Skip to footer

Life sentence to ease up for a bad-check writer

  • By Compiled From Wire Service Dispatches With Analysis From Monitor Correspondents Around The World
  • Edited By Linda Feldmann

| Washington

The Supreme Court spared a South Dakota man from serving the rest of his life in jail without hope of parole for writing a $100 bad check. The justices, voting 5 to 4, upheld a ruling that found the sentence ''grossly disproportionate'' to Jerry Buckley Helm's crimes and violated the Constitution's ban against cruel and unusual punishment. Helm was given the harsh sentence because it was his seventh nonviolent felony conviction. That made him a habitual offender, subject under South Dakota law to punishment more severe than his crime would normally merit.

You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to Life sentence to ease up for a bad-check writer
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/1983/0629/062925.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us