Risk and Protective Factors: Murder Trial of Luis Aguirre, Sentencing Phase

Thank you Barry Disney. Today in Phase II of the Murder Trial of Luis Aguirre, convicted of Capital Murder in the deaths of Tanya and Juan Maldonado, the defense began with testimony regarding the risk factors of growing up in neighborhoods which have higher than average rates of poverty and lower educational achievement. I have studied research in this area extensively and i am amazed at the lack of reporting on a key issue:

Most people who grow up with risk factors,

even terrible risk factors: horrible abuse, bounced around from foster family to foster family, etc--do not become murderers. They do not become violent lawbreakers. They do not kill their own children. Sadly, some do, it is true.
(So do some who are rich and spoiled rotten. and those with the highest of educations...)

The research i did found that generally, those children who witness violence, suffer from violence, and/or live amidst many of the risk factors such as low SES (socioeconomic status), family disturbances, and genetic predispositions have one of three outcomes:

• They may live average or better than average lives. Their troubles may lead them to be passionate activists for the health of children. They end up Strong at the Broken Places (by linda sanford).
• They may deal with increased rates of depression, anxiety, and other personal and relational challenges. This may last for shorter or longer times, depending on the ways they get help and on the sorts of protective factors in their lives.
• They may pass along the violence that they received. They may be verbally or physically abusive or live lives where violence and crime are part of their behavior patterns. It appears that between 15%-30%, of those who have witnessed and experienced violence and other risk factors as children enter into this category, to a greater or lesser extent.

The first witness brought by the defense today was a woman from Texas who works for a Geographical Information Systems company. She testifies in murder trials about neighborhoods where perpetrators grew up, using U.S. census data to show poverty or educational deficits in the neighborhoods of the defendants.

If you read the previous post (Judgement, Compassion, and the Death Penalty), you know my feelings about the Death Penalty.

So, i am not trying to eliminate reasons to spare the life of Luis Aguirre.

What i am against

 is using research to suggest that anyone can be excused from their crimes because of poverty, less education, and moving around a lot. So many children from our country and all over the world live in trying circumstances who are the pillars of society in their adult years. They are the fabulous artists, the writers, they are wonderful parents and teachers. They are your best friend who gets up and goes to work each day as a carpenter, a waitress, a taxi driver and goes home at night and loves their kids.

The opening defensse lawyer, Mr Wicks took 20 minutes today to tell us how we would hear of the sad childhood of Mr. Aguirre. (Details later)--

Thank you to Mr. Disney for asking the questions a psychologist wants to hear on the cross-examination.

Where there is no compassion,

let there be no judgement.

I believe that.

Rather than listing the risk factors Mr. Aguirre endured--which do move me to pity--

he was a little boy once, after all?

There is one way to have one's life spared, i think

Admit one's guilt and plead for mercy.

Tell the truth, the whole truth.

Allow one's spirit to be broken, allow the shell of Guise and disguise and deception to crack open and tell all, admitting one's failure and sin and pain and hell and sadness and grief and shame and guilt.

And

Ask for hope,

Ask for time for forgiveness.

Juan Maldonado Rest in Peace Little One

Trial Day One click HERE