my client other than life imprison. Denard Stokelling was in possession of a firearm and pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida and was sentenced 15 years mandatory in 2016. My client’s sentence should be lower than that. Another best option that the court should offer to my client is to pay back the money with damages within a certain period of time.
References
C. de la Vega & M. Leighton, (2008). Sentencing our Children to Die in Prison: Global Law and Practice , 42 U.S.F. Law Review 983.
Jessy Morris, (2018). Stokeling v. United States , Williamette University Law.
Conrad Kahn & Danli Song (,2018). A Touchy Subject: The Eleventh Circuit’s Tug-of-War Over What Constitutes Violent “Physical Force” , University of Miami Law Review.
D van Zyl Smit (2006). ‘Life imprisonment: Recent issues in national and international law’ International Journal of Law and Psychiatry.
