The " Justice " System !

Once again we have a criminal ending the sentence imposed by a judge and technically ready to be released back into the community.  The problem is that the people tasked with judging his rehabilitation are certain that he has not been reformed and they are trying to find ways to delay his release on parole.

This man was the leader of a rape gang that horrified Sydney when the details emerged in his trial.   He was seventeen at that time and his speciality was luring schoolgirls to an isolated location.  Car loads of other young men were then summonsed by mobile phone to where he and  several raped the girl while others watched and cheered.  Weeping girls were asked if they liked it " Leb style " and were usually humiliated by being called an " Aussie Pig ".

In 2000 this man received a prison sentence of 33 years, reduced to 22 years on appeal and with an 18 year non parole period. Reviews by the Serial Offenders Review Council conclude that he still blames the victims for his offending, has no victim empathy and refuses to take responsibility for his actions

This is the paradox of our legal system. Our definition of justice insists that when the prison term imposed for a convicted crime expires the offender is automatically released, despite the prison people who know him being certain he will return to his former way of crime.   No doubt he will be required to wear a location bracelet for a time, but there is a limit to the degree of supervision that can be imposed.

It is inevitable that this man will regain his freedom to walk the streets of Sydney and given his known state of mind, it is probably equally inevitable that he will reoffend.  We are deliberately setting a rapist loose - simply because we have no other option under the law.   What does that say to the victims who will have the misfortune to encounter this person when that freedom is gained ?

It is surgically possible to ensure that a rapist is unable to repeat that crime but we seem squeamish in handing that option to the courts.  We would actually be doing a favour to a person with an over developed sex drive that was out of control and would inevitably spend more   time in prison for repeated offences.

It would also provide the courts with a sentencing option.  A reduction in the time served in exchange for the surgical procedure that ensured the crime would not be repeated.  It would serve the admirable purpose of making the punishment fit the crime in a practical way !