Gary McKinnon is a British citizen who committed the greatest military computer hacking job in the U.S. of all time. Wow. When I first saw this article from CNN, I found myself astounded that McKinnon had not been already sentenced to jail. McKinnon admitted to hacking into U.S. government files in search for information about UFOs, by which he accessed 97 computers and ultimately cost the U.S. government $1 million. But I found out that because he is a British citizen, he must be extradited in order to face a trial within the United States.
McKinnon was almost extradited in August 2008, however a complication arose when he was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. People with this disorder have difficulties in social situations and often stick to rigid routines. Mckinnon's family as well as his lawyer are arguing that his extradition would violate his human rights as a sufferer of the disease.
This situation presents a difficult question to consider. Does a person with a mental disorder have different "human rights"? As I see it, one must evaluate the extent to which daily life is impaired. Certain diseases affect people to certain degrees. In McKinnon's circumstance, I feel that he can be extradited, but the fact that he has Asperger's should be taken into account during his trial. He was diagnosed after he hacked into the U.S. computer system, so the disorder should not affect the way he is charged.
Extradition is "the surrender of an alleged criminal usually under the provisions of a treaty or statute by one authority (as a state) to another having jurisdiction to try the charge" (Merriam Webster).
McKinnon was almost extradited in August 2008, however a complication arose when he was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. People with this disorder have difficulties in social situations and often stick to rigid routines. Mckinnon's family as well as his lawyer are arguing that his extradition would violate his human rights as a sufferer of the disease.
This situation presents a difficult question to consider. Does a person with a mental disorder have different "human rights"? As I see it, one must evaluate the extent to which daily life is impaired. Certain diseases affect people to certain degrees. In McKinnon's circumstance, I feel that he can be extradited, but the fact that he has Asperger's should be taken into account during his trial. He was diagnosed after he hacked into the U.S. computer system, so the disorder should not affect the way he is charged.
Thoughts?
No comments:
Post a Comment