The Ray Rice Elevator Video

Based on what we've seen with the NJ justice system, if you have no priors you are allowed one good swing at your significant other, scot-free.

 

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2014/09/09/how-well-did-the-nfl-investigate-the-ray-rice-case/?hpt=ac_bn5

 

On tonight's 360 they explore how well the national sports media investigated the case.

 

The release of video footage of Ray Rice's violent attack of his now-wife led to outrage nationwide, Rice's firing by the Baltimore Ravens and an indefinite suspension levied by the NFL on Monday.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, however, stood by its decision not to pursue jail time -- or even probation -- and allow Rice to enter a diversion program instead.

"Mr. Rice received the same treatment by the criminal justice system in Atlantic County that any first-time offender has, in similar circumstances," Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Jay McKeen said in an email to NJ Advance Media. "The decision was correct."

http://bit.ly/1nLuO1d

 

I want Chris Christie's e-mails on the matter.

 

A rock solid observation and having seen the video, I'm not so sure it was a knockout punch. It looks like he hits her, and she spins around and into the elevator wall.

So while various navel gazers and jock sniffers can blame the NFL or the Ravens or Peter King or whomever, the prosecutor was the one who decided it wasn't worth pursuing.

Do we really want an accusation to turn into punishment before the cops and prosecutors and, ultimately, judges deciding the person's actual guilt?

 

Sad, but probably true. The Atlantic County DA probably has bigger cases to worry about than an assault & battery case in which the victim wasn't injured long-term and didn't really seem interested in pressing charges.

Had he thrown the book at Rice, many would have accused him of grand-standing.

 

Yeah, it's not like he accidentally shot himself in the thigh or something.

 

Yeah. Until Monday, we had nothing to go on.

 

The victim's wishes have no bearing on domestic violence proceedings.

 

Legally no, but if the DA is looking at say, five open murder cases on one hand, and the Rice case on the other, he probably says to himself "we'll just charge him the same way we would a guy who is not a famous NFL running back."

Greg Hardy not only assaulted his girlfriend, but threatened to kill her, and he got a suspended sentence and probation.

 

I'm not saying it's not a fucked-up situation. Of course it is.

But people who are saying "Ray Rice should STILL be in jail" ... that's not the way our legal system works for first-time offenders, particularly those who are famous and can afford good lawyers.