davef
Princess
So we're clear, I'm not equivocating whatsoever on what constitutes rape or that rape is a reprehensible crime. Date rape, marital rape, doesn't matter, it's all vile and abhorrent. And like you said, anybody reasonably believed to have committed a rape should be arrested and prosecuted, which is how it works in Sweden as well. Most of my comment was more concerned with the sentencing outlook. And even then, by no means do I think offenders deserve a slap on the wrist.
But as I'm sure you're well aware of, the criminal justice system in America most certainly has its flaws, especially concerning its glaring racial disparities that occur at almost every part of the process. I followed the case of that vile Stanford Student Brock Turner--who violated an intoxicated, unconconscious girl behind a dumpster and tried to run away when he was caught--and was sentenced to 6 months and 3 years probation because the judge thought a harsher sentence would have too "severe" an impact. Seriously gross. And baffling enough, despite the victim's account and her being found unconscious and partially naked, he wasn't even charged with rape, but attempt to commit rape. Meanwhile the Brian Banks of the world, a black ex-football star who also had a promising future, at 16 made out with a girl with no type of sex taking place, was accused of rape, charged with rape and kidnapping, tried as an adult and served 5 out of 6 years, before he was exonerated for a crime he never committed. Tragic. Both Turner's case and Bank's case, disgusting on multiple levels and most certainly, miscarriages of justice in my opinion. Regardless of the judicial standards it professes to hold, it seems the American justice system does actually consider what someone's race, culture, ethnicity AND social class is. There was nothing "common sense" about the sentencing for either of these cases and it's not as if these are remote outliers within the system at large.
And I never said that trauma was an "excuse" for rape; a lot of people have traumas and yet they don't rape others. Nor do I think that one must have compassion for them on a personal level but I do think that the justice system should have the highest ideals. I certainly believe that justice for the victimized (raped, murdered, etc...) is important, as well as there needs to be an example made for the rest of society that deters them from committing the same or similar behaviors; but I also think that a focus on rehabilitation (for those who can be) is important and that purely punitive justice is problematic, particularly when we live in a world where everyone isn't treated equally. When it comes to criminal justice and mass incarceration, the American system doesn't have the best record of success. And Sweden's is certainly not ideal--I do think that the Leftist agenda has gone too far in some cases, where there are those who aren't held as accountable as they should be. The conundrum is how do we deliver equalized outcomes and just sentences for all people that also demonstrably send a strong message about our zero intolerance for rape and rape culture?
Yes, definitely agreed.
It's sad how the Stanford rapist only gets 3 years in prison yet people caught growing weed are getting twice as much prison time if not more. This poor girl may have to spend the rest of her life traumatized by this incident yet he's getting a slap on the wrist due to his "potential". No matter how drunk you make me, I would never ever assault a woman or sexually penetrate her without her consent. I don't have that ability.