Once upon a time courts evenly applied the rule of law, or so I’ve been told. Some people even used to take kidnapping seriously. The feds passed the Mann Act years ago making it a federal offense to transport a minor interstate for any sexual activity. That particular legislation is still the law of the land. 18 USC 2422 and 2423 pertain.
Some courts today apparently do not feel compelled to award real punishment to some criminals. Instead, they feel justified in awarding administrative sanctions instead of hard time. Punishment today often means probation and community service, regardless of the crime or ages of the victims.
You might think that an adult who: a) kidnapped a 15-year old child, b) transported that child across a state line, c) held that child in a hotel for four days, c) seduced that child, and d) committed statutory rape with that child would certainly end up in prison for years once convicted, but you would be wrong. This sexual predator was sentenced to 40 days in jail. How can this be?
The court also levied two administrative sanctions against this sexual predator: sex offender probation and lifetime supervision, plus time served. Does this give you a warm and fuzzy feeling? Was justice served?
What if I told you that this criminal was also the child’s teacher? Would that be enough to get your blood boiling? This confessed criminal was facing up to 26 years in prison. Instead, the court told this predator, “You at least deserve a chance to rebuild your life.” Isn’t that special? If only everyone could expect kid glove treatment in criminal court. How would you feel if that had been your 15-year old child? How would you feel if you had been that 15-year old child?
You might think that an adult who a) fornicated their best friend’s significant other, and b) then made up a false felony charge against that person in an effort to cover up their own behavior would be subject to serious punishment once convicted, but you would be wrong. This criminal received 240 hours of community service. How would you feel if you were this criminal’s former best friend? How would you feel if the false felony charge had been lodged against you? Was justice served?
You might think that an adult who a) kidnapped three children and b) fled the country with those children to avoid legal consequences in a pending court action would be subject to serious punishment once convicted, but again you would be wrong. Not only was this kidnapper not punished, this criminal was also found not guilty. If you were the other parent in this case how would you feel? Was justice served?
These were three totally separate and isolated cases. They were all in different places, with different judges, in different courts, and in three different countries, yet the results were very similar. Why?
How can one explain the results of these cases? World-class representation? Incompetent prosecution? Corrupt judges? Deluded juries? Dumb luck? Or something else?
Maybe something unspoken by most, yet understood by all. Something insidious and invidious. There’s only one thing common to all of these cases, despite their glaring differences and widely separated locations.
Something that none of these criminals had any say in. Something that was way beyond their ability to control. Something that would greatly affect their entire lives and the results of their trials. Something that everyone knows, but no one admits in public.
Something that results in inexplicable sentences following convictions and findings of not guilty for specious reasons. Something that has resulted in an elite, protected class of citizens, despite Constitutional provisions that prohibit such distinctions.
What makes these criminals unique, something special? They weren’t handicapped, insane, drunk, or high on crack. They weren’t undercover federal agents forced into precarious situations that required them to commit crimes in order to stay alive. They weren’t under the influence of any cult, religion, or weird sect. They were just normal citizens going about their daily lives until they elected to commit their crimes.
You see, these three criminals had only one thing in common: they were all women.
“Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact.”