BY GEOFF MULVIHILL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- A former Rutgers University student who used a webcam to spy on his gay roommate was sentenced Monday to 30 days in jail - just a fraction of the maximum - in a case that focused attention on anti-gay bullying, teen suicide and hate-crime laws in the fast-changing Internet age.
Dharun Ravi, 20, was also placed on three years' probation for his part in an episode that burst onto the front pages after his roommate, Tyler Clementi, threw himself to his death off the George Washington Bridge.
"Our society has every right to expect zero tolerance for intolerance," Judge Glenn Berman said in imposing far less than the maximum, 10 years behind bars.
In addition, Ravi was ordered to get counseling and pay $10,000 toward a program to help victims of hate crimes.
The judge said he would not recommend Ravi be deported to India, where he was born and remains a citizen.
That is fine. This student did not make his roomate jump off the bridge.
Tyler Clementi's death was HIS OWN FAULT!!
If you would kill yourself because someone out'ed you or embarrassed you, you have deep emotional baggage to start with.
Posted by: tim tico | May 21, 2012 at 02:12 PM
This guy played a major part of his roommate killing himself and by spying on him is just as bad as pushing him to his death. This guy shouldn't get 30 days in jail and probation. What message is this sending to other people who are going to do this? It says that it's o.k. to bully or spy on someone and out them, because if they kill themselves it's not your fault. If you're with someone who kills someone else you're just as guilty. I think this guy should get a jail sentence. This country is way too lenient with people killing other people, whether they actually kill the person. You go to jail longer for dealing drugs then you do for killing someone.
Posted by: george | May 21, 2012 at 02:19 PM
The advocates say that this was a misguided decision? On who's part, the roommate or Ravi? Ravi's jail sentence is just re-iterating that it's o.k. to bully people. It's giving bully's fuel and ammunition to continue tormenting people. Especially now, when we see bullying as an out of control epidemic. You can't prevent something from happening unless you eliminate the cause of something. Ravi should have been sentenced for a longer term and send a message to any and everyone that society WON'T tolerate bullying or tormenting people. If you do bully or torment someone then you'll pay the price for your actions. 30 days and probation is less then a slap on the wrist. The Judge should have told him just don't do this again.
Posted by: george | May 21, 2012 at 02:28 PM
A sad commentary of our times adn our attitude. Completely within the law; but, sad nonetheless.
Posted by: Gene Cole | May 21, 2012 at 02:32 PM
Disturbed people will off themselves when faced with a setback... The key is not going to bed with them or be their roommates~
Posted by: Havesome Humor | May 21, 2012 at 06:49 PM
This is a travesty of justice. Ravi was convicted by a jury of multiple second and third degree felonies under New Jersey law, and under that law, the sentence could be 3-5 years for a third degree felony and 5-10 years for a second degree felony.
Clearly, the judge let the fact that if Ravi were to be sentenced to significant time (more than a year) he would be deported, and the fact that he has spent all of his life here in the U.S. weighed heavily on the judge's mind.
I can see the judge knocking the sentence down to 1-2 years, but 30 days with a recommendation that Ravi not be deported is over the top on the compassion index, and it sends the wrong message to other would be bullies.
I hope that the U.S. Immigration Service and the Department of Justice are not so compassionate.
Posted by: Ben Hendricks | May 21, 2012 at 08:28 PM