I don't look for sympathy. I made the choices that put me in federal prison for thirty-five years, without parole. I'm sure most people couldn't care less about the life of any prisoner until they become the victim of one who escapes or gets out. To reduce crime rates and the national deficit, some would prefer to behead those who ran afoul of the law, rather than to pay the cost of incarceration. Punish the bastard! Feed 'em to the lions! they chant. Sadly, such people as those haven't considered that most prisoners were once normal citizens who made poor choices.