Was Polis wrong in Peters’ clemency reasoning?
Re: “Governor censured for Peters clemency,” May 21 news story
The base of the Democratic Party is outraged over the governor’s decision to commute the sentence of Tina Peters. Peters, of course, is a non-violent 70-year-old offender, and the chances of her repeating the behavior are probably minimal.
Why was there so little concern expressed about his decision to commute the sentences for violent and repeat offenders? Where was the unified outrage when Gov. Jared Polis vetoed labor law reform, environmental legislation and wage theft legislation? And that is a short list of what was once considered the core values of the Democratic Party.
I understand the governor’s reasoning on all the , but calling the Peters case his “legacy” tells us a lot about the state of our politics. Public policy decisions always need to strive for middle ground, and those leadership decisions often referred to as arrogant can just as easily be called principled leadership. Let me remind your readers that most offenders serve their time in community corrections, not jails or prisons. Most inmates are released to community corrections from prisons. Their response to supervision is a critical factor. Many offenders even choose incarceration over community supervision requirements.
The primary purpose of long prison sentences is to protect the public, but the preservation of power and revenge dominated this controversy. Both parties have weaponized the justice system. Let’s de-escalate tribalism.
And remember, there are four sides to every story. My side, your side, the truth and politics.
Timothy D. Allport, Arvada
Re: “Here’s why Polis is right to reduce Peters’ sentence,” May 16 editorial
I worked for Gov. Jared Polis for six years. Though he always either mispronounced my name, I just shrugged it off as the eccentricities of his personality or his casual enthusiasm for his minions. He was supportive of the energy my agency put into reducing crime and helping Coloradans, so that was my primary interest.
But when I read his statement rationalizing his commutation of Tina Peters’ sentence, I was so saddened. In that moment I understood that he doesn’t understand how the criminal justice system actually works. And the people who advise him are similarly naive.
The Common Law principles that shape sentencing are about accountability for the lawbreaker’s actions. That is first and foremost. But there are also many collateral goals.
Besides “just deserts,” there is the concept of deterrence–both specific deterrence, intended to discourage the offender from committing similar crimes in the future, and general deterrence, intended to send a message to the public and others considering similar acts.
It is also intended to support rehabilitation, repairing harm to the community and those directly impacted by the offender’s action, and reinforcing community norms and values.
All of these values were ignored by the governor.
Clemency should be reserved for those who are subject to unfair sentencing laws. Not those who have been sentenced appropriately and with the concept of justice foremost.
I strongly disagree with the opinion of The Post. It presents as under-informed about the purpose of the judicial process and is deeply disappointing.
When the people you think share your values actually ignore them, for whatever reason or personal gain they pursue, it is a heart-wrenching reminder that politicians are in it for themselves and not the people they profess to protect.
Joe Thome, Westminster
Editor’s note: Thome served as director of the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice.
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