Voices
A Citizen Comments by Agoura resident Steve Young
A Cop Speaks Out by Kreig W. VensThe Experts
Alan Dershowitz, Harvard Law School Professor
"This is a case that violates the Bible, that violates the Constitution, that violates the law, that violates common sense, and that violates common decency."Dr. Jeffrey Fagan, Criminologist, Professor Columbia University, Director, Columbia University Center for Violence Research and Prevention
"This was a modern-day lynching. It shows the power of a legal system where there are no effective checks and balances against prosecutorial power, and the conspiracy among cops and prosecutors to stifle basic freedom such as the presumption of innocence."Marta Moczo-Santiago, Commissioner of Juvenile Justice, City of New York
"There's law and there's justice, and in this particular case there has been an injustice . . . [These kids] need to be held responsible, but I think in this case the severity by which they are being held responsible, truly, is nonsensical."Tom Hayden, Activist, Politician, Former State Senator
"Why should people unequally involved in crime be equally punished? Brandon is on solid ground asking if everyone (involved in the murder) is equally guilty."William Gazecki, Academy Award Nominated Director, Director of "Reckless Indifference", a documentary film about the case
"These kids were stupid and they were reckless, but they were kids, and the system was equally as reckless."The Press
Al Martinez, Columnist Los Angeles Times
"Brandon Hein's radiant smile may conceal the sins of suburbia, but his sins, at least, aren't damning enough to cost him the rest of his life."Geraldo Rivera
"What about justice? . . . This sentence is cruel and vindictive."Editorial, The Acorn, Local Agoura Hills Weekly
"To lock the door and throw away the key on a pair of boys who spent a single afternoon on the fringe of the law is an affront to the concept of rehabilitative justice . . . Life cannot be returned to Jimmy Farris, but it shouldn’t be taken away from Hein and Miliotti."The People
Gene Hein, Brandon's Dad
"My son didn't kill anybody. He didn't have a knife. He didn't know anybody had a knife. He is not a threat to society."Vickie McGowen, Writing in a "Letter to the Editor" VENTURA COUNTY STAR
"My heart breaks for the Farris family because their son was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Perhaps they find some small comfort in knowing their son's killer is in prison. They also know that several other young men who didn't kill their son are in prison. How could that make us, or a society, feel better?"Steve Young, Agoura Resident
"The whole case stinks to high heaven of judicial and prosecutorial abuse and misconduct. How the judge and prosecutor can sleep at night when they know that these kids are rotting in jail for the rest of their lives is beyond me."Kreig Vens, Police Officer
"If we, as individuals, or collectively as a nation, allow such disproportionate and grossly abusive sentences [as this] to be invoked without challenge, we become as barbaric as the crime itself . . . The sentencing in this case can only be labeled 'judicial brutality'."The World
Mrs. Chloe Swann, From a town near Leicester in the middle of England
"I feel so sad that Brandon has been the victim of a barbaric law [based on English common law] that we in England abolished in 1957, but I suppose what he is the real victim of merciless people who exploit these outdated laws which obviously predate modern values and common sense."Stephen Blackwell, Melbourne, Australia
"For a world leader, this injustice is a continuing blot on the international reputation of the USA. The work of the United States Government in high lighting the injustices found in other countries is commendable but it is time to set an example by seeing that justice and mercy are given in this case."Plons, Belgium
"As a Belgian law student this story is very shocking and disturbing to me. Apparently the Dark Ages of criminal justice are not over yet in California. All the best to Brandon."Arjan, Netherlands
"I accidentally came across BrandonHein.com and I was shocked! Is this the justice system in the USA???????? How can I country like the USA do things like this? Aren't they supposed to be an example to the world? I knew the US had the death-penalty, but to lock up people forever is a shame. This may sound anti-American but it's not supposed to. Brandon might have been at the wrong place at the wrong time, but he doesn't deserve this. I know that 'Dutch courage' is a negative expression, but I wish him an enormous amount of courage from Holland."More Voices from Around The World
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