By KHRISNA VIRGIL
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
ACTIVISTS yesterday called for sterner sentences of those convicted of rape, as the feel the maximum penalties are not being sought by prosecutors.
The former Ingraham administration's decision to revisit several aspects of criminal law last year, led to a strengthening of the maximum sentence for rape, which is now 15 years to life in prison.
Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson, director of the Bahamas Crisis Centre, said: "I am not aware that the maximum sentence has been given to anyone who is found guilty of rape or other offenses. If we can get offenders to be sentenced to 60 or 70 years, we'll get the point across that this behaviour is not accepted in our society."
Dr Patterson said other challenges to the administration of justice in sexual assault cases include getting cases tried in a timely manner, and treating victims with sensitivity.
"We have been advocating for years to have days set aside in the courts to deal with such matters or to even have a separate court. It is also horrendous when victims have to wait five or six years before their matter can go to the courts.
"They now have to relive the experience and have it dragged on."
Former Social Services Minister Loretta Butler-Turner agreed that sexual assault victims need more help.
She said: "We have been slapped with a recent spree of rapes and sexual assaults in this country which has affected a great deal of women.
"I know individuals who've been raped and they are totally different now."
Mrs Butler-Turner said it is very important now, more than ever, that proper measures be implemented to ensure victims are not only protected, but helped "holistically" in terms of their recovery.
While both women applauded the maximum sentences currently in place, others feel the Bahamas should explore implementing harsher penalties.
One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "In some places sex convicts are given special injections that will make them flaccid - either that or maybe they should be castrated."
Comments
jasoncooper456 12 years, 6 months ago
This is the problem in our country, instead of being proactive we are being reactive which isn't the correct approach. Giving a longer sentence won't change their minds to commit rape, they aren't in a sane mindset to begin with, they're just looking for that instant gratification. 15 - life compared to 60 - life is no difference to criminals to them its do or die. Prison is supposed to be for rehabilitation not a money pit to waste for criminals who are probably never going to change because we do nothing to help them. I understand there's an outrage on the raping spree but where did we go wrong? We should pursue to fix the source not try to give harsher punishments to people who don't even care about other people, if they don't care for other people why would they care about themselves? Lack of empathy are signs of a sociopath. We have to tackle it at the source My Blog: http://tis242.blogspot.com/
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