I also think it sends a message that no man is above the law and ultimately could be punished, regardless of his fame/money/power. In theory anyway.

He's a disgusting man who did a great deal of damage to many and that damage cannot be erased. I have no problem with him in jail, just wish they got him earlier. He is being deprived of the lifestyle he led which portrayed him as a good person when, in reality, he's evil. He has no regrets or respect.

It burns me to think we went to see him twice in Boston and just were thrilled with his performance all the while he was hiding his sick twisted side in a very clever and powerful way. I applaud the judge.

I bet he will appeal and get out on bail, and keep making legal moves to run down the clock. Maybe even commit suicide at some point when all avenues are exhausted.

I think that is why the judge sent him right off to jail. To make sure he at least got a taste of it. Legally, I think it was an overreach. They could certainly make sure he was not a flight risk.

It saddens me terribly to think of all the years he had in the spotlight being lauded as one of the good guys, being loved, being respected. His victims suffering in silence -afraid, ashamed.

Yes, you are certainly entitled to your opinion and I respect that you shared that with us. However, I think he deserves what he got and more. As for it helping his victims, I did see an interview last night with his accuser and she did indicate that the verdict/sentence helped her, although she thought his sentence should be longer. Other victims were interviewed and seemed to agree with her. I cannot imagine what the women who were drugged felt and thought. His accuser recounted how she was AWARE of what he was doing but powerless to defend herself against him due to being drugged. Honestly, I applaud the judge and only wish he had gotten a longer sentence. He does not deserve to ever be paroled, IMHO.

DH says he will win on appeal because the additional witnesses/victims who were brought in to testify but are not party to the action were more "prejudicial than probitive". The judge allowed these witnesses but should not have, and on appeal another judge is likely to throw out the verdict.

His 2 cents. He is always a downer!

(PS he is an atty but not a criminal atty)

I too think he should have received a longer sentence. To do anything less than send the man to prison would have been an absolute slap in the face to his victims -- an unconscionable rejection of the suffering at his hands that they were brave enough to step forward and reveal. If you believe his age and vision issues should be enough to keep him out of prison, would you feel differently if he had raped you? Your daughter? Your granddaughter?

Lyban, Just want to jump back in and say I do mean to be respectful of your thoughts here. There is the practical, utilitarian view of things that suggests you are right. But I also think it is important to the integrity of the system that he not be treated favorably. The fact that he is 81 is actually to his benefit, he should have been jailed years ago but all those years he has been free and living the life.

Lyban, I have been struggling with this too. I have tried to put myself in the victim's shoes but I am not a vengeful person. I think the thing that bothers me most is he seems to have no remorse or indeed any sense that he did anything wrong. I do think that the safety of women going forward is important. Anyway, you are not alone in your thoughts (but we are clearly the minority).

Just checked back in and did not expect so many replies so soon.

you have all enlightened me a bit today. I can see your side and how important it is.

MTM...I never thought about the civil cases that might follow, I see your point there.

please believe me that I understand and sympathize with the victims, I went thru something along those lines myself in my youth but more along the lines of what Judge Kavanaugh accusers went through. Thanks for all the replies, you have given me lots to think about.

I too struggle with thoughts of justice vs. mercy. I think many of us do. It's the complete lack of Cosby's remorse that makes this particular case such a strong call for justice, IMO -- although that too is something to ponder, as mercy is something that is wholly undeserved, yet extended anyway. That said, I'm glad he's going to be locked up. Who's to say someone with that much privileged arrogance wouldn't try to hurt women again?

Because it's the law. If you were to excuse his age and disability then what else could other people use to not get their due punishment? If he didn't get the proper called-for sentence the reasoning could be used for future cases by defendants lawyers for getting a lax sentence. A Pandora's Box if you will. My understanding is that the place he will be sent to is set up to deal with his blindness, his age and will also offer counselling.

