December 28, 2006
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Admitting a Crime
I got this post idea from lyssielou2 via the message feature. This is based on a case that is going on in her community. The lady’s name is Deb Jenner from South Dakota. Here is her thoughts and my question:
“I was curious what people would do if this were the case…
You are put in jail for life without parole for killing your one and only daughter but you didn’t do it.
Then they tell you after 15 years if you admit to killing your daughter they’ll make it a 100 years sentence and you’d be up for parole. What would you do?
If you say you did it; you get to see your husband again and your watch your son grow up.
If you say you still didn’t do it; you’re in jail without parole and miss out on your family’s life.”Would you admit to a crime you didn’t do in order to get out of jail?
Comments (128)
nope.
no way. i’m too proud.
No. While it would be thoroughly tempting, ultimately the legacy I would leave behind would be that I was a confessed murderer. And if I did not commit the crime, then I do not want that legacy to be left behind. I would rather the general population at least wonder if I am innocent when I maintain that I am innocent even with such a tempting offer. I would love my spouse and son, but the love of a murdered daughter and the guilt of knowing that I am allowing her murderer to go free by confessing myself would drive me to answer no.
cant say i would do that
I don’t think so..
How depressing.
I couldn’t know an answer to such a question without being in the situation. People act differently in such high stakes.
I would never admit it. Of course I say that now, but I might change my mind after being in jail for 15 years.
Yes. It would be worth it to spend the rest of my life outside prison and with my family, especially if they knew the truth.
hell no
never support a corrupted system
f*** the system
i’m going to be contradictory and say yes. if it was guaranteed that i would get parole and be able to be with my husband and my son, absolutely. and her murderer will get what he deserves eventually whether he gets it here on earth or in hell.
No.
Yeah, probably.
Yeah. I have no shame!
if it means seeing my friends and family, yes, i’d admit to it. at least they’d believe me if i say i really didn’t do it. i hope.
i highly doubt it but you never know unless you are actually out into the situation.
No. My friends and family probably would want nothing to do with me if they thought I’d killed my daughter.
I have no idea….I have a feeling that after 15 years in prison, anything I might say now would be meaningless. However, if we assume I am the same person after 15 years in prison, no way would I admit to the crime.
MaYbE!
no
Probably.
The kid probably sucked anyways, so yes.
Although Krissy_Cole [^^^] , does have a point.
NO! remember that one thing in ‘the Crucible’….?
Considering that it’s going to be either 100 years or an early departure, I don’t see the point of getting out. Even if there is parole.
The key words “UP for parole”. That does not mean you would actually get it. Sounds like a shady deal to me and there is not a chance I would take it.
No!
100 or 10? cause wouldn’t she be dead by the end of a 100yr sentence anyway?
No.
I would never admit to it.
No, I would not. It would be extremely tempting, but I’d be miserable for lying.
I’d rather keep my integrity, despite what others might think it is.
What an awful situation. I don’t think I could bring myself to admit to something that I hadn’t done, even if I did have a “chance” at parole.
Nope, that would be giving in to their evil plots… Heehee, just kidding, but I still wouldn’t…
No confession. I can always appeal and if there’s new evidence found, it’s grounds for the governor to commute the sentence and/or overturn the verdict.
no i wouldn’t. because then people would think i was guilty. isn’t there some kind of dna test or something they could run to exhonourate her?
Fight Mental Illness Stigma
Yes.
A reality of living in life in the outside would bring me much more happiness than any “honor.”
Yeah.
ANYTHING to get out of Jail.
Situation sucks entirely regardless.
i would have to say no on principle- but who really knows until they’re thrown into the situation (which hopefully i never will be)
that would be a tough choice to make… I’d prolly not miss out on my family’s life
its still 100 years. this lady’s in her 20′s or 30′s im gonna guess. No one lives that long. I really hate it when defendants recieve a 100+ year sentence if they can’t get a life sentence.
No…who would want to been seen with a murderer in the first place? They would probably shun me, even if they knew I didn’t do it. But, man, that would be very sad if I had to make that decision.
I have no clue. I would have to actually be in the situation to answer this question.
