NFL increases penalties for domestic violence
Source: AP
NEW YORK (AP) NFL players will be subject to a six-week suspension for a first domestic violence offense and banishment from the league for a second under a new policy outlined by Commissioner Roger Goodell.
In a letter and memo sent to all 32 teams owners Thursday, and obtained by The Associated Press, Goodell says he "didn't get it right" in giving Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice a two-game suspension for allegedly hitting the woman who is now his wife.
Goodell told teams to distribute to all players the memo in which he writes: "Domestic violence and sexual assault are wrong. They are illegal. They are never acceptable and have no place in the NFL under any circumstances."
The memo says that violations of the league's personal conduct policy "regarding assault, battery, domestic violence and sexual assault that involve physical force will be subject to enhanced discipline."
Read more: http://pro32.ap.org/article/nfl-increases-penalties-domestic-violence
Blue Idaho
(4,988 posts)Jail.
NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)The NFL can't send people to prison.
Yavin4
(35,356 posts)Why didn't the NFL just admit that from the get-go?
SunSeeker
(51,367 posts)Well, I guess that's better than being treated more mildly than pot smoking, like it was before today's announcement. Baby steps...
Of course, if the NFL really wanted to cut down on wife beating, they'd ban players from drinking, not pot smoking.
I've never heard of a guy getting high on pot then beating the crap out of his wife. I certainly can't say the same about alcohol or other drugs.
Or better yet, the NFL could treat domestic violence like the violent crime that it is. How about a 1 year suspension for the first offense instead of just a 6 week ban?
Dr. Strange
(25,898 posts)Put the guy in jail, and you don't have to worry about whether the NFL is being tough enough.
SunSeeker
(51,367 posts)Dr. Strange
(25,898 posts)It's smarter to put all of the effort into having the government deal with it--that's one of the fundamental purposes of government.
I've been shaking my head at how people have been more upset at the NFL's response than they have the government. Even here on DU, the only threads on Ray Rice's domestic violence issue (at least that I've seen) have focused on the NFL's response.
SunSeeker
(51,367 posts)Most domestic violence victims don't press charges. Like Ray Rice's wife, who chose not to press charges. But there was no dispute as to what he did. In such a case, the NFL should still punish. Even when the woman presses charges after the guy beats the crap out of her, he will get about a year or two in jail. But he should also suffer civil punishment. Someone who repeatedly beats their spouse should be banned from the NFL. It would be a much greater deterrent than fear of jail.
iandhr
(6,852 posts)I hoped no one would care about our lax attitude about domestic violence but I got bad press to I am taking action for PR purposes.
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)20 years ago. It's all about money and politics.
adieu
(1,009 posts)15 yard penalty AND loss of down.