comment: >
  
  It sounds utterly against public policy for civil testimony to be contracted out of criminal proceedings. Is there a strong basis for this?
context: Maybe i'm not paying close enough attention, but, how is Cosby not doing time already? 
  Is it a 'prison is for poor people' kind of thing? >
  
  He was in prison. He got out.
  His sentence was overturned based off of a prior agreement in another civil suit where he was promised that his testimony couldn't be used in criminal proceedings. For other alleged incidents, the statue of limitations has passed and/or victims aren't coming forward.