Arrested 61 Times

This is a rather strange story. It makes me wonder if maybe there are some non-violent criminals that our legal system just can't effectively deal with. Some people that are going to go on committing crimes regardless of what we do.

Last Sunday afternoon on the North Side of Chicago, 88 year-old Ella Orko (pictured) was arrested for shoplifting. She had stuffed $252 of merchandise into her pants, " including cosmetics, salmon, batteries and instant coffee." She was charged with Felony Shoplifting.

But the strange part of the story is that this is the 61st time she has been arrested. The first time was in 1956 for petty larceny. Then over the next 53 years she was arrested for an additional 60 times. She has 13 convictions for shoplifting, which means she was probably in jail for a portion of those 53 years.

What do you do with an 88 year-old career criminal who refuses to retire from her life of crime? Her crimes are not violent, and are usually misdemeanors (if she had stolen $3 less this time, it might not be a felony). If you give her a substantial sentence, it'll probably turn into a life sentence because of her age. If you don't, she'll continue to steal.

Is she a kleptomaniac? Can an 88 year-old kleptomaniac be cured, and would a court or social service agency pay for that? After 61 arrests, does it even matter? Frankly, this is one of those rare cases with more questions than answers.

What do you think? What should the court do with Ella Orko?