Susan Atikins begs for release from prison

Kreskin

Doctor of Thinkology
Feb 23, 2006
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Brain cancer can be hard on a lot of people, not just the patient. It sounds like the prison would rather have her out.
 

Zzarchov

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Aug 28, 2006
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I'm aware she's in the US, it's the same state I'm in. There isn't OHIP, there's MediCal. It's pretty much the same thing for someone in her position.

In a prison ward, or a regular hospital, the government is picking up the tab. According to the LA Times, she's been in a local hospital for a few months already. The prison didn't have the capability to care for her. If she's granted this release, she'll stay in the same bed, in the same hospital, eating the same meals.... with the same payment arrangement: tax payer money.

And I know you're going to say "Well they would save money by not having to have guards watching her" or something like that, but I can pretty much assure you security at any hospital would watch her regardless of her legal status. She's likely in a hospital that has a ward devoted to prisonners (I know of one in the LA area). One inmate like her wouldn't change the security staffing in a place like that.

If thats the case, they why not tell her she's "let out"

What exactly is the problem if its all semantics then and she wont physically move an inch or have her situation change in anyway?
 

Curiosity

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Jul 30, 2005
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Zzarchov

I'm still not clear why we are disagreeing on this. Atkins may already be in end stage which would render her a number of disabling issues and if so - and her surroundings whether in a hospital, a hospice, or prison ward would not register with her.

Depending on the location of the tumor she could be blind, without speech, without motor capabilities, and may simply be lying in bed like a newborn waiting to be washed, cleaned, diapered (if she is still functioning), and fed (if she is still taking food/liquid).

In a matter of days the end stage progresses to final labored breathing and only water intake (if still possible). The patient will progress to coma and in a hospice setting morphine is often given (in heavy doses) to alleviate any pain if it exists (this also depends upon the location of the tumor). The final days are labored breathing and the patient is unaware of surroundings. Some are still able to hear but how the brain processes sound at this point is unknown.

What I am saying is Atkins may be aware right now but by July when her next hearing is given, she may be advanced enough not to know the outcome, nor to recognize her surroundings.

Brain cancer is rapid and seemingly cruel, but it is one of the lesser painful cancers and assistance given for this type of end stage is relatively passive and easy for caregivers.

The issue of 'life sentence' has been delivered by fate - not the prison system.
 

Zzarchov

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Aug 28, 2006
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What Im saying is, if she is utterly unable to harm others nor be rehabilitated, why are people so against letting her out of prison, if someone wants to put her in a private villa, or she wants to be dumped in the woods, to live out her last moments, who cares?
 

Curiosity

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Jul 30, 2005
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Zzarchov - fair enough.

It isn't as if she is going to enjoy her life wherever she spends her final days.

The money issue will remain the same. The people will probably pick up the basics of medical care as she would not be eligible to access private now. Hospice is free in most instances and basic nursing could be covered anywhere under Medicare.

Strange that it is possible morphine could be her last respite when I think drugs were her introduction to crime.
 

tracy

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Nov 10, 2005
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The families of her victims care Zzarchov. That's enough for me. If nothing is going to change for Susan Atkins, then why put the victims' families through any more hearings? They've had to endure around 20 about this woman alone already. She was sentenced to death, then to life in prison. Let her be officially a prisoner until she dies if that gives the families one bit of comfort.
 

#juan

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Aug 30, 2005
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Tracy
This woman has already cost the taxpayers a pile of money and you are right. Why put the families of the victims through more nonsense if it isn't going to change anything. Did the people calling now for her release complain about her life sentence, or the death sentence before that? I personally feel the original death sentence should have been carried out. The courts found her guilty and sentenced her to death. Commuting her sentence to life was a travesty that never should have happened.
 

lone wolf

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Nov 25, 2006
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There was no shadow of a doubt about her part in the murders. The death sentence should have been carried out. Once the sentence was commuted to a keep her alive, the people became responsible for her care and her quality of life. We are supposed to be a compassionate and caring society. Ms Aitkins claims to be rehabilitated in her salvation. It matters not when she will ultimately be claimed by the death she was prescribed in 1971
 

Risus

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May 24, 2006
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There was no shadow of a doubt about her part in the murders. The death sentence should have been carried out. Once the sentence was commuted to a keep her alive, the people became responsible for her care and her quality of life. We are supposed to be a compassionate and caring society. Ms Aitkins claims to be rehabilitated in her salvation. It matters not when she will ultimately be claimed by the death she was prescribed in 1971
Lots of people claim to be rehabilitated, when in reality they are not. I am not in favour of an early parole system, either. Whatever the sentence that is assigned should be followed to the letter of the law.
 

