Jail term for squatter escaping -10c weather

[Feck]

Lost his house, lost his job . It can happen to any of us , and living rough in -10c is probably something those who are so keen to condemn the man should try .

[Trolldor]

I've no problem with condemning a man who entered an open apartment and stole a set of keys all for the purposes of using that residence without the permission of the owner.

[Feck]

I've no problem with condemning a man who entered an open apartment and stole a set of keys all for the purposes of using that residence without the permission of the owner.

If had been my house I wouldn't even have called the cops .

[Trolldor]

Good for you. I, on the other hand, am wondering why he didn't just ask someone for somewhere to stay over the winter.
Or go to a shelter, or to a police station or hospital, a doctor's office, and get some contact information.
He doesn't even have to use a pay phone, if he asked them politely enough they'd let him use theirs.

[JimC]

I've no problem with condemning a man who entered an open apartment and stole a set of keys all for the purposes of using that residence without the permission of the owner.

Condemning, as in he has done the wrong thing, yes...

However, life is complex... If he had done a series of other actions (trashing the joint, stealing and selling possessions etc), then the reasonable level of condemnation could increase significantly...

I know where you are coming fronm, however; the unbiased application of judicial process to acts which are clearly illegal. However, it is the sentencing component which lets judges react to the nuances of motivation and culpability...

Judgement on this case is complicated by the reasonable and pragmatic assessment made by many posters that he may well be be better off in jail in a winter environment...

[Trolldor]

Except that now not only is he homeless, he has a criminal record. Statistics say he's fucked.

[maiforpeace]

I've no problem with condemning a man who entered an open apartment and stole a set of keys all for the purposes of using that residence without the permission of the owner.

If had been my house I wouldn't even have called the cops .

I would have called the cops. I have sympathy for the man, but finding an uninvited person in my house would probably freak the hell out of me...it's an invasion of my privacy. I remember the fear I had to live with for quite a while after someone tried to break into my house when I was there. It's very scary, and being homeless isn't enough of a reason to allow them free rein to take away my sense of security.

[Warren Dew]

Except that now not only is he homeless, he has a criminal record. Statistics say he's fucked.

He may already have had a criminal record.

[Azathoth]

A criminal record is less of a problem than hypothermia

[Woodbutcher]

We had homeless alkies here who'd heave a brick through a department store window in November to be arrested and sentenced for the winter. A friend of mine was in court one day when a sentencing for one of these gents was done. The perp was well known to the judge, who said: "This is getting to be a habit with you. How many times have you been sentenced now, Mike?" The fellow looked at the judge and uttered: "I don't know, your honour, I was hoping you were keeping track". Brought down the house, I hear.

[mistermack]

I think the judge got it right.
What the woman, or the police felt, was not relevant. It's the crime that counts.
He stole the keys with a purpose. Who can say what he would have stolen, if they hadn't come back and caught him there? You've only got his word for it that he only wanted to get out of the cold.
There are lots of things he could have done, without invading someone's home.
And the idea of punishment is to act as a deterrent to others, as well.
I want people to be deterred from squatting in my place when I'm away.
.