This is a very sensitive and controversial topic but it's one that needs to be talked about. There is this boy, I won't call him a man because he doesn't deserve that title, named Brock Turner. In January of 2015 Turner was caught and reported raping an unconscious girl behind a dumpster. He was convicted in March on the intent to commit rape of an intoxicated/unconscious person, penetration of an intoxicated person and penetration of an unconscious person. However even with all the evidence of bystanders, physical evidence from the doctors, rape kits, and even a 12-page letter from the victim stating how it has affected her psychologically, Turner still denies the act he committed, even with eyewitnesses. The very least he could do at this point is acknowledge what he has done and try to apologize, not that it would make anything better. With all these things being said, there was no doubt that this Stanford college swimmer would get a maximum of 14 years in prison. However, the Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky found it fitting to sentence Turner to six months. The worst part is: he got six months, not just for this one incident of sexual assault, he was also charged for two other incidents of sexual assault. It truly is appalling to hear what some people still have to say about sexual assault. What did you expect when you got drunk that night? Probably to wake up with a hangover, not hospitalized in an unknown place with bruises and blood on her body.
Persky's reasoning as to why Turner only got six months was that a prison sentence would have a severe impact on him and he thinks he will not be a danger to others. This whole situation, and how our justice system is handling it, is a disgrace and an embarrassment to this country and everything we stand for. This judge, by the way he handled the case, is telling America that rape is okay and not that big of a deal. The message Persky is sending out is that because Turner is a white male and prestigious athlete, somehow that makes him above the law, which is so far from the truth it's unbelievable. He's also sending the message that sexual assault isn't against the law regardless of race, gender or social class.This young woman will never be the same because of what that boy did to her. She will suffer for years and probably until the day she dies. But this boy, who in no way shape or form is the victim, will serve only six months in prison and then go on his merry way. Granted, he is kicked out of Stanford University and will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. To me, that's what should happen to a person who chooses to commit a felony. It doesn't matter if it's a 70-year-old man or a college student who took advantage of a drunk girl at a party. Rape is rape.
The most disgusting part of this whole case is Turner's father's comments on his son's conviction. He stated that this is "a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action." Sounds to me that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. This is not okay, and we can not let the future of our country think sexual assault is okay because it's not and it never will be.
