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Caroline Giuliani's Shoplifting Sentence: One Day of Community Service

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 10:12:16 AM EST
Tags: Caroline Giuliani (all tags)
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Caroline Giuliani, Harvard student and daughter of Rudy Giuliani, will be sentenced to one day of community service for stealing $100 of makeup from Sephora. If she stays out of trouble for six months, the charge will be dismissed and she won't have a permanent record. New York prosecutors say she is not receiving special treatment, that's the standard punishment for such offenses.

It's interesting that a gram of cocaine, which also costs about $100, is a felony in many states and may result a prison sentence. Even federally, while a misdemeanor, it carries a penalty of up to a year in prison. Stealing involves a third party victim. Why should a gram of cocaine carry a greater penalty than stealing? This is just another example of our misguided drug policy.

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    Caroline Giuliani's Shoplifting Sentence: One Day of Community Service | 9 comments (9 topical)

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    Couldn't agree more, Jeralyn. (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 10:33:03 AM EST
    The War on Drugs is just another racket. It's politically used for knee-jerks. People running for office want to be "tough on crime." since violent crime is down and white collar crime is ignored or settled without court, somebody has to be targeted. Right now, it's drug users (dealers also) and undocumented migrants.

    Besides, it's better than worrying about the second year of the lost economic decade. Why worry about the unemployed, when those employed drug dealers, growers, etc.,  are making a profit that we need to take away?

    If the system really (5.00 / 0) (#2)
    by JamesTX on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 10:50:18 AM EST
    worked in the way it is theoretically designed -- where the will of an informed public guides public policy -- then your argument couldn't lose. It's a slam dunk. It's impeccable logic. We are giving our wealth to drug cartels at a time when the people need it the most, and the reason it is happening is contraband laws.

    The U.S. drug policy, with its associated indifference to logic and opposition from the public, is the clear and unambiguous evidence of a government that is not representative of the governed. Our system doesn't work. Drug laws and their consequences prove it. What is the point in politics until we understand the reigns of power?

    Parent

    She's already serving a life sentence of being (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by steviez314 on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 10:55:25 AM EST
    Rudy's daughter.

    That, and the shame of having been caught (none / 0) (#7)
    by scribe on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 01:22:28 PM EST
    Wonder what Bill Bennett has to say about this.

    Parent
    Calling this young woman abusive names (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Peter G on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 02:34:50 PM EST
    based on seeing her picture in the newspaper, and perhaps based on who her father is, is way out of line.  And out of keeping with the spirit of this blog.

    thanks, Peter (none / 0) (#9)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 03:10:06 PM EST
    I deleted that comment.

    Parent
    Watch that talk J... (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 11:23:11 AM EST
    because you know some two-bit pol will come along saying "then punish shoplifters more harshly!", no one ever comes along and says "you're right, lets eliminate or seriously reduce the punishment for possesing banned substances, this is retarded".

    For whatever reason, we're collectively stuck in thinking laws against drug possesion are beyond question...like an 11th Commandment from god or something.  I sure don't get it.  

    Something stinks allright... (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 11:53:14 AM EST
    the foul stench of tyrannical prohibition is what my schnoz detects.

    What are they teaching in schools these days? (none / 0) (#10)
    by Gerald USN Ret on Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 02:05:20 AM EST
    What are they teaching in schools these days?

    It seemed and still seems pretty simple to this old sailor.  I learned that you don't get to choose the laws that you obey.

    Sure you can work to change the laws but until there is a change, the law is the law.

    ... and yes I understand "civil disobedience" to make a point, but there it seems that you have to be willing to accept the penalty.  However I really don't think that the young ladies we are speaking of are really involved in a drive to change laws.  They are just ignoring what is inconvenient to them and expecting  to get away with it.

    I guess they would call each of these laws that they are breaking "an inconvenient law."

    Caroline Giuliani's Shoplifting Sentence: One Day of Community Service | 9 comments (9 topical)

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