Mike Nifong sentenced to 1 day in county jail for criminal contempt?
The Durham DA who prosecuted the Duke lacrosse players was just sentenced to 1 day in the Durham county jail after being found guilty of criminal contempt charges for deliberately withholding exculpatory DNA evidence at a hearing in September, 2006. Any comments???
booger08192007-08-31T15:28:10Z
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I don't know what our justice system is coming to...the guy who raped a little girl and then the judge wouldn't send him to jail because he was too SHORT????!!!!......these judges should have to apply for their jobs like everyone else and have someone to answer to!
It's true that Nifong's career is completely ruined. And his reputation is permanently damaged. So some might say that that is punishment enough. But he still inflicted great harm, psychological damage, and pain against the people he knowingly falsely accused. He also put their families through hell.
And let's not forget that after this case, every other case that Nifong was involved in could be called into question. Every case that was at all questionable or close will have to be investigated. That will cost the tax payers a lot of money.
Remember that this was not about incompetence. If it were, it could be excused. Nifong meant to do this.
For all the damage he has done, one day really seems like nothing.
Of course, he shouldn't go to jail for life or for decades. But I think a reasonable penalty wold be a few years in jail. His sentence should be such that the earliest parole opportunity wouldn't come for at least two years.
That would send a message to all people working in the criminal justice system. The message would be that it is totally wrong to abuse your power and to lie about innocent people. It would say that we value truth very highly.