Blogs and Stories
Justice for Rihanna
Lori Shepler / AP Photo
Singer Chris Brown's surprise plea deal yesterday was harsher than expected, says former sex-crimes prosecutor and bestselling author Linda Fairstein, and the most important component is the message it sends to other domestic abusers.
Chris Brown is a convicted felon. That probably won’t do much to hurt his record sales, but it is a stunning development in the case—and in the young singer’s life—since his arrest for beating his girlfriend, Rihanna, and threatening to kill her on February 8.
Some will cry that his plea deal—five years of probation and 180 days of community service—is “celebrity justice,” but I disagree. I think it’s an instance in which the media attention to the plight of both celebrities, the assailant and his victim, helped keep the heat on both of them. In Rihanna’s case, for the better: She has survived the attack and freed herself of an abusive partner who, as Oprah said, would indeed hit her again. In Brown’s case, the media attention made him acknowledge his guilt and be punished for the crime.
While some complain that he got off with “only” probation, the disposition in this case is harsher than my 30 years of prosecuting batterers had me betting it would be.
The prosecutor had the evidence he needed to go forward. Calls to 911 made by the terrified victim and photographs documenting the nature of her injuries: a bloodied face and choke marks that might have served to convict Brown had Rihanna chosen to stand by her man and not cooperate with the district attorney’s office.
The biggest surprise to me—and the best one—is that Rihanna had the courage, the fortitude, and the support of enough family and friends to act wisely and well. She ended her relationship with Brown, despite the efforts of some of his older thug role models to shepherd them back together, and showed up at the Los Angeles courthouse Monday, ready to testify against him.
So Brown took a plea. He admitted his guilt, admitted that he assaulted the talented young star who had been his lover, and left the courtroom a felon.
Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg will sentence Brown to five years of probation and 180 days of community service, in the form of labor. While some will complain that he got off with “only” probation, the disposition in this case is harsher than my 30 years of prosecuting batterers had me betting it would be. In the average first arrest of a 20-year-old man with no criminal history and visible means of support—forget R&B star status—most cases are reduced to misdemeanors with a probation period of less than one year. Few communities have the resources to offer meaningful programs that try to re-educate offenders.
The judge specified that she expects Brown to “be treated the same as any other defendant who would come into this court,” so that he will be picking up garbage or removing graffiti—that is, physical labor, which most perps on probation never have to do. He’s got to pay a fine and take a year’s worth of classes for batterers—and yes, he’s young enough to learn something from that.
There are guys who never reoffend, if they figure out what’s at stake. Rihanna gets an order of protection—Brown can’t come within 50 feet of her—and if he violates any of the terms of his probation, he is facing four years of incarceration.
This tragic beating raised public awareness of the epidemic proportion of this kind of crime in America. Rihanna is smart and safe. Young women everywhere should learn from her courage. And Chris Brown is a convicted felon.
Linda Fairstein, former chief prosecutor of the New York County DA's Office Sex Crimes Unit, is one of America's foremost legal authorities on crimes of violence against women and children. She is also the author of the current New York Times bestselling crime novel Lethal Legacy and a member of the Board of Directors of Safe Horizon.
John Talks Joe
Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
The Right Dumps Carrie
Jacob Bernstein is a senior reporter at The Daily Beast. Previously, he was a features writer at WWD and W Magazine. He has also written for New York magazine, Paper, and The Huffington Post.
Geithner's Stock Plummeting
Jeff Madrick is a contributor to the New York Review of Books and a former economics columnist for the New York Times. He is editor of Challenge Magazine, visiting professor of humanities at Cooper Union, and senior fellow at the New School's Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. He is the author of Taking America, The End of Affluence (Random House) and The Case for Big Government.
The Predator's Partner
Linda Fairstein, the former chief prosecutor of the New York County District Attorney's Sex Crimes Unit, is an authority on crimes of violence against women and children. She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling crime novel Lethal Legacy and a member of the board of Safe Horizon.
Next Time, He'll Kill You
Linda Fairstein, the former chief prosecutor of the New York County District Attorney's Sex Crimes Unit, is an authority on crimes of violence against women and children. She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling crime novel Lethal Legacy and a member of the board of Safe Horizon.
Great - convicted felon he might be...but no jail time and a fairly lenient sentence don't jibe with the whole convicted felon thing.
