Brock Turner, a Stanford University student convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman earlier this year, was released from Santa Clara County Main Jail this morning after serving only half of his outrageously short six-month sentence.

Turner's sentence was so controversial that it inspired California legislators to approve a bill that would require "a prison sentence — not a stint in county jail — for anyone who's convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious or intoxicated person," NPR reported.

At the time, prosecutors recommended he serve at least six years in prison. However, Judge Aaron Persky shortened Turner's sentence to just six months, KQED, an NPR affiliate, reported.

“He’s gone. We’re done with him. He belongs in prison,” said Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith after Turner, separated by barricades and sheriff’s deputies, walked a gauntlet of media and protesters to a waiting white SUV.

Turner was later intercepted by news crews as he entered a hotel with his parents. He said nothing as a reporter asked if he wanted to apologize.

Sandra Pfeiffer was one of a small number of demonstrators who watched Turner leave jail.

“Other people get locked away for a very long time, why did he get out after 90 days?” said Pfeiffer, who said she is rape survivor. “Why? Why? It doesn’t make sense.”

A larger protest is expected outside the Santa Clara Hall of Justice in San Jose later Friday morning.

The sad truth is that it's surprising that Turner received any time at all. Just three of every 100 rapists ever serve time for their crimes, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network reports.

While the percentage of rapes reported to police has risen in recent years, a majority — 54% — still are not reported, according to the Justice Department. But increasing reporting alone won't solve the problem: only about one out of four reported rapes leads to an arrest, and only about one out of four arrests leads to a felony conviction and incarceration.