Pennsylvania judge sentences trio to learn English

[Bluebear]

A judge known for creative sentencing has ordered three Spanish-speaking men to learn English or go to jail.

The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said.

The men, Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez and Rafael Guzman-Mateo, plus a fourth defendant, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario, all needed translators when they pleaded guilty Tuesday.

"Do you think we are going to supply you with a translator all of your life?" the judge asked them.

The four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, were in a group that police said accosted two men on a street in May. The two said they were asked if they had marijuana, told to empty their pockets, struck on the head, threatened with a gun and told to stay off the block.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080327/ap_on_re_us/english_or_jail&printer=1;_ylt=AqvoIRGU57W5OtrVNoH4YbZH2ocA

[Elspeth]

1. Probably better than going to jail. And crime is strongly correlated with illiteracy

Who is going to teach them?

[no_hypocrisy]

2. It will be overturned on appeal.

[dbackjon]

3. Why would they appeal?

They got probation, with the chance to learn English, which they need to do. They'd be stupid to appeal and end up in jail for a couple of years.

Nothing cruel or unusual about this.

It should be a standard for all judges to follow.


This judge has done similiar decisions before - nevef overturned.

[jedr]

5. Seems to me;

That the judge offered them the three things that it will take to keep them out of jail again. If you came here to live , then you need to assimilate. That requires learning the language, having some education and holding a job. I may get flamed for this , but it makes sense to me.

[PCIntern]

4. In PA...

the State Supreme Court could sentence them to life imprisoment or death. At least one of the justices was elected (we do that here) on a get-tough-on-crime platform.

just kidding, but ya never know around here...