Child rape case raises questions about penalty agreements

A penalty agreement seeks procedural economy. For example, getting a confession in exchange for less severe punishment. The question we all ask ourselves is whether these agreements should apply to all cases. The debate arises after a chilling case of an adult who raped a disabled girl. The perpetrator, after being sentenced by a trial court to 5 years in prison, managed to get a guarantee judge to replace that sentence with 140 months of community work. The general opinion is that, in cases of sexual crimes, this privilege should not even be considered.

In the National Assembly, there are initiatives that seek to eliminate them in cases like these and even increase the penalties. Although an increase in punishment could be a good deterrent, the authorities should work more on prevention, because the damage they cause to the victims and their families is for life. For this reason, these initiatives should not only be aimed at punishing, but also at preventing –through education– the occurrence of such abuses. Prevention and exemplary punishment is a good balance. Punishment alone is not enough, especially for victims. LA PRENSA, Aug. 6.