Heart-ache: Judge sentences defendants to learn English
posted at 8:39 pm on April 1, 2008 by Allahpundit
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I wonder where the Hot Air readership will come down on this one.
A judge known for creative sentencing has ordered three Spanish-speaking men to learn English or go to jail.
The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said.
The men, Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez and Rafael Guzman-Mateo, plus a fourth defendant, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario, all needed translators when they pleaded guilty Tuesday.
“Do you think we are going to supply you with a translator all of your life?” the judge asked them.
If they don’t learn, their parole’s revoked and they’re in the pen for up to two years. No one objects to the GED/job requirements, which are aimed at keeping them busy and forcing them to learn skills that will integrate them into society and help them succeed; the sticky point is the English demand, which is aimed at … keeping them busy and forcing them to learn a skill that will integrate them into society and help them succeed. For a taste of the criticism from the left, read this editorial featuring a headline that would make Geraldo Rivera proud. The point about arbitrary legal standards for what qualifies as “learning English” is fair enough, although there are of course objective yardsticks in this area. (Not unlike the GED, n’est-ce pas?) But keep reading for a descent into stupidity, beginning with an indignant reminder that speaking Spanish wasn’t an element of the crime — neither was being unemployed — and ending with a brainteaser about why the judge, in an English-speaking society, doesn’t sentence English-speakers to learn Spanish.
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I always felt that to be eligible for parole one must be conversant in English and have a High School equivalency. If not, continue studying or fulfill the complete sentence.
DAT60A3 on April 1, 2008 at 8:44 PM
Predictably, the article doesn’t say what nationality these men are.
Laura on April 1, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Learning a foreign language is hard. But it’s still a million times better than going to jail.
SoulGlo on April 1, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Speaking English can also get you fired, as in this case
Tru2my2 on April 1, 2008 at 8:55 PM
Hope about: Put them in jail AND make them learn English, get a GED, job, etc…
Vigilante on April 1, 2008 at 8:56 PM
“How” about…
Vigilante on April 1, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Strange…Because a few months ago, I went with a friend who was up for first DUI charge, and I hadn’t been in a courtroom in a few years either. The judge comes out and makes a 3 or 4 minute speech…the usual legal stuff…and then, a guy speaking Spanish comes up, and repeats everything in Spanish.
JetBoy on April 1, 2008 at 8:58 PM
What a gross violation of their rights! Did they have access to a Consular representative? Next thing they’ll be accused of having crossed the imaginary border between Mexico and the U.S. that some have imposed on this region.
/sarc off
Perfesser on April 1, 2008 at 8:58 PM
OHHH THE HUMANITY!!!! It’s a fate worse that DEATH!!!
CynicalOptimist on April 1, 2008 at 9:00 PM
I’d rather see creative sentencing like this where the parole is based on learning the skills necessary to get a start in American society.
Compare with McCain’s idea just to give all the non-English speaking illegals a pass on the “citizenship thing” without requiring the little brown criminals get the skills necessary to be a productive part of society. Surely even the hordes of McCain Quislings on this forum would agree that assimilation to the new order would be better if the folks you are pandering toward understood a damned lie you were spouting in the name of “bipartisanship.”
highhopes on April 1, 2008 at 9:01 PM
If they are guilty of a crime, then the law has a hold on them. I’d take the deal if I were them.
AbaddonsReign on April 1, 2008 at 9:03 PM
How does one say, “Hell yeah!” in Spanish?
SouthernGent on April 1, 2008 at 9:04 PM
You might be able to force them to learn English… but you’ll never be able to force them to use English. And that’s the real problem.
Lee on April 1, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Are they illegal aliens? If so, make them serve out their sentence before deporting them. If our government made the mistake of already naturalizing them then require them to learn English or else their citizenship will be revoked. If they were born in America yet can’t speak our language then fire their teachers and school administrators and make them learn English before they’ll be considered for parole.
