Court should stick to Constitution Court should stick to Constitution Despite completing his mandated prison term, convict is denied release for fear he may commit the same crime again. A judge recently decided to keep a sexual offender behind bars after he finished his 10-year prison sentence, and the Supreme Court may follow the precedent set by the judge.
Any time spent in prison longer than that term is an obstruction to a person's civil liberties.
Even if a person does pose a specific threat upon release, courts should decide at the initial sentencing if there should be a condition in the ruling that would give officials the option of holding a prisoner longer if concern for behavior is present. Under law, it doesn't matter if a person has a history of criminal activities. Even if a person did not respond well to rehabilitation or is still a threat to society, that person should be released when the prison term is up. It doesn't matter under law even if it should matter. This is a dangerous pattern developing in America's legal system.