Punishment serves two purposes, retribution and deterrence. The deterrent value need not be only for the one punished, in the old days they made hangings and other punishments very public, to show others what was in store for them if they misbehaved in a similar manner.

I see the imprisonment as serving both purposes well, especially now in the current climate when many privileged men have used women and hurt them, and appear surprised that after a few years pass, that anyone would even think of holding them accountable.

I agree with everyone!

Here is what I find interesting. Cosby was a well know popular figure. I can't imagine that there weren't women willing to be with him just because. Obviously he fooled us all and must have a severe personality flaw to do what he did and not feel sorry about it.

And then, how disappointing when he put himself up as a role model and told other black men how to behave! And, we all fell for it for many years.

To be elaborate a bit on my previous response, I think there are a lot of problems with the US justice system. And I think as a general matter we incarcerate way too many people for way too long.

But I don’t see Cosby’s case as particularly symptomatic of the flaws in our system. And I don’t see his sentence as particularly out of line with the horrendous crime he has been convicted of. And I agree very much with mtn’s point above that he used his privilege to avoid this for as long as he could, so his age doesn’t make me feel any sympathy at this point.

When I think about all the old men (and women) who died of old age behind bars & no longer having family, then be buried in a prison cematary, I have no sympathy for Cosby.

I was appalled by Cosby's attorney's remarks after the sentencing, calling it the “most racist and sexist trial” in the country’s history.

Ha!

We can't let rich people buy their way out of prison. They already have an unfair advantage in the legal system...

If we want to save some of the expense of incarcerating more people than necessary, we should be releasing the nonviolent offenders of victimless crimes, not rapists.

I just read that OJ Simpson weighed in. Evidently a rape conviction is not looked upon too highly by the prison set.

It will take extra to protect him from the other prisoners.

I think in this case we don't have to worry about recidivism or an increase in criminality although I think those are both problems with people who are put into the system in general terms. I think the deprivation of his freedom and how he has lived insulated and in comfort is what is important.

He's clearly a psychopath. They are very machinistic in their thinking. They will ALWAYS try to get away with something. Prison or no prison will not change Cosby. The purpose of the sentence is equal justice before the law, the deterrent factor (works for SOME people) and also so that the their is some sense of accountability for the victims. Terribly sad all the way around, but sports and show business are very difficult, competitive, and hostile places for women to work. Maybe with more powerful figures being held accountable, there will be less sexual harassment and fewer people engaging in bullying or predatory behavior. Once can hope . . . Accountability is one of the keys to altering habits, that is well known.

I believe in justice, when applied fairly. In Cosby’s case, I do believe he had a more than fair trial, and many opportunities to admit his wrong-doing and apologize but did not.

Age should no more be a factor than, for example, the fact someone is a mother of 4 young children or whatever. Is his age and former status garnering a sympathetic reaction? I do have some amount of sympathy for the fact he is old and near-blind, but I too heard he will be incarcerated a facility for elderly prisoners.

I wouldn’t think it wise to mix the infirm or sick with young prisoners who have committed more heinous crimes.

Most prisoners have NOT committed more heinous crimes, of course...

Yes I see Cosby as not able to be sorry for what he did. When his son died I had tears in my eyes. They interviewed Crosby and his face seemed to be blank. I remarked to my husband that it was creepy how cold Cosby seemed. All of this came out and frankly I wasn't as surprised as I was with many other cases.

He needs to go to jail for the rest of the people not necessarily for him.

IMHO when putting someone in jail one needs to look at the chance he will repeat. One headline stated they felt he was capable of continuing. I agree, spending tax payer money on him is silly. Can we charge his estate for his jail time? The most egregious part of this is what is says about how we value women. Those women deserve justice and 3 years doesn't give them that. I would like all his victims to get bug hunks of his money. I would like him to have no say so in any of his life anymore. Life in prison would be mercy. I would like him in jail--until he dies at HIS expense-his ultimate fate will be for God to decide. We can pray for his soul.

did the victim's age and/or condition matter when he committed rapes?