If this isn’t legal, change the law so it is.
FloatingRock on April 1, 2008 at 9:06 PM
Native American, I think. :)
Seriously, a year is very reasonable for young people to learn enough English to pass a standardized English test. I’m another kind of Native American (the born-here kind) and I knew enough Spanish at the time to pass a mid-college level reading and writing test, more comprehensive than the type of test they’ll be taking.
And as to “different testing systems make it unfair,” imagine two of the young men in front of the judge a year from now. One’s got no job and has made no effort to learn English. One’s got a job, has worked hard, but due to an “unfair” testing system, has come one point short of officially passing the test. Yet he’s conversing with the judge in English and has clearly made the effort.
Does anyone picture this judge sending defendant # 2 to jail? I sure don’t.
This judge has shown these young men a lot of respect by showing them he wants to welcome them to stay in our country if they so choose and to succeed here, and gave them a very reasonable chance to do so. Go judge!
inviolet on April 1, 2008 at 9:06 PM
ACLU should be chiming in any time now.
But screw ‘em, it’s a fantastic idea. More sentencing like that, you’ll start seeing illegal immigrants turn around and go back.
MadisonConservative on April 1, 2008 at 9:06 PM
Oh the horrors,heres an idea,plan an English only
referandum.And watch the fun begin,we did it in our
city.We became the black sheep of Canada,Quebec had
a fit.
canopfor on April 1, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Dios mio! Muy mucho horrible!
Seriously, great idea. From a judge no less. I’m stunned. We need a thousand more judges like this.
Vote Sauron 08 on April 1, 2008 at 9:15 PM
I’ve noticed you railing about brown skin before. Got a special dislike for it, don’t ya? It’s a really good sales technique for a position against illegal immigration.
a capella on April 1, 2008 at 9:15 PM
It’s silly and counterproductive to pretend that the average person can get very far in the USA without English. Some Spanish-language newspapers and pols want to ignore that because they want their special audience forever. It’s a hard fact which hispanic professionals, for instance, some “stranded” here by Chavez’s madness, have learned the hard way.
ForNow on April 1, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Anyone bother to ask if they were in the United States legally or illegally, regardless of what country they came from?
Seven Percent Solution on April 1, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Wait a tick,who’s getting stuck with the bill!
canopfor on April 1, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Not particularly but until Canadians start sneaking across the borders in the numbers as our little friends to the south, brown-skinned criminals is pretty descriptive of the majority of the demographic. I love Hispanic culture and vibrancy but that doesn’t mean I condone illegal immigration. Why do you support illegals?
highhopes on April 1, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Well if they were speaking Spanish they were probably Americans.
aengus on April 1, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Seems like a slap on the wrist to me. Obviously their crime warrants jail time, and last time I checked parole was a privilege you earned by meeting a certain set of stipulations, usually good behavior. I don’t see why this set of stipulations is not valid.
If I were the judge, and those “civil rights” ninnies complained about it, I’d say “Fine, forget the parole, head straight to jail. Tried to do something nice, and you call it a rights violation.”
Gunhaver on April 1, 2008 at 9:19 PM
I don’t know what to make of the sentence.
I’d rather see those thugs learning English in jail, supervised.
But we all know that the System is not perfect and even well-intended judgments like this one can become an easy getaway for criminals.
But alas, at least they can learn the drugs street-talk in English so they won’t give hard time to the cops and this judge again.
In other news, Bill O’Reilly announced today that he will start teaching, at his home, a three-day program rehab for those who are addicted to phone sex.
Indy Conservative on April 1, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Don’t pull that crap, please.
MadisonConservative on April 1, 2008 at 9:28 PM
My first question, are they here legally? If not, what country are they from? What do you do when they don’t show for their English classes?
Personally, I think if they’re here illegally, they should be deported pronto.
4shoes on April 1, 2008 at 9:29 PM
No.
The US.
