Should someone who lets a crime happen be punished the same as the perpetrator?

[EarlyWalker]

(Potentially triggering - child abuse) I was reading an awful story today about a disgusting man who did terrible things to his three kids, the mother just stood by and watched and let it all happen - doing nothing to prevent it - she didn’t face any jail time.

It got me thinking, aside from the fact he should have been put away for life, should those who knowingly let things like this happen be punished as much as the perpetrator? For example, letting your toddler obtain 50 injuries and not protecting them - does this not warrant a similar punishment?

it is an offence already

In that case, yes, I think she is as culpable as he is. Letting your children be abused, and doing nothing to try to protect them or get them to safety, is the polar opposite of decent parenting.

I think you’d need to know the full situation. I can’t imagine she got away completely if police felt she facilitated and was freely complicit in the abuse, maybe she was also abused?

Unless you’re saying that she did get convicted but didn’t get prison time? If she got convicted of something to do with this abuse then (without knowing the full details) I’d say it sounds like something that should warrant prison time.

She got a suspended sentence. So no prison time as long as she doesn’t break the law in the next 2 years. She pleaded guilty to child abuse.
It’s not the first case I’ve seen either. Just got me thinking about it in general

Oh in that case then no, I don’t think child abuse should ever result in a suspended sentence

Definitely. Don’t they do that in America? I can’t remember what it’s called though. It’s tough, especially if you didn’t pull the trigger (for example) but if you could have stopped it aren’t you just as culpable?

Yes a parent who stands by and does nothing whilst their child is abused should be treated the same as the abuser IMO.

It's already provided for in (English) law "causing or allowing the death of a child"

And yes, the sentencing guidelines are the same.

What sentence an individual actually receives depends on the specific case.

Yes, certainly in that and similar situations.

Obviously exemptions need to be made for parents who leave the family home (with the children) or throw the other parent out after the first single offence.

Legally they can be in many circumstances - you can be convicted of murder and receive the same (or greater) sentence even if you didn't kill the person yourself, for example. Applies to other crimes too under joint enterprise. And in child abuse cases there are generally parallel offences of allowing the abuse to happen, particularly as in many cases you can't be sure which caregiver actually committed the abuse

Yep if someone knows the abuse is going on they are just as bad in my opinion. Many women leave abusive men to keep thier kids free from harm before anything has happened. Part of your job as a parent is to protect them.

In that case yes. In cases where there has been obvious coercion or manipulation then it's not so clear cut.

It’s already an offence. The perpetrator(s) will be sentenced accordingly and different factors are taken into account. I’m not saying the mother didn’t deserve to go to jail btw.

Yes i think so. I am not sure of the case you mention, and whether there were any other factors at play though in terms of her being abused herself or whether there were any intellectual difficulties there.

JustMarried I think it’s called being an accessory to X or aiding and abetting.