Brock Turner: When The Guilty Walk Free | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Brock Turner: When The Guilty Walk Free

It is in these moments that we turn to the justice system to protest the very meanings of "right" and "wrong", because when the guilty walk free, our belief in justice falters.

17
Brock Turner: When The Guilty Walk Free
Avital Norman Nathman

Ex-Stanford swimmer Brock Turner was once again put into the spotlight when he walked out of a six-month sentence three months early. Originally given the sentence of six months for three felony charges--assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated person, penetration of an intoxicated person and penetration of an unconscious person, Turner instead walked free due to the claim of good behavior.

With his release, Turner has three years of probation and has officially registered as a sex offender in Ohio.

Brock Turner's case has sparked controversy from the moment his crime was made public. At his release, Turner will face a huge amount of attention due to the nationwide impact the case made. His release from an already lenient prison sentence is met with negative comments and even a group of protestors in his neighbourhood. At his release, all the details of his case are once again brought to light in an effort to understand why a guilty man should be allowed to walk free without serving the necessary time.

It is in these moments that we turn to the justice system to protest the very meanings of "right" and "wrong", because when the guilty walk free our belief in justice falters.

Brock Turner's case is unique, and calls attention to the nationwide problems concerning rape and sexual assault. Throughout the past couple years, there have been countless claims of rape and assault on various university campuses, challenging the meaning of right and justice when it comes to certain crimes. Several of these victims have filed complaints against the universities, claiming that the school should do more to the accused rapists.

In Turner's case, there is no doubt that he is guilty, due to witness accounts and other evidence. Even though he is the center of the case and accusations, he is not the only victim of his early release. Although he has been met with constant protests since his release and his life will continue to be taunted by a past caused by poor decisions, there is still the real victim of this case.

Brock Turner's victim, who read a heartfelt letter addressed to her rapist in court, now has to face the reality of justice after the initial disappointment when the source of her pain was not given the right sentence to begin with. Her case is once again being brought up as people fight on her behalf by insisting that Turner be given his rightful punishment.

That's what happens when a guilty man is set free: his victim suffers once more. We look at the case and find reasons to put Turner back in jail, because that's the right thing to do and we want the victim to feel safe again.

The meanings of right and wrong are constantly being challenged, and this case makes us question how right and wrong are used in a justice system that we trust in.

That's what happens when a guilty man walks free: we begin to doubt the people and system that we are supposed to trust.

Brock Turner, in my opinion, should not have been set free simply because of good behavior and the belief of a judge that prison time would negatively affect a college student. But Turner can't go back to what he was before. He can't simply ignore what happened and go back to school. He can't go back to living without the constant reminder that he is, in fact, guilty.

We are now focused on Turner's moves and what happens next because we want to know what our protests and comments will do.

Because that's what happens when a guilty man walks free, we question our own sense of right and wrong.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
ross geller
YouTube

As college students, we are all familiar with the horror show that is course registration week. Whether you are an incoming freshman or selecting classes for your last semester, I am certain that you can relate to how traumatic this can be.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

Bonus points if it is more than two.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

12 Things I Learned my Freshmen Year of College

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

2247
friends

Whether you're commuting or dorming, your first year of college is a huge adjustment. The transition from living with parents to being on my own was an experience I couldn't have even imagined- both a good and a bad thing. Here's a personal archive of a few of the things I learned after going away for the first time.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Economic Benefits of Higher Wages

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

301517
Illistrated image of people crowded with banners to support a cause
StableDiffusion

Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would not only benefit workers and their families, it would also have positive impacts on the economy and society. Studies have shown that by increasing the minimum wage, poverty and inequality can be reduced by enabling workers to meet their basic needs and reducing income disparities.

I come from a low-income family. A family, like many others in the United States, which has lived paycheck to paycheck. My family and other families in my community have been trying to make ends meet by living on the minimum wage. We are proof that it doesn't work.

Keep Reading...Show less
blank paper
Allena Tapia

As an English Major in college, I have a lot of writing and especially creative writing pieces that I work on throughout the semester and sometimes, I'll find it hard to get the motivation to type a few pages and the thought process that goes behind it. These are eleven thoughts that I have as a writer while writing my stories.

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments