Over at Law & Liberty, the doubtful doctor raises an interesting issue when it comes to the standard liberal response to crime and how that response appears to be different when the criminal in question is not a member of one of the unofficially protected victim groups.

The curious thing, however, is that no one, not even the most ardent of penological liberals, is arguing that Chauvin was the victim of his circumstances (his upbringing in a violent, racist household or society, for instance) and therefore that he was not fully responsible for what he did. Nor is anyone arguing that punishment in his case would not work and that what he needs is some kind of therapy. They do not doubt for an instant that he should be severely punished, probably more severely than he actually will be punished.