Italian Court Rules Stealing Small Amounts Of Food Not A Crime (financial, abuse)
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Italy's highest court has ruled that stealing small amounts of food when in desperate need is not a crime because the need for food and nourishment justifies the act.
They overturned the arrest and 6 months jail sentence of an elderly homeless man caught stealing a sausage and some cheese from a supermarket worth about $4.50
The article states that Italy has financial problems and the number of poor is growing by around 615 people a day and that many elderly are forced to steal to have food.
I am glad they sympathized with this man and I wonder if they should do the same here in the US?
I agree. There have been times where I was almost desperate enough to do that, and times where I relied on free samples at food courts in malls to eat. (Moved out at 17 with nothing, worked/paid my way through college).
It's a sad situation that should be prevented and discouraged, and the potential for abuse is there, but guidelines can mitigate that somewhat. And really, is it worth forcing the taxpayers to fully pay their incarceration room and board, just for stealing a few bucks worth of food from a store?
A guy here in the US was recently sentenced to life in prison for stealing a chocolate bar. Glad to hear that Italy has a bit more sense than that.
I don't see the US following suit though. The culture here is far too vengeful and punishment-thirsty, to the point of harming itself more in the long run.
Was the chocolate bar thief destitute? If not you are comparing apples to oranges. The Italian court did not rule everyone can steal food.
If I recall correctly, he was. Now granted, he was a repeat offender, so he definitely shouldn't get off the hook completely (I'd say mandatory community service for a while would be fair), but life in prison is beyond extreme.
If I recall correctly, he was. Now granted, he was a repeat offender, so he definitely shouldn't get off the hook completely (I'd say mandatory community service for a while would be fair), but life in prison is beyond extreme.
I agree, the three strikes and you are out (and similar laws) should be abolished.
The two incidents are not at all comparable. As I recall, the chocolate bar thief was a habitual criminal, and the theft of the chocolate bar triggered a severe sentence because of multiple convictions. He knew what the consequences would be if he chose to continue to commit crimes. It is also likely that we are better off with that particular individual behind bars.
Anyone caught stealing food should be given years of hard labor, a number (24601) and tracked by a obsessed policeman forever if they violate parole ..
Anyone caught stealing food should be given years of hard labor, a number (24601) and tracked by a obsessed policeman forever if they violate parole ..
Hey Kim Jong-un. Wanna play some basketball today?
Anyone caught stealing food should be given years of hard labor, a number (24601) and tracked by a obsessed policeman forever if they violate parole ..
I am glad they sympathized with this man and I wonder if they should do the same here in the US?
Theft is never justifiable.
There are free food pantries for the Poorâ„¢ and TV news with millions of viewers to come to the rescue of the destitute, not to mention Food Stamps.
The only thing that will happens is grocers will raise the price of food-stuffs to counter the effects of theft.
Quote:
Originally Posted by whogo
Was the chocolate bar thief destitute?
Good one.
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