Cast your mind back to June when Stanford rapist Brock Turner was served a six-month sentence after being found guilt of sexually assaulting a 23-year-old woman outside a fraternity house on campus in 2015. 

At the time, there was a public outcry that his sentence was so lenient, made even worse by the fact the court later announced there would be a possibility of a sentence reduction.  

Yes, a reduction.

Well, the nightmare has become a reality as the Santa Clara County's Department of Corrections announced Turner would be released after just three months behind bars on Friday, September 02 due to 'good behaviour'. 

Of course, quantifying the length of a prison sentence for an offense isn't always black and white –nor comparable with similar cases – but in the case of rape, three months is nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

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Three months is made worse by the fact the the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network estimates 97 of 100 of rapists avoid punishment in the U.S. 

Three months is made worse by the fact Turner's crime had witnesses, he was found guilty of three crimes related to sexual assault and faced a maximum prison sentence of 14 years, with prosecutors recommending six.

Three months is made worse by the fact the Bureau of Justice Statistics states the the average sentence length for rape is 11 years.

Three months is made worse by the pact Judge Aaron Pesky (the same judge on Turner's case) gave a Latino immigrant three years in state prison for a similar offence just two months ago. 

For goodness sake, Robert Downey Jr was sentenced to a prison sentence for drug posession six times longer than Turner's. 

The list goes on. 

Brock Turner | ELLE UKpinterest
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Since June, Jude Aaron Persky (who at the time said of Turner, 'A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him' and 'I think he will not be a danger to others') has been asked to resign and since removed himself from criminal cases and moved to the civil court. 

But justice is yet to be served. 

With Turner scheduled for release later this week, protesters are now planning to gather outside the jail led by Stanford law professor Michele Dauber (who is currently championing a bid to recall Judge Persky) and will be attended by state senator Jim Beall, congress members Eric Swalwell and Jerry McNerney.

But, if news of Brock Turner's early release date has your blood boiling, it should. 

His abhorrent actions that night have left the victim, families and friends with a lifetime of pain that cannot be reduced on 'good behaviour'. 

So in times like this, it's important to remember the victim's words she spoke to Turner the day of his sentencing: 

And finally, to girls everywhere, I am with you. On nights when you feel alone, I am with you. When people doubt you or dismiss you, I am with you. I fought everyday for you. So never stop fighting, I believe you. As the author Anne Lamott once wrote, "Lighthouses don't go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining." Although I can't save every boat, I hope that by speaking today, you absorbed a small amount of light, a small knowing that you can't be silenced, a small satisfaction that justice was served, a small assurance that we are getting somewhere, and a big, big knowing that you are important, unquestionably, you are untouchable, you are beautiful, you are to be valued, respected, undeniably, every minute of every day, you are powerful and nobody can take that away from you. To girls everywhere, I am with you.

Justice will prevail. It must.  

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Katie O'Malley
Site Director

Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.