Does Roman Polanski deserve a pardon?

Nope.

Back in the seventies, the French-born director fled the United States and returned to France to avoid prison time for a statutory rape case in which he was convicted of having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. (France generally does not extradite its citizens to the United States).

Since then, Polanski has not set foot on American soil for fear of being arrested, sent to prison and having to share a prison cell with someone who wants to get very friendly with him. Now, Polanski is requesting the sex charge be dismissed. Reportedly, his former victim wants it dismissed also. My guess is she wants to close that chapter of her life.

Sorry, but I don’t think the charge should be dismissed. What kind of message does that send to anybody who chooses to skip the country instead of being accountable for their actions? Eventually, if you hold out long enough and make enough films society will let you out of your punishment? Furthermore, what about all these other prisoners who took their medicine and went to prison to serve their term?

Polanski is a great director, no doubt, but I don’t see why he deserves special treatment for refusing to face the consequences.