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Comment by GauntletWizard | Hacker News Reader

I'm 100% for lifetime GPS tracking of certain classes of criminals - It's a far sight nicer than lifetime imprisonment, and that is a legitimate punishment.

But the EFF's point here is solid: This wasn't a punishment handed down as part of a sentence. This was added to someones sentence ex post facto, and that is not cool. It is fairly cut and dry; You only are sentenced according to the law at the time you committed the crime. Adding new punishments, no matter how well intentioned, is unconstitutional. I don't even have to cite an amendment, it's in article 1.

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It's just another bump on a slippery slope of absolute, no exceptions legalities that now have close to 1% of the U.S. population in Prison... this is insane.

I can understand a murderer, or gang leader released after serving 20-30 years of a "life sentence" as a conditional parole... or even a true child sex offender, not someone who was 19yo with a 16yo girlfriend (not speaking to this case, but someone I knew who fell into that scenario and now has to register for the rest of his life, even though he later married that same woman).

The ex post facto bit is even more disturbing.

Completely agree with this point. It's completely ridiculous to retroactively apply laws.

HN makes me sad sometimes. It was less than 24 hours ago that we criticized India for talking about applying the new law concerning crimes committed by minors on a high profile case.

Now, not even a day later we are talking about doing something just as insane. :(

What are you talking about? Please give a link to the discussion you're referring to.

This is the first time I hear of this discussion. That said, are we talking of applying a new law to a situation that has yet to pass sentencing? Then sure, a new law can be applied. If they have already passed sentencing then too little too late.

No, it is too late and thankfully the justice system has not entirely failed. However, I am still appalled by the court's statement:

> On Monday, India's Supreme Court dismissed an appeal to stop his release, saying it "shared" the concern of most citizens but its hands were "tied" by the law.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35149409

I hate that politicians all around the world are more than happy to keep the people occupied in these things that don't affect a lot of people.

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