Let's assume that you committed a crime and you were 99.5 percent certain that you were going to be convicted. Since you've never had so much as a traffic ticket prior to this issue, the judge decides that you can stay home with an ankle monitor while awaiting trial.
You can certainly opt to do the time since you did the crime. However, you look out your window and see the open road, and the only things between you and potential freedom is that device on your ankle and a likelihood that you'll be caught if you go to most places worth going to.
If you're facing a one-night jail sentence, you're probably not going to jump bail and flee. If you're facing the death sentence, it might be worth it to take a shot at building a new life somewhere else with a fake name and social security number. Somewhere in between lies the tipping point between staying and fleeing.
What's the SHORTEST sentence that you would face where you would decide to take your chances hopping on freight trains and working for cash with a floppy-brimmed hat over your face?
Poll coming as soon as the jury returns.
And if you would choose to flee, what would your plan be once you chew off your foot or otherwise remove the ankle bracelet?
Rules clarification:
1. The amounts in your poll are the actual time served. Don't assume that you'll get time off for good behavior to shorten it.
2. Of course, if you get caught fleeing you'll get additional charges and time as appropriate. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Hank Hill:
I think there's some confusion... you don't actually have to saw your ankle off. Just the monitor.
oh shit you're right. Yeah if that's the case, my revised answer:
I think having a family still makes me do whatever sentence is being handed down to me besides Life. Life I'm gone. But other than that, what's the point of being on the run without your loved ones with you and then you being unable to watch them grow?
I'd rather spend 20 years behind bars and then another 20 watching my kids grow as adults, than spend 40 years never being able to see them. [Reply]
What are the chances you get caught? That’s going to factor into how long of a sentence I’m running from. Also, what’s the penalty if I am caught? [Reply]
I used 'consider' instead of 'compel' and I said 5 years. I'm of Medicare age, so I don't want to spend much time on the inside. I'm also hoping that my age would make me less attractive to the predators, because I haven't been in a fight since the 8th grade.
Either inside, or on the run, seems like too much hassle. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Zebedee DuBois:
I used 'consider' instead of 'compel' and I said 5 years. I'm of Medicare age, so I don't want to spend much time on the inside. I'm also hoping that my age would make me less attractive to the predators, because I haven't been in a fight since the 8th grade.
Either inside, or on the run, seems like too much hassle.
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
What are the chances you get caught? That’s going to factor into how long of a sentence I’m running from. Also, what’s the penalty if I am caught?
How good are you at living in a forest?
Let's assume (just guessing) that you get 50 percent more time or 3 more years, which ever is greater. [Reply]
I actually knew a guy who went on the lam. No ankle monitor, but warrants, lots of warrants, so he bolted. I think he spent five years (edit: probably 2 or 3 now that I do the math) away from his family hiding somewhere to try to avoid a two-year sentence. He got caught and ended up serving about four months before getting an early release. It seemed like a poor tradeoff. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bugeater:
Why couldn't I just pry off the ankle monitor?
It doesn't work like that. Unfortunately I have some experience. The monitor is fitted really tight around your ankle. You're not prying or slipping it off. It's made of a hard, hard plastic material and there's wires running through it. The second you cut it off, tearing the wires, your probation officer is immediately going to know what's happened. Your location is GPS and the cops will be on there way. One more thing, the device once tampered with let's out the loudest beeping noise you've ever heard. It took 2-3 days before my ears stopped ringing. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Rain Man:
I actually knew a guy who went on the lam. No ankle monitor, but warrants, lots of warrants, so he bolted. I think he spent five years (edit: probably 2 or 3 now that I do the math) away from his family hiding somewhere to try to avoid a two-year sentence. He got caught and ended up serving about four months before getting an early release. It seemed like a poor tradeoff.
I have a buddy doing it right now. Facing 2 years in jail, he bounced a few days ago. Went some place warm. Said he'll be back in 6 months to serve his 2 years. Despite what people think, depending on why or what your running from, it doesn't add much if any time to your sentence. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KCJake:
It doesn't work like that. Unfortunately I have some experience. The monitor is fitted really tight around your ankle. You're not prying or slipping it off. It's made of a hard, hard plastic material and there's wires running through it. The second you cut it off, tearing the wires, your probation officer is immediately going to know what's happened. Your location is GPS and the cops will be on there way. One more thing, the device once tampered with let's out the loudest beeping noise you've ever heard. It took 2-3 days before my ears stopped ringing.
:-) Thanks for the information. It sounds like you didn't get away. [Reply]