Is a child murderer vulnerable?

I am so sorry pam. And very angry too. I cannot imagine the agony you must have gone, and are going, through. It is every mother's nightmare.

(((hugs))) to you, although I know that cannot help.

He is a loss to society.

pam - you have expressed it so much better than any of the rest of us who have not suffered the terrible tragedy that befell your son.

I can understand your anger at the short sentences - I too have a big concern about the way that a life sentence is eroded until the victims do not feel that justice has been served - this cannot be right.

But as you rightly say, murder in prison is not right and quite unacceptable, however angry we might feel with the criminal.

Your balanced approach does you great credit and i can only send my admiration and sympathy.

positivepam, I can only echo Mishap's post.

Your post puts it all in perspective Pam. Prison sentences are often far too short, and don't reflect the gravity of what has happened. Murderers get released on life licence and, all of a sudden, they start complaining that they've done their time, so why can't the authorities stop bringing up the crime they committed? They are serving the life sentence until they themselves die, albeit supervised, then unsupervised, in the community.

The public are not always aware, but quite a few lifers get called back to prison, even ten or more years after release, if their behaviour gives cause for concern. It's a tough road to re-release, once a lifer has been recalled.

I have just got to this thread! This guy should probably have been on a seclusion rule of some sort. I am in no way suggesting sympathy for him he needed locking up for good.

With regard to whether or not abused children going on to repeat abuse, I would lay bets that this guy probably suffered a great deal of abuse and neglect as a child.

I suspect those perpetrators who use extreme bullying and physical violence to partners or children are very likely themselves to have suffered seriously abusive and neglectful behaviour of this kind as children. Lack of proper nurturing and proper bonding in just the first year or so is a major factor for such behaviour later on.

Those persons who have been raised in functional families with good basic emotional care as children, are much better equipped to weather all sorts of difficulties and although if some of this "group" do suffer abuse and experience a lot of distress; I suspect they would be far less likely to re-enact the behaviour.

positivepam.
No, you certainly haven't waffled. What you've done is to tell of this terrible crime. You've been very clear, and how you've expressed your experiences and given your opinions is admirable. Your strength shines through.

positivepam many sympathies for your sad loss but also my admiration on your strength in how you are managing such a difficult situation that many of us cannot imagine. I think your attitude has a lot to teach us all about trying not to become bitter and vengeful.

No, he isn't a loss to society, but this shouldn't be able to happen in our prisons and we don't want, surely, to become a vigilante state.

Exactly, positivepam very well said. What strength of character you display having suffered the loss of your son in such a dreadful manner.

I just want to say thank you to you all, for your support and generous comments, you have made me feel very welcome at GN and I look forward to getting to know you all.

pam

Pam My sympathy and admiration too.

I entirely agree with the view that in a civilised society, with a fair judicial system, prisoners should be adequately protected whatever their crime. Yet, yet I cannot find it in my heart to feel sorry about what has happened to this man. It's not a matter of him getting what he deserved - there are many criminals whose crimes are equally heinous, who, thankfully, do not get murdered in prison. No, it's more a feeling that every blow given to him was one for that poor helpless child. Heart over head, I guess. Pam, your name says it all,

j08 I don't think "twaddle" can be bumptious any more than it can be self-effacing. Surely only a person can be bumptious – and I am sure you wouldn't mean deliberately to insult me.

Did anyone watch "Black Mirror" (Channel 4) this evening? I think it has some relevance to this discussion and in a way shows the logical outcome of the belief in "an eye for an eye".