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The attackers pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse and misdemeanor voyeurism in order to receive a plea deal. The maximum punishment is 180 days in prison and a $500 fine.
Savannah doesn’t believe the proposed punishment is harsh enough. Though the exact punishment cannot be revealed due to court order, personally even if they got the maximum it doesn’t feel like quite enough to me. Six months for sexual abuse and circulating images of it? Please.
Of course Savannah was pretty pissed about this too. Frustrated and feeling like the law didn’t serve her justice, she Tweeted the names of her attackers. Normally the names of those convicted of sexual crimes are public information, but because her attackers were minors their names had to be kept private. She might now be facing charges herself for going against the judge’s wishes.
She told the Huffington Post, “I’m at the point that if I have to go to jail for my rights, I will do it.” Wow. That’s a hugely brave statement and a very clear message to send to sexual abusers. I applaud Savannah for understanding the legality of this, still holding her ground, and dealing with the possible consequences. Savannah isn’t a victim, she’s a justice seeker.
I completely empathize with Savannah. I don’t know that I would have done things differently. But this isn’t personal for me or you the way it for Savannah, so we, as outsiders, have the benefit of looking at this picture from all sides. And although I don’t think what she did is wrong, I don’t believe that it was absolutely right, either.
We don’t know how old these boys were, but we know that they were younger than 18. They could have been 14 or 16 years old when they committed the act. By releasing their names to the public, Savannah is pretty much stigmatizing them for life. If the whole world knows what they have done, can they ever reform? Do you believe that if someone commits a heinous crime at 12 they can never change their behavior? At our youngest we grow the most. I would hate to demonize these boys in a way that means they never have a shot at really transforming into better people. With this on their public record against them, they may never be able to get jobs, make friends, or have healthy relationships.
Just to be clear, what these boys did was extremely wrong and they need to be punished. But what kind of punishment is best isn’t exactly black and white.
All I know for sure is that I would hate for Savannah to have to deal with another blow after what she has already lived through. Here’s how we can help her. There’s a petition to stop the judge from charging Savannah, with over 60,000 signatures. You can sign it here.
What do you think about the situation? Let us know in the comments!
The boys that committed this heinous crime need to be brought to light. Their age is not a factor to me. If a charge as heavy as this doesn’t stay on their record, there is something wrong. They are sexual predators. They take advantage of the inebriated and otherwise helpless, and they need to be shown to the public.
I rarely agree with people who break the law and in this case she was in violation of the law. However, she is also the victim of a sexual crime and as victims of sexual crimes often do will, probably have plenty of emotional issues to deal with for the rest of her life. If broadcasting their names can make her feel just a little better about herself and reclaim some of the power that they took from her, then, more power to her! They didn’t respect her right to privacy when they violated her, so they lost the right to have their names withheld from the public.
What happened to revenge isn’t the answer? NEITHER OF THE ACTS ARE EXCUSABLE! I don’t like when people play the victim card! My best friend does it all the time! Yes they deserve a little bit harsher punishent but seriously! It’s never going to be good enough! And she did what she is being charged for! SHE BROKE THE LAW! SHE NEEDS CONSEQUENCES! I don’t care if it doesn’t seem fair the law is the law! I won’t support her.
I don’t feel like the boys sentence was harsh enough but I’m not particularly happy with the victim either. Granted what those boys did was wrong but I hate it when girls make horrible decisions and then go on a rampage about it. She was drinking while underaged and to make it worse got so sloppy drunk that she passed out giving open oppurtunity to anyone to take advantage of her. Had she not been that drunk or drunk at all for that matter. Things like this irritate me. It’s like when girls get drunk and come onto a guy and have sex and then cry rape in the morning smh. Is it right? no but don’t leave yourself open stupidly for bad things like that to easily happen to you.
Brianna, while hopefully most of us can agree that alcoholic intoxication isn’t such a great idea, I don’t believe in slut shaming or victim blaming. Right now, it sounds like that’s what you’re doing. I do not think the boys sentence is harsh enough, but I also don’t think it was wise of Savannah to realease the names of the victims on Twitter. If she wanted to go against this, she should have properly and legally petitioned against this, like what we can do now by signing this petition. But the court system contains many formalities & legalities, and I don’t think going against that will help the tough situation she’s already in.
We all have the right to appeal a case. Plus people need to learn that this isn’t a joke, it’s a serious crime that the victim has to live with for LIFE. A slap on the wrist for ruining a life? That’s bullshit.
She did the right thing. In her situation, I don’t believe she cared about their future, because they have also ruined hers.
I DONT CARE HOW OLD THOSE BOYS ARE. THEY SHOULD KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG. THEIR PUNISHMENT IS NOT HARSH ENOUGH. I FEEL BAD FOR THE GIRL. SHE SHOULDNT BE PUNISHED. SHE HAS TO LIVE WITH THIS FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
I highly doubt they’ll change. If they were old enough to be at a party with a 17 year old, I doubt they were 12 btw, they’re old enough to know better. Chances are they’ll only get worse with age. People need to know to be careful around them. I, personally, believe it’s everyone’s rights to know what these kids did and who they are. If you protect them, act like “Oh, they’ll grow up” you’re going to pretty much be telling them they can do whatever they want without anyone caring.
Look at it this way, most people who go on to do cruel and sick things start young.
Also, if you’re so worried about them never having a chance to transform into a better person, doesn’t that mean that anyone who commits a sexual crime should not be brought to the public’s attention? You act as if them being under 18 really means much. It doesn’t. If you sexually abuse someone at that age, chances are there’s something highly wrong with you. Especially doing it to such a degree.
One more thing, the victim is 17. Why is it right for her name to be released and spread through the news, but not the names of those who did the act? It’s ridiculous.
The victim wanted her name to be public. She also wanted the culprits’s sentencing to be made public. She wants to call attention to the hypocrisy.
I don’t think it was wrong of her. They know what they have done and because of their heinous crime they should be punished thereafter.