Children rapist writes scientific paper in jail and gets away

Photo: PRO IMAGE

The law does not choose. Kurt Treptow, an American historian, imprisoned in 2002 in Romania for children molesting, and sentenced to seven years of jail, was released yesterday. The Court ruling is final and irrevocable.
He succeeded to get out earlier, because, during his detention he wrote a scientific paper. This 450 pages book, on Vlad Dracul (aka Dracula) and his father, was published in October 2006. In November 2006, Treptow asked the Romanian authorities for a sentence reduction, prevailing himself of a law which says that if a convicted person publishes a scientific paper, or a patented invention, every two days of work count as three days of sentence serving. (Source: NineO’Clock)

I don’t get the connection between being a rapist and writing scientific works, and I don’t understand how such laws can exist. I don’t say Kurt Treptow shouldn’t have published his book. This is very good, I don’t mind criminals writing and publishing books while in prison, but from here to letting them out as a consequence, it is a long way to go. I wonder how the parents of the two molested girls may feel these days.

To all criminals out there, who might read this post: don’t waste your time on digging tunnels, or finding ways to steal the keys to your cell from your guardians. This is dangerous, and you risk to get caught. Write some scientific works instead. It is a much cleaner activity, you are allowed to do it, and you are rewarded with your sentence’s reduction. If you manage to get away with this, nobody will ever chase you afterwards, as the ruling will be final and irrevocable.