For the better part of this past week, national headlines have been filled with vitriol and outrage over the perceived light sentencing of Brock Turner, a 20-year-old Stanford student who sexually assaulted a fellow student last year. The sentence of six months, followed by three years of probation, and a requirement to register on the sex offender registry for life are being touted as a prime example of the phenomena known as “white privilege.”

These accusations seem well founded when concurrent cases, like that of Brian Banks, are considered. Thirteen years ago, Brian Banks was a promising high school football player. An African American with scholarship offers from a number of schools, he was accused of rape at the age of 16. He was charged as an adult and faced sentences upwards of 40 years. After repeatedly pleading his innocence and refusing plea deals, he was given a sentence of six years by the judge. In 2012, his accuser recanted her story and he was declared an innocent man, allowing him to begin rebuilding his life. The point to be considered is this: in a country that would charge a 16-year-old African American male like an adult, why would a Caucasian male adult be given such a light sentence? Privilege.

Perhaps we’re all wrong about Judge Aaron Persky? Perhaps when he gave Brock Turner so light a sentence, he knew exactly what he was doing. It may be that he hoped to cause a stir, a national outcry against sexual violence. If we consider his record before the Brock Turner case, there is nothing to suggest that he would have passed down such a light sentence. In fact, he has been very consistent in his tough judgments on sexual criminals. So what changed? I refuse to believe that a man with so outstanding a record and what seems to be otherwise impeccable judgment would fall, hook, line and sinker for the arrogant and rather trite statements from Mr. Turner and his father.

Indeed, we need not look any further than the answer Brock gave when he was asked where he saw himself in 10 years time, he responded, “In residency to be a surgeon.” This is a man who has no real understanding of what he has done and has lived a life so removed from the consequences of his actions, that even now he is able to imagine that his life is not completely over. Because whether he is released in six months, or three months, or 30 days, Brock Turner is done. His swimming scholarship has been revoked, he has been expelled from Stanford, and I can’t think of any accredited medical school in the Western Hemisphere that will be interested in accepting the application of a sexual offender. Certainly not one with a name recognition like he now has.

So, yes, justice was not served this past week. Not in the traditional sense, at least. A bad man got off easy and will be out in the world again soon. But that world won’t be his oyster anymore. Wherever he goes, people will recognize and shun. He will have no place to lay his head. And after years without consequences, perhaps that is what’s needed.