There are men & women in jail doing more time on their first non-violent offense (drugs - posession, not dealing) than this dirtbag will do.
They should toss his singing ass in jail for at least a year to teach him how the real world works. Maybe then he'd learn to value what he's got in life instead of some damn judge getting all stary-eyed and giving him a break.
This just sucks!
5 years probation? He got screwed! He would have been better off going to jail for a year than getting probation. With probation, you make one "innocent" mistake, get caught with someone who's on probation smoking a joint/having a beer/speeding, it puts your probation in jeopardy. They get to haul your butt to jail for an minor infraction. That SUCKS!
His lawyer sold him out. And why is it a felony? What happened to community service with a misdemeanor? Can he even vote now? What are his rights? He should get a different lawyer because he's better off in jail for 1 year. No community service and when he's done, he will have served his time and he can move on. This way, someone can set him up, frame him and do all sorts of mischief by putting numerous road blocks in his way.
Chris got a raw deal . . .
Now, he's really got some blues to sing about!
It's good to see the justice system working, especially when a celebrity is involved, and in Los Angeles. While it is a bit lenient, it was more than it could have been had she not testified. And yes, he is young enough to change his brutal ways.
My, nothing like sympathy for the victim. Unbelievable.
He gave up his rights when he plead guilty to beating the daylights out of a young woman. He got screwed? What about her? This woman has the courage and strength to show up to testify against him and he gets away with a slap on the wrist because of his "celebrity status".
Would you feel the same way if your mother or sister was the victim?
This user is no longer registered.
ugh don't mind ApresSki, he's likes to rape kids... for which he deserves a $100 fine.. right bro? :)
and he's also a total idiot evidently. I've been on probation, it's not like what he said. Do you think there's probation personnel scouring local bars to find any of their clients drinking a beer? Do you think your probation officer even finds out if you get pulled over by a cop? The criminal justice system is full of the most lazy apathetic people in America. I "violated my probation" several times and they do not care. You have to be a real moron to actually get cited for violation, and I hope this twat is, cuz he deserves to go to prison and get his shit pushed in, for being a barbaric scumbag.
.. 'better off in jail' this comes from someone who's clearly never been to jail. It isn't fun. He's not "better off" in jail, you mindless sac of crap. Unless by "better off" you mean getting what he deserves..
I spend some time working in incarcerated education. Probation for 5 years is a difficult sentence..and often those offenders end up incarcerated because they are not paying attention to the people that are around them and some small issue will put them in jail. This will hopefully be a deterrent to this felon. The young woman in this case is a very brave lady indeed. Hopefully she will be more thoughtful about the next man she lets into her life.
When I first heard these two were dating I knew it would end badly.
The writer and everyone else seems to have completely forgotten Rhiana's turbulent upbringing in a violent home.
Unfortunately I have dated several Island women along with an American women who after dating for a while informed me of the situations they grew up in.
The Island women had a view of American men that if they did not fear you they did not respect you. I think it's something in the water.
After finding this out they seemed to always attempt to test your manhood.
I had a thing for women just like Rhianna. Caramel with a little Island flair. Got over that one real quick in my teens. Those island chicks are certifiable.
The American women I dated grew up watching her dad beat the shit out of her mom.
After she hit me in the jaw with a right hook after arguing over some french fries. Yes French Fries.
I pulled over and got her out my car and left her ass right there. I could have been Chris Brown in that car.
In other words I don't agree with what Chris Brown did.
But I understand more than most.
I'm willing to bet that she threw the first punch and him being immature did not know how to react.
Some chicks who grow up in these type of situations have a tendency to be very violent.
If the writer would look at Rhiana's history and Chris's History in relationships I'm quite sure this is a one time thing for Chris.
I expect Rhiana to be in this situation again.
Form her history this is not the first time this has happened.
She seems to think it's ok to fight with a man.
These are all incidents from my youth. I have been married for 10 years and have never had a physical altercation with my wife. So no it wasn't me.
I'm sure-it was a one time thing for him but she'll be drawing this kind of man to her forever, right? those island girls....
The future will tell.
Two of those girls I dated went on to marry cops.
True story.
One was killed in a murder suicide by her NJ state cop husband when they returned form there honeymoon. NO Bullshit.
