By Mansfield Frazier
If Jerry Sandusky truly cares about young people to the degree he steadfastly professes, he would exercise the one honorable option he has left and take his own life. While — admittedly — this is an option he probably won’t select at this juncture (and perhaps never will), his warders should at least place him in a situation where he can dispatch himself with relative ease if he so elects.
Sandusky, as he and his lawyers have requested, should be taken off of suicide watch and placed in the general jail population. I’m not suggesting jailers place a noose on his pillow each night until he gets the message, but only that he’s not prevented from attaining at least a modicum of respect by doing the right thing… if he so chooses. Even people in total denial (as Sandusky obviously is) sometimes have a bright, shining moment of clarity and truth… which can lead them to make a correct moral choice.
Certainly many religions frown on suicide and state there is no afterlife for those who commit such an act, but I’m pretty sure St. Peter will make an exception and allow Sandusky through the Pearly Gates if he sincerely confesses his sins against children and makes the case he could no longer live with himself in light of the enormity of his transgressions. After all, rules are made to be bent or broken… even heavenly ones.
While I’m unalterably opposed to state-sanctioned killing — euphemistically called “capital punishment” — I’m certainly not opposed to allowing individuals convicted of heinous crimes to do the one thing left to them that will help bring a cessation to the pain they’ve inflicted on their victims: kill themselves. And, as barbaric as it might sound, I, (we) should willingly turn a blind eye to the administration of “prison justice,” whereby a fellow convict does the deed for Sandusky in the event he is too cowardly to perform the act himself.
Otherwise this case will drag on for years — nay, decades — always holding out the possibility (no matter how far-fetched it seems at this point) that the victims might again have to relive the trauma on the witness stand in yet another trial. Suicide prevents this.
Sandusky’s attorneys (as they should, and are obliged to do) are already busily attempting to find any legal hook to hang their collective hat on… any error in procedure that will allow them to get the case back into court. Higher courts, removed from the passions of public sentiment and the moment, are keen on protecting procedure, and might favorably listen to the argument his lead attorney Joe Amendola is sure to make that the legal team was not given enough time to properly prepare the case trial… given the tractor-trailer load of evidence the defense team was presented with and were duty-bound to sift through. While some cynics will doubtlessly accuse his lawyers of only crassly accumulating billable hours… or worse, simply keeping their own names in the media spotlight… the fact is, this case will remain alive (and potentially damaging to all of the victims) virtually for as long as Sandusky does.
Described by one of his attorneys as “defiant” and eager to get out of isolation, the reality for Sandusky is there are no good options: either he remains safe in segregation (which, for someone with a personality as gregarious as his, will prove to be pure, unadulterated misery) or he goes into the general population and faces the two distinct sets of prisoners that want to see him dead… those who detest him for his crimes against children (indeed, he might even run into a relative of one of his victims, or someone who claims to be), and those Penn State fans that accuse him of besmirching the name of Penn State and a fine football program… while killing JoePa of shame in the process. His “defiance” behind bars will quickly get him knifed.
But there is a third option, and considering the fact prison officials in Pennsylvania don’t want to wind up with egg on their faces, in all probability (and considering his somewhat advanced age) Sandusky will end up in a prison that has geriatric unit filled with a bunch of other dirty old men, all protesting their innocence while at night continually dreaming of molesting pre- and early teenaged boys.
From Cool Cleveland correspondent Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com. Frazier’s From Behind The Wall: Commentary on Crime, Punishment, Race and the Underclass by a Prison Inmate is available again in hardback. Snag your copy and have it signed by the author by visiting http://www.neighborhoodsolutionsinc.com.
3 Responses to “MANSFIELD: The Case for Sandusky to Commit Suicide”
Erin O'Brien
Mr. Frazier, you clearly have no idea how absolute the prison of suicide is for the ones it leaves behind. No matter how vile you find someone’s actions, you’re talking about a human being who is loved by someone.
In the case of suicide, that “someone” will forever carry the image of their loved one’s terrible fatal moment, heavy as a corpse on their back for the rest of their days. The ramifications of suicide are far too complex and myriad to fit in this silly comment box, but suffice it to say that survivors of suicide victims will never know the answer to this question: did he just escape his demons or finally succumb to them?
If you naively believe the terrible web of Sandusky’s sins can be unraveled by a noose or a single bullet, you are sadly mistaken. You reference the public legal shenanigans that will undoubtedly unravel as this case progresses. Such inconveniences! Welcome to the human condition, Mr. Frazier.
Too bad every ugly burden to society can’t just stick a gun in their mouth and pull the trigger, eh? This column disgusted me to my core.
PENNY JEFFREY
Even if Sandusky commits suicide, his victims will still suffer.
It was no surprise to me when one of Sandusky’s adopted sons said that he had been molested. All of those men should have been questioned. Molesting his “sons” fits the profile of a pedophile.
Ross
I’m ok with this dirtbag killing himself. Sandusky disgusts me to my core… Him and anyone who would defend him, whatever the reason. We are better off without him. I would be happy to see him dead.
This is not ” human condition” at work, btw. Societies are constructs governed by what is agreed upon as “right” and “moral”. Many current day societies outside of our own would dispatch a man like Sandusky con mucho gusto. I am pretty sure the whole middle and south of this country would agree.
Also, not every burden to society is a monster lurking in the guise of a friendly, harmless old man. For those that are, I think a one shooter is in fact called for. As far as sanduskys family goes, I am sorry that he shamed them so, but I feel no need to insulate them either. Every murderous, conniving, raping piece of crap has a dear sweet mama somewhere… Should we take it easy on them for their moms sake? Come on now. The only problem I have with this child toucher killing himself is in the loss of opportunity to take the rest of what he has away from him.
Prisoners in general population: we are all counting on you.