Texas Judge Takes Victim Blaming To A New Low By Giving Admitted Rapist Short Sentence Due To ‘Promiscuous’ Victim

A Texas judge is taking some well-deserved heat this week after laying out a infuriatingly lenient sentence for an admitted rapist, and implying that his 14-year-old victim was “not the victim she claimed to be,” and “promiscuous.” Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse to be a woman in Texas, something like this happens. Texas is basically “Archie Bunker – The State.”

State District Judge Jeanine Howard gave confessed rapist Sir Young a stunning 45-day prison sentence as well as five years probation. The fact that he was facing a max of 20 years is an even bigger slap in the face. The worst part, in my opinion, is that while he will technically have the label “sex offender” for the rest of his life, as long as he meets certain criteria, he will be exempt from the standard restrictions that being on this list usually requires, including staying away from young children, receiving mandatory treatment or undergoing a sex offender evaluation. Howard straight up told the Dallas News that part of her decision to give Young such a BS sentence was due to the fact that the victim had allegedly been with three sexual partners and had given birth to a baby (all of which the victim vehemently denies). Oh, I didn’t realize that having sex and babies made one un-rape-able. Oh wait, it doesn’t. But apparently in Howard’s cartoon world it does.

Howard also says that Young is “not your typical sex offender,” you know, the scary-dude-in-a-dark-alley type that rarely exists outside of Hollywood. Understandably, the victim is shocked and unsettled by this turn of events. According to an interview she did with WFAA, the victim had finally begun coming to terms with her assault, but feels like Howard’s disgusting comments have hindered her healing process:

“It was a slap in the face,’ she said. ‘I thought I was going to get help. I thought that it would be taken care of, and I wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore.”

But wait! There’s more! In a mind-mindbogglingly tone deaf decision, Howard is also requiring Young to complete community service at a local rape crisis center. Because there is nothing more a rape victim loves than being around an admitted rapist at the one place he or she should be able to feel safe. Bobbie Villareal, the Executive Director of the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center says she will not welcome Young. She had harsh words for Howard as well:

“I’m sure she (“Judge” Howard aka “The Victim Blaming Judge) probably thought that it was his way of giving back perhaps. But it’s just not an appropriate place for him to do his community supervision.”

Judge Howard isn’t about to back down from her controversial decision. She’s known in legal circles for being “creative” with her sentences, because taking The Monkey’s Paw approach to the judicial system is exactly what we need more of in the US.

According to Judge Howard’s website, she is up for re-election this year. From the website:

“I am now preparing to run for re-election in 2014 as the Democratic incumbent, and I will be asking for your vote once again in support of my third term. I encourage you to stop by and personally see the court in action if you are ever in or near the Frank Crowley Courthouse, or to give us a call if we can ever be of service to you.”

That sounds like a wonderful idea. Perhaps we should all give Ms. Howard’s office a call and let her know how we feel about her re-election (and her stance on rape victims as well). I’m sure that when election day rolls around, the women of her district will let her know exactly what they think of her.

(Photo: JudgeJeanineHoward.com/Memegenerator.net)