football championship > rape victim

polaris_x wrote:

redrock wrote:

True, but they have a lot of leeway within that code and their sentencing. Judges are far from being perfectly impartial. They also allow their own sentiments to influence their sentencing.

Edit: was wondering what the average was and found this: "Under federal law the punishment for rape can range from a fine to Life imprisonment". Depending on the 'type' of rape and where it happened (and the judge). Average seems to be 8 years.

remember these kids were tried as juveniles ... not adults ... it's different ... the judge pretty much said if they were tried as adults ... they've would've gotten way stiffer sentences ...

Yeah, I think for juvenile trials the imprisonment ends at 21. They do try young people as adults at times, these kids are truly lucky that didn't happen.
It all makes me want to barf. (And thank the lucky stars I don't have a teenage daughter to lose sleep about.)

Jeanwah wrote:

What do you guys think of one of the boys walking over to (was it the girl that he raped? You couldn't see on the video) and broke down crying after the verdict was read. I don't know how I feel about the breaking down. Sometimes you wonder if it's acting or if it's real. This is what the reporter said was so difficult to watch, but I wonder if it was even real.

They all break down Jeanwah... The realisation they are going to jail, the realisation that their action has a definite consequence for their future, the realisation that they haven't gotten away with it this time. Nothing do with regretting what they did to their victim but regretting the consequence of their action on their lives. As one said breaking down: 'MY life is over, no one is going to want me'. Not 'my VICTIM's life has been ruined...).

They may have said they regretted their actions but I believe that is what they have been instructed to say (especially after their lack of remorse from the 'early days'). Then again, I may be cynical.

I too am a bit cynical, at least when it comes to these men crying at the verdict. Even if sincere - though I doubt it...too little, too late.

Perhaps it was relief in knowing they got a much lighter sentence than deserved?

(sidenote - I'd like to drop-kick the judge and the rapists off the Golden Gate Bridge)

Jeanwah wrote:

I tend to be cynical about it too, because it's just blatant manipulation of the court when a defendant, or anyone really, breaks down. To hear the reporter get affected by it makes it all seem like a circus with some well played actors, manipulating everyone else.

Did you listen to the 'sorry' of the first guy? He was sorry that a photo was taken and that shouldn't have happened????? wtf???

That report was just vile. All this sympathy for these guys... they brought it upon themselves.

Also wondering what lasting effect it will have on these 'promising young men' (and I don't think the Candy woman was talking about the sex offenders register but imprisonment). What about the lasting trauma for the victim?

My take... yeah, they might have been nice kids, but they were very poor decision makers and their moral compass was all screwed up.
BUT...
If, as they claim to be and have describes as, nice, good kids... and they commited these dispicable immoral criminal acts, then one of two things happened...
They were brought up to know and do better, but ignored the moral implications. This means they are NOT nice, good kids and their parents failed at their job as 'parent'.
If they were not brought up to know and do better, this is their normal personalities, then, they are NOT nice, good kids and their parents failed to do their basic job as 'parents'.
The point being, they are NOT nice, good kids. They are either sociopaths with no empathy towards a fellow human in need... or they are just horrible kids who need to be punished for their crimes.

polaris_x wrote:

ok ... i believe that there is no excuse for these boys ... but at the same time - if you get completely inebriated and you get into a car and drive or you pass out and get robbed - people would have no problem putting the blame strictly on that person ... it's not to say she should/deserve to be raped ... not at all but if society doesn't understand what role she played in the affair - then it hasn't learned a damn thing ...

Rape is the crime here, not alcohol. SHE did not play a role in this affair - it was the doing of the guys, and only them. Drinking is not a crime (though maybe here, we have underage drinking??). Raping is.

Drinking AND driving is a crime.

Yes, one has to learn about the effect of alcohol but putting such a crime on the victim because said victim has been drinking is just plain disgusting (whether the rape or your example of robbery).

polaris_x wrote:

ok ... i believe that there is no excuse for these boys ... but at the same time - if you get completely inebriated and you get into a car and drive or you pass out and get robbed - people would have no problem putting the blame strictly on that person ... it's not to say she should/deserve to be raped ... not at all but if society doesn't understand what role she played in the affair - then it hasn't learned a damn thing ...

...
Just because someone is stupid, doesn't mean people can commit crimes against them.
Like, yeah, I can be an idiot and staple 100 dollar bills to my jacket and sit outside a liquor store in the worst part of town at 3:00 A.M... it does not mean people can beat the shit out of me or point a gun at me. of course, i should expect the outcome... but, if I am incapacitated... it makes it difficult to make those rational decisions.
...
And what should have happened was at least one person who made contact with this situation should have manned up and did the right thing... that would be to call 9-1-1 an tell them there was a serverly intoxicated young woman who might need medical attention.
Better yet, taken the girl to either her home or an emergency room.
...
Also... if you cannot walk... cannot speak.... and cannot remember anything the next day. Best guess is GHB is probably involved.