I started Rosenblog in late January, 2004. And today, for this, my 600th entry, I have a tale of hope. Which has the added advantage of being true.
In August of this year, an imprisoned New Zealand career criminal suffering from "gender dysphoria" had a bilateral orchidectomy, or removal of his testicles, at taxpayer expense in Wellington Hospital. That's the first phase of a sex-change operation. The clinical diagnosis was that being trapped in a man's body, subject to the corrupting influence of testosterone, had caused the former Jon Michael Enright, now named Joanne Martin, to remain distraught and tortured, and commit repeated trangressions. Some 157 convictions over 20 years, to be precise - 87 of them for burglary. Another for stabbing and leaving near death a security guard, in a burglary gone wrong.
On a more practical level, Martin says (s)he was burgling to raise money for sex-change procedures which (s)he could not otherwise afford. So perhaps, one might argue, if the government pays for Martin's sex change, the cost to society would ultimately be less than if her crime spree continues. (She's just 35, mind you).
Martin was released Sept. 15 and had burgled again by Sept. 18. In October, several months after the bilateral orchidectomy at taxpayer expense, Martin was granted bail. Then just two weeks ago, on Nov. 19, a judge delayed until March sentencing for Martin, who had admitted to the September crime, and one more. Prompting one police source to tell reporters the whole thing is....
....a bloody disgrace. Her charmed run continues. Us taxpayers paid for her sex change and now she beats a jail term she totally deserves. Something's gone wrong when a criminal with 100-plus convictions gets free surgery while decent citizens wait on a list for a hip replacement."
Now, something else is wrong. Yesterday, Martin was taken into custody yet again, for alleged burglaries commited Nov. 8 and Nov. 30.
If these last charges are proven true, particularly the Nov. 8 incident, then the Nov. 19 postponement of sentencing for the Sept. 18 burglary will look especially foolish. You might even then go so far as to say the court authorities are hapless fools, Kiwis on Krack, what-have-you. You might say that. But, hinting at the complex analytical skills which have earned me glowing encomiums from the global elite of journalism, plus a vast fortune in writing fees, Krugerrands and derivatives, I will not say that. Not yet.
Further, I will disagree with the paper's police source, and play (for me) a rare Big Government hand. Martin is only halfway home, as it were. The hypothesis has not been fully tested. Clearly, life as a Phase One transsexual has not ameliorated Martin's "gender dysphoria," should that arguably be at issue here (and if you have not walked a mile in her flats, hold your tongue).
Taxpayers need to ante up one more time so that Martin, reportedly quite talented at circumventing electronic security systems, might be all that she can be. A well-known, heavily-bonded and ankle-braceleted security consultant, for example. It'll be cheaper in the end if it works. And if not, lock her up and throw away the key.
For now, I'll not even ask how do you don't get jailed for life after 157 convictions. Maybe legislators should get tough, New Zealand-style, and pass a "160 Strikes And You're Out" anti-crime measure.
New Zealand. Actually a great place in many respects, I hear. Always wanted to take a holiday there. Hope I can one day. But I think I'll hold on to my property here in sober, sane Seattle.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at December 2, 2004 01:14 PM
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I wonder if the NZ laws are as archaic as England's? British socialized medicine would pay for a sex change but the government would not issue a new birth certificate or legally recognize a post-surgical transsexual as a member of the newly reassigned sex.
That meant that if convicted of a crime, a surgically assigned 'female' would serve sentence in the same facility as men.Even a post-surgery transsexual could not marry the now opposite sex.
A very strange system and may be what is giving NZ judges so many problems in this case.