I remember reading an artical with Lisa Bonet (years ago) where she said Cosby was a horrible overbearing chauvinist to work with on the Cosby show. Apparently women and girls were afraid to cross him because he had power over their careers. However, this was shortly after he fired her. In resent interviews she just more or less says she felt he was sinister or had a dark shadow. She felt his bad vibe.

Yes Lisa you were right.

Sistersunnie, the only thing his celebrity status can do for him is buy more from canteen, like food, tv, radio, clothes, shoes, toothpaste, etc.

Segregation is the same as protective custody. Do you know what that is? The inmate is in a cell by himself for 23 hours a day. He's at an intake facility now where they figure out his needs and where to send him.

If he's ready for general population they'll put him there. If he's threatened, it's back to isolation.

Those separate housing areas are still cells, just like in general population. He won't have access to anything they don't have access to, except medical.

Cosby will feel like he's in prison no matter where he's housed. I think it's the Federal facilities that are more cushy.

I am sure there will be civil suits for financial settlements.

Even if he spends one day in prison, it is a legal and moral victory.

My parents were concentration camp survivors and I was thrilled when the 96-year old "Bookkeeper of Auschwitz" was sentenced to prison. It was so important that he was put on trial and found guilty as the gravity of his crimes meant there was a particular need to see him punished. Lower courts had agreed with his lawyers' entreaties that his health and age precluded prison, but the German higher court upheld the penalty.

Andrew Nagorski, author of The Nazi Hunters, said it best: “Each of these trials is a history lesson and it reinforces the notion that there is accountability for an individual's actions, even in a totalitarian state,” he said. But it “would be a breakthrough if he actually spent a little time in prison. [It would reinforce] the notion that no one is beyond the law, that there is a price to pay no matter how long you live and that living to an old age does not absolve you.”

It helps by letting assaulters/rapists know that they can be held responsible even years later. This is not about sex. These crimes are about violence and power.

I haven’t read all the responses, I want to answer your question from my own perspective without it being influenced.

Without hesitation I can say that I have no empathy for him, the way he’s behaved this whole time during court has actually angered me. IMO, he has made his bed and he deserves to be punished to full extent of the law.

Maybe that sounds harsh, but he knew what he was doing was wrong and he didn’t care, sex offenders never do. His age, his physical condition, his money and his fame should have no influence over the court or the punishment he’s received. He had a choice, his victims didn’t. Just think about it for a minute. He was living a life of luxury and power for years. His victims had to watch him bask in it while they dealt with what he had done to them. I try to put myself in their shoes and can’t imagine how that must feel. The punishment for rape isn’t about the rapist and what he needs. It’s about the victims and trying to make them whole again. They deserve that and I’m glad that they have finally found their voice.

I am sure there will be civil suits for financial settlements.

Constand already won a $3M+ settlement fro him in civil court.

What does it EVER serve to put people in prison? That isn't the point. If someone burns my house down, I hope they'll go to prison for a long time even though it isn't going to get me a new house. If someone maims, kills, rapes, kidnaps someone, I hope for the same thing.

I also think that there are lots of circumstances when someone receives a punishment that they don’t deserve even if a crime was committed. Sometimes the more horrible of circumstances happen without mal intent. In cases where someone makes an honest mistake in judgement and is remorseful sure, there is room for empathy or liniency from the court but that’s not the case here. From the first hint of trouble and all through the trial, he’s not shown one iota of remorse.

No doubt the civil suits will now ensue. That is part of my frustration. Why should they have to?? Why delay this, why let him out of prison to appear? Why do lawyers get the opportunity to get a piece of this pie? One should not HAVE TO fight for what they are due. I think it should have all be part of his sentence and be done with this. We have too much appetite for dirty laundry.

How would a judge in a criminal trial give money to woman who were not identified as victims in that trial? You have to have the civil cases to establish those facts.

edited to add: or more criminal trials. But I think the statute of limitations has passed for the most part.

