<p>Slightly off topic (but on topic). I was curious about the actual trial with just a judge and no jury. Is this the norm because they were being tried as juveniles.</p>
<p>Have to say, I wish it was possible to mete out some sort of justice to the other teens that witnessed and videoed these events. They really are quite culpable and are getting away scott free in my opinion.</p>
<p>
Very well put.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>IMO, it did. Because of the way the young men violated the victim in that case, rape laws were changed to include inserting anything into a victim’s vagina or anus without consent. I don’t know when Ohio enacted its present rape law, but it’s broad enough to cover what happened here. Before Glen Ridge, that wasn’t the case in many states. </p>
<p>One of the boys who was convicted in Glen Ridge was allowed to attend an OOS public U under an assumed name while he was appealing his conviction. I can’t imagine that happening today.</p>
<p>While I hope they can turn their lives around, at least one of the boys is already 17. He’s looking at serving a max of about 3.5 years, which seems too little to me. And they may not even serve that–it’s possible that Richmond will be out in as little as a year. I really hope not. I watched the video of his appearance on a TV show where he vehemently denied doing anything wrong. He did not show any remorse whatsoever. </p>
<p>While I know the 3 boys who testified can’t be prosecuted–and I think granting them immunity was the right decision–I would like the NCAA to ban at least the boy who took a video of the girl and admitted he did so from ever playing college sports.</p>
<p>Jonri–I see what you mean about the laws being changed, which is good. I was thinking more of the entitlement attitude, and the idea that this kind of thing is okay to do, which seems to be prevalent in many corners of our culture, still. Hopefully, it will also change.</p>
<p>It’s too bad the parents of all involved did not protect these children by educating them. Where are the moral standards? The parents did a disservice to their children, imo. Very sad situation. I’m not saying the minors are not responsible for their actions, but there was a serious void in their upbringing, again, imo.</p>
<p>Thanks for the better link, paying3tuitions. I was so impressed by the men on that panel (as well as the women, of course). And someone mentioned the other video of the two women who had been victims of rape in college, and who are now activists. The statistics are stunning.</p>
<p>From what I gathered, one of the rapists has a two-year minimum and the other has a one-year minimum. Both get credit for time already served. The maximum for both is age 21. </p>
<p>The judge seemed depressed as he gave the sentence. I think that this case is so demoralizing, because it was not just a bad apple or two. There are plenty of people who share in the blame. The only people I give a pass to are the boys’ lawyers. It’s their job to defend their clients in any way they can.</p>
<p>Parents and communities cultivating the football culture, the lacrosse culture, the ?? culture often reap dehumanization as the reward.</p>
<p>Kids aren’t chemistry sets.Parents are only one of many influences on kids. Kids from good families do bad things. Don’t judge the parents here. (IIRC, one of the kids is a foster kid. I sure wouldn’t blame his foster parents.) It’s frightening what peer pressure leads kids to do. </p>
<p>I do think we have to change our policies. Among other things, we need to institute a policy whereby any kid who reports an out of control party is given immunity for prosecution for underage drinking and/or drug use. I suspect that it’s more likely that at least one kid would have reported what was going on if there was such a policy. </p>
<p>Look at what happened with Jon Bon Jovi’s daughter.Ironically, US magazine just did a story about that incident last fall:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Read more: [Jon</a> Bon Jovi on Daughter’s Heroin Overdose: “Worst Phone Call Ever” - UsMagazine.com](<a href=“Jon Bon Jovi on Daughter's Heroin Overdose: "Worst Phone Call Ever" | Us Weekly”>Jon Bon Jovi on Daughter's Heroin Overdose: "Worst Phone Call Ever" | Us Weekly)
Follow us: @usweekly on Twitter | usweekly on Facebook</p>
<p>We need a similar policy for reporting sexual assault and that policy has to be publicized. If you’re the kid who texts 911 for help, you won’t be prosecuted for underage drinking. And parents should tell their kids that even if it means getting into trouble yourself, you don’t ignore incidents like this. You help the victim.</p>
<p>I agree that the culture of entitlement has to change too. However, we have to help kids fight that culture–we especially have to help the kids who get involved and then want a way out.</p>
<p>I agree that peer pressure can trump parental influence, but parental guidance was seemingly largely absent for some of these boys. In this particular community, others have complained that members of the football program were able to act above the law as a matter of course. Entitlement? Hubris? </p>
<p>From a Yahoo sports article
</p>
<p>A comment from the link that jonri posted:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Disgusting.
Sorry, carry on.</p>
<p>You’re all gonna get mad, but…</p>
<p>Once again, kids continue to drink alcohol excessively. And things happen. Until that is stopped, these kinds of things will continue.</p>
<p>No. “Things” didn’t happen. RAPE happened.</p>
<p>Were the boys also drunk? How about the 3 witnesses were they drunk also?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There might be an exception, but I am not aware of any state that has jury trials for juveniles tried in juvenile court. The reason juveniles are put in a separate court system is because juveniles do stupid things they might not have done if they were adults. The chance of changing behavior of a juvenile is much greater than changing the behavior of an adult engaged in similar criminal behavior.</p>
<p>I’m asking a question, seeking an open dialogue, so don’t scream at me.</p>
<p>Does the girl and her family bear any responsibility for what happened? Why was a 16-year-old girl out all night? Her parents clearly did not know where she was or what she was doing.</p>
<p>She seems to already be a heavy drinker. Her friends tried to convince her not to leave with the boys, yet she did. None of her girlfriends thought this might be a good time to call her parents. Why not? She made some very poor decisions that night as did her supposed friends.</p>
<p>I believe girls and young women need to be educated on how to avoid placing themselves into a situation where they are at risk for something bad to happen. I am NOT saying blame the victim. I am saying that while we are busy wringing our hands about the culture of entitled hs football players and male athletes in general, we should also examine the “groupie” culture of the young females that surround them.</p>
<p>Gang rape behavior is a lot more universal than what happened in Ohio. I have been reading with horror about the multiple cases of gang rape in India. I am not at all sure that violent video games and the football culture are the true culprits.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m in agreement with you. 100%</p>
<p>Does the girl bear responsibility for getting raped? No. Absolutely not. </p>
<p>Is there a drinking issue that needs to be addressed? Maybe. COMPLETELY different issue though. </p>
<p>Again, we teach girls how not to get raped.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>They’re not. It’s the acceptance of rape culture that’s to blame.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Being irresponsible even to this extent does not in any way justify what the rapists did. To think otherwise is not only blaming the victim, but allowing violent felons off the hook to the detriment of the greater public’s safety. </p>
<p>In any crimes…especially violent felonies like this, 100% of the blame and punishment should be focused on the violent felons themselves and anyone who sympathizes with them/their actions.</p>