At Last, A Reasonable Sentence?

[youngmafbog]

20 years for Rape.

Looking at him I reckon he'll soon be meeting "Mr Big" in the showers. Hope he packed his soap on a rope. Lets hoping anyway then he'll know what it's like.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5016583/Former-public-schoolboy-raped-two-extremely-drunk-women.html#comments

[murraymints]

off the streets now and unable to cause any more harm... what an ego

[ludwig]

These sentences would be good if they were actually served, but you always have to halve the headline figure to get near the actual time spent behind bars.

[hereIam]

It's part of an extended sentence, so maybe he will serve it all - hope so.

[davegosling]

"Hutchinson showed little emotion other than to smirk when told he was dangerous."

Ye gods! What a monster! If I understand it correctly, an "extended" sentence means he won't be eligible for parole until after having served two thirds of the term, so just over thirteen years.

As for "Mr Big" presenting his credentials, no doubt Hutchinson will serve his sentence at a prison with a specialist sex offender unit.

[Mamyalynne]

Well deserved sentence.

[jno]

I don't know. That sentence is getting pretty near the sentence for murder. When that happens, a rapist may think he might just as well kill his victim and ensure there's no witness.

[Spicerack]

Pretty good point, jno.

[cleodog]

Maybe they should up the sentence for murder then?

[kvalidir]

I think he's vile, I think he deserves it but I also think that it's a dangerous sentence for the reason Jno has mentioned. What's in it for a rapist not to kill his victims if he's going to serve 20 years? I don't know what the solution is, but that sentence is a double edged sword- it might put some off offending at all and it might encourage other to kill.

[youngmafbog]

The solution is simple.

Murder should mean the rope, but if not acceptable then life should mean life. No ifs, no buts.

We should be increasing sentences not decreasing them.

[jno]

Murder should mean the rope

tell that to Timothy Evans. That's why they don't do hangings any more: too many people hanged who should have had it commuted, or were innocent all along. At least if they get life then mistakes can be corrected (sort of).

[DTCwordfan]

agree with jno - then be the blood on your shoulders if you were to condemn someone to death who was then proven to be innocent. If they are guilty, then let them rot in the thought - effective suicide/murder is not the easy way out.

[andy-hughes]

Obviously an odious creature, hopefully his incarceration will give him time to grow up and learn a sense of humility and humanity.

I never subscribe to 'punishment' over and above that decided by law, because that diminishes all of us.

[youngmafbog]

jno, if they got proper life then I would stop my advocation for the Rope. But they dont, there is an army of Liberal judges and another army of human rights lawyers all making mega bucks at the expense of the tax payer to get them out.

[ludwig]

// I don't know. That sentence is getting pretty near the sentence for murder. When that happens, a rapist may think he might just as well kill his victim and ensure there's no witness. //

That's a fair point. We clearly need to increase the sentences for murder.

[albaqwerty]

I'm all for supporting an oubliette. lob down some food now and again and when dna proves them innocent, haul them back out.

[andy-hughes]

Ludwig - // // I don't know. That sentence is getting pretty near the sentence for murder. When that happens, a rapist may think he might just as well kill his victim and ensure there's no witness. //

That's a fair point. We clearly need to increase the sentences for murder. //

Surely it is clear that human nature dictates that no-one commits a crime, any crime, with the forethought that they may be caught and punished? Anyone reasoning to that extent is unlikely to commit a crime anyway.

That is why the notion of capital punishment as a deterrent is such a nonsense in the first place - no-one ever thinks they will be caught.

[ludwig]

andy-h. I'm not sure why you mentioned capital punishment, or what point you're making.

jno's reasoning seems valid. My response was simply to indicate that if long sentences for rape could have unwanted side effects because they're almost the same as those for murder, the approach should probably be to increase sentences for murder rather than keep rape sentences relatively short.

This person is a vile predator who needs to be kept out of society for as long as possible in my opinion.

[andy-hughes]

Ludwig - // andy-h. I'm not sure why you mentioned capital punishment, or what point you're making. //

I am happy to explain.

My point is that punishment, and deterrent are not the same thing, but they are both linked by the simple fact that neither is in the mind of the average wrongdoer - if they were, the wrongdoer would think again.

// jno's reasoning seems valid. My response was simply to indicate that if long sentences for rape could have unwanted side effects because they're almost the same as those for murder, the approach should probably be to increase sentences for murder rather than keep rape sentences relatively short. //

I suggest it is anything but.

The notion that a rapist stops and thinks "I will be better off murdering this victim because the sentence is similar" is simply farcical. Criminals are not bright forward-thinking people, they are usually low-life drones who act on impulses and don't think at all, so expecting them to look ahead into the consequences of the actions is utterly pointless.

As I have pointed out, no criminal expects to be caught, of course they don't, or they wouldn't be criminals in the first place, so the idea that lengthening sentences will alter criminal behaviour is a non-starter.

// This person is a vile predator who needs to be kept out of society for as long as possible in my opinion. //

On that we are in complete agreement.