Why do lawyers get the opportunity to get a piece of this pie? Because it takes a lot of work and effort and time and skill to prove such things ... this case is a prime example of that.

One should not HAVE TO fight for what they are due. Of course you do because we presume innocence. Do you want to change that bedrock principle?

I think it should have all be part of his sentence and be done with this. What should have been part of his sentence? Criminal liability and civil liability are very different, and most victims are glad of that. If a defendant does not meet the criminal standard of guilt, you can't lock them away. But if you can show guilt to the lesser standard of a civil trial, you can get damages. That is a good system and makes sense to me. The state taking away your freedom must meet a very high bar.

We have too much appetite for dirty laundry. I agree, it is unseemly, all around is, no holds barred. It isn't the public driving this. And it isn't about dirty laundry; it is not the victim's fault that Cosby is guilty of such prurient behavior.

Prison is never a like-for-like exchange. The punishment can't really be tailored to the crime. We can only put a mass murderer to death once, (and sometimes not even that). We don't torture torturers, serially rape serial rapists, burn arsonists alive, smash people who are convicted of vehicular homicide in a car. That's not how a modern society operates. For better or worse all we have is deprivation of freedom.

Hammurabi is so depressed these days.

You think his wife still has that "going along with it" smile on her face??

. The punishment can't really be tailored to the crime.

Oh, but it is. The max prisons, which hold the worst of the worst, are much more violent. One of them is nicknamed 'the gladiator school'. The re are many stories about prison guards that simply lock the doors to their office and let the violent beat each other to a pulp. And modern prisons have entire systems of behaviors, guards looking the other way, and despite 'protection' those who have committed certain kinds of crimes tend to have a difficult time.

“Maybe even commit suicide at some point when all avenues are exhausted.”

That would have been the honorable thing to do, leaving a note of apology to his victims.

Cosby’s sentence should reflect his crimes, not his age.

I agree 100% with Lukkiirish: "Without hesitation I can say that I have no empathy for him, the way he’s behaved this whole time during court has actually angered me. IMO, he has made his bed and he deserves to be punished to full extent of the law" He deserves anything he gets.

Cosby’s sentence is not meant to “help anyone.” It’s meant to punish him for his crimes.

Lucille, read the rest of the comment where I elucidate what I mean about not tailoring the punishment to the crime.

Of course there are different kinds of prison and varying levels of personal danger depending upon the prison. But they are all forms of incarceration and removal of full freedom. We aren't blinding the voyeur or chopping the hand off a thief.

I don't think suicide is ever honorable, it's an easy way out.

Perhaps I did not make myself clear enough: Punishment for the violent IS more violent, because of the prisons selected for such people. It is not mere chance that violent people are sent to max prisons. And as far as rapists, particularly if the crime involved a child, there is often attempted payback in the form of prison rape. There is a lot more going on in prison than the removal of freedom.

Not every crime is perfectly matched by the exact same act as punishment, but that is not necessarily what tailoring is.

Suicide is so devastating... I wouldn't wish that on ANYONE.

Of course, but the courts are not meting out these punishments. A rapist may or may not be raped in jail. But so may a vulnerable prisoner who is incarcerated for a non-violent crime. It depends upon where the prisoner fits in the hierarchy of the power struggle. Someone who is a powerful victimizer outside may also be a powerful victimizer inside prison. It depends upon the inmate's physical size, ability to manipulate other people, their ability to accomplish things for other people.

I think what some people would like to happen is more in the manner of revenge. I know a number of people who have said things like they hope rapists get raped in jail, or that someone who tortures his or her victims should be tortured.

That would have been the honorable thing to do, leaving a note of apology to his victims.

I don't see it as honorable or a desirable outcome in any way. I simply see it as perhaps fitting his MO. He has never shown remorse and keeps fighting. If he thinks he may lose, perhaps he might make that decision.