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Last year, Brock Turner was released from jail after just three months behind bars, serving only half of his six month sentence for raping a young woman behind a dumpster on Stanford University's campus. Many expressed outrage over his lenient sentence, while others pointed out a rapist being let off easy by the law is nothing new. And while his sentence may not have been long, Turner's crime is now a part of history.
A now-viral Facebook post pointed out that a criminal justice text book used at Washington State University includes Turner as an example of how the definition of rape has changed in the justice system.
The book, called Introduction to Criminal Justice: Systems, Diversity, and Change by Callie Marie Rennison and Mary J. Dodge, highlights how Turner's case shows that use of force is not necessarily a requirement for an assault to qualify as rape. The book also includes Turner's mugshot, which is notable particularly after many criticized media outlets for using photos from his time on the Stanford swim team.
"He may have been able to get out of prison time but in my Criminal Justice 101 textbook, Brock Turner is the definition of rape, so he's got that goin for him.." Hannah Kendall Shuman, who posted a screenshot of the book to Facebook, wrote.
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The book also includes a caption that highlights how some weren't surprised at Turner's lenient sentence.
“Some are shocked at how short this sentence is,” the caption reads. “Others who are more familiar with the way sexual violence has been handled in the criminal justice system are shocked that he was found guilty and served time at all. What do you think?”
According to Jezebel, the text book authors declined to comment on why they included Turner in their book, but have indicated before that they feel more credence should be given to victims in criminal justice text books.
