Beware the *RANT*

[anysia]

Just read a news article about a school teacher who was sexually abused, beaten severely, and then viciously raped by a 15 yr old student.  He is now 16, and has been found guilty and sentenced to life incarceration. It is at a high security youth facility, where he can apply for parole after 4 years.

Judge Christopher Moss agreed with a doctor who said the boy had a high risk of re-offending and had probably planned or rehearsed the rape in a fantasy.
Judge Moss told the youth: "You subjected your victim to the terror of a physical, sexually degrading and humiliating attack in her own classroom.
"This was a prolonged, persistent and violent rape.

The kids' lawyers said "the teenager had come from an "emotionally fraught" family background, had been bullied at school, and suffered from a misconduct disorder." 

Big effin' deal!  Stop excusing this sort of behavior!  According to this train of thought, I should be running around being a hatchet murderer or something equally heinous.  I was horrendously bullied, including being set on fire.  (Nothing like having a Texan accent in the middle of New England WASP territory to paint a target on a young child.) And what the hell is 'misconduct disorder'?  Another psychobabble term in order make excuses for criminal behavior?

Comments

[tupelo.livejournal.com]

There have been so many highly publicized cases lately of violent sex offenders re-offending in awful, sick, murderous ways that one wonders if society might start to get a clue.

[anysia.livejournal.com]

They might, only if it happens to some high muckymucks daughter/son. As long as it happens to the public weal, they don't really seem to give a flying fu... errr damn. Not that I wish this to happen to anyone else, but sometimes.. I just wish the shoe was on the other foot. (crap, I hate spouting platitudes)

[meljane.livejournal.com]

I've said once and I'll say it again there is no justice in this world *sigh*

[dr-jekyl.livejournal.com]

*headdesk*

Certain individuals in our judicial system need to learn the difference between 'reason' and 'excuse'. That kid may have had reasons for being as fucked up as he is, but that does, in no way whatsoever, excuse what he did.

But then nothing is anybody's fault anymore.

[shadoutcarver.livejournal.com]

The difference is you are strong. Not everyone is. Thank the Great Maker and say a pray for the poor schoolteacher. The boy should be put in a mental institution for ... well... life. He goes to a hellhole for 4 years and yes, no question, he will come out more violent.

There *is* a difference between an excuse and an explanation. There is also willfully doing your best to make damn sure a criminal becomes WORSE.
Wanting to insure that when he gets out, he does more damage to the next victom.

btw, do you have a link to the story? (to late to read it *before* I go spouting off)

[anysia.livejournal.com]

Raped Teacher Vows to Return (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15839846-38200,00.html)