Does anyone else see a bit of a problem with the following story?

Richard W. Thompson, 50, of Sidney, NE was found guilty of sexually assaulting a child. However, on 23 May 2006 Judge Krisine Cecava decided Thompson, who stands 5'1", is too short for jail. Cecava apparently felt that because of his size Thompson would be targeted and bullied by the other prisoners.

"I want control of you until I know you have integrated change into your life," Judge Cecava told Thompson. "I truly hope that my bet on you being OK out in society is not misplaced."

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- First, the above story only further exemplifies a major problem in the U.S.: far too lenient punishment for violent or predatory criminals. There again, so is the benign, disjointed system of tracking such offenders once they are released from jail.

- Second, rehabilitation in pedophiles is far from a success story; in fact, the percentage is in the single-digits. That said, why are we putting these offenders on the streets again and again? In most cases, people found guilty of child molestation should be given either a life sentence with no opportunity for parole or put to death. If the former, they should be imprisoned in the general population [in prison].

- Third, prison is a punishment (or it is supposed to be) not a vacation. If William Thompson is very short and likely to be subject to bullying by the other inmates, that sounds like something he should have taken into consideration before he sexually assaulted a child.

- Fourth, there are no requirements for criminals to be sentenced to prison nor should there be any requirements. Additionally, while society slaps on the wrist those who prey upon children, even hardened criminals have rules; one of them is: harming a child is unacceptable. Now a judge has decided William Thompson deserves special treatment? Sorry, she is dead wrong. Furthermore, in my personal opinion, all child molesters should be put in general population in prison. If they wind up being beaten or killed by other inmates, then so be it. If they survive, it is a certainty that their experiences prison will provide some motivation, no matter how small, to avoid another prison term (not to say that will prevent repeat-offenses by any means, but that is another topic altogether). And this should pacify the Bible beaters who seek to involve religion in everything; after all, they frequently mention things being "God's will," and this would be no different.

- Sixth, just read Judge Cecava's quote: "I truly hope that my bet on you being OK out in society is not misplaced." Does this woman have no inkling of the statistics regarding sex offenders and the probability of repeat offenses? Even aside from that, exactly what line of rational thinking led Judge Cecava to place her trust in a man who has just been found guilty of sexually assaulting a child? With that kind of logic I guess she would pick Steve Wonder to be her personal chauffeur...

For those who are so inclined, Judge Cecava can be contacted via regular mail at:

Judge Krisine Cecava
P.O. Box 217
Sidney, NE 69162