Scott Peterson was convicted of murdering his wife, Laci and their unborn son, Connor in 2004. Sentenced to death in 2005, Peterson awaits a lethal injection while his case is being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
While on death row in San Quentin, this convicted killer spends his time blogging. Peterson doesn’t have access to the Internet, but he’s allowed to blog on his family’s website, searching for sympathy and crying out that he’s innocent. Peterson’s blog also includes photos of him and Laci.
Inmates are afforded taxpayer-funded food, clothing, shelter, law libraries, college courses, paid work, recreation, gymnasiums, cable TV, Sego, Nintendo, and now it seems, the opportunity to engage in a public forum by blogging.
Anyone can blog, if they have a computer. Here’s a novel concept. Take Peterson’s computer away. He’s in a prison, not a Hilton and he’s awaiting death for savagely killing two people. Let him add that to his appeal and see what happens.
Unfortunately, appeals take time, especially in death penalty cases. The Supreme Court may rule against Peterson. I hope it does and soon. If and when that happens, capital punishment needs to be meted out quickly. The death penalty can hardly be a deterrent if there are endless appeals, the punishment isn’t actually administered, and if we’re now going to add blogging to the list of prison “perks.”
Here are more details, and reaction from Laci Peterson’s mother.