One of the saddest phone calls I ever received.
The other was killed by her Cop husband and he made it look like a suicide.
What do I know.
You're a horrible racist person.
You should be ashamed of who you've become.
jesus dude just think about how ridiculous what you wrote sounds.. are you really this stupid or is it just a joke.. yes every woman born on an island tests the manhood of her spouse... really?
it's nice to know that you offer understanding to men who beat their wives.. you're a great guy... oh wait, i meant to say you deserve to be in prison getting raped right now :)
i so agree with you he did not have the sense to walk away but she will be back tempting him again and i hope he is stronger this time because it will be a next time those island women are crazy in my over sixty years i have seen this scenario several times she will be back i am a woman and do not agree with a man hitting on women but like i said i have seen it before men beware of island women
"i am a woman and do not agree with a man hitting on women but..."
this could never be uttered/written by a woman. You, sir, are a fraud... and a bad one. Burn in hell racist sexist scum.
Listen up commentators hung up on getting the "pound of flesh" - that is a poor substitute for gaining the offender's acknowledgment of very inappropriate behavior. A retributive response usually turns the offender's attention to resentment of the punishment instead of enlightenment about where he or she went wrong. Community service and the batterers' classes are more likely to have a positive impact on Chris. After all, isn't the goal to get him to stop this behavior rather than growing a chip on his shoulder? (I say this from 10 years experience as a prosecutor - it doesn't take 30 years to figure this out).
birdseyeview,this is very true.And something about him says,that with time,He might be one of those who will never do it againIt also will train him to stay away from women that can provoke the worst in him.SharksBreath is true too.But he needs to have constant companion,of lawenforcement, watching oer him,helping him stay in probation 5 years.Anything can happen not even in his control.I hate to condem a ivcitim,I think in this case there has been real justice for all.But Rhiana, ...we might be reading about her again.
Sharksbreath's comment above is very insightful. Absolutely critical for men to stay away from women who were abused and/or abandoned in children,.have unaffectionate or critical mothers, or whose mother's broke up the family for anything short of the clearest of reasons, e.g. severe spousal abuse, substance abuse, gambling, etc.
Generalize much?
He took the plea to avoid jail time. What he got is average for a first time charge like this. He will do it again to someone like her. He is a predator and she will always be a victim. It is just the type of people they are.
In most domestic assault and battery cases, the victim does not cooperate and the case gets dismissed. In this case, the victim had a tremendous amount of support, so she cooperated. When victims have choices, when they have some income of their own and some education, they can and do leave. We have to give victims more support if we want to really stop this.
I agree whole-heartedly. The victims in these cases need TONS of support so that they feel safe enough to stand up to the low-lives that hurt them. I have seen friends who buckled under pressure because they were manipulated and scared by those that abused them. It is a sad thing indeed. Until they are empowered, nothing will change.
Well she has moneyok ............ but she wanted to play house wit a scum bag like piss Brown. She was having sex with him tryin' to play some wifey type bull shit & that got him thinkin' he owned her. SO she popped offat the mouth and she got physical and he violated her.....I tell all you women lookin' to blame him, no way, blame both of them... I do not care if she continues to be used my a Black man a orange man a asian man she needs to make better choices in HER life.
Interesting at least he did not get off totally scott free. They pleaded right before,till the last minute. he was doomed, the media and outcry and internet etc,he had to plea. Its strange,she did not walk away,totally.and I dont know if in the probation,he cannot see her anymore.5 years probation,is a long time,and very dangerous.he needs to have a fulltime lawenforcement person with him,making sure he is not set up or he makes mistakes.There is something likable about him,maybe one feels there is hope for him.i do not like to blame a victim ever,but something about Rhiana,says Ill be back.Years ago this was no big event or punishable.We have come a long way.There are still many beatings not paid attention to,in courts.There still needs to be alot of work.
Probation & his "community service" (cleaning graffiti or picking up trash) is not enough.
To be ashamed is not enough.
A batterer MUST do HARD TIME.
At least 6 months in lock-up. Then probation.
Maybe then, maybe, he might pause before he beats up his next girlfriend.
SharksBreath is saying something unpopular but true and I think for once I agree with DrMarkKlein to a point.
