Dharun Ravi began his 30-day jail sentence today for invading the privacy of his Rutgers University roommate, Tyler Clementi, who shortly thereafter committed suicide. Ravi offered his first attempt at an apology this week, but Clementi’s parents say they were unimpressed, calling it “no apology at all.” They released a statement today addressing Ravi’s short sentence and his subsequent statements:
We have respect for Judge Berman and we appreciate the manner in which he presided over the criminal trial of Mr. Ravi. Although we do not question the sincerity of his feelings, and we have never sought harsh punishment, we are troubled by the judge’s failure to impose even a short jail sentence on the several charges of criminal invasion of Tyler’s privacy and bias crimes.
As to the so-called ‘apology,’ it was, of course, no apology at all, but a public relations piece produced by Mr. Ravi’s advisors only after Judge Berman scolded Mr. Ravi in open court for his failure to have expressed a word of remorse or apology. A sincere apology is personal.
In addition to his 30-day jail sentence, Ravi must serve 300 hours of community service and spend three years on probation.
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