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Brock Turner would be in prison right now under a proposed California law

The rape case triggered outrage in June when the woman's victim impact statement went viral, prompting criticism of both the sentencing judge and the US criminal justice system's light penalties for sexual assault.
The former Stanford swimmer convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, leaves the Santa Clara County Jail in San Jose, California, on September 2, 2016. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)

Brock Turner has been released from jail after serving only three months of a six month sentence for sexually assaulting a woman who was passed out next to a dumpster at a campus frat party.

The Stanford rape case triggered a national outcry in June when the woman's victim impact statement went viral, prompting criticism of both the sentencing judge and the US criminal justice system's light penalties for sexual assault.

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Turner was convicted of three felony charges: assault with the intent to commit rape of an intoxicated/unconscious person, penetration of an intoxicated person, and penetration of an unconscious person. The charges relate to an assault with a "foreign object." Two other charges of rape were dropped at a preliminary hearing, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has said.

Turner was let out early for good behavior, and greeted by a wall of flashing cameras and reporters as he left the Santa Clara County jail in San Jose early Friday morning. He walked the gauntlet of press with a neutral expression and climbed into a waiting SUV, which sped away.

It was mainly press, not protesters, who met Turner, but several outlets reported a protester shouted "Loser!" as he walked out.

Turner is expected to return to Ohio, his home state, where he must check in with his probation officer within 72 hours of his release. He's on probation for the next three years.

Turner must also register as a "tier 3" sex offender, the highest tier, within five days of returning to Ohio. It's a label he'll wear for the rest of his life.

According to Ohio news outlet WDTN, Turner can apply for jobs or school as long as he notifies police of his applications and tells employers about his conviction.

Related: Judge in Stanford Rape Case Removed From Another Sexual Assault Trial

A former star swimmer at Stanford, Turner faced a maximum of 14 years in jail. Prosecutors asked for six years, but Judge Aaron Persky, an alumni of Stanford, handed him a six month sentence, saying more jail time would have a "severe impact" on the athlete. The sentence provoked calls from lawyers and more than 100,000 petitioners for Persky to be removed from the bench.

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Following calls for his removal, Persky requested a transfer, and as of September 6 he will only hear civil cases — not criminal.

Earlier this week, California legislators closed a loophole that allowed for more lenient sentences in sexual assault cases where the victim did not resist, such as instances where the person was unconscious.

"If this law had been in place when Brock Turner committed his crimes, then Brock Turner right now would be in state prison," Terry Harman, a Santa Clara County assistant district attorney who worked on Turner's case, told VICE News.

Victims' rights groups say the bill is too reactionary, and that policymaking should focus on prevention, survivor support, and processing rape kits. The American Civil Liberties Union opposed the bill, saying mandatory minimums disproportionately affect minorities.

"When we set policy based on one story that upsets people, over and over again we set bad policy," Natasha Minsker, director of the ACLU of California Center for Advocacy & Policy, said in an interview.

A spokesman for California Gov. Jerry Brown declined to comment on whether he will sign the bill.

Related: Anti-sex assault bill triggered by Brock Turner case heads to California governor

On Friday, as Turner was being released, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith made it clear to reporters where she stands. "I think anyone convicted of rape ought to do time in a state prison," Smith said. The sheriff is pushing for a bill that would make a prison sentence mandatory for anyone convicted of sexually assaulting someone who is unconscious.

"As the Sheriff of Santa Clara County and a mother, I believe the interests of justice are best served by ensuring sexual predators are sent to prison as punishment for their crimes," Smith said.

Smith said Turner was handed a package of hate mail when he was released.

Follow Hilary Beaumont on Twitter:@hilarybeaumont

Emme Fidel contributed to this report