-KrIsTiN-
Too many thoughts for an “is”. It should read “Here are her thoughts and my question” Pretty nit-picky huh? Ah well, you can come back with my fragmented sentences. Meh
If there were no other means of appeal, and there was a decent chance of coming up for parole, I’d consider taking it. If everyone thinks you did it anyway, then you might as well deal with it and get the chance to raise and be with the remainder of your family. Besides, just because the court says someone is or is not guilty doesn’t mean the public is always going to buy it. Take O.J….
Also, you could go on a hunt for the real murderer and it would be dramatic and dangerous and they’d make a movie out of it later.
Nope. I’d rather die in jail than lie about what happened and rot in the lake of fire.
I’d say the truth always wins, just on principle. If I really didn’t do it, then I wouldn’t admit to it. Yes, I’d want to see my family, but would they want to see me, knowing I’d confessed? Or would they shun me, and not give me a chance to tell them the real truth?
No. Admitting to killing her would destroy my chances of ever being proved innocent.
Ohh.. that’s tricky..
Honestly, I don’t know.
YES!
If they are offering you any kind of deal, then they’re up to something. Get a lawyer and a PI and find out what.
probably. either way, my life’s fucked, might as well take what i can from it. my husband and son would know i didnt do it, thats enough of a legacy for me.
No.
If she really didn’t do it, I doubt she would have a life sentence.
Yes. Everyone already thinks I would have done it. The truth doesn’t matter.
-Jacob
No, thanks. Pop and big brother won’t be thrilled that Killer Mom’s home again.
I highly doubt I’d still be alive before the legal system puts me on its calendar, anyway.
No, thanks. Pop and big brother won’t be thrilled that Killer Mom’s home again.
I highly doubt I’d still be alive before the legal system puts me on its calendar, anyway.
Sorry for the double-post; my text was still swimming around in the box.
No… even if you become available for parole… it doesn’t mean you’re going to get it. And then why have it over your head for the rest of your life that you admitted to killing your daughter just to get out of jail… when you really didn’t? Not smart..
i hope i wouldn’t say yes.
i’d demand for justice!
100 years in prison??? c’mon, no one can live that long in the big house!
I would never admit to doing anything I did not do.
I’m really surprised by how many people admantly said no.
Here’s the way I see it:
You already have life without parole. So 100 years w/ parole is essentially the same but better.
People will think what they will, so “admitting” to it will make a very small difference in the end. Most people already believe you did it, so admitting to it with this huge carrot in front of you might convince an extra 1%.
You have a very real and tangible benefit of potentially being with (and there for) your son/spouse. And being out of jail. People are prioritizing pride/”truth” over that? Short-sighted application of nice-sounding principles – no wonder this world is so crazy.
There’d have to me more details for this to not be a likely yes.
No way. I shouldn’t have to lie about something I didn’t do just because I MIGHT get to see my family again. I’m not a hardcore Christian, but I do have morals. Taking bribes is against my morals. I might be tempted because it sounds nice, but I wouldn’t do it in the end. Krissy_Cole pretty much took what I was going to say as well. I’d be a confessed murderer and if I did get parole, friends and family would most likely treat me cruelly because I confessed to it and that means in their minds that I did do it. I couldn’t do it.
Never. Even if that were the case, I would not tell a lie to ‘save myself’ from prison. I’d at least be able to hold my head up high knowing that I was innocent, despite their false evidence and lies. I would not be able to accept myself knowing I was innocent yet had stooped to lying, making myself seem almost inhuman without there really being a change in my sentence.
Truth is a very powerful substance, however, money has become the most potent istrument in any sort of legal or government dealings.
Personally, were I in her position I wouldn’t because God is the only higher authority I’m concerned about demonstrating my character to at this juncture. Admidting to a crime I did not commit would be immoral and dishonorable and I would feel really bad for the rest of my life about who I am if I did.
That being said, considering what is at stake for this woman, I wouldn’t despise her for caving in to this gesture of blackmail. It’s easy to say no, you wouldn’t do that but trust me, things can look a lot different when you’re in that type of situation.
Nope: if you keep to your word that you’re innocent, you’ll have your dignity to keep.
