You can run, but you can't hide...at least, not forever.

bleachededen · Tue Jun 15, 2010 6:43 pm

40 years after escaping the death penalty and breaking parole to become someone else, Frank Dryman is found by the grandson of the man he murdered and sent back to prison, and at 79, for what will probably be the rest of his life.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_wedding_chapel_fugitive

I honestly don't know how I feel about this situation, especially after bonding so closely with The Shawshank Redemption, and understanding that the mistakes of youth don't define the rest of your existence. On the other hand, he's a murderer and a liar (his own "new" family knew nothing of his past), and I don't tolerate such things even from a distance.

I think this is one of life's trickier scenarios. What do you guys think?

etudiant · Sun Jun 20, 2010 1:06 pm

I think that it is true that people do change. Even those that have done pretty terrible things can evolve into quite different individuals.

But I also think that just looking at rehabilitation is not enough. It probably goes without saying that those personally affected by crime would consider that it is not sufficient to just ensure that the perpetrator has repented and changed his ways.

But there are also more diffuse effects on society. Almost all cultures around the world agree that certain basic acts are wrong- murder, robbery, that sort of thing, are not accepted. Without a sense that justice is being done, and there are consequences for those that commit these crimes, at least to a reasonable extent, confidence in the institutions of society can erode. It’s human nature that when respect is lost for larger structures, then most will turn inward, and look out for themselves and their loved ones to the exclusion of others. Many Hollywood disaster flicks have been based around this idea.

And we don’t have to look to Hollywood. In many places there is little respect for police, the court system, or other arms of government, and that can led to a chaotic situation. Mexico today is a good example. It is very hard to effect policy there because very many of those in the criminal justice system and the military have no confidence in, or respect for the system, and so they simply look out for themselves as best they can. When the system is breaking down around you, it becomes ever harder to be the only one standing fast.

In order for people to have confidence in the system, they have to believe that their values are accepted and validated, and that they are enforced by workable institutions.

So yes, I think this guy needs to do the time, even if a lot has changed in the meantime.

bleachededen · Sun Jun 20, 2010 2:03 pm

Thank you for your comments, etudiant, they are well thought and insightful, as always. I'm pretty sure I agree with you that he deserves to do the time, no matter how much he's "repented" or become a different person. You can't erase your past, no matter how hard you try or how much you may want to, and if you did something that is morally wrong on nearly every scale possible, you need to be punished for it, no matter how long ago the crime took place. As you said, you have to face the consequences of your actions, and his is to spend time in prison. At least this way he's had a chance to live a "decent" life before he dies in prison, so perhaps he should consider himself lucky and take the punishment his crime deserves with grace and dignity, especially if he is so "repentant" and "upstanding" now.

Chris OConnor · Tue Jun 22, 2010 2:29 am

Before reading the article I felt a little bad for the guy. He had evaded the law for 40 years and lived an exemplary life. Imagine how painful it would be to be his age and get yanked back in prison.

Ahh, but then I read the story of what he did and I imagine how he robbed his victim of the balance of his life. Why did he have to kill him? Nothing in the story tells us the answer to that question. And why was Frank Dryman such an angry young man that he would make death threats to the court room?

Also, I don't see a bit of remorse in him. So screw him. He doesn't even remember his victims name and he lived the past 40 years without looking over his shoulder. He deserves to spend the rest of his days in prison.

Still I feel bad for anyone in jail.

vezumbr7 · Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:28 pm

You will feel bad until it's related to you, then things change and even who was before against death penalty will want to see the offender death.
My point is; even with this guy having a non-criminal life afterwards, we can't allow subjectivity in ours law systems, otherwise it will not be equal.
It may sound sad that someone will have to serve a sentence for something a long time ago, specially after a "good" life, but this is what you think not what is settled in the society.

bookwormservice · Wed Jun 23, 2010 4:01 pm

don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

Found by the grandson, that is Awesome!

Forum rules

You can run, but you can't hide...at least, not forever. Tweet This Topic

Who is online

Chat Room Always Open!