Zzarchov

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Lots of people claim to be rehabilitated, when in reality they are not. I am not in favour of an early parole system, either. Whatever the sentence that is assigned should be followed to the letter of the law.


It doesn't really matter if she's rehabilitated. She's infirm and harmless.

There was a time when she wasn't, and during those times I believe strongly that it was the right decision to ban her from parole to protect society from her.

I also would have had no problem with her initial execution to protect the society at large.
 

Risus

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May 24, 2006
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It doesn't really matter if she's rehabilitated. She's infirm and harmless.

There was a time when she wasn't, and during those times I believe strongly that it was the right decision to ban her from parole to protect society from her.

I also would have had no problem with her initial execution to protect the society at large.
Infirm and harmelss makes no difference. She should serve her sentence...
 

Zzarchov

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Aug 28, 2006
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Put yourself in the victim's family's shoes and answer that question yourself.

Revenge. That is something we have stated is not an acceptable response to injustice.

There is no benefit to seeing someone "pay" for what they have done other than revenge.
 

lone wolf

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Nov 25, 2006
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Put yourself in the victim's family's shoes and answer that question yourself.

It was 40 years ago. The victims' families have had lots of time to grieve and should be over it by now. All that remains is the vengeance part of it, and that's not up to them. Put yourself in the shoes of a homeless Mississippi valley family and ask yourself another one.
 

tracy

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Nov 10, 2005
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Revenge. That is something we have stated is not an acceptable response to injustice.

There is no benefit to seeing someone "pay" for what they have done other than revenge.

Are you purposefully ignoring other reasons? Maybe her victims' families would simply like to live without being constantly reminded of the murders this woman committed. Her constant court appearances and the ensuing media coverage makes that impossible. That's not revenge, that's just wanting some sort of peace and closure on the issue. How are they supposed to "get over it" when it's constantly brought up because of their requests for parole and release?

Maybe some people like me resent having my tax money constantly going for these silly trials. Was there any point to most of them? If you want to see money saved, we could have avoided dozens of hearings for paroles that had no chance of being granted. It's like those silly faint hope clause hearings Clifford Olsen gets. Waste money, upset the families... what's the point?

Let's turn it around... What possible reason could she or her family have for wanting her to be granted this "compassionate release" when it's not going to change anything? Why do they want her in the news again?
 
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lone wolf

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Nov 25, 2006
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Are you purposefully ignoring other reasons? Maybe her victims' families would simply like to live without being constantly reminded of the murders this woman committed. Her constant court appearances and the ensuing media coverage makes that impossible. That's not revenge, that's just wanting some sort of peace and closure on the issue. How are they supposed to "get over it" when it's constantly brought up because of their requests for parole and release?

Maybe some people like me resent having my tax money constantly going for these silly trials. Was there any point to most of them? If you want to see money saved, we could have avoided dozens of hearings for paroles that had no chance of being granted. It's like those silly faint hope clause hearings Clifford Olsen gets. Waste money, upset the families... what's the point?

Let's turn it around... What possible reason could she or her family have for wanting her to be granted this "compassionate release" when it's not going to change anything? Why do they want her in the news again?

Do these people (the victims' families) live in a world without books or television? Even burying one's head in the sand doesn't bring the dead back or take away the fact it happened - 40 years ago. Most likely, it exposes the butt for another boot. Really, the point is moot. If Ms Aitkins is in the care of an outside hospital already, she's already out. If it's clemency she's after ... forget it!
 
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Risus

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May 24, 2006
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Revenge or not revenge, who cares? The sentence is life in prison, so it should be carried out. Who cares if some bleeding hearts wants her out because she is sick?
 

karrie

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Jan 6, 2007
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Revenge or not revenge, who cares? The sentence is life in prison, so it should be carried out. Who cares if some bleeding hearts wants her out because she is sick?

Okay, so my question has to be then, why waste all this time, money, and emotional drama on parole hearings? By all accounts she's the picture girl for rehabilitation. She's now a COMPLETE nonthreat. If there was no intention to parole her, why all this stupidity?
 

Risus

Genius
May 24, 2006
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Okay, so my question has to be then, why waste all this time, money, and emotional drama on parole hearings? By all accounts she's the picture girl for rehabilitation. She's now a COMPLETE nonthreat. If there was no intention to parole her, why all this stupidity?
I agree. Parole hearings are a waste of time. Criminals should serve the entire sentence.