Justice in America - Page 4

James · #46 01-31-2007, 02:05 AM

Frankly. I don't think they (prosecutors, judges, and legislators) really care.

And thats a truly awful thing.

Because there is nothing special about the guy in jail. He is not some horrible person. That could have happened, or could happen, to any of us . .

And that is truly terrifying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

It's the sentencing differential that's the real point people around the country are making, not whether or not both whites and blacks are arrested and sentenced for statutory rape. Of course, many of us know firsthand that race can also factor into whether or not someone is accused and reported for forcible rape and statutory rape--but that's not the topic.

The issue with Wilson (what starang21 posted) may just be GA's archaic statutory rape law--which was later altered to not include oral sex but that doesn't help Wilson because it isn't retroactive. Are they telling us there was no other alternative than to declare him a child molestor?

GeekyPenguin · #47 01-31-2007, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laylo

Similar to the Marcus Dixon case, also in Georgia. His conviction was reversed in 2004, maybe there's hope for this kid too.

I didn't know someone could go on trial for statutory rape without the "victim" pressing charges.

Victims don't get to decide if they want to press charges most of the time - once you call the police and file a report, it's up to the prosecutor's office to decide if they want to charge or not.

laylo · #48 01-31-2007, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

Victims don't get to decide if they want to press charges most of the time - once you call the police and file a report, it's up to the prosecutor's office to decide if they want to charge or not.

Gotcha. Does that apply to all kinds of crime?

Kevlar281 · #49 01-31-2007, 04:01 AM

That’s not how you spell America. Wait never mind I see what you did there. Well played…

Kevin · #50 01-31-2007, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

Because there is nothing special about the guy in jail. He is not some horrible person. That could have happened, or could happen, to any of us . .

And that is truly terrifying.

I agree. If you were to survey all males who while in high school had sex with a girl as young as 15 while being 17, you'd end up with at least a 1:10 result (maybe higher?).

You're absolutely right -- whenever we try to legislate morality, such absurd results are often produced.

starang21 · #51 01-31-2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macallan25

Well, its seems pretty clear by you colorful thread title and the posted article that you think this dumbass moron was dealt a serious injustice and prevented from going to college because of the fact that he is black.

....or maybe you think gangbanging a 15 year old on video is acceptable behavior.

so he should get 10 years because some 15 year old girl was a willing participant in group sex?

starang21 · #52 01-31-2007, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

All the time, but most parents don't press charges against their kids boyfriends/girlfriends. There was a reason why he was arrested. The girl he had sex with claimed she was raped.

and the tape showed she was servicing people like a gas station.

willingly.

Quote:

On tape, the cops saw a 15-year-old girl, a 10th-grader, performing oral sex on a partygoer and, after finishing with him, turning and performing the act on Genarlow. She was the instigator, according to her mother's testimony.

starang21 · #53 01-31-2007, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

I agree. If you were to survey all males who while in high school had sex with a girl as young as 15 while being 17, you'd end up with at least a 1:10 result (maybe higher?).

You're absolutely right -- whenever we try to legislate morality, such absurd results are often produced.

more like 1/5.

KSigkid · #54 01-31-2007, 09:32 AM

It was my feeling that some states have started changing their definitions of statutory rape, but I could be wrong. In CT, the penal code says that the person has to be between 13-16, and the other party is more than two years older; however, there is a distinction made for people "in authority," whether in a professional, academic or volunteer capacity.

There are a lot of stories like this that don't get attention, and it's awful that this guy has this on his record now.

macallan25 · #55 01-31-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starang21

so he should get 10 years because some 15 year old girl was a willing participant in group sex?

I'll agree that 10 years may be a little overboard, but yeah, he should have gone to jail, absolutely. She's 15, I really don't care if she was a willing participant. Just because she is willing doesn't make it right. The fact that they were on camera boozing it up and chiefing the herb didn't help much either I would imagine (of course neither did the fact that it was a full on gangbang).

DSTCHAOS · #56 01-31-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

That could have happened, or could happen, to any of us . .

No.

Still BLUTANG · #57 01-31-2007, 01:37 PM

am i the only one who thinks the parents need some sort of reprimand? No one here is innocent.

shinerbock · #58 01-31-2007, 01:43 PM

Parents are the key to most things like this.

macallan25 · #59 01-31-2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

No.

Why?

DSTCHAOS · #60 01-31-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macallan25

Why?

The law isn't equally applied. There is no perfect judicial system that goes strictly by the sentencing guidelines with no leeway given based on extralegal factors (Max Weber would call such a perfect system "formal rational"). Instead, we still have a degree of prosecutorial and judicial discretion for most cases. This allows for extralegal factors like social class, age, gender, and race to reduce the potential for this to happen to "any of us."