This whole thing is a disgrace. It gives the impression that if a person just admits their guilt they are then sent on their way. It is sickening. And if it is the grandfather I think it makes it 10 times worse.
Sadly, the term "
remorse" has become the "
buzzword" in the criminal justice system for those facing prosecution as well as those serving time and applying for parole. Even though it is doubtful most of these predators can spell the word, much less truly understand the essence of its meaning. After all, if they did, they would not have harmed a child, or anyone else, for that matter, in the first place. As far as him being the grandfather? Imo, he gave up the privilege of wearing that sacred title the minute he decided to abuse a child.
Btw, and as an aside, several years ago a friend of mine's 5-year-old daughter was molested by her maternal grandfather. Her mother reported him to DFS on a Friday, and they paid him a visit (
though, he was not arrested). The following monday, he wrote both of his adult children out of his will, and shot himself. Some proffered he felt remorse, hence, the reason he took his life. I am of the opinion that he was a cowardly sack of... well, you know... who, even in his death, struck out at his flesh and blood. As it turned out, he had abused the little girl's mother at around the same age, but it was not until he abused her daughter that she recalled her own abuse at the hands of her father (
and I use that term, lightly). Considering the time that passed between the mother's abuse and the daughter's abuse, who knows how many other children were abused.
Even though the aforementioned is but an anecdotal case, to me, it highlights the need for us, as a society, to focus on the danger these predators pose, rather than concern ourselves with retribution. After all, the danger posed to not only our children but society at large is, imho, a strong argument for life without parole, at the very least.
It's time to give the victims a true chance to heal, rather than retraumatizing them in the judicial process while coddling the offender.