Inmate asks to be civilly committed because he will have no opportunities as a registrant
Occasionally we come across a case where an individual asks for some unorthodox relief. A case out of the District of Arizona, United States v. Self, is such as case.
Richard Self asked the court to order him civilly committed upon his release because, “he has no intention of registering as a sex offender “for something he did not do,” and he will be homeless upon release.”
The court, “acknowledges the difficult situation Mr. Self will be in upon his release from prison. But the Court simply has no authority to order him civilly committed.” It’s a sad reality that many people would rather remain locked up than live “free” as a registrant.
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FAC:
Any chance you could post this opinion? I’m really curious about the court’s reasoning that it has no authority to civilly commit.
Ironic that if the state made the request, the court probably would have sentenced him regardless of whatever came out of the token hearing.
And yes, I meant to say sentence because there’s no functional difference between civil commitment and criminal conviction.
Smart move so many RSO’s living in the street without food and so on why not go back to jail and get 3 hots and a bed and if you can get civilly committed you go to a very light security prison or detention center where you wont be targeted all the time. Or the states could lift the restrictions and help us get proper jobs and become a part of society again? but wheres the money in that for them? better to keep us in for profit prisons. I cannot predict the future but my guess is Mr. Self commits a small crime to get arrested again so he can go back to jail where he feels at home and it will give all the morons out there fuel to say “see they do commit more crime after their release”
Well, if the gentleman really wants to get locked up again after he’s released, someone should tell him how easy that is for someone on the registry
Shoot prison isn’t so nice a place.
Joe
it is ironic, WE do not want to get locked up and they ( the law ) find ways to violate us for not eating green cheetos on Tuesday. Yet here is a man who is begging to be committed and the courts tell him no.
So I am guessing, he will do something stupid to get re-arrested and sent back. Sad all the way around.
He’s underestimating himself. If you aren’t given opportunities, MAKE opportunities. If your opportunities pan out, hire others in need of the same opportunities. I’m a machinist with an engineering degree. It didn’t happen overnight. If I can do it, anyone can.
Ben
To add to that, I think if ANYONE can survive time in prison, they can handle whatever outside life throws at them. Although our situation sucks, I can wake up each morning in my own bed, not having 45 other guys looking at me saying “Good morning sunshine”.
I can go to the fridge and pick out whatever I want , at least whatever I have on hand, and not the prison potatoes loaded with sand and hair.
I can watch whatever I want on tv and not what the 20 gang members decide to watch.
So yeah, I will do whatever it takes to keep from going back to camping with 1000 other smelly ,farting guys 24 hours a day and living out of a 4x2x2 metal box at the end of your bunk.
Think about they aren’t free when released thats just starts all fear angry scared for their and families life yes no one is perfect but others get treated a hell of alot better then murders and sex offenders do no matter what crime they did or when they did iti hope him and family help fight registery all over country
Reminds me of a quote
Hope for the best,
Prepare for the worst
And expect nothing.