Mountain out of a Molehill?

[flybye023]

This story has been in the news lately, I think it may have made national news but I'm not sure. It certainly has made local news. In a nutshell, a third-grade student left her $150 coat behind at school one evening. A teacher took it and tried to sell it online. She was caught, arrested, and tried and now faces a prison sentence and some fines.

My mother feels that this was a waste of taxpayers' money. She feels that it was a minor issue and that there are more important things that the police, lawyers, and school administrators should be focussed on rather than wasting their time on a stolen coat. She does agree that the teacher was wrong but that it should never have made it through the courts.

My sister and I disagree. It's not like the coat languished in the lost and found for a couple of months. It was left overnight. Also, it was worth $150, not $20 or $40. The teacher has never really shown any remorse. She has apologized but not until after she was faced with charges. I have not seen any point where she offered reimbursement (supposedly her puppy destroyed the coat before she could sell it or return it). She claims the coat seen online was another, similar coat--not the one she took. Yeah, right.

Basically, I think that if she had apologized when confronted, returned the stolen object/offered monetary reimbursement, and in all ways tried to make amends, then maybe, just maybe one could feel justified in saying this went to far. But, she didn't. She consistently lied, covered up, and made up fantastic stories to cover her ass. So I feel she got exactly what she deserved.

[AFPheonix]

I also kind of have to wonder about what other ethical lapses that this woman might have in regards to the children in her care.
I sure wouldn't want her as a role model for any of my kids, that's for sure.

[BroomJockey]

Sorry, but theft is theft. Criminal charges, fines, and FIRING should be that teacher's fate. I wouldn't want that person within 500 yards of my kids, had I any. If they're willing to lie and steal, what else will they do?

[Boozy]

I'll admit that I can see your mom's point.

The problem here is that the woman was a teacher who stole from a child, leading to media coverage followed (presumably) by public outrage.

But the justice system is supposed to be blind. Who the accused and the victim are is not supposed to matter.

So let's put different characters into the story: A co-worker steals someone's coat from the office. Or someone steals their neighbour's coat from their car. Or a bartender steals one from a customer.

Would any of these people, presumably with no priors, be facing prison time for what amounts to petty theft? Probably not.

I know a lot of people say "theft is theft" and don't differentiate, but the reality of the situation is that the US already has an overburdened court and prison system. (Is this an American story?) The US has a higher percentage of their population in prison than any other nation already. At some point "zero-tolerance" policies become completely unmanageable.

[flybye023]

It's my understanding that the reason she faces prison time is because of the whole selling over the internet. Apparently it is a felony because of selling stolen property across states lines or something like that.

News story from last week.

[BroomJockey]

Would any of these people, presumably with no priors, be facing prison time for what amounts to petty theft? Probably not.

Well, in the Canadian system, pretty much any crime can be punishable by jail time, especially if it carries a component of a fine, as you can choose to serve rather than paying the fine.

So, yes. I said jail time, but I didn't mean "ZOMG! YEARS!" Also, probation's fine in my eyes, I just never think of that.

Yes, substitute any other players, and it's a minor crime, but it can still be punished by jail time with those players, depending on the judge and the willingness of the person to pay fines etc.

I think, too, that any person in a position to confiscate items (such as teacher, security guard, et al) should be strongly discouraged from selling lost and found items, or anything else, as what's to stop them from saying "That's a nice (insert item), I think you should hand that over." So if a slightly stronger sentence than would be normal is handed out, it's a good thing.