Don’t understand? Neither do I.
aengus on April 1, 2008 at 9:31 PM
I thought this is what all the liberal senators wanted. Did we not hear from Ted Kennedy and Nancy, and from the rest of those sorry bunches, that Illegials must learn English???
BroncosRock on April 1, 2008 at 9:31 PM
This is the USA. Learn English or go live in Mexico, or Canada.
tx2654 on April 1, 2008 at 9:34 PM
This is the USA.Learn English or go live in Mexico,
or Canada.
tx2654 on April 1,2008 at 9:34PM.
tx2654:Haha,please send the non-English to Quebec,
or better yet,Venezuela!
canopfor on April 1, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Wonderful, now how does Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez and Rafael Guzman-Mateo and a fourth defendant, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario spell relief?
A.C.L.U.
With a congress too CS to adopt English as the official language in a Constitutionally acceptable bill, these guys who may well not have a legal right to be here will have a legal right to a discrimination settlement.
See above.
Speakup on April 1, 2008 at 9:50 PM
So, basically, after commiting an armed robbery on two citizens, these thugs can stay on parole and out of jail if they learn English? That’s a sweetheart deal. And 24 months for armed robbery? Good golly. Well, at least I know if I’m gonna do any criminal acts, I’ll go to Pennsylvania first.
VolMagic on April 1, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Emphasis mine.
Racist much? Not to mention, what you said about McCain is an absolute untruth.
JetBoy on April 1, 2008 at 9:54 PM
this was last weeks news.
I still don’t have enough info to decide what’s what.
If they’re illegal and broke the law, send them away/ out of this country.
Make everyone that wants to be a US citizen learn English. Period.
Isn’t it ‘required’ anyway?
shooter on April 1, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Yes, well, the standards for Americans are quite a bit higher. The racism of low expectations, you see; it’s completely unreasonable to expect brown people to obey the law.
Laura on April 1, 2008 at 10:15 PM
What friggin’ country allows people to sneak in and try to deal with a court appearance without speaking the native language.
Thank you, judge. Thank You.
Press one for go to jail, or learn the words that are coming out of my mouth, in my country.
Hening on April 1, 2008 at 10:22 PM
An old Spanish story says that the Devil, on being cast out of Heaven, was sentenced to study Basque for seven years.
He only learned three words, and when he crossed the bridge and left, he forgot them.
Tzetzes on April 1, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Any nation that hope for long term stability must insist on maintaing one national language and culture.
Any attempt at establishing the failed multicutarism policy will only lead to disaster – Check Canada and most of Europe.
America must always be willing to accept immigrants, but demand assimilation.
RMR on April 1, 2008 at 10:48 PM
I’ve heard two different reports on this…
One said legal aliens… one said illegal…
My bet? since four were involved it depends…
But either way, they should be deported…
Romeo13 on April 1, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Exactly. What they do with the chance is up to them, but this is creative justice, not bureaucratic, impersonal justice.
RushBaby on April 1, 2008 at 11:00 PM
They should stay away from America’s public schools. They will never learn English.
(Paid for by the McCain for BorderGuard Campaign Committee. Felipe De Jesus Calderon, Chairman)
saved on April 1, 2008 at 11:08 PM
That’s actually not a bad proposal.
freevillage on April 1, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Agreed.
…… and don’t you think it might be time to start billing some of these National’s home countries for the cost of harm, damage, rape, murder, molestation, hospital costs, education, social services, jail time, lawyer fees, and pretty much the drain on our society for their best and brightest that have to be returned to them?
I think there is enough in the billions of foriegn aid that we shovel out to the rest of the world that we start to turn off the spiget, until we get a little cooperation.
Seven Percent Solution on April 2, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Seven Percent Solution on April 2, 2008 at 12:01 AM
We ought to turn off the spigot anyway.
Johan Klaus on April 2, 2008 at 12:55 AM
Build the fence!
