How The Judicial System Is Making Women Feel | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

How The Judicial System Is Making Women Feel

Sexual assault and rape should never be something the judges take lightly.

7
How The Judicial System Is Making Women Feel
Chron

After the very recent release of Brock Turner and the numerous posts about rape on Facebook, I am nothing less than infuriated with the judicial system.

In college, we are constantly reminded that rape is a possibility. And people are told over and over again to report any sort of sexual assault or rape. But when it is reported, there is a slim-to-none chance it will be taken to court and the offender will be charged. Specifically, at Indiana University, the offender will be suspend for a summer semester and will be welcomed back the in the fall.

I was one of the people that was upset when I found out about Brock Turner's case. Not only was he given six months in jail, he was recently let out three months early for "good behavior." Personally, I don't believe that he should be getting released on such premises.

The one question I have for the judges that deal with these cases is what would you do if the person who was assaulted was your daughter or son, or siblings, or best friend? Could that judge imagine the emotional and mental rollercoaster that person would go through... It pains me to imagine how the assaulted individual must feel and how they will react to a court case that ended in a similar manner as Brock's.

In general, I've begun to notice more and more posts on Facebook of news articles regarding rape. The saddest thing is, most of the times its a mugshot of a male, the title states what positive things he has done, and then his charge. I am a firm believer that if someone has committed a crime, they should not be talked up to be someone that made a little mistake- they have raped another human being.

As a woman, I have begun to notice these articles more and more often. I've observed that most of the cases we see online go viral due to the circumstances, such as a limited time in jail or the way the court case was presented.

To be honest, as a college student, I have sat through the meetings, through the classes that bring situations such as these up. It's terrifying to see the statistics regarding how often people do report an assault/rape compared to be predicted the amount of cases that actually occur. The movie titles "The Hunting Grounds" is one of the most moving, but saddening documentaries that pertains to the way cases regarding rape are often handled and what happens to both persons involved.

I think that the ways in which the court system is handling these cases is wrong. If there are statistics regarding how common it is for a person to report a crime verse how often it is actually committed... It's proving the fact that so many individuals believe that reporting a crime isn't going to be beneficial to them. That exact statistic is making people nervous to even talk to anyone about what has happened to them.

If anyone has been on social media in the past few years they would have seen that many judges are asking (more commonly women) if they "could've kept their legs closed" or "if their outfit was too provocative." The judicial system is blaming the people who were assaulted.

I know that there are cases of rape or sexual assault that are charged correctly, and people do go to jail for an extended amount of time. But those cases aren't the ones that go viral. The cases that go viral are what influence the rest of society, and that typically involves the assailant getting little-to-no time in jail, and/or blames the victim.

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

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

548
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

15522
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

3190
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments