http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/01/steubenville_rape_convict_tren.html
This article is about the Steubenville student who was recently released from a state rehab facility after serving (nearly) his full two year sentence for the rape of a fellow student and the dissemination of naked photos of her. Mays committed his crime in August of 2012. As a prominent athlete many people came out to support him during that time, and the state prosecutor became involved when appropriate legal action was not taken. Mays was not convicted of the crime until March 2013 when he received his two year sentence. He was released in January 2015; his accomplice served time but was released last year since he didn't have the additional child pornography charges. Both are now registered as sex offenders with the state of Ohio; Mays is Tier 2.
This case was particularly scandalous in Ohio because of the reaction of the community and local law enforcement. However, it brings issues within the juvenile justice system to the forefront. Mays and his fellow teammate raped the girl and taped it 9 months before they were adjudicated delinquent. During that time the boys had consequences, but did not have state appointed services (therapy) necessary to begin the rehabilitation process or to be held accountable for their actions. Additionally, Mays received harsher punishment because of the subjective judgment of the presiding judge that his actions were more "egregious." Our juvenile system did a disservice to these boys by not holding them immediately accountable, and by not holding offenders in general consistently accountable. The judges have too much power to decide timing and sentencing on juvenile cases.
This is definitely a controversial case! I remember the uproar when all of the information came out. I'm not sure I quite follow your reasoning on the delay of the sentencing of the charges, it does make lots of senses that the consistency in the sentencing would be important in situations like this one. Thanks for posting this, I remember the questions this case raised about the politics of justice and proper punishment and rape culture, and I certainly believe it's important not to let issues like this settle.
ReplyDeleteI remember hearing about this case a couple years ago, and being unsure about what I thought the boys "deserved". I agree that they should have been referred to counseling to start the rehabilitation process while waiting for their trial. However, I personally don't agree that they should be labeled sex offenders. This may be another whole issue, but why should a teenager be labeled with this for life for something that happened between themselves and another teenager. Yes, rape is wrong no matter what age you are, but sex offender is a very harsh label and can create many problems for the individual later in life. I also think it is ridiculous how long it takes for cases to be sentenced!
ReplyDeleteI remember when this case happened, and it seems to me that treatment ought to address rape as well as the dissemination of photos, which retraumatizes victims by their peers.
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