Brock Turner committed a crime, there is no other way to put it or even try to deny it. Many turn to look at the victim and blame her because maybe she was wearing something provocative or said something to provoke him. It doesn’t matter what she said or was wearing that night, she was raped by a man who was conscious of what he was doing. When will we realize that rape is not the victim’s fault, but the rapist’s.
Now the question is, why did he only get six months in jail and got out after serving only three? For the crime he committed he should’ve served a longer sentence and bigger consequences, but because he was an excellent student and athlete he doesn’t deserve to be in jail. Why is he seemed as the victim? The fact that he is a good student and athlete should not matter because at the end of the day he committed a crime he has to pay for. What does this say to other victims of rape who are scared to do something? What about Brock’s victim? How is she going to cope for the rest of her life? Why is our justice system so blind to this issue?
Rape in our society is seen as a big taboo and the less you talk about it the better because it is easier to ignore. It is not fair that the justice system doesn’t recognize this as a serious issue and a crime just like any other. Men and women who rape people should go to jail because they committed a crime and not for a couple of months, but for a long time. Our justice system has to realize that victims will not come forward and talk because nothing will be done for them except expose them to society. Talking about the issue should not be embarrassing, on the contrary it should be something punishable. We need to stop victimizing people who rape just because they are excellent athletes or students because they made the conscious decision to rape someone and they should face the consequences just like any other criminal. They ruined someone’s life why should we spare his?
