# Would a black rapist have received such a lenient sentence? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 6, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668 "2016-06-06T19:33:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/41 "2016-06-06T23:09:19Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > There are tens of thousands of prosecutions every year in this country, for various violent crimes. You hear about 0.01% of them, which is the fraction in which there is a sufficient perception of miscarriage of justice for the media/industrial complex and the hair-trigger protesters to bring it to your attention… > > There is (in my opinion) a crisis in the American criminal justice system, and incidents like this, rather than illuminate it, actually distract us from it. Maybe this will end up off on a tangent but I don’t understand where you’re going here. What is the actual crisis in the justice system that you’re saying exists? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/42 "2016-06-06T23:11:59Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Not only does the “20 minutes” thing make me sick, but his use of the word “_action_”. > > I really hope it was just careless speech, not something intentional. Or maybe the psychopath doesn’t fall far from the tree? The word that infuriated me was “promiscuity” which suggests the father either (1) thinks the only crime his son is guilty of is “promiscuity” or (2) he believes the _victim_ is guilty of promiscuity. The victim was the VICTIM of a crime and his son is guilty of RAPE. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/43 "2016-06-06T23:13:56Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > All of the above, and chances are, this isn’t the first time he’s done this - just the first time he got caught. Maybe it is the first time he did it. It shouldn’t matter. I don’t think a person needs to establish a pattern of committing serious crimes in order to be treated like a serious criminal. The rule should be one murder or one rape and you go to prison for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/44 "2016-06-06T23:22:06Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > [Click here for the letter that the victim read to the court](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/stanford-university-rape-case-the-victims-letter-in-full-a7067146.html). Brock Turner is trash, and so is his father, Dan Turner, and the judge who imposed the sentence is no better. I want to highlight this portion of the victim’s statement: > [@](#): > > If you think I was spared, came out unscathed, that today I ride off into sunset, while you suffer the greatest blow, you are mistaken. Nobody wins. We have all been devastated, we have all been trying to find some meaning in all of this suffering. > > You should have never done this to me. Secondly, you should have never made me fight so long to tell you, you should have never done this to me. But here we are. The damage is done, no one can undo it. And now we both have a choice. We can let this destroy us, I can remain angry and hurt and you can be in denial, or we can face it head on, I accept the pain, you accept the punishment, and we move on. > > Your life is not over, you have decades of years ahead to rewrite your story. The world is huge, it is so much bigger than Palo Alto and Stanford, and you will make a space for yourself in it where you can be useful and happy. Right now your name is tainted, so I challenge you to make a new name for yourself, to do something so good for the world, it blows everyone away. You have a brain and a voice and a heart. Use them wisely. You possess immense love from your family. That alone can pull you out of anything. Mine has held me up through all of this. Yours will hold you and you will go on. > > I believe, that one day, you will understand all of this better. I hope you will become a better more honest person who can properly use this story to prevent another story like this from ever happening again. I fully support your journey to healing, to rebuilding your life, because that is the only way you’ll begin to help others. ---
**Author:** ![DeepLiquid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deepliquid/32/14893_2.png) [@DeepLiquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepLiquid)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/45 "2016-06-06T23:35:40Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > 20 minutes? Impressive! Un-fucking-believable. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/46 "2016-06-06T23:50:21Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > He has Adam Lanza eyes. I think he has [Lizzie Borden eyes](http://cdn.history.com/sites/2/2015/06/hith-lizzie-borden-ancestor-E.jpeg). ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/47 "2016-06-07T01:41:15Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > 20 minutes? Impressive! Let’s just not. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/48 "2016-06-07T01:57:26Z")
The judge relied on the probation Dept. recommendation. There has to be unique circumstances for them to recommend only six months. If the probation Dept and judge felt 6 months is appropriate then I recognize they know more details than what’s been reported. That’s why the general public doesn’t sentence criminals. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/49 "2016-06-07T01:59:06Z")
