Double Standards?

[sunny-dave]

Yet again a woman is treated far more leniently than a man for the same crime - probation and some weekend detention and community work, rather than a lengthy prison sentence.

http://tinyurl.com/ndaxg5e

"Raeann Warner, a Delaware attorney who specializes in sexual abuse cases, said she was surprised Shattuck was not given any prison time.

“It just seems light ... and not in accord with sentences in cases involving less heinous sexual acts that were committed by males,” Warner said"

Why does this happen so often (here as well as in the USA - and for many different sorts of crime)?

Is prison inherently "a harsher punishment for women", as many activist groups suggest?

Should this be a "get out of jail free card" for women?

[-Talbot-]

oooooh...I have always taken a bit of bashing when I have suggested women get off lighter than men.

[Old_Geezer]

Welcome to the real world SD :-)
Been discussed a few times before here.
Problem is that when I was 15 I'd have given anything to be offered sex by an NFL cheerleader even if I wouldn't have known what the NFL was at the time.

[sunny-dave]

Morning Tablet & OG - I'm aware of previous discussions - this just seems a particularly egregious example.

OG - presumably your (fictional) sister would have been happy with a quarterback from the 49ers - but that would be wrong too ...

[Svejk]

It's probably considered the wrong way to think, nowadays, but I don't consider older women 'abusing' boys in the same way as when the genders are reversed. It would have been a teenage daydream when I was a lad.

[Old_Geezer]

I've never asked her, but she might have.

[whiskeryron]

Behind me in the queue OG.

[Cloverjo]

I don't believe that a man would necessarily have been given a lengthy prison sentence for a similar crime. He would have been made to sign the sex offenders register, but any other punishment would depend on the level of coercion or violence (if any - none in this case) involved.

[sunny-dave]

A random search result Cloverjo

http://php.delawareonline.com/news/2014/fourth-degree/

Notice that the two of the three people spared jail were ... a woman and a minister of the church ...

[mikey4444]

I am not sure what "fourth degree rape" is...can anyone shed some light on this ?

Presumably, if she had committed 3rd degree, or 2nd degree rape, she would have had a longer sentence.

[sunny-dave]

http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/delaware-statutory-rape-laws.htm

[mikey4444]

Thanks SD...its now easy to see how Delaware lawyers make their money !

[sunny-dave]

Plea bargaining and 'deals' seem to be endemic, mikey - especially for those able to afford a good brief ...