An Interesting Justification for Jail Time |TODAY|

Submitted by dan. on 2007-08-31 11:46.
Courts | Prisons | Victim Support

In reaching her decision to sentence Chavez to 15 days in jail, County Judge Martha Minot said the family members of the victims need their own version of "restorative justice" - they need to know that Chavez's liberty will be restricted to some degree. The jail time is not intended to rehabilitate Chavez, punish him or protect society, she said. "I've watched Chavez in court the several times that he has appeared, and he is broken-hearted," Minot said.

An Albuquerque man who pleaded guilty to causing an accident that killed three teenagers earlier this year south of Hesperus was sentenced Tuesday to 15 days in jail.

In an emotional court hearing, family members of the victims gave tearful testimonials and showed pictures of their loved ones. Most expressed forgiveness toward Eugene Chavez, who pleaded guilty last week to one count of careless driving causing death and one count of careless driving causing bodily injury, both misdemeanors.

"I don't hate you Eugene, but I am angry," said Christine Romero, mother of Larry Romero, 18, who was killed. "I lost my baby boy."

Chavez apologized for the March 17 accident.

"My heart goes out to everybody who has been affected by this tragic incident," he said. "I'm just very sorry that this tragic affair happened. ... I'm still trying to process everything that has happened."

Read it all. This is a compelling account of a tragedy and of the approach the court took to try to balance the needs of the victims with the obligations of the offender.