Unless you have been spending the last week or so living under a rock, you have heard about Brock Turner. You have probably read several articles on all of his accomplishments, accolades and broken records in the pool. The headlines most likely read “Stanford swimmer charged with sexual assault” and due to the picture of Brock that have been plastered everywhere you may have, at first thought he was the victim. In reality, Brock Turner is a criminal, a rapist. He sexually assaulted an unconscious woman behind a dumpster and was caught by two brave bystanders. He is guilty but due to money, accolades and white privilege, he is spending one-twelfth of an average sentence for his crimes in a jail instead of a prison.
After trial, Brock was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault, even after demonizing his victim, telling the court she wanted it and that he was unaware of how intoxicated she was. His lawyers dragged Turner’s victim through the mud, revictimizing her in front of the jury and court. She was asked what she was wearing or how much she drinks, if she was promiscuous or whether or not she had ever cheated on her boyfriend. Then, after the jury came back with the verdict of “guilty” it was time for sentencing. Where a California judge gave him six months in jail. Six. Months. The average person convicted of sexual assault in the state of California is sentenced to six years in prison. The judge came to the conclusion that prison time would damage Turner in the long run. So to sum that up, the judge believed that the well being of a rapist was more important than the sanity, safety and pyscho of his victim.
Once sentencing was done, Turner’s victim spoke up to him directly in front of many. She told him that they didn’t know each other but that didn’t stop him from getting inside her. She spoke of waking up in the hospital clueless to what had happened and how she later on read about her assault online and it was the first she had heard any details. She then confronted him on the three stories that had been told over the past 365 days. From the beginning where he told everyone he didn’t know her, didn’t plan on going home with her and her only consent was a “back rub” to this whole new story of dancing, kissing and deciding to go home with one another. Brock blames the entire “situation” on alcohol and the promiscuity that comes with college parties for his actions. Brock Turner was proven guilty and has yet to look in his victim's eye and admit that he had his finger inside of her or that he caused her any harm. Which, after reading his father's letter to the judge may be true to how he was raised.
People like Brock Turner are not born killers or rapists, they are raised in environments where their decisions have no consequence. Brock’s father showed the world this when he wrote a letter to the court begging for leniency. He made comments like “His life will never be the one that he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve” or “He will never be his happy go lucky self with that easy going personality and welcoming smile” and my personal favorite, “this is a stiff penalty to pay for twenty minutes of action out of his twenty-some years of life.” This alone shows how a man assaults a passed out female behind a trashcan next to a frat house is raised.
In the end this case hits so many lows and America is noticing. A fire was lit and people are connecting the dots of corruption in the legal system. Petitions have been made and stories have been shared in hopes of righting another man’s wrong while he shows no remorse. There are several issues I have with this case and those issues are what are prevailing. This is what the media is showing. The father’s letter, the drunken party girl persona and the prestigious college athlete. It makes you realize that sexual assault and rape are the only crimes where the victim can be interrogated on whether or not they wanted to be victimized.
