Poll-ish Humor, Sept. 24 -- The Un-Funny One

This poll is troubling. Apologies in advance, but I need your help.

The facts below are real. I am writing a story about the case. It is possible that the results of this poll will be published in the magazine; it is certain that your views on this matter will help me get my mind around a complicated subject. Thanks.

A 50-year-old lawyer and little-league coach is arrested for having viewed explicit child pornography videos on an illegal Web site and downloading some of it to his own computer. For access to this site, he'd paid a monthly subscription fee. He pleads guilty. Knowing only these facts, what do you think his sentence should be? Choose the best answer.

Five years probation, with monitoring, and community service. Indefinite suspension of his license to practice law. He must undergo counseling and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

One year in prison. Lifetime probation with monitoring, and community service. Indefinite suspension of his license to practice law. He must undergo counseling and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Two to three years in prison, with all of the above.

Three to five years in prison, with all of the above.

Five to 10 years in prison, with all of the above.

Fifteen to 25 years in prison, with all of the above.

Twenty-five years to life in prison.

Death.

Would your thinking about his punishment change if you knew that the pornography he downloaded was particularly vile: Children being raped and tortured? And that some of the victims were as young as four.

Yes, that would matter a lot.

Yes, that would matter a little.

No, that would not matter.

Would your thinking about his punishment change if you knew that he had been a respected member of the community, considered a voice of conscience among his peers, and who as a lawyer represented the disadvantaged and handicapped for much lower fees than he could have earned in a more conventional practice?

Yes, that would matter a lot.

Yes, that would matter a little.

No, that would not matter at all.

Would your thinking about his punishment change if, after a thorough investigation, the judge and even the prosecutors concluded that his deviance was kept within his head -- that it was highly unlikely that he had ever molested a child? And if the parents of some of the children he coached spoke in his defense?

Yes, that would matter a lot.

Yes, that would matter a little.

No, that would not matter at all.

Assuming all the above to be true, how do you now feel he should be punished?

Five years probation, with monitoring, and community service. Indefinite suspension of his license to practice law. He must undergo counseling and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Two to three years in prison, with all of the above.

Three to five years in prison, with all of the above.

Five to 10 years in prison, with all of the above.

Fifteen to 25 years in prison, with all of the above.

Twenty five years to life in prison.

Death.

Assuming all of the above to be true, which of the following best explains your rationale for how he should be punished? Choose either one or two answers, but no more than two.

This is mostly punishing someone for the content of his thoughts. It doesn't seem entirely right.

This is more of a social and psychiatric issue than a criminal issue. This man needs to be watched, but mostly he needs help.

By paying a Web site, he is directly contributing to the acts of rape and torture by helping to create a market for this material.

Whether or not he has ever molested a child, he is a potential molester and he needs to be taken out of circulation.

The horrendous nature of the things he saw for his own deviant pleasure militates against leniency.

Questions about this survey? Direct them to [email protected].