’nuff said…
I think I would take it…its better than not having a chance at all. I’d think my husband would believe that I was not a murderer. And if I wasn’t, why would it matter what people though?
NO
That is horrible.
I don’t know what I would do…but it is my sincere hope that I am never faced with that decision.
Is a better lawyer in the cards anywhere?
duh. yes.
Geez, somebody beat me to the zero-prop thing first.
Uh, I’d tell them (in so many words) to stuff it. I think you probably knew that based on our interactions, though.
sounds a lot like the salem witch trials
there was a lifetime movie like this..two parents were accused of molesting their kids but were innocent, yet were foudn guilty for multiple charges. Basically it’d be jail for lfie with no parole, and absolutely no contact with kids..for both parents..they were told if they at least admitted to the molestign then they could take steps toheal and eventually see their kids but they refused…lucky for them the kids confessed and said they were never molested..but i dont know what i would do..
depends on wheather ur family will accept you back.
if your family believe u are innocent and thought you were wrongfully accused. yes. i would lie and say i killed my own daughter to get out if i was accepted back into my family without question.
but, if they thought i had killed her and my family hated me, i’d rather stay in jail and lift my head up high, knowing i hadn’t killed my own daughter.
Well, first, I doubt you’d be watching your son grow up. If you’d been in jail for 15 years, I’m sure he’s nearly grown.
But I don’t know. I’d probably be so pissed at the system and the government that I wouldn’t know what to do. When faced with similar situations before, I have refused to compromise my morals, even in the face of punishment. However, after 15 years in prison, things might be different. I guess it depends on the circumstances, but probably not.
I would want my younger sister to get her entire body tatooed, rob a bank, get put in the same prison I was in and break me out!!
(Just for the record, I LOVE PRISON BREAK). . .eh eh eh eh
No.
The deal just doesn’t really tempt me. Maybe if they offered a get out of jail free card instead of 100 years + possible parole, then I’d put more consideration into it. Life in prison…mmm… I would just do the Malcom X thing and read nonstop for all eternity.
-David
Something more extreme is whether or not you’d confess were you in the situation of the Salem Witch Trials.
-David
No. That’s just crazy talk.
no >>
Maybe, but only if I thought there was a decent chance I might get parole.
i don’t know…
I’m really stuborn so no.
I don’t think I would do that. That said, I am not facing the situation. If I can get out, and if I was desperate, who knows.
No, I wouldn’t admit to something I didn’t do — especially as awful as killing my own child.
It’s easy to say no till you’re there. I’ve watched very strong people admit to things they haven’t done because the risks are too great. We have some real problems in the system right now.
I must have had a lousy lawyer is all I can say.
Yes, and then I would regret it/ be depressed about it for the rest of my life.
That is one of those Catch 22′s.
Probably not. No.
probly not, but i’m not in that situation
I’m not sure why they would want me to lie. They did that to this kid once. They told him to say that he killed his sister when he didn’t. They told him evidence that was false and he knew it. It’s all because they’re weak and don’t know. I don’t understand why they don’t admit that they just don’t figure things out sometimes. They do that here to appear strong. But not in the Army. They should in the army. But not in the Police Force. Or at least, not like that.
Yes. Yes I would. I don’t care what the hell a bunch of rednecks in South Carolina care about me.
No
I would talk about it with various ppl b4 making any decision, for example with a lawyer, my husband, etc and so on.
No. I wouldn’t. Even if you did parole, you’d have to live with the stigma for the rest of your life. People on the outside would treat you as a murderer even if you didn’t do it.
The Only way I would take it would be if it was garaunteed parole…… Then I’d probably spend the rest of my life trying to prove my innocence…..
Would i lie to get out of an injustice, a lie in itself?
Yes I would
No.
Never.
No, but gosh, I’d be tempted
I really don’t think this is the sort of question people can answer without being in the situation themselves…despite that many people are answering. I’m sure no one here knows what it’s like to be accused of killing someone, much less falsely or someone they knew and loved. Nor, I doubt at least, does anyone here know what it is like to be in prision for 15 years for a crime he/she didn’t commit. So, I know you want answers, but I think it just doesn’t make sense to say what you would do in that kind of situation…when it, I imagine, is a horrendous and indescribable circumstance.
