Change.org has published a petition to raise awareness of Judge Aaron Persky’s – the judge in the Stanford rape case – bias and leniency in his sentencing of Brock Allen Turner. All 12 jurors found the rapist guilty of three counts of sexual assault, yet for all 36 of those convictions, Turner has received a mere six months in county jail – not federal prison – because Judge Persky worries a longer sentence will negatively impact the talented swimmer’s future.
In the words of the victim herself, here is why the alarmingly short sentencing is so important to all of us:
“The probation officer’s recommendation of a year or less in county jail is a soft timeout, a mockery of the seriousness of his assaults, an insult to me and all women. It gives the message that a stranger can be inside you without proper consent and he will receive less than what has been defined as the minimum sentence. Probation should be denied. I also told the probation officer that what I truly wanted was for Brock to get it, to understand and admit to his wrongdoing. … As this is a first offence I can see where leniency would beckon. On the other hand, as a society, we cannot forgive everyone’s first sexual assault or digital rape. It doesn’t make sense. The seriousness of rape has to be communicated clearly, we should not create a culture that suggests we learn that rape is wrong through trial and error.”
Prosecutors asked for a sentence of six years, or 72 months. Instead, Turner only has to serve six months; that’s just 8 percent of what was suggested. It’s dishonorable for a judge of all people to promote rape culture, to promote a society where rape victims cannot even receive the small consolation of knowing their attacker is off the streets, of knowing they themselves (as well as other women) are a little bit safer.
Again, here is the petition, as well as the victim’s entire, powerful letter she read aloud at the sentencing. If you wish to get further involved or donate to the cause, here is the “Recall Judge Aaron Persky” website.
