Tuesday, October 9, 2012

The System

For the most part, our justice system works.  However, it does have its bugs.

Sentencings always confound me.  Let's use today's Jerry Sandusky case as an example.

The judge wants to hear the person being sentenced express remorse and take responsibility for their actions, but how do you do that if you still say you didn't do it?

Victims can give statements, either in person or in writing.  The person being sentenced also has the right to speak.  Jerry Sandusky, via the NBC Bob Costas interview, already proved he's an inarticulate clod.  He has the potential here to dig the hole even deeper, and it looks like a planned statement in court will do just that.

It goes far beyond one man in one courtroom.  What happens in Bellefonte is sure to affect the victims and their lawsuits against Penn State University, plus the criminal cases against former PSU officials Gary Schultz and Tim Curley.

Joe Paterno's reputation and legacy are already shot to hell.  Maybe Jerry Sandusky can say something to salvage it.  Even if Sandusky says Paterno knew nothing, consider the source.  Getting a character reference from Jerry Sandusky isn't much of a plus.

When you add it all up, it doesn't look to be a good day for 68 year old Jerry Sandusky.  Even the low end of the sentencing scale puts him in prison for the rest of his life.

There are many who believe that is just.

>>>UPDATE:  A judge sentenced Sandusky to 30 to 60 years in prison Tuesday morning.  I guessed 40.  He was defiant Monday, in that statement broadcast by a student radio station.  Sandusky was the same way in court Tuesday.  He went down swinging.  The only ones hit were the victims, who had more abuse from Jerry Sandusky heaped upon their injury.