Send child abusers to the dog house

Texas prosecutors have created a plea deal that may be more effective in causing child abusers to think twice about their choices before acting. \nCurtis Robin, Sr. was detained for whipping his stepson with a car antenna. He is accused of forcing the 11-year-old to chop wood for hours as punishment. Robin Sr. allegedly forced the young boy to sleep in a doghouse for days to weeks. When the boy was first interviewed by investigators, he was found filthy and covered with mosquito bites. \nOrange County, Texas, prosecutors decided to follow moral code -- do unto others. \nRobin Sr. agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a deal that requires him to spend 30 days in prison or in a doghouse. This sentence, if approved by a judge, will include a $1,000 fine and eight years of probation. \nWhile the boy, now living in Florida with family, said he lied about the doghouse allegation to get back home with his father, the ideology behind this sort of sentencing still stands. Prosecutors are right in trying to illustrate a point to future offenders. \nOffering the man a choice in whether to go to jail or to the doghouse allows the prosecutors and judge to escape any claims of cruel and unusual punishment. Had this choice not been offered, the sentencing would at least be highly unusual. Handing down the doghouse ruling with a choice shows that the prosecutors and judge involved in this case understand that throwing a criminal in jail for 30 days and forgetting about him does not always solve the problem. This sentencing would illustrate the severity of the man's alleged crimes. \nImagine if other abusers thought twice about what they did. \nWant to lock your children in a dark basement with no light for months? It could happen to you. If you're a rat, room with them. Faced with the embarrassment and reality of acting out their own punishments, perhaps at least one future abuser might change his or her mind. \nThis plea deal illustrates the banality with which child abusers operate. Robin Sr. will not be able to forget what he allegedly did to his stepson -- at least not for 30 days. Shackling abusers with like punishments may cause them to think twice about what they are doing when punishing their kids. \nWe need more blatantly illustrated points for criminals out there. Think twice before lock your kids up. You might end up there too. \n-- Jessica Halverson for the Editorial Board