To be honest, I’m completely torn.
If my family believed me to be 100% not guilty and we could move if I got parole, I would heavily consider it.
Without that full belief though, I would prefer to remain in jail for sure.
What would be the point of getting out to be with people who hated/distrusted you b/c they thought that you’re a murderer?
no
NO
i wouldnt admit it, i would rather die without admitting to something i didnt do. im sure her family believes her, so that is all that matters. shes going to die in prison anyways.
If I didn’t do it, I’m not admitting to it. They can use all their forensics to prove my words.
I think Krissy_Cole said it perfectly
neverrrrr
i hope i would have the strength not to, but after 15 years in prison…i just don’t know.
Yes, I would. Desperate times, desperate measures.
Well, depends what it is. If I say that I committed a really unpopular crime, like assasnating some famous guy that everyone likes, some crazy drunk person could kill me for it. Other than that, I would most definately admit to it. Jail is the ultimate detention, I don’t see myself getting along with inmates, and you have no freedom. Either way, it would be hard finding a job. But at least, I’d be free.
Gosh – I have to agree with Chad9am – It’s easy to say No – I’d never do that – but then after 15 years hmmmmm - I don’t know - I’ve learned over the years not to judge someone whose shoes you’ve never walked in.
I don’t think I’d lie to get out of jail. If I say I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it–and I’d stick to it.
Give up free room and board and lie to do it? Doubtful
No
i’m reading the responses to this and i’m amazed at how many no’s there are… if your pride is a higher priority than your son, then you’re pathetic… you lost one child, not both, and it’s insane to let the loss of the one distract you from being a parent, because that’s what you are… as a parent, it’s your job to do all that you can to raise your child in a respectable way…
Tough call. I guess it would depend on how jail is.
No. If you admitted to it they might quit investigating, and all chances of you being out of jail completely are gone.
only if i’m really desprate like if i were in jail for 16 years or someting like that but if not NOPE!!
If I really didn’t do it, I”d never admit to it. What kind of a legacy are you leaving your son? “who’s your mom? aoh she a murderess of my sister” No way I’d stay in jail. On another note Dan what do you think of Sadaam getting hung before this weekend?
As a mother (knowing I was innocent) I would NEVER NEVER NEVER admit to killing my own child. Can’t say I wouldn’t be tempted, I’m human and all, but I couldn’t ever go through with it.
By the way, karma is a bitch. One day, the real murderer is gonna get his ass kicked, thrown in jail for his life w/o possibility of parole and the mom will be free and will be given thousands of dollars from the government for all the pain and suffering she withstood.
That’s how karma works. Just watch. It may not happen soon, but it WILL happen.
No way. They’ll find out you didn’t do it anyways. Remember that crazy pervert….uh…Karr I think he was.
~m/
No way. Because in my own soul I would know that I was right with God. Whatever man decides is of no consequence.
I’d stay in jail for the rest of my life and my family would support that.
I dunno to be honest…. Its a hard one! I believe that everything happens for a reason. And that there is a GOD who is in control of everything. So i ges i would pray and awful lot!!! lol And know that no matter wht the outcome justice would be done either in this life or the next!
no because if I admit it, my family wouldn’t want to see me anyway, they’d hate me for killing my daughter. If I say I didn’t do it, then maybe my family would still believe me and I’d rather have my family love me for something I didn’t do than hate me for something I didn’t do.
No. End of story.
I don’t know.
Sure.
Its hard to remember, but there are always two sides to every story. Before making a rash decision, try looking the case up online. It is on the internet. You have to know the family…what she was going through. Perhaps it was done by someone else as maybe a threat. She was set up. There’s two sides…and God will be the Judge. It sucks that she has to go through this. She’s had lots against her. But whether or not she is guilty or innocent, at this point, is between her and God. I have strong opinions because I know the situation a little more in detail. I, personally, think she took the heat…this was a lesson or a warning for whatever reason. I believe there are direct family members who know what happened, but instead of biting the bullet, placed the blame on her. There’s a LOT of details to be given. A COWARD has the key to it all…to this day…still a coward.