Delaying a DUI jail sentence
There are very few public stories that catch our interest, as most fall into the category of propaganda or celebrity gossip. This story is different. It is about a 10-time DUI convict, condemned to another 4 years in prison.
This poor guy's daughter is sick and needs a kidney. The justice system is allowing him to delay his start date for the sentence in order to donate a kidney to her.
Kidney disease is tangible and one that our court's honor and pay attention to. Alcoholism is, for the most part, treated as a criminal rather than medical problem.
Excerpts from the AP Article: (link)
He was given a 4-year prison sentence, but it won't begin until January. Prosecutor Sandra Donaghy said the start of Lawrence's sentence was set back so he can contribute one his kidneys to his seriously ill daughter. Court records show Lawrence has 10 previous DUI convictions in Knox County and one each in Sevier and Union counties. A call to arms for DUI attorneys, and prosecutors: Start educating your colleagues, judges, court staff and the public about the disease of alcoholism. Until we start treating the underlying cause of drunk driving, we will never solve the symptoms, which often come in the form of multiple DWI arrests.
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