The recent sentencing of Former Congressman William Jefferson is notable, not only because it shows the face of government corruption, but also because it illustrates what looks to me like a growing disparity between society's willingness to punish financial offenders and its willingness to punish certain violent offenders. Jefferson will face 13 years in prison, though the justice department was seeking 33. Jefferson's crimes ranged from accepting bribes to embezzlement.
Compare his case to the case of Roman Polanski. Polanski, who raped an under aged girl in several different ways, might face two years in prison if he is extradited. But, OK, some celebrities have assured us that it wasn't rape-rape. So let's look at another case. James Malecin, who killed his stepson, UFC heavyweight champion Justin Eilers, was given a sentence of 6.5 to 15 years for the act. But, alright, he was drunk, so that wasn't murder-murder. So let's consider the 1994 case of Curtis Martin, who was convicted of beating a three-year-old boy to death and was given only 11-years in prison. He was released and is now suspected of killing another child. Well, now, that looks bad. But apparently the crimes of Bernie Madoff are worse, because Madoff is serving a sentence of 150 years.
I am not arguing that these cases are the norm. I know they are not, but in day to day conversations as well as in the news, I have seen more people defend Polanski than I have Madoff. So I can't help wonder which is worth more in today's society? Your money or your life?
Polanski's Landmark Friday 13th - He should not be above the Law... http://bit.ly/1gv1HI
Posted by: Dirk Dotzert | Monday, November 16, 2009 at 02:48 PM