Amy Senser Sentenced to Prison – in Shakopee
According to KSTP-TV News, Senser arrived at the Shakopee prison on Monday afternoon.
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People were watching Monday morning for the sentencing of Amy Senser for the hit-and-run death of Anousone Phanthavong.
The Star Tribune is reporting Senser will spend 41 months in prison. Since the incident, Senser has denied knowing that she hit someone and apologized to the family Monday in court.
She will serve her time in Shakopee, since it is the only women's prison in the state.
"We only have one prison in Minnesota for adult female offenders," said John Schadl, Minnesota Department of Corrections spokesman.
He said the only other option is to house women in facilities outside the state, but due to the cost, they try not to do that.
"She won't be treated any differently than any other offender," Schadl added.
According to KSTP-TV News, Senser arrived at the Shakopee prison on Monday afternoon.
According to sentencing guidelines, Senser will spend two-thirds of her sentence in prison and spend the remaining time on supervised release. There is no time off for good behavior in the state of Minnesota, Schadl said.
She will likely hold a job at the prison and the first job for many offenders in Shakopee is in the kitchen, according to Schadl.
Earlier this year, attempts by the Minnesota Department of Corrections and Gov. Mark Dayton to include a $5+ million fence in this year's bonding bill –failed. The prison, which resembles a college campus with multiple buildings, has only a hedge keeping people inside. Click here for information on the prison and what life is like there.
What do you think? Should Senser be doing prison time? Is it an appropriate sentence?
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Ryan Schwartz
2:53 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
Offender involved in a high profile court case + very low security prison = New safety issue? In this case, keeping emotionally-charged people away from Senser rather than stopping inmates from leaving.
Lisa Baumann
3:51 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
That occurred to me too, Ryan, especially since prison officials said earlier this year that keeping people out was as important as keeping people in. Wondering if this will also make more people aware that the women there have committed real crimes, including 72 currently serving sentences for homicide.