I don't think growing up in an abusive home is a guarantee the woman or man will be crazy too. But if you're dating you have to be aware it's very possible. That's why it's important to have people earn trust over time with their actions toward you and others rather than just hand it over.
I've had many female friends stay in abusive relationships and when I see that *I* get out of the situation if they won't. And they get mad at others for questioning it when they go on and on about how terrible they're treated. "Because I looove him" is the common response.
I'm convinced love for women can be a female macha about being strong enough to love a man more than anyone else and being the one to turn him into a prince.
Women play an equal part in the belief system but women have the most to lose in this cycle. That is very real too.
Personally, I wouldn't cite this woman as "one of America's foremost legal authorities on crimes of violence against women" ... not after the way she handled the Central Park "wilding" case. I think she was always more interested in publicity than in justice.
Sadly, I think this is as harsh a punishment as a batterer ever gets in cases like this.
I am really proud of Rhianna for the way she has handled this. It is a really sad thing to be a good role model for, but dammit now some of these young girls have a good example of what to do if it happens to them. Can you think of anyone else in the public eye who followed through all the way to prosecution the way she has? It takes a lot of bravery & support from loved ones for these girls to do this.
Bless you Rhianna.
Wow,
Are we all kidding? He pounded her face on the way to an awards event so badly that she could not show up looking like a poster for battered women. He also said "I'll kill you bitch" according to the released police report. HE has the problem, NOT HER!
In Virginia. The police apparently are well aware about the domestic matters that have transpired between Chris and RiRi. The police locally REPORTEDLY say that Chris Brown has been forced to replace no less than three flatscreen TV's because Rihanna allegedly threw something through them all. Basically, they suggested strongly, without going all the way in, that Rihanna might have exacerbated other situations that lead up to this one.
Who's the problem.
@east1500 you're right, he's a major problem.
I think these relationships are truly addictive. Rhianna did what is almost never done in terms of leaving him, she's the role model right now.
I just hope she's getting a lot of help because otherwise we might see her in the headlines with another guy again.
One of my best friends from college is a VP on Wall Street, smart and fierce as they come (proof, she's still there post melt-down). She and her boyfriend were driving to visit my husband and I and they got in a shouting match (nothing new here, practically foreplay for them) but this time he said he wanted to kill her and pushed her out of their moving car. She miraculously was fine but got back in the car and she called me laughing hysterically and only said "I think we're breaking up". When they reached here and she told me the story a few days later I responded "You're leaving him this time, right?" Whoo boy. She got angry and attacked me: I was overreacting. She defended him and said she provoked him. I can believe that, but still....attempted murder is acceptable in a lover?
It takes the crazy of two most of the time in these situations. They're both sick, they both need help and need to stay as far away from each other as possible and work recovery like alcoholics whose lives are on the line because they are putting both their lives in jeopardy. She could just as easily have killed him in a rage or self-defense.
no jail time, too bad, would have been nice to hear stories coming out from the pen.concerning this woman beater.
Justice my ass. He should have done at least 6 months. Period. Next.
Sorry, but I'm not buying it. A celebrity who gets off with probation is sending another message: there's justice for celebs and there's justice for the rest of us. Domestic violence #s are horrible and become worse during a recession. Women die every hour at the hands of a "loved one".
ANY man who beats a woman should be in jail. Period. That's the message we should be sending, regardless of who the defendant is. Period.
If one concedes that this is a "harsh punishment" for this type of case (and I'm not saying that I do), it just makes the justice system look even worse when it comes to domestic violence. I know someone who was beaten by her boyfriend and when she called the cops to have him removed from her home, they wouldn't do it because it was his primary residence. Once she finally got him out, he showed up at her house and tried to strangle her. The cops wouldn't touch him because "there weren't any marks." Then he got a gun.
Like I said the press has completely ignored certain stories about Rhiana.
In Virgina where Chris Brown lives. The police apparently are well aware about the domestic matters that have transpired between Chris and RiRi. The police locally REPORTEDLY say that Chris Brown has been forced to replace no less than three flatscreen TV's because Rihanna allegedly threw something through them all. Basically, they suggested strongly, without going all the way in, that Rihanna might have exacerbated other situations that lead up to this one.
Thank you.
As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two for your comment to be reviewed, depending on the time of week and the volume of comments we receive.
Please log in to leave comments.