AIBU to think these boys should have been incarcerated?

[newrubylane]

BBC News - Teenage boys sentenced for raping lone girls
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clypg68e2neo

I've never started an AIBU before, but I'm genuinely really shocked. I'm just not sure how this sentence is justifiable. Their actions were premeditated and deliberate, they were carrying a knife and they filmed themselves. They're obviously a danger to women/girls, and probably to other boys too.

If anyone knows how and why this sentence might have come about, I'd be interested to hear it.

As the judge made clear, there are different rules for different people because we have to be very careful about criminalising some. I don't understand why this is a surprise to people. It's been done this way for years in the UK and Jess Phillips' fingerprints are all over it.

This case is absolutely disgusting and should 100% be reviewed. Those poor girls went through all that for them to basically get a smack on the wrist. The outcome won’t really have any affect on those boys lives but the rapes will affect the 2 girls forever. The teens of today are getting more and more out of hand, so many are committing crimes and they just don’t care because they know it’s unlikely they will get touched by the law. I do think the parents need to take accountability because their upbringing definitely contributes in most cases. I think every under 18 crime committed should also have some sort of checks / rehab style course for the parents to also complete. This wasn’t just one girl it was 2 girls they raped and they used a knife as well. So they didn’t feel any remorse from the first one. It’s 2 very clear cut rapes where a weapon has been used, rapes filmed and the videos made it public. The judges comments about the boys are also absolutely disgusting they should have got no praise at all. What kind of message is this now to teenage boys?? I am absolutely disgusted to hear how many rapes are going on in this country, girls and women seem to be in constant danger and it’s worse than ever. It really feels like we are going backwards.

I don't know if they have any siblings but I hope that appropriate safeguarding action is being taken

I hope that the authorities are keeping tabs on them. If they know that there is likely to be a review they might make a run for it .

it will be minimal

they will meet members of their team as part of their conditions and have to attend therapy groups. If conditions are not met the consequences are not always followed up regardless of what they are

Sex offenders are extremely hard to manage in the community especially those who have already shown themselves to be highly manipulative which they have

the boys are reportedly from the travelling community where there is already often a breakdown with authorities

Hang on - it was a 5 week trial so they put their victims through that, as well as the actual assault, producing and distributing child pornography? If they are so mentally deficient then what safeguards are in place to protect the general public from them?

There we go again. The criminal-as-victim mindset.
I'm beyond angry now. They're fucking gang rapists, there were victims and it wasn't them! I don't give a tiny shit about the rest of the their lives, which would ideally be incarcerated and miserable.

I find it interesting that there is so much talk and concern about brain development when justifying letting teenagers off punishment. It seems a hot topic
Including when it comes to allowing 17 year olds behind the wheel of a car no one cares about the lack of full brain development

It clearly indicates there is no thought given to protecting the public

It was a poorly reported on study that somehow became fashionable to constantly quote, as well. The reason for the whole magic number of 25 is that was the cut-off for study participants.

It's a load of bollocks. So we already have a problem in that so few rapists are found guilty. And now even rapists that ARE found guilty are set free? So what exactly is the point of anyone reporting being raped, or even having a law against rape? It's all becoming pointless.

Sooner or later people will just cut out the middle-man and take justice into their own hands.

As has been pointed out by a Parliamentary Committee this is the sort of situation that might end up being resolved by an angry mob

Even if the people they take it out on are nothing to do with the offence or the offenders

Being travellers there is probably a big risk of them moving on an disappearing.

I have no doubt these boys will rape again.

That many rape convictions at those ages suggests that at some point they will kill a woman.

Seems an uneven landscape where some teenagers are gillick competent to make life changing medical decisions but teenage boys can be absolved of multiple rapes at knifepoint because of undeveloped brains. The law needs to be applied more consistently.

In the case of this particular judge, I read he had a reputation for rehabilitation rather than incarnation for youth offenders. Fine for petty crimes, but rape?

Wonder if them being travellers helped towards the lenient sentence? I imagine white boys not from that background getting harsher sentences.

@DrBlackbirdyou are absolutely right about the uneven landscape when it comes to what our young people are deemed competent to do.

My DD is 15. She is deemed mature enough to manage her own medical health, if she so desires.

My DS is 18 and if he wanted to, could marry tomorrow. Or join the army.

I am fed up with hearing about the brain not being fully developed until 25. So what? It’s developed enough at 18 to make all sorts of decisions. The brain is developed enough at 15 to know right from wrong.

I have posted this next sentence before but I will post it again. They knew what they were doing, they knew it was wrong, they enjoyed it so much that they decided to do it again.

In the case of this particular judge, I read he had a reputation for rehabilitation rather than incarnation for youth offenders. Fine for petty crimes, but rape?

I hope that whoever “supervises” judges (don’t know what the right term is) looks into this if the sentences for these rapists are changed - if there is a pattern of being over lenient (or over harsh), surely something should be done about the judge?

Wait until some study says our prefrontal cortex isn’t finished developing until we are in our 40s or something. Nobody will be held responsible for anything. We will just lead smaller and smaller lives to keep ourselves safe. Pathetic

Seems like a lot of people enter the criminal justice system to completely undermine it, what a sick joke.

The male judge didn’t want to “unnecessarily criminalise” the boys? Wtf? The repeatedly raped these girls, laughing and encouraging each other, filmed it and shared it online.
they are criminals and this result will only encourage them to get worse.

For the posters who said we should be focusing on supporting the victims and that custodial sentences wouldn't help them -

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrp98285yvo

The judge needs to be removed. He has shown himself to be incapable of dispensing justice. He is unfit to be in a court of law.

Well quite. If they are indeed travellers, particularly Irish travellers they will probably be back in Ireland already.