Was Brock Turner's Sentence Too Short? | The Odyssey Online
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Politics and Activism

Was Brock Turner's Sentence Too Short?

Bias in America's justice system.

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Was Brock Turner's Sentence Too Short?
CNN

White privilege is alive in America. If you "don't believe it" or think it's "made up" you are a huge part of the problem. Many people feel that Blacks and other minorities who use the term are just complaining. Many think minorities in America just don't try as hard to get an education, job etc. The best part about White privilege is that people deny it while it happens.

You remember Brock Turner right? The All-American swimmer from Stanford University that was convicted and found guilty of three counts of felony sexual assault after brutally raping an unconscious woman behind a dumpster with a foreign object. The one who's father wrote a letter to the judge asking for his son NOT be sent to jail over "20 minutes of action." Who was supposed to face fourteen years max but oddly was only sentenced to six months in prison because the judge thought jail "would have a severe impact on him". He left a California jail Friday morning after serving only three months and will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life. Even as a first time offender, critics are all talking about the surprisingly short and forgiving sentence. Studies show that athletes (professional and college) are less likely to be convicted than a person of the general population. Coincidentally, the judge from his case will no longer be hearing criminal cases.

When it comes to the justice system in America, Blacks and other minorities are treated differently than Whites, even at a routine traffic stop. "People of color continue to be disproportionately incarcerated, policed and sentenced to death at significantly higher rates than their White counterparts." - Jamal Hagler. Brian Banks was "disgusted" by the Brock Turner case. Brian Banks was a standout high school football player headed to play at Southern California. Banks was wrongly accused of rape at sixteen and tried as an adult. He spent the year prior to his case at a juvenile hall then got sentenced to forty-one years to life in prison. He turned down every plea bargain for a lesser time because he was innocent. He was told by his attorney to agree to ninety days of observation in Chicago State Prison because it would be easier than being a young Black kid facing an all-White jury. Even then the judge still sentenced him to six years.

Banks called Turner's case a "privilege" saying "It seems like the judge based his decision on lifestyle... He was sheltered so much he wouldn't be able to survive in prison... What about the kid who has no choice who he is born to and has drug-addicted parents or a non-parent household?"

Now, I want you to ask yourself "If Turner was Black would he still be in jail?"

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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