YOUR COMMENTS

I think for the people who believe other peolpe don't deserve 2nd chances are wrong. So your telling me you never did something that you wanted another chance? I lost a best friend that was killed by a another person. I always know people who have killed people it happens my friend. Being young you don't think you just do. The people who sit here and say that murders should be locked away for ever are sad. You never been in there place nor have you been in there life. You judge because they were found guilty. Most of the people plea just to avoid trial. If you are scarred of a killer move.
- mf, concord

I believe these people should have a second chance in society. Why? Because society decided to let them live at the time of the crime. If we feel that it is justifiable to put a murderer in a facility and attempt to rehabilitate them instead of taking their life as they have taken another, then they deserve a chance to prove that they can succeed.
We all know that it does not always work, but since we let them live, they deserve the right to have that chance. I guess that if we followed the rules of an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, we would not be having this conversation today.
- DP, Keene

Society does not owe these guys, and they don't deserve a chances per se. Prison is not rehabilitative no matter how many programs they run, instead it exposes & hardens men to disgusting behavior and violence and trains them to lie like they have never lied before. Unfortunately the prisoners design and control the social order in the prison, not us. If they behave it is because they want to get out, not necessarily because they are good people inside. If killing and raping would get them out you can be absolutely sure they'd do that.

We have every right to happily leave these guys inside to the tune of their sentence without it affecting our conscience one tiny bit. If we let one out is should be for OUR benefit, if we see a benefit in mercy. So the best balance may be to seek out certain convicts to practice the art of mercy upon, if they merit it, as it benefits us as people to be merciful.

Loonie ideas from social liberals that either make us feel guilty or lessen punishment should be cast aside as foolish, but the value of mercy to us as people should be embraced.
- Knowlton Kasistas, Claremont

To Ron in Manchester, It freightens ne to know there are people walking around in society who have the opinion you do about murderers. Very scary.
- Mike, Concord

Maybe they should get out and have the same chance to get hit by a bus as the rest of us. Just kidding, I honestly think if the experts think these people are rehabilitated, they should take them into their homes or at least their neighborhood for a year. Put your $ where your mouth is.
- Mike, Auburn

The question isn't really whether you can be rehabilitated, it's whether you deserve to walk free among the law abiding citizens of NH. When it comes to murder, I believe the murderer can walk free and move on with his/her life when the innocent victim comes out of the ground and gets to move on with their life. Otherwise they've forfitted their privilege to walk out here in society!
- Joe Kenick, Stratham, NH

Yeh, I agree with Mike. It's as if your reporter chose one man at one end of the scale, and the other at the opposite end. To me, there's a substantial difference between a teen who shoots another teen in a fight, vs. a teen who murders his next-door neighbor with a knife.
- Brian Jennison, Newmarket

This is not about second chances. For the vast majority of teenagers who commit crimes of extreme violence, there was never a first chance. They come from horrendous backgrounds and neglect deprivation and abuse.

That they are thrown into an (adult) State Prison for upwards of a quarter of a century is an indication of the ignorance and barbarity that pervades our criminal justice system and New Hampshire's community in general (this is a democarcy after all, we elect the people who devise these policies).

We need to stop jailing children (yes children, if they are too young to buy alcohol, vote or have sex, then they are too young to go to jail), and enter the 21st century. Likewise we need to do everything necessary to assist those we have incarcerated to be rehabilitated back into society - for their safety and ours.
- Rob, Manchester

I feel that these guys should be given a second chance if they really earn it. If they take charge and become a respectable leader in prison, not with gangs or anything, but by fighting for educational programs, rehabilitative programs, and things of the sort, that should be good enough to at least take a look at them closely and deem whether or not sentence reduction is a viable option. The second gentleman in this article, however, seems to rub me the wrong way. I just have a hard time believing he's been rehabilitated. He's changing his story now, and it's the "I'm the victim in this crime" story. so I just don't know about him. But the first guy, sure, i'd take a look at him.
- Mike, Merrimack

There are various levels of "making bad decisions" and unfortunately for these men they took the life of another and have therefore given up their right to life on the outside. Keep in mind the victim never gets a second chance.
- Todd, Manchester

As a family member of one of the men on this 'list', I would like to reply to Mr. Smith's comment.
The men on this list did not seek out this press. The newspaper came to the prison and sought them out. This was soon after the story broke of Billy Flynn going for a sentence reduction. The majority of the men that the reporter wanted to speak to denied interviews. I know for some, they did not want to be 'used' to rile public opinion (because they do believe that the majority of the public feels as you do, Mr. Smith) and did not want to put the victims families nor their own families through yet another reminder of the crimes they were convicted of.
I do not know the intentions of the men that were interviewed, but I know that for some that denied the interview, the last thing they want is for you to feel sorry for them. These are men who do their time quietly, and pay the debt that society has deemed is owed.
By the way, sentence reductions are rare and if you look at the parole dates listed...I feel it is misleading to present this story as if they are getting out soon and as the reporter says, "preparing to come to your neighborhood". As a member of society, I am more scared of the neighbors who are already out here then the ones who may be here in 20 years.
- S. Wilson, concord

William, No one's telling what to feel about these men. The article is just talking about what it's like to grow up in prison, and wondering whether they can ever be ready for society again after living so many years behind bars. Sure, they committed heinous crimes, and deserved to go to prison. But one of these days some of them may be on the street again, maybe living down the block from you or me. The article is just reminding us of that. Take it for what it's worth.
- Jeff, Portsmouth, NH

I've had first hand experience in watching someone grow up in prison. Before you start judging people, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if you've ever done something that you regret. If you can honestly say that you've lived a perfect life (which I know you haven't) then more power to you and you can say whatever you want. I watched a kid who turned 17 years old one month and 3 days before he committed an awful crime grow up in prison and transform himself to a MAN that I look up to. Do I think he should be released? Absolutely.
- Aaron Lopez, Nashua

Even murderers desrve a chance for rehabilitation in our society. I hope these men have learned how their acts have changed the victims families and will do well when they return to being a civilian.
- Mike, Hooksett,NH

The recidivism rate for murders released from Prison is what??? Many years ago I remember it was around 60%, what is it today???
Has the Unionleader done any research on the matter, or is more "Politicall Correct" to just bury your head in the sand??? And plea these criminals case for a second change???
- Ray Ninness, Bedford

Do your time and you deserve a second chance. Even perjurers like Bill Clinton got their second chance.
- GR Chase, Exeter, NH

Am I supposed to feel sorry for these men? They took the lives of other human beings. They'll get nothing but apathy from me and, as far as I am concerned, they are where they belong. I don't care if they "grew up" there or not. They're MURDERERS.
- William Smith, Manchester