Make Fraudulent ID's, Go to Jail for 5 years...During Christmas only.

COMMENTARY

I was going through some news story and came across an AP piece, where a 44 year old female was convicted making fraudulent ID's for people. The sentence can be up to fifteen years in prison, but she only got probation. She does have to spend sometime in jail though. At least three days a year during Christmas. She has to do this during her five year probation period.

So, I was trying to figure this out. If you were going to send someone to jail, why only for three days during Christmas? The article does not say the reasons, but only says that if she violates her probation she can be forced to serve the entire fifteen year sentence. I for the life of me cannot think of a reason why just during Christmas. I know judges do not always have the most conventional sentences, but what the hell is this? I mean seriously, why is it that we have people who have a "felony" possession charge get years in jail and this woman only get a slap on the wrist probation with the caveat she has to be in jail during Christmas for the next five years. I even know of a person who has sexual misconduct with a minor charge and only got a six year sentence. That means if she does not violate her probation she will only be in jail for a minimum of fifteen days in the next five years.

Now, when I was reading through the comments of the article some people think its because of the convicted individual is black and that is why the light sentence. I do not think that has anything to do with it. I think it has to to with the non standardized sentences people are given. Now I am not saying she should get the full fifteen years in prison for this crime she committed. But what does it say when we have a justice system for people get more time for simple possession then to make fraudulent government identification cards? Or going back to the instance I brought up about someone who had sex with an underage female and only got a total of six years of prison time.

I believe that Judges should have some say in how sentences need to carried out, but sentences like these is one of the reasons that a lot of people are losing faith in the justice system.