It is my
understanding that the Parole Board will be reviewing the case
of Ricky Carter, State ID # 06227942; TDCJ ID # 01009150 in
the near future.
I am respectfully
requesting that the Board deny parole to this young man at
this time. Mr. Carter's conviction was for intoxication
manslaughter of four teenage girls killed in late December,
1998. As the mother of three young adults, my heart goes out
to not only the parents of these victims, but also to Mr.
Carter's family. However, as both a parent and an individual
in today's society, I believe we have a tremendous
responsibility to change the message that teens/young adults
perceive that "drinking is cool." Drinking, and then driving
is not "cool"--we all know statistically that it is deadly. I
believe strongly that one opportunity to change this message
is to have fitting punishment in place for those individuals
who commit intoxication manslaughter. In the case of Mr.
Carter, a jury sentenced him to 20 years. I think that to
lessen that sentence to less than five years would send the
message that "if you drink, drive, and kill, in a few short
years you can be out again to start all over." I don't believe
that is a strong enough deterrent. On Friday 8/5/05, four
teen-age boys died as the result of a head-on collision with a
drunk driver going the wrong way on a Fort Worth freeway. I
wonder how many other such incidents occurred nationally the
same weekend? You are in the position to send a message in at
least the case of Ricky Carter--and perhaps that message,
coupled with continued adherence to fitting punishments for
such crimes, will make all of us a little less scared for our
children, and society as a whole.