So Ravi gets 30 days, about 12k in fines, three years probation, and 300 hours of community service

[dsc]

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2012/05/30-days-in-jail-for-dharun-ravi.html

Noting his lack of a prior arrest record and the unlikeness that he will re-offend, today a New Jersey judged sentenced former Rutgers student Drarun Ravi to only 30 days in jail and probation in the case of the suicide of his gay roommate Tyler Clementi. More on the sentencing will follow shortly in this post.

UPDATE: The probation period is three years and includes 300 hours of community service. Ravi has also been fined $11,950 which is to be paid in monthly installments. Ravi will not be deported.

end of quote

Honestly, 10 years seemed a bit much but 30 days. Even without the hate crime it seems to be way to little given the crime and the obstruction of justice that Ravi engaged in. Add in the hate crime and this is an absurdly minimal sentence. We deserved more as did he. Tyler will never graduate college, never get married or civil unionized, never have kids, never have a career, he will forever more be the scared, sad young man who jumped off that bridge for that Ravi deserved to be jailed for more than one, single, solitary month.

[hlthe2b]

1. these were all felony charges, were they not? n/t

[dsc]

3. yep all felonies

[etherealtruth]

2. This was such a horrid "situation" ... all the way around

I don't even know what I would find appropriate. Like you I know I do NOT find one month appropriate ... I don't know what would be.

My heart aches for Mr. Clementi ... nothing can undo what Ravi set in motion ... nothing

[soccer1]

4. Bias crime

I believe the judge distinguished between a bias crime and a hate crime. It is my impression that a hate crime usually involves some sort of violence towards the victim and a bias crime usually (maybe, never) does not. Ravi was found guilty of a bias crime and of course all the other charges, as well. Ravi's lucky that he had a judge who seemed to be able to weigh and balance the appropriate punishment for each of the crimes of which he was convicted. I think the sentencing was basically fair. If Ravi had received 2-3 months in jail plus the 3 years of probation, I think that would have been fair, as well. Overall, I'm okay with the sentence. I think the prosecution might appeal. Have to wait and see what the prosecution decides. I don't think they will win on appeal.

[kenny blankenship]

5. He found a very sympathetic judge

The jury on the other hand is to be commended for not letting itself be pushed to nullification. Dharun Ravi's not guilty plea was a dare - a challenge to the jury. He was clearly guilty, but he dared them to apply the law and put a nice young man like him in jail. He could hardly deny having done what he was accused of. But rather than plea down, he in effect asked for jury nullification, trusting that the jury's sympathies would favor him over his victim. The jury applied the law, the judge all but acquitted him.

[cali]

6. I think it's fine. It's not exactly a day in the park.

[TheWraith]

8. I agree. People have to remember what the actual offense was.

A violation of privacy. That violation of privacy contributed to a death, sure, but it didn't cause it, even negligently as if he'd been driving along and accidentally ran over a pedestrian. Aside from a month in jail, years of probation, and substantial fines, this kid is basically going to be marked for life by felony convictions that will disqualify him from doing almost anything respectable.

[Logical]

9. I bet in 3 years he will have the sentence expunged.

[dsc]

10. let me be blunt

had he done this to a female he would have gotten more than 30 days even if she didn't commit suicide over it.

[cali]

17. allow me to be blunt: bullshit

you don't know that. you provide no evidence for it.

[Booster]

14. I agree also. At first I only heard the 30 day jail sentence, but now there's probation & a pretty

hefty fine. To me there's a slippery slope here. Today I heard of a case where a guy was driving and texting his girlfriend, hit 2 people on a motor cycle, both of whom lost a leg each, but now the people are going to file a law suit against the guy and the guy's girlfriend because she knew he was driving and she should have told him to stop it. Although I understand their point, I really don't think the girlfriend is accountable for his actions. But, you know what, they will probably win.

[kenny blankenship]

16. He was convicted of bias intimidation, invasion of privacy witness tampering destruction of evidence

and hindering an investigation by lying to police investigating Clementi's suicide.

He was convicted of 15 felony counts in all.

30 days?
2 days per felony???

This judge ought to marry Dharun Ravi, since he obviously loves him so much.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. So then, what would a "just" punishment be? He was not...

tried or convicted for the suicide, but to be an "example" of why such nastiness is a bad thing.

Nobody has a problem with trying someone as an example, but the example shouldn't have to carry the whole weight (i.e jail term) for everyone.

His life will suck for a lot longer than a month.

[dsc]

11. I think a year or two

There are people who have gotten years for having marijuana and he gets a month.

[stevenleser]

12. I think I voted in the poll on this in LGBT. I think I said less than the maximum but still

substantial jail time. 30 days is not it. I'm shocked that the number is south of a year to be honest.

[Nye Bevan]

13. People are not responsible for other people's decisions to commit suicide

at least, according to the majority view in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002709895#top

Ravi can certainly be blamed for the secret taping, but not for the suicide.

[Honeycombe8]

15. It seems a bit light, but he also has 300 hrs community service & hefty fine, and a record.

As well as 3 yrs probation.

I think the judge probably considered his not having a record, and this was one incident, not multiple (as is usu. the case with men who videotape women), and the victims were technically adults although young (I saw a case where a 51 yr old man secretly videotaped a 15 r old girl showering...he got one year, which isn't much considering the age of the victim, and no community service, and a small fine).

60 days sounds more appropriate. I don't know how much time in jail he's already spent, though.

[dsc]

19. poor baby has a record

He committed 15 felonies he should have done more time than 30 days.

[Honeycombe8]

21. He had no prior record. The 51 yr old man committed a more serious offense, IMO.

Yet he got a comparable sentence, if you counter the sum of all the sentencing. Both offenses were serious. Both were felonies. But whenever someone intentionally goes after a minor, that is something else entirely.

As I said, the sentence was a bit light for this guy. I think he should be deported, however. He is now a convicted felon...we shouldn't be keeping convicted felons in the country. Maybe he comes from a wealthy family, gets really good grades, and is headed toward becoming a scientist or doctor, so someone wants to make sure he stays here?

[Malikshah]

18. And an African-American woman defending herself from an abusive husband gets 20 yrs (no deaths)

Perspective....it's kind of nasty.

Watched the hearing off and on while working on paperwork at home today. The judge is a piece of work. The defense attorneys were laughable; and they're still
going to appeal....

[magical thyme]

20. the witness tampering is what amazes me

The hate/bias crime is horrible and deserves more than 30 days. Seriously, you have your most intimate moments put on the internet and see how it feels.

But this guy just dug himself in so much deeper with attempted obstruction of justice. I've very surprised the judge let him off so lightly based on that. I thought judges took their jobs and the law much more seriously than this one does....

[WillyT]

22. Time For A Civil Suit...