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Politics and Activism

America, Let's Talk Privilege

Brock Turner and the "justice system."

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America, Let's Talk Privilege
DailyDot

Brock Turner, Caucasian male, 21, registered sex offender, only served a three-month prison sentence and I, like most others in America, are pissed off. Why do you ask? America's judicial system is especially biased.

The prison system in America is a billion dollar industry. It holds people who do need to be there, like Turner, and people who have been wrongfully accused and are serving a life sentence for only being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In prison, health care is free, violence is rampant, and no one knows except those on the inside and those who have been. So what in the world got a convicted rapist back on the streets after a three-month vacation to the Santa Clara County Main Jail?

Some might say privilege, the jail says "good behavior." Brock Turner was originally supposed to serve a six-year prison sentence and ended up shaving it down tremendously to six months, and even shorter to three months done by the presiding judge, Aaron Persky, saying "A prison sentence would have the severe impact on [Turner]. I think he will not be a danger to others."

This, to me, sounds a lot like a great big slap in the face to all rape victims; to say "I don't think he'll be a danger to others" sounds a lot like "he was just a boy being a boy who got carried away, so no phone for three months."

The fact is, Brock Turner deserves to fully serve his sentence and be labeled as a sex offender for the rest of his life. That young woman will be living in a state of fear and anxiety knowing her attacker is out there living his best life, and she must live with the reminders of the day that changed her life.

I refuse to be OK with this justice system being biased on who gets to stay and who really shouldn't.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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