1. By: Cody Cobb and Chandler Pruitt ATHLETES IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

2. INTRODUCTION Thesis- NFL athletes that commit a crime serve a lesser punishment than an average citizens. Recent legal issues with NFL athletes Public opinion

3. STIGMA What are the typical stereotypes of NFL players?

4. STIGMA The typical stigma of athletes is that they believe they are above the law Some have been called thugs The justice system takes it easy on athletes Athletes are not punished fairly Fame = freedom

5. CONDUCT ISSUES

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-8or6DsScs CBS This Morning uses NFL sportscasters’ views to show the player side. Bill Cowher shares his opinion on how NFL should behave and should punished. It is also discussed that NFL comissioner Roger Goodell should resign from his position.

7. RAY RICE Forbes.com

8. RAY RICE On February 15, Ray Rice was arrested for assault charges toward his fiancée. The NFL, as a result, suspended him for two games. The video surfaced, and the punishment increased. Ray Rice was suspended indefinitely and eventually released by the Ravens. www.blackenterprise.com

9. RAY RICE Recently, Rice has made an appeal that he has already served his whole punishment. His argument is the Collective Bargaining agreement, which means only supposed to be one penalty per infraction. Rice argued that he was only sentenced a two game suspension and served his punishment, however he also was suspended indefinitely and cut by the Ravens The results from the hearing are expected to be heard by November 23rd

10. ROGER GOODELL The NFL reportedly did not see the punch thrown by Rice in the video. However, after he was only suspended for two games the public saw the video and the punch was very clear. Roger Goodell stated that the NFL tried to obtain the video from law enforcement. A law enforcement official told reporters that he sent the video to Goodell five months ago

11. ROGER GOODELL It was argued that Rice’s suspension was light compared to other athletes who had been charged with possession of drugs or who were charged with violence in games. He stated that the NFL must do better and will do better… Recently a team of female senators called for rapid improvement of the NFL’s conduct policy Goodell announced a policy in which players could commit a violent act and through some rehabilitation, return a six-game suspension.

12. RAY RICE POLICE REPORT Gamedayr.com

13. GREG HARDY In July, Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy was found guilty of assault on his girlfriend and also threats to kill her. Hardy reportedly flung her around the room. He threw her into a bathtub and onto a futon covered with rifles. http://www.spotrac.com

14. GREG HARDY He was only sentenced a 60-day suspended sentence and 18 months probation. He immediately filed an appeal and his lawyer stated that they knew he and his client would be acquitted He has a rescheduled trial for after the 2014 season. This trial would be a trial by jury.

15. RAY LEWIS In 2000, Ray Lewis was acquitted of murder charges after he plead guilty to obstruction of justice. The prosecutor, Howard, said that the real truth had been shielded He was told by another player that the incident could be forgotten by his playing well on the field.

16. AARON HERNANDEZ Charged in 2012 with murder of two people He reportedly attacked/murdered them because one of them spilled a drink on him at a club. At the trial, the judge mostly talked in private with both lawyers In the end, Hernandez was rightfully charged with the death of Odin Lloyd.

17. BARI ZELL WEINBERGER Weinberger is a lawyer in New Jersey, specializing in domestic violence cases. I would put forth that Rice's lenient treatment was more a side effect of current law than a decision solely to do with wealth and status. The fact that Rice’s fiancee, now wife, supported him actually helps Rice in the situation.

18. WEINBERGER Usually defendants in Rice’s situation would be referred to a counseling program. There is a new bill being proposed in New Jersey that allows domestic violence victims to testify on closed circuit television The bill could decrease the number of abusers not convicted

19. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAWS North Carolina- assault, rape, sexual battery, communicating assaults are felonies Victims can request a restraining order The order can last up to two years. The order can require the batterer to maintain a certain distance, it can give the victim possession of the place of residence, or order spousal/ child support.

20. NFL WIVES There have been many occurrences in which NFL wives spoke out, saying that the NFL only looks out for itself. There are no counselors for wives, or the player-wife relationships. Two former NFL wives reported that the NFL pushed to keep the wives quiet of their domestic violence charges.

21. NFL WIVES Some wives support Janay Rice and her decision to support Ray Rice The wives said that there are many reasons other than money… Their families, kids, husbands career, can sometimes be the most important thing.

22. NEW PENALTIES Roger Goodell wrote a letter saying players will serve a six game suspension for the first offense Repeat offenders will serve a lifetime ban from NFL In the letter Goodell apologized to the public, saying “he didn’t get it right the first time”.

23. PUBLIC INFLUENCE Athletes can be served the correct sentence in some cases, with help from the public eye Ray Rice’s sentence was increased after video was viral Ray Lewis received an easier sentence due to lack of popularity of his case compared to Ray Rice. Aaron Hernandez was sentenced to murder through a correct trial but the fact that technology made the trial popular, helped make the trial run through correctly.

24. PUBLIC INFLUENCE With more awareness of domestic violence the laws could be improved There are shelters for victims of domestic violence to use If victims speak out and let their case be heard then batterers may be brought to justice The justice system may seem biased, but it simply goes by the laws

25. PUBLIC OPINION

26. WORKS CITED Bien, Louis. "A Complete Timeline of the Ray Rice Assault Case." SBNation.com. SB Nation, 6 Nov. 2014. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. White, R.J. "Ray Rice,,." CBSSports.com. CBS Sports Network, 22 Oct. 2014. Web. 18 Nov. 2014 Gordon, Michael. "Panthers Greg Hardy Guilty of Assaulting Female, Communicating Threats." Charlotte News Panthers Hornets Sports Banking. 16 July 2014. Web. 18 Nov. 2014 "How Ray Lewis Got Away With Murder." Atlanta Daily World RSS. Web. 19 Nov. 2014. Weinberger, Esq. "Professional Sports and Domestic Violence: Celebrity Favoritism or Weak Domestic Violence Laws?" The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 7 Oct. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2014 North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Web. 19 Nov. 2014.