Weinstein

Guilty on two counts. Los Angeles charges remain

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/celebrity/harvey-weinstein-found-guilty-of-third-degree-rape-escapes-predatory-sexual-assault-conviction/ar-BB10kEJX

 

While it is unlikely we'll ever know what occurred during jury deliberations, I am really wondering what was going through the minds of the jurist(s) who were holding out on the other charges.

 

Defence lawyers have ways to influence and saw doubt. I think what may weaken the case is due to the nature of business/job relations people after the abuse continued the relationship, in order to break into the "field".
Maybe it's a psychological thing. Also, it's possible that others like Weinstein used the same practice, and maybe it was the way in past decades.
He could have gone away with this 15 years ago. But times changed.
Who would tolerate such treatment of their daughter, sister, mother?
But people in power positions do take advantage of others.
I was a young soldier and seen how more senior in rank and influence commanders manipulated young woman solders.
Some ladies offered themselves in order to gain favor. Others were pressured.
It would not fly on that level today but then it was the way of things.

 

Having "failed" with Epstein, Rikers Island prepares for Weinstein.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8046265/Prison-officials-fear-Harvey-Weinstein-try-kill-like-Jeffrey-Epstein.html

 

Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison. So that means he'll get out in...calculating...calculating...calculating...NEVER

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/11/harvey-weinstein-sentenced-in-prison-for-sex-assault.html

(and he hasn't even gone to court on the California charges yet)

 

Loved the judges comment!

 

I'm not much of a believer. Though I do wish that our penal system would shift to a more rehabilitative model than the punitive one we cultivate. This whole idea of "make the bastard suffer" as a means of "justice" doesn't sit well with me.

Not that Mr. Weinstein could ever truly be "rehabilitated" mind you. But I do think that a loss of freedom and power would be a significant punishment for the guy even if we didn't have the full force of the life of a US prisoner added to that. But I've always been a fan of the way Norway does their thing.

 

I am okay with adopting the Norwegian model, if it means that Weinstein is clipped.

 

I'm not sure what the Norwegian model is . . . maybe throwing him into a fjord?
I'm happy to let him spend the rest of his life in jail. I'm not sure how the rape victims feel about the sentence. Once he's sentenced in California it will add up to a shmillion years. He doesn't look too healthy, I don't think he'll survive long.

 

They experimented with castration for sex offenders...

 

Norway has a rehabilitative model of penology. Their prisons, by American standards, are posh. The reason is that they treat you with basic human respect under the assumption that you can't have respect for yourself and, subsequently, respect for society's laws if you're being treated like sub-human scum.

They also cap sentences. They don't do life sentences. Max sentence for murder is 20 years. If you get to the end of that and they think you're going to go out and start killing again they can hold you longer. But the sentence itself is only 20 years and unless you're a raging lunatic, you get released.

I get the sentiment where people want to see Weinstein, or any criminal, rot in prison for life, I just don't see it, personally. Prison sucks. Being deprived of your freedom sucks. It sucks even if your cell has a door and Ikea furniture. I haven't left my house in three days and I'm climbing the walls. That's in a place that I picked out, that I decorated, that I have full control over. I can knock out the wall behind me right now. I still don't like being stuck in here and being told I cannot, or should not, leave. If you gave me 20 years of this, it would be a sizable punishment even if you took out the threat of rape, violence and disease.

Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world. The U.S. has one of the highest. The idea of "make prison as horrible as possible so no one wants to come back" has been proven false in every country where that is the model. Russian prisons are ten times worse than U.S. prisons and they have one of the highest rates of incarceration and recidivism in the world.

At the end of the day, the system in the US favors vengeance, not justice. That's all I'm saying about it. Weinstein is ruined. He deserves to be punished. But I suppose I'm mindful of the difference between inflicting punishment versus inflicting suffering.

 

Among the stories coming out regarding covid19is the prospect of rapid, near 100% penetration in populations such as prisons. I think Weinstein got moved out of Rikers but I don't know where they put him. I don't want to see him in some country club lockup but I don't want him singled out for bad treatment either. I'm guessing that lots of imprisoned people are going to get very sick. I don't think there's anything that can be done about that. I heard someone say "Release half the prisoners." I don't think any politician is going to make that call. I don't think that's a good thing but I think it's a real thing. Weinstein is an older guy. He's not healthy. I don't think anyone is going to have to worry too much about Weinstein's long-term happiness.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/celebrity/harvey-weinstein-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-in-ny-state-prison-convicted-producer-in-isolation/ar-BB11xZf5