Johan Klaus on April 2, 2008 at 12:56 AM
This is pretty strange, what about all the people who learn English for nothing? Criminal conspiracy to commit robbery? They should be in jail learning the English words “single file, stay on the red line, and lock down”
Dollayo on April 2, 2008 at 1:43 AM
Ok, I could not post there, for some reason, but this is what I would have posted, if I could have.
“Oh ya. My God..wait, nm, I doubt you believe in one. My me, the stupidity in this article defies my senses. I would say the thugs in question got off very light, and this moron thinks that the judge was harsh on them for wanting to help them……how can stupidity get any worse? Oh, I suppose now you would say they were not properly educated to commit a crime? Should the government be required to arm the criminals to make it easier for them to commit crimes? Fool.”
MalkinFan on April 2, 2008 at 2:11 AM
Good, excellent on the part of the judge.
Living in NYC has gotten ridiculous, the delivery boys do not speak english, you call the deli to order a sandwich and the voice on the other end doesn’t understand what corn beef or brisket is, and forget the arab cab drivers.
There’s a special place in hell waiting for them.
It’s a daily horror, make them all speak perfect english, please, do us all a favor where ever we live.
AprilOrit on April 2, 2008 at 3:37 AM
If they’re men, and can’t speak English, they’re probably illegal aliens. I didn’t read that they were citizens. If that’s the case, he could have gotten real creative and sentenced them to a one way trip accross the border.
orlandocajun on April 2, 2008 at 7:33 AM
Now there’s a judge with some common sense. Someone tell John McCain to put this judge on the short list for Supreme Court nominees.
txsurveyor on April 2, 2008 at 8:13 AM
What’s such a “heart-ache” about making these dolts learn English?
Spanglemaker on April 2, 2008 at 9:20 AM
To translate literially, it would be “Infierno sí!”, but I have no idea if Spanish speakers use “infierno” as an interjection.
Bigfoot on April 2, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Many see this as a judge it is cracking down on illegal immigrants, but I see it as just the opposite. A different and novel approach in my opinion would have been for the judge to turn these criminals over to ICE for deportation with the threat that if they came back into the country they would serve their full terms. Instead he is allowing Illegal Immigrants to stay in this country illegally and telling them it is okay to break the law if the learn English. Strange I heard no one in the media mention this.
JeffinSac on April 2, 2008 at 9:50 AM
¡Ay Caramba!
Kafir on April 2, 2008 at 10:10 AM
If I was the victim of these people, and I heard they got sentenced to learning to speak English, I’d have to ask,”So what’s their punishment for robbing me?” I guess without victims sentencing could get quite creative.
Since when is learning a language punishment? How about sentencing a bank robber to getting a good job or else go to jail? How about sentencing criminal high-school drop outs to finish their education? Problems solved, move on…
Better to incarcerate these guys where everyone else speaks English and English only. They would learn to speak English pretty fast while learning prison isn’t a place one wants to reside.
shuzilla on April 2, 2008 at 10:17 AM
They don’t. Clean but emphatic is
Don’t know enough Spanish swear phrases (:) ) to give you the other version. Anyone?
inviolet on April 2, 2008 at 10:51 AM
If you think the lack of a single national language is a good thing, spend a day in Montreal. Is it any wonder that this province is a perpetual economic laggard compared to its neighbors?
When you’re wasting half or more of your time figuring out how to communicate, you cannot be productive!!
The judge in this case did the defendants a great favor!!! The test ought to be a GED…using all-English courses and exams!
landlines on April 2, 2008 at 12:13 PM
This goes along the same lines as an article I read a few weeks back about the Geno’s Philly Cheesesteak joint that was allowed to leave up the sign asking the customers to order in ENGLISH. The owner stated that he will never turn away a customer but would appreciate it if they could order in the language predominantly spoken in this country. BTW the article was tucked away about 12 pages back in the edition. (Boston Herald)
inldad67 on April 2, 2008 at 12:28 PM
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