Pubdate: Thu, 17 Feb 2005
Source: Wisconsin State Journal (WI)
Copyright: 2005 Madison Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wisconsinstatejournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/506
Author: Jodi Beyer

WHY IS KILLER IN REHAB, NOT PRISON?

Dustin Ripp was convicted of two felonies and a related misdemeanor in 
August 2004 for killing my husband, Jim Beyer, creative director at Famous 
Footwear. Ripp was sentenced to prison for 4 1/2 years with four more years 
of extended supervision. But he was recently removed from the Columbia 
Correctional Institute and placed in a minimum security "hotel" for drug 
rehabilitation.

Dane County Circuit Judge Gerald Nichol did not determine in court that 
Ripp's actions were a mistake and that he needed drug rehabilitation. It 
was determined that Ripp knowingly bought and ate hallucinogenic mushrooms 
and drove while severely impaired and struck and killed my husband and 
partner of 19 years as he was jogging.

Ripp was to go to prison as punishment for his crimes. He served six months 
in the Columbia state prison and then was removed to a new Chippewa Falls 
corrections facility used for drug and alcohol abuse programs.

Ripp killed a man. The drugs did not kill my husband. Ripp killed him, and 
now Ripp's prison time has been made easier. So what now? So Wisconsin can 
give the message to other drug users that you will be taken care of if you 
kill someone, you will be pampered and held when you cry about your 
messed-up family, which possibly drove you to drugs. So Ripp can share his 
feelings with his counselors and new friends.

I am sorry, but this is absurd and unacceptable. Ripp didn't just get 
caught driving while under the influence, nor did he get caught buying 
drugs or selling drugs. He killed a person -- a great person.

What does the governor think he is doing? What does the Corrections 
Department think it is doing? Ripp was ordered to serve time for his crime 
of killing someone. He doesn't need rehabilitation yet; he is to be in 
prison for the next four years.

And what happens to victim's rights? We are the victims -- me and our two 
babies who no longer have their father to watch them grow and play. Ripp 
should be suffering right now as we are. We are in our prison of hell 
because Ripp killed Jim and took him from us. Ripp should not be in this 
program. He needs to be returned to real prison, where drug users who kill 
belong.

Anyone who knows me knows the real hell I have been through because of this 
drug-using low-life. And now this. The state throws this in my face. My 
9-year-old daughter has suffered greatly from her post-traumatic stress 
disorder.

When will someone get it in Wisconsin? If you had this tragedy happen to 
your loved ones, you would feel my pain and my anger. We can't get Jim 
back, but we certainly deserve to have his killer punished. And don't try 
to tell me Ripp will suffer with knowing all his life what he did to us.

Gov. Doyle, what will you do about this? Who is watching over your 
Corrections Department? It's not the courts or the District Attorney's 
Office. They have no power once the offender is in the system -- no say 
whatsoever. Do you even have a say or any power, governor?

Someone made a mistake with selecting Ripp for this program. Who was it?
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MAP posted-by: Beth