Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Academic Blogs -> the 13th juror

Academic

: the 13th juror

"You stole from the homeless, now you can feel homeless on this cold night"

By Jacqueline Dowd

As punishment for stealing a Salvation Army collection kettle shortly before Christmas, Nathen Smith was given the choice of 90 days in jail or 24 hours as a homeless man.

When Smith chose the latter option, Judge Michael Cicconetti made him empty his pockets and turn over all his money and credit cards. Court officers strapped a Global Positioning System device to his ankle to monitor his whereabouts.

And he was sent out onto the streets of Painesville, Ohio, with no advice or guidance. "You figure out where you're going to spend the night, you figure out where you're going to eat, and you figure out how you're going to stay warm, like they do," Cicconetti said.

Read the Cleveland Plain Dealer report here.

Full post as published by the 13th juror on January 27, 2008 (boomark / email).