1. The general response I received about bullying, is that more people would stand up and help someone rather than ignore them. Most people know what it is like to be bullied and I know that they would not want someone else to go through what they went through. I commend individuals for standing up to people and actually having a voice rather then ignoring the situation and turning the other cheek. 

1. Danielle said "Now that I'm an adult, I'd say of course I would stop the bullying. I can't imagine why people our age think it's okay to do it after all the education we received about bullying growing up and how much we hear about it on the news today".

1. Jessica said "I can honestly say I would definitely help people. No one deserves it".

1. Matt C said "I hope that I would step in and stop it. Bullying is messed up".

1. PJ said "I have my life for a reason. I am now an advocate for the campaign to Write love on Her Arms, and going to school to become a counselor. I want people to know bullying isn't right, life experiences happen and you are who you are for a reason".

1. Kudos to those that responded with such positivity! 

Once all the information comes out about the Trayvon Martin story I would like everyone's input on what you think should happen to Zimmerman who said that the reason for his shooting was self defense.

Let me know your opinion blogging world!

So, my blogging friends, what is new in the world of justice today? Well, I would be more than happy to tell you!

Opening arguments began Monday in the sex abuse trial of church official Monsignor William Lynn who is accused of covering up evidence of sexual abuse. Lynn served as the secretary for clergy under the former Philadelphia archbishop.

Monsignor WIlliam Lynn and the Rev. James Brennan appeared before the Common Pleas Judge Teresa Sarmina inside a nearly filled Philadelphia courtroom. Commonwealth prosecutor Jacqueline Coelho told jurors in her nearly hour long opening statement that Lynn's role was to protect priests, the church and privacy "at any cost."

From 1992 until 2004, Lynn was responsible for investigating reports that priests had sexually abused children. Brennan, 48, is accused of assaulting a 14 year old boy in 1996.

BOTH PLED NOT GUILTY.

Last year a Philadelphia Grand Jury report accused the archdiocese of failing to investigate claims of sexual abuse of children by priests. The Grand Jury report led to the Philadelphia district attorneys office criminally charging four Philadelphia priests and a parochial school teacher with raping and assaulting boys in their care, while Lynn was accused of allowing the abusive priests to have access to children.

The charges are unusual because they go beyond accusations against priests and included a church higher up charged with covering up the abuse, which church experts say has never happened in the United States before.

Lynn would face a maximum of 14 years in prison if convicted of all charges

A total of 23 priests in the Philadelphia are have been placed on administrative leave by the archdiocese, 21 on March 7, 2011.

It's sad that when someone who is suppose to guide you through your journey in life, and teach you the right way about life and God does this to children.

I guess the saying still goes ... "innocent until proven guilty"....

THE VERDICT IS IN!

Ravi as found guilty of the most serious of charges for spying on his room mate, Tyler Clementi, having a gay sexual encounter in 2010, a New Jersey jury ruled today.

Ravi was convicted of invasion of privacy, bias intimidation, witness tampering, and hindering arrest, stemming from his role in activating a webcam to peek at Clementi's date with a man on Sept 19, 2010.  Ravi was also accused of encouraging others to spy during a second date, on Sept 21,2010, and intimidating Clementi for being gay.

Ravi was found not guilty of some of the 15 counts of bias intimidation, attempted invasion of privacy, and attempted bias intimidation.

So, Ravi was not charged in connection with Clementi's death. But, charged with the invasion of privacy. Hopefully, this man gets deported back to India, and the max penalty of 10 years.

So much is wrong with this world today.
Deliberations began a few days ago in the Rutgers trial, Dharun Ravi is on trial on a 15 count indictment for allegedly spying on and intimidating his room mate, Tyler Clementi who jumped off the Ben Franklin bridge. If convicted on all counts after the more than two week trial, Ravi could be sentenced to 10 years in prison. 


Prosecutors offered Ravi a plea deal that would have let him avoid jail time in exchange for 600 hours of community service and counseling. Prosecutors also offered to help Ravi avoid deportation, though they said they could not guarantee it. Ravi is a citizen of india who had been studying on a visa at Rutgers University. 


Molly Wei was another student that confessed to joining Ravi watch a surreptitious webcam encounter involving Clementi and another man in September 2010. Wei reached a plea deal in May 2011 that required her to testify against her friend and former high school classmate, as well as to complete a three year program on cyber bullying and do 300 hours of community service.


I have a question though, this came up in my criminal justice class a few weeks ago, if this Ravi fellow is convicted he will most likely have to serve the entire 10 year prison sentence, where as he could have pled guilty and received no prison time. 


The question is: is there an extra penalty for those that invoke their right to a trial? 
Ravi denied his plea agreement, and if found guilty he will be in prison for the next 10 years. I will update once there is a verdict and I will give my opinion of that question once I get some feedback!

My open thread topic question will be about something that most people know about all too well; bullying. I have been following a case about a teenage student from Rutgers University, Tyler Clementi, who jumped off the Ben Franklin bridge in 2010 after his room mate hid a web cam and video tapped him having an intimate relationship with another gay man.


I followed this case from day one because I was working the day the student jumped off the bridge, and I was around the corner from the Ben Franklin bridge in Philadelphia when the police shut the bridge down causing all kinds of crazy traffic. When I turned the radio on and found out what had happened I was shocked to find that a kid jumped from the bridge and now the search was on to find him in the Delaware River.


Less than a month after the suicide, President Obama released a videotaped message condemning bullying, and In November, Clementi's family consented to the use of his name on federal anti-harassment legislation called the "Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act,"  this law would require schools that receive federal student aid "to create policies prohibiting the harassment of any student.


The open question I have is what would you do if you noticed someone being bullied? Would you go get help? Would you engage in the bullying yourself? How would you make a difference?


Everyday there are children who are treated so wrongfully, it does not matter your age, gender, sexual orientation, or race, everyone at one point in their life was bullied. You can ALL make a difference in one person's life just by talking to them, be sociable with everyone, smile at people in the hallway or even hold the door open for someone who is struggling with a ton of books.


I will not stand for bullying, I will befriend anyone and anyone who is willing to listen to me, and I hope everyone in this world can help to be the change they wish to see in this world! 


There are so many outlets for helping to spot and stop bullying, but to hold it all in and not tell anyone is the worst thing you can possibly do. Tell an adult, tell a friend, tell your priest, tell who ever you are comfortable with, and there are also many support groups associated with helping to aid those who were bullied.


I want to live in a world where I am not afraid to speak my mind, dress how I want, listen to whatever music interests me, or date who ever I want, I will NOT let ANYONE stop me, nor make me feel inferior.


:) 
Here are some links about bullying and how you can help!


Bully Free Zone
Bullying Facts
HopeLine