Did he do something wrong? Yes. Was it reprehensible? Without a doubt. Should he pay? Depends on whether you think he has or not, already.

He should pay through the legal system. Criminals don't get to choose their own punishment. And I don't really see 30 years of living in France, making movies, winning awards, and generally being able to do whatever he wants except enter the US as being punishment.

I think I am at least as offended by Polanski's flight from justice as I am by his original crime. If he had accepted sentencing and served whatever sentence there was - from probation to prison time, and it seems like the former was more likely - I would have no trouble with the sentiment that this was all in the past and he could be forgiven. But by placing himself above the justice system - by fleeing - Polanski has made it impossible for me to forgive him. Yeah, it's sad he's had such a hard life, not being able to visit London or New York in 30 years. Of course, he could have avoided the whole trouble by not drugging and raping a 13 year old in the first place, and (presumably) assuming he could get away with it because he was famous.

My personal bottom line on this is, will persuing this do any good? Or is only a disturbing taste for revenge in parts of the American psyche that will be served?

I don't see it as revenge, but justice. The only way the legal system works is if we at least try to have the same system for everyone -- we shouldn't let somebody just walk away from justice just because he's got money and connections. Rich and powerful people getting better treatment from the legal system is bad, but rich and powerful people being able to walk away from the system entirely is just beyond any standards of how it should work.

I think I am at least as offended by Polanski's flight from justice as I am by his original crime. If he had accepted sentencing and served whatever sentence there was - from probation to prison time, and it seems like the former was more likely - I would have no trouble with the sentiment that this was all in the past and he could be forgiven. But by placing himself above the justice system - by fleeing - Polanski has made it impossible for me to forgive him. Yeah, it's sad he's had such a hard life, not being able to visit London or New York in 30 years. Of course, he could have avoided the whole trouble by not drugging and raping a 13 year old in the first place, and (presumably) assuming he could get away with it because he was famous.

Yup. What flea said.

Cosign Hil. (Where did cosign come from? Is it, like, a Bog Brother Season 1 thing? I am using it a lot lately and it's kind of freaking me out.)

Crimes in the US justice system are committed not just against the victim, but against civil society as a whole. Prosecutors can prosecute even if the victim doesn't want them to (though non-cooperation can make it hard.)

It's not a question of whether the victim wants the matter dropped; in a criminal charge, it's the State, not the victim, bringing charges against the criminal. t edit x-post with flea, who said it better.

I don't care what his body of work is, he drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl.

Should he pay?

Should he get away with drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl?

But by placing himself above the justice system - by fleeing - Polanski has made it impossible for me to forgive him. Yeah, it's sad he's had such a hard life, not being able to visit London or New York in 30 years. Of course, he could have avoided the whole trouble by not drugging and raping a 13 year old in the first place, and (presumably) assuming he could get away with it because he was famous.

This. Exactly this.

I consider precedent irrelevant unless another very similar case would arise.

There are plenty of people who commit crimes who have the money and connections to free the country and stay gone. That's the only "very similar case" that is relevant.

Also, what flea said.

Should he get away with drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl?

Nope. He shouldn't have in the first place.

I don't know... there are just so many variables in this case. He was stupid to run, but again, I don't know what demons drive the man or if it was a case of thinking himself above the law because of who he was. It could be equal parts of both. It was also a different time and place and lifestyle the likes of which very few of us can begin to imagine.

I honestly don't know.

And for the record, not a fan. Just trying to sort it all out in my head.

If you can read this: [link] and think he should never be punished for that, I don't know what to say.