Is it just me or does 30 years to life seem longer than you would expect? I’m not trying to argue what he deserves or what the correct amount of time is for rape. I’m just saying that if I had to guess what kind of sentence someone would get for 2 counts of rape, I’d have guessed something like 15 years at most. It seems especially unusual given that he’s rich, white, and presumably a first-time offender.
If the sentence is unusually long, would that mean an appeal is more likely to be successful?
Sentencing has never made much sense. Depends upon jurisdiction, how many charges prosecutors can tack on, how many you end up going to trial over, how many you get convicted over, and who is responsible for sentencing (in some places the jury sentence, in some the trial judge, in others sentencing is a separate proceeding with a separate judge).
One of the big factors here is that Masterson and his lawyers still deny everything. He didn’t cut a deal, hasn’t shown remorse since he hasn’t admitted to any wrong-doing, and the judge chose to sentence consecutively. First trial was a mistrial, second trial got 2/3 convictions, and apparently they intend to appeal. So depending upon appeal, he is currently facing somewhere between being acquitted on appeal to facing life in prison. In a lot of cases like this, some sort of deal is cut on lesser charges or lesser sentencing in exchange for admitting guilt and not dragging this on through appeal, hence typically shorter sentences. Masterson/his lawyers are instead rolling d20s and the current outcome is a 1.
It varies a hell of a lot by state. Some states will give 40+ years for one rape, some will give under 10 years for multiple rapes. Add in the biases of individual judges, the person being charged, their status, jury biases, etc, and it ends up kinda all over the place.
Don’t you mean that almost all other sentences for rape seem far too short?
There were several aggravating factors here. A long sentence is surprising given that he is a wealthy, white man. But it’s absolutely justified (in the current carceral context, of which I strongly disapprove).
I didn’t say you were. I’m suggesting the sentence only seems long to you because you grew up in a world full of Brock Turners. If you’re not arguing about what the correct sentence should be, that is the only possible interpretation of what you said. Your perspective has been warped by your experience of this world that we live in.
Yea, I’m glad he is getting what he deserves but 30 to life seems insane. You can get up to 20 years for murder here (life sentence is possible but only for the rare serial/mass murderer), and getting that 20 years requires you to do some really bad shit. Manslaughter for another example is up to 3 years.
Be prepared to see how many people rise up to say life minimum when it comes to rape. Of course, I just see that as people admitting the system fails the incarcerated and punishes rather than rehabilitates.
Yeah, seems high. I’ve known someone that got 10 years for attempted murder (shot someone). I’m not in favor of long sentences like these in general. If a person is not going to rehabilitated in 10 years, then I don’t think adding another 20 years is going to help. Same thing if you look at it from a deterrent perspective (if 10 years isn’t a deterrent, then any sentence probably wouldn’t be). If a person could never be rehabilitated and they would pose a danger to others if released, then a life sentence would probably be the best.
Is it just me or does 30 years to life seem longer than you would expect? I’m not trying to argue what he deserves or what the correct amount of time is for rape. I’m just saying that if I had to guess what kind of sentence someone would get for 2 counts of rape, I’d have guessed something like 15 years at most. It seems especially unusual given that he’s rich, white, and presumably a first-time offender.
If the sentence is unusually long, would that mean an appeal is more likely to be successful?
Sentencing has never made much sense. Depends upon jurisdiction, how many charges prosecutors can tack on, how many you end up going to trial over, how many you get convicted over, and who is responsible for sentencing (in some places the jury sentence, in some the trial judge, in others sentencing is a separate proceeding with a separate judge).
One of the big factors here is that Masterson and his lawyers still deny everything. He didn’t cut a deal, hasn’t shown remorse since he hasn’t admitted to any wrong-doing, and the judge chose to sentence consecutively. First trial was a mistrial, second trial got 2/3 convictions, and apparently they intend to appeal. So depending upon appeal, he is currently facing somewhere between being acquitted on appeal to facing life in prison. In a lot of cases like this, some sort of deal is cut on lesser charges or lesser sentencing in exchange for admitting guilt and not dragging this on through appeal, hence typically shorter sentences. Masterson/his lawyers are instead rolling d20s and the current outcome is a 1.
Compared to the rapist Brock Turner it sure seems like a lot. Brock Turner the rapist got a very light sentence.
I have a feeling Brock will get what’s coming to him down the road
It varies a hell of a lot by state. Some states will give 40+ years for one rape, some will give under 10 years for multiple rapes. Add in the biases of individual judges, the person being charged, their status, jury biases, etc, and it ends up kinda all over the place.
It’s longer than I’d expect, but it’s what it should be, so it’s refreshing that a judge somewhere is taking rape seriously.
Don’t you mean that almost all other sentences for rape seem far too short?
There were several aggravating factors here. A long sentence is surprising given that he is a wealthy, white man. But it’s absolutely justified (in the current carceral context, of which I strongly disapprove).
No, in fact I specifically said:
I didn’t say you were. I’m suggesting the sentence only seems long to you because you grew up in a world full of Brock Turners. If you’re not arguing about what the correct sentence should be, that is the only possible interpretation of what you said. Your perspective has been warped by your experience of this world that we live in.
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I used to have a friend that did 8 years for murder. Dude hit the 3 strike rule though he’s out for life no parole.
Yea, I’m glad he is getting what he deserves but 30 to life seems insane. You can get up to 20 years for murder here (life sentence is possible but only for the rare serial/mass murderer), and getting that 20 years requires you to do some really bad shit. Manslaughter for another example is up to 3 years.
Excuse me, but it seems to me that with two murder maybe his sentence would be less.
Yea, in Estonia definitely. To get the full 20 years you need to do something pretty bad.
Be prepared to see how many people rise up to say life minimum when it comes to rape. Of course, I just see that as people admitting the system fails the incarcerated and punishes rather than rehabilitates.
If you give harsher punishment for rape than murder, you are just trasforming every rape in a murder rape.
Yeah, seems high. I’ve known someone that got 10 years for attempted murder (shot someone). I’m not in favor of long sentences like these in general. If a person is not going to rehabilitated in 10 years, then I don’t think adding another 20 years is going to help. Same thing if you look at it from a deterrent perspective (if 10 years isn’t a deterrent, then any sentence probably wouldn’t be). If a person could never be rehabilitated and they would pose a danger to others if released, then a life sentence would probably be the best.
Honestly, had the same thought