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Should Dorothy Sandusky Be Charged With a Crime?

Should Dorothy Sandusky Be Charged With a Crime?

  • Total voters
    13
Kali

Kali

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Do you feel that Jerry Sandusky's wife should be charged with a crime? More and more is coming out and in this latest arrest the victim says she was home and his screams for help went unanswered. It is pretty clear she overlooked a lot of things.
:(

U.S. News - Sandusky rearrested in Pennsylvania
 
I find it ill headed to start charging people with crimes merely because they did nothing to stop a crime.
 
Henrin said:
I find it ill headed to start charging people with crimes merely because they did nothing to stop a crime.
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The series finale of SEINFELD comes to mind.
 
Kali said:
Do you feel that Jerry Sandusky's wife should be charged with a crime? More and more is coming out and in this latest arrest the victim says she was home and his screams for help went unanswered. It is pretty clear she overlooked a lot of things.
:(

U.S. News - Sandusky rearrested in Pennsylvania
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aiding and abetting.

then, assuming they are guilty, fry them both.
 
I would need more details. What if the room was one of those rooms where you can't hear what's going on....a sound room? I wish I could say that I find it hard to believe that she knew and did nothing, but nothing anymore surprises me.
 
There would need to be evidence. A simple accusation isn't enough to charge a person with a crime.
 
Henrin said:
I find it ill headed to start charging people with crimes merely because they did nothing to stop a crime.
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I agree with this, but I think circumstances play a part.

If the incidents happened in her home, in another room, while she was there, and she knew (or reasonably suspected) what was happening, then I would consider her an accomplice, and yes I feel she should be charged.

If the incidents took place elsewhere, and she only learned of each one after the fact, then I'm not so sure she should be under any legal obligation to report. Moral, yes. Legal, not so sure.
 
I don't think its fair, The stuff this crap does to every-bodies psychology around the situation is messed up. A lot of people find it so horrifying that they try to convince themselves that other things happened instead, unless we can prove she was intentionally making an effort to aid on her own free will,then no charges should be pressed.
 
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herenow1 said:
I would need more details. What if the room was one of those rooms where you can't hear what's going on....a sound room? I wish I could say that I find it hard to believe that she knew and did nothing, but nothing anymore surprises me.
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This.

Of course if she did hear the screams but ignored, then she should suffer some type of consequence. I just don't see that there's evidence to support that she was aware of that particular instance of abuse.
 
If evidence comes to light that she knew of the abuses while/when they happened then I'd understand an aiding and abetting charge. Until such evidence comes to light I think it's hard to say she knew simply because one of the victims shouted for help. There are a million and one reasons why she might not have heard him. I don't want to excuse her of any responsibility she might have, but I also don't want to shove her into the fire based on something circumstantial. We have others who have admitted to knowing or for whom evidence clearly shows they knew who have yet to see charges.

I want justice for the victims of any criminal behavior proven to have occurred. But I don't want injustice done against innocent parties in the process of performing a witch hunt. Let's move swiftly, but cautiously here.
 
celticwar17 said:
I don't think its fair, The stuff this crap does to every-bodies psychology around the situation is messed up. A lot of people find it so horrifying that they try to convince themselves that other things happened instead, unless we can prove she was intentionally making an effort to aid on her own free will,then no charges should be pressed.
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If I am even in a moment of crisis, I hope to hell you're not the only one who hears my screams.
 
I voted "yes" only on the condition that they can show, without a doubt, that she knew what was going on.
 
Kali said:
Do you feel that Jerry Sandusky's wife should be charged with a crime? More and more is coming out and in this latest arrest the victim says she was home and his screams for help went unanswered. It is pretty clear she overlooked a lot of things.
:(

U.S. News - Sandusky rearrested in Pennsylvania
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As far as I know it is crime to not report child abuse.So if there is evidence that she knew what was going ion then she should be punished.
 
radcen said:
I agree with this, but I think circumstances play a part.

If the incidents happened in her home, in another room, while she was there, and she knew (or reasonably suspected) what was happening, then I would consider her an accomplice, and yes I feel she should be charged.
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Just because you know of a crime and are there as it happens shouldn't mean that you are treated like a criminal. I understand that is how the government treats it these days but that is a shear violation of your rights. You did nothing wrong, you didn't violate the rights of another person just because you didn't report a crime.
 
Henrin said:
Just because you know of a crime and are there as it happens shouldn't mean that you are treated like a criminal. I understand that is how the government treats it these days but that is a shear violation of your rights. You did nothing wrong, you didn't violate the rights of another person just because you didn't report a crime.
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The difference is, in her home, which I clearly stated in my example. Knowingly allowing a crime to be committed in your own home qualifies as being an accessory. It's her home also and she has say what happens there and what does not. It's a conscious choice. Similar to the person driving the car for a bank robbery. They didn't commit the robbery itself, but they helped facilitate it.

If she knew it were taking place at another location, not necessarily so.
 
Charged with what?

People watch crimes happen and often do nothing. That's not illegal. There is no legal requirement to report a crime being done by someone else nor to attempt to stop or prevent it. Maybe it should be, but it isn't.

What you're saying is that if a parent finds pot in their kid's room, if they do not call the police, give permission to search the room and sign an affidavit for the police than the parent is an accessory? Or if your kid or spouse or a friend pulls up in a car your driveaway and is drunk, you also are guilty of DUI if you don't call the police? That is the logic of her being guilty of a crime.

Under your logic, if anyone on the forum indicates they use any illegal drug, then any moderator or administrator who does not contact the police and provide all IP etc information to the police is equally guilty of illegal drug possession should a coincidental drug raid and computer seizure show this happened?

That's sort of one of those old law school type questions. If you see a baby in a baby buggy rolling unattended towards a cliff and you can stop it merely by the slightest reaching out at no risk to you - and don't - do you have an civil or criminal liability? No. BUT, if you DO try to stop the buggy and botch the rescue in any way that might make it worse, then you are minimally civilly responsible.



It is VERY rare where a private person is guilty of any crime or liability - criminally or civilly - for inaction.
 
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joko104 said:
Charged with what?
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Penalties for Failure to Report and False Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
Approximately 47 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands impose penalties on mandatory reporters who knowingly or willfully fail to make a report when they suspect that a child is being abused or neglected.2 Failure to report is classified as a misdemeanor in 39 States and American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.3 In Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota, misdemeanors are upgraded to felonies for failure to report more serious situations, while in Illinois and Guam, second or subsequent violations are classified as felonies.

Twenty States and the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands specify in the reporting laws the penalties for failure to report.4 Upon conviction, a mandated reporter who fails to report can face jail terms ranging from 10 days to 5 years or fines ranging from $100 to $5,000. In seven States and American Samoa, in addition to any criminal penalties, the reporter may be civilly liable for any damages caused by the failure to report.5
 
radcen said:
The difference is, in her home, which I clearly stated in my example. Knowingly allowing a crime to be committed in your own home qualifies as being an accessory. It's her home also and she has say what happens there and what does not. It's a conscious choice. Similar to the person driving the car for a bank robbery. They didn't commit the robbery itself, but they helped facilitate it.
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She didn't help facilitate anything here. She wasn't involved in the crime. She didn't hold them down, she didn't join in, or really anything else that could qualify. She just didn't report the crime. I do not really believe in laws about