Guest Post on Jerry Sandusky's expected exercise of his allocution right

Mark Allenbaugh sent me comments about Jerry Sandusky's upcoming sentencing, and I urged him to turn his thoughts into a guest post.  Here it is:

Today, Jerry Sandusky most likely will be sentenced to a term that will guarantee he serves the rest of his life in prison.  Given a life expectancy of around 10 to 15 years, it inevitably will be significantly shortened by years of solitary confinement.  The real question is not what he’ll get, but what, if anything, he says.

Reports indicate he will use his right of allocution to claim his innocence.  In fact, late last night he released an audio file to the press wherein he claimed that “In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged disgusting acts. My wife has been my only sex partner.  That was after marriage.”

Unlike cases built primarily or exclusively on forensic evidence where botched investigations all too often lead to erroneous convictions, Sandusky’s claim of innocence will serve no purpose other than to largely defeat any mitigating evidence that may be introduced, and his statement released yesterday will only serve as impeachment evidence.  Why, for example, did he state that “Maybe (the case) will help others; some vulnerable children who could be abused, might not be because of all the publicity”? Sacrificial lamb or a back-handed admission of guilt?  Neither is helpful to him and persisting in his innocence will likely raise the ire of the Court.

Which raises the point as to when should an offender exercise his right of allocution. Judges have indicated, especially in sex offense cases, that they desire to hear offenders not just admit guilt and take “full responsibility,” but show remorse.  But where, as here, victims also are expected to testify, a client’s moment of catharsis can result in additional years of confinement.  And Sandusky’s sentencing effectively is his court of last resort inasmuch as any appeal, even if successful, may not come earlier enough to win him his freedom.

So, why then did Sandusky essentially allocute in public when his every word in court will be duly recorded?  Perhaps he is thinking over the wisdom of claiming innocence in open court in front of his victims and the judge, or he’s testing the waters of public reaction. More likely this could be the result of years of rationalization that has formed a permanent cognitive dissonance.  It is not uncommon, after all, for sex offenders to suffer from sometimes profound mental illness, which often can speak to mitigation or alternatives to exclusive incarceration.

But whatever the reason why, as the old saying goes, if you want to get out of a hole, stop digging.  Sandusky would be wise let his audio tape continue to do his talking, and waive his right of allocution.

Some prior posts on Sandusky case:

• Jerry Sandusky found guilty on 45 counts
• "Jerry Sandusky Could Get Pension in Prison Unless Bill Passes"
• Upcoming Sandusky sentencing generates little suspense, but lots of stories