Although the death sentence seemed wholly appropriate, I still considered how I would feel if a judge gave my rapist a less severe punishment: a natural life sentence — a life sentence with no chance for parole without a successful appeal. In the article, she uses her experience teaching philosophy to inmates to argue for the irrationality of natural life sentences. And this is not irrational: There are many carefully considered reasons one might want a natural life sentence for perpetrators of egregious and irrevocable harm. I desire a death or natural life sentence for my rapist because that is what seems appropriate given the amount of damage he wrought in my life. After plenty of rational consideration, I cannot imagine any personal transformation that would make me think he deserves anything less than a permanent punishment.

Source: New York Times October 23, 2017 08:48 UTC