How trusting of authority you are… ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/50 "2016-06-07T01:59:15Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > In a nutshell, here is the case: > > Stanford swimmer, I think its more depending on the sport and school, in that order, and race as a factor further down the list. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/51 "2016-06-07T02:03:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Maybe it is the first time he did it. It shouldn’t matter. I don’t think a person needs to establish a pattern of committing serious crimes in order to be treated like a serious criminal. The rule should be one murder or one rape and you go to prison for a long time. For once, **Law & Order** got it right: > [@](#): > > Executive A.D.A. Ben Stone: He’s not your typical killer. > > D.A. Adam Schiff: He is! He killed somebody. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/52 "2016-06-07T02:09:45Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Of course a black man would have gotten a much stricter sentence. If you think otherwise you are extremely naive. Yes because all judges are clan members I forgot. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/53 "2016-06-07T02:10:28Z")
I think it was more that he was an athlete and rich, not that he was white, that he got this ridiculous sentence. He should have gotten at least 10 years for this horrible crime. > [@](#): > > he very likely won’t do it again, Where do you get this from? Anyone who is so perverted that they are willing to rape an unconscious woman has probably done this before and will probably do it again. Normal people, when faced with an unconscious woman, call 911. They don’t unzip their pants. The two bikers who caught the guy red-handed were reportedly completely horrified by what he was doing. There aren’t any unknown facts to justify this sentence. Eye-witnesses, very clear evidence. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/54 "2016-06-07T02:23:55Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > I think its more depending on the sport and school, in that order, and race as a factor further down the list. > [@Quartz](#): > > Here in the UK, the state can appeal a sentence that appears to be overly lenient. Is it the same in the US? No unless the judge disobeyed the law in sentencing, as in the crime had a mandatory minimum punishment written into the law and the judge disregarded those ruled. In criminal cases appeals are generally only for the accused due to double jeopardy. ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/55 "2016-06-07T02:34:18Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > Yes because all judges are clan members I forgot. Boy, that sure woulda been some stupid thing to say. Yep. Whoever said that sure must’ve been some powerful stupid. So tell me … besides you, who said that? If you’d like help using the quote function I can send you a tutorial. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/56 "2016-06-07T02:47:00Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I said that while the offenders father said something offensive, advocating violence should neither be legal nor acceptable. > > Had any man written his thoughts about Wanetta Gibson who destroyed Brian Banks’ life, or his thoughts about any journalist who considered Clara Harris justified in killing her husband for infidelity, or his thoughts about Casey Anthony he would have been in great legal trouble. You have some very strange ideas about speech. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/57 "2016-06-07T03:00:57Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > 20 minutes? Impressive! That’s a disgusting thing to say and you should be utterly ashamed of it. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/58 "2016-06-07T03:01:14Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Had any man written his thoughts about Wanetta Gibson who destroyed Brian Banks’ life, or his thoughts about any journalist who considered Clara Harris justified in killing her husband for infidelity, or his thoughts about Casey Anthony he would have been in great legal trouble. Waitaminute, I don’t know the other (alleged criminals?) that you reference, but I am familiar with Casey Anthony. So if I am understanding you correctly, you feel that if someone had written his thoughts about Casey Anthony, he would have been in great legal trouble? What type of legal trouble would he be in? What crime did he commit in writing something about Casey Anthony? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/59 "2016-06-07T03:52:04Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > What type of legal trouble would he be in? What crime did he commit in writing something about Casey Anthony? In reference to the cases of – the case of Wanetta Gibson who destroyed Brian Banks’ life, – journalists who considered Clara Harris justified in killing her husband for infidelity in 2003 – Casey Anthony Many men had unauthorized thought processes about above cases. These thought processes were similar to [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19385035&postcount=18). But anyone who expressed these thoughts would be in a legal danger. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668/60 "2016-06-07T04:10:06Z")
A black man would have gotten the maximum. If it had been a white partygoer who happened to be a burger flipper he also would have gotten the maximum. This kid got leniency because the judge related to him. Similar backgrounds, both men. And this is why we invented mandatory sentencing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-black-rapist-have-received-such-a-lenient-sentence/756668.md?page=4)