90-day weekend jail sentence for rapist denounced by victim advocate

An advocate for victims of sexual assault says the 90-day sentence handed Thursday to a Nova Scotia man convicted of a violent sexual assault could make people question if the justice system is taking such crimes seriously.

"It certainly can cause further traumatization to people who have experienced sexualized violence. It may deter people from reporting or going through the process," Jackie Stevens, executive director of the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre in Halifax, told CBC Radio's Maritime Noon.

"People, when they see how sexual assaults are treated, it does have an impact. When you see 90 days on weekends, it doesn't seem to reflect the seriousness of the crime."

This week, Mitchell Leeander Goodwin was sentenced in Nova Scotia Supreme Court for an attack in early 2012.

The assault lasted all night, according to an agreed statement of facts, and in the morning Goodwin told the woman: "You look like someone who just got raped."

The court heard he took the victim's cellphone and said he would hurt her if she tried to call or text anyone. Court was told that at one point, she tried to leave the bedroom, but Goodwin grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back.

Victim doesn't have to testify

The woman, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, was eight to nine months pregnant and her daughter was asleep in the next room.

The Crown and defence made a joint recommendation Thursday for the 90-day jail term, to be served on weekends.

The CBC article about the sentencing has been shared more than 2,000 times online, with many people expressing outrage at the sentence.

The CBC's Blair Rhodes told Maritime Noon part of the rationale for the recommendation was to spare the victim from having to testify at a preliminary inquiry and a trial.

Different people may want to testify

Stevens said testifying can be re-traumatizing for some victims, but that shouldn't be assumed.

"It can, for some people, be a relief not to have to testify. However, for others, for their sense of justice, or as part of their healing process, they need to hold their perpetrator accountable and they want that opportunity," she said.

The length of the sentence isn't the only thing to consider either, Stevens said, as there are also other factors that can hold someone accountable that aren't always reflected in the number of days a perpetrator spends in jail.

"Is this sentence going to be able to enable him to recognize the harm that was caused? Is there access to treatment or other services that may be beneficial to him? Does it provide closure to victims?"