Novelist John Grisham Recommends Lighter Sentences for Some Sex Offenders
Ft. Lauderdale, FL-Novelist John Grisham has faced serious backlash after he suggested in an interview with the Telegraph that some sex offenders are treated too harshly by the criminal justice system and shouldn’t be sentenced to jail
Grisham, known for his legal thrillers, spoke to the Telegraph to promote his latest novel “Gray Mountain” and criticized the American judicial system for having the highest
Part of the problem, Grisham says, is that judges have “gone crazy” over the past three decades, incarcerating far too many young black men for minor drug crimes and white collar criminals like Martha Stewart. He also mentioned that far too many men are being jailed for viewing child pornography,
“We have prisons now filled with guys my age. Sixty-year-old white men in prison who’ve never harmed anybody, would never touch a child,” Grisham told the Telegraph.
“The Firm” and “Time to Kill” author believes any people charged with child pornography are serving serious time for a minor indiscretion. He says they “got online one night and started surfing around, probably had too much to drink or whatever, and pushed the wrong buttons, went too far and got into child porn.”
He goes on to tell the story of a friend of his from law school who was arrested on child pornography charges and sentenced to 10 years in jail. This friend, who Grisham describe as a “good buddy from law school,” was poking around the internet when he clicked on a misleading link, a few days later the feds were knocking on his door and he was placed under arrest.
He says child pornography and sex offender laws fail to distinguish between an abusive industry that creates the pictures and people who unwittingly or accidentally download child pornography.
Grisham went on to say “I have no sympathy for real pedophiles,” adding, “God, please lock those people up. But so many of these guys do not deserve harsh prison sentences, and that’s what they’re getting.”
If you are facing criminal charges, no matter how serious, you need to launch an aggressive defense; the sooner the better. You need to enlist a competent and aggressive criminal defense attorney who is willing devote their time and energy to your case and do what is necessary to help their clients avoid conviction.
The consequences of a child pornography conviction are far more serious than with other charges. Jail terms and probation periods are longer than with other criminal offenses. Practically every one convicted will have to be on a sex-offender registry for the rest of their lives. This means the person convicted will be vilified and considered and outcast by their communities making it difficult for them to secure employment or lead a normal life.
Your entire life is at stake when you are charged with sex offense and you must retain a competent criminal defense attorney like Michael Leader with Leader & Leader, P.A. to help you fight the charges. Backed by the expertise or attorney, you may be able to negotiate for a plea bargain and reduced penalties.
