Is our criminal justice system too soft?
November 13th 2007 03:08
Reading news.com.au, I came across a story about a peeping tom who not only spied on women in the toilet using equipment he installed but is also involved in child pornography. How much jail time does this sicko get? Two months.
I don't care how long he'll be on the sex offenders register, his 500 hours of community service or the measly fine he has to pay. The fact is he's getting away with something that could ultimately have landed him 10 years. What is 2 months other than just a slap on the wrist?
There are times when you have to wonder what kind of justice is actually been served if that kind of crime is sentenced with two months. The original sentence before appeal, 14 months with the minimum to be served being 8 months seemed a little more suitable. In my opinion 14 months should actually have been the minimum but the decision being overturned in favour of 2 months is mind-boggling.
We're looking for justice, not wrist-slapping nor would this sentence actually deter someone from committing such an offence. This will then become a precedent that could be used as a sentencing example. While precedents are not binding, they are certainly used and referred to. Soft sentencing does not help society or offenders, it causes soft justice.
I don't care how long he'll be on the sex offenders register, his 500 hours of community service or the measly fine he has to pay. The fact is he's getting away with something that could ultimately have landed him 10 years. What is 2 months other than just a slap on the wrist?
There are times when you have to wonder what kind of justice is actually been served if that kind of crime is sentenced with two months. The original sentence before appeal, 14 months with the minimum to be served being 8 months seemed a little more suitable. In my opinion 14 months should actually have been the minimum but the decision being overturned in favour of 2 months is mind-boggling.
We're looking for justice, not wrist-slapping nor would this sentence actually deter someone from committing such an offence. This will then become a precedent that could be used as a sentencing example. While precedents are not binding, they are certainly used and referred to. Soft sentencing does not help society or offenders, it causes soft justice.
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