Judge No Longer Believes In Punishment, Sentences Rapist To 60 Days

[MrsSpringsteen]

Easy for him to be on his high horse, I believe strongly that this guy deserves punishment. I wonder if it's only rape that he no longer believes in punishment for..

Can't punishment be combined w/ rehabilitation? What about the little girl? I think it is outrageous. Rape doesn't deserve punishment? Um, OK

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=4319605&nav=4QcS

There was outrage Wednesday when a Vermont judge handed out a 60-day jail sentence to a man who raped a little girl many,many times over a four-year span starting when she was seven.

The judge said he no longer believes in punishment and is more concerned about rehabilitation.

Prosecutors argued that confessed child-rapist Mark Hulett, 34, of Williston deserved at least eight years behind bars for repeatedly raping a littler girl countless times starting when she was seven.

But Judge Edward Cashman disagreed explaining that he no longer believes that punishment works.

"The one message I want to get through is that anger doesn't solve anything. It just corrodes your soul," said Judge Edward Cashman speaking to a packed Burlington courtroom. Most of the on-lookers were related to a young girl who was repeatedly raped by Mark Hulett who was in court to be sentenced.

The sex abuse started when the girl was seven and ended when she was ten. Prosecutors were seeking a sentence of eight to twenty years in prison, in part, as punishment.

"Punishment is a valid purpose," Chittenden Deputy Prosecutor Nicole Andreson argued to Judge Edward Cashman.

 

[redkat]

There is no such thing as rehabilitation for a person like that.

Of course punishment doesn't work people like him need to be removed from society!

This is a disgrace and a slap in the face to that little girl.

 

[financeguy]

Can the prosecutor appeal?

 

[stammer476]

It's not about punishment, it's about getting this guy off the streets so that he can't harm anyone else.

Rehabilitation will be a long course, yet he will remain a danger to society.

 

[joyfulgirl]

I feel sick.

 

[dandy]

I feel sick.

me too.

 

[nbcrusader]

Unfortunately, I doubt the prosecutor can appeal the sentence. The judge's actions are an abuse to society.

 

[DrTeeth]

What excatly does this 'sex treatment' entail?

 

[MsGiggles]

I don't even think cutting his dick off would be punishment enough....

 

[BluRmGrl]

One can only hope that this person's "rehabilitation" involves him getting gang-raped daily for a month so he can be rehabilitated to learn empathy.

I suppose that's not a very good demonstration of the Christian values of forgiveness and not passing judgement - although it damn sure seems to me like "an eye for an eye". I just pray that poor child has the support she needs to make sure her self-worth is never questioned. Poor baby....

 

[UberBeaver]

Someone should rape the judge, then see how he feels about punishment. Jackass.

 

[DrTeeth]

Someone should rape the judge, then see how he feels about punishment. Jackass.

Are you volunteering?

Am I the only one whose opinion on rape doesn't depend on the victim?

 

[Justin24]

Disgusting. The judge should help rehabilitate him then. Castrate the Rapist.

 

[redkat]

Unfortunately, I doubt the prosecutor can appeal the sentence. The judge's actions are an abuse to society.

What options are there when a judge clearly is abusing his position?

If he has given up on jailing child molesters he needs to be removed from the bench.

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

Totally and utterly ridiculous.

The judge should be removed from his position if he's not properly sentencing rapists.

 

[nbcrusader]

What options are there when a judge clearly is abusing his position?

If he has given up on jailing child molesters he needs to be removed from the bench.

I am not familiar with the review procedures of judicial officers in Vermont. The standards are fairly high, however, so that they are not envoked at every turn (otherwise, the position turns too political and decisions are rendered to avoid mob behavior).

This may have to wait until the next election cycle.

What is shocking is that the judge believes that rehabilitation works in this case. Decades of studies show it does not.

 

[Eliv8]

F*cking Bullshit.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

The more I think about this the more angry and sick I feel.

Isn't punishment a big part of a judge's job? If he doesn't believe in it any longer, shouldn't he quit?

I bet this will really serve to deter this kind of rape in Burlington, VT too. Go to jail for 60 days and get yourself rehabilitated.

 

[VertigoGal]

this is fucking disgusting.

if he disagrees with punishment of serial rapists, he should RESIGN.

 

[the rockin edge]

 

[joyfulgirl]

Am I the only one whose opinion on rape doesn't depend on the victim?

Could you explain further?

 

[larryslass]

How can he sleep at night? The bastard should be jailed for ever and never let back out into society. There has just been a case on the news in my country where a 3 year old was abducted and raped .They caught him and charged him, but right now i would gladly turn a blind eye to police brutality. Sometimes i really hate this world.

 

[the rockin edge]

but right now i would gladly turn a blind eye to police brutality.

 

[indra]

What is shocking is that the judge believes that rehabilitation works in this case. Decades of studies show it does not.

Yeah. Sex offenders are among the least likely to be able to be rehabilitated.

I wonder if the judge's views on rehabilitation extend to other crimes also. Sadly there is all too often an underlying belief that sex crimes aren't really that bad.

 

[redkat]

This is the type of crime that punishment does not deter and NO rehabilitation or castration will stop.


It has nothing to do with any of those things and this judge could read a few things and realize it.

This person needs to be locked up for life. The end

 

[larryslass]

Are you trying to tell me that you dont agree with what i said!
Can you honestly say that you wouldnt want to see some child rapist have the crap beaten out of them?

 

[Pearl]

Sometimes I wonder if a judge like this who is sympathetic to child molestors, does so because he's a child rapist himself. As in, he probably visits Thailand often or has child porn on his computer.

He shouldn't be a judge. Someone needs to dismiss him

 

[nbcrusader]

Are you trying to tell me that you dont agree with what i said!
Can you honestly say that you wouldnt want to see some child rapist have the crap beaten out of them?

That is just revenge.

Far different from due process and criminal punishment.

 

[larryslass]

That is just revenge.

Far different from due process and criminal punishment.

If the law dealt with them harshly i wouldnt feel the way i do

 

[the rockin edge]

Are you trying to tell me that you dont agree with what i said!
Can you honestly say that you wouldnt want to see some child rapist have the crap beaten out of them?

i can't condone police brutality no, beating him up doesn't solve anyones problems

that goes along with becoming a monster to defeat one

he should be locked up, that i agree with

this judges decision is a bad joke

That is just revenge.

Far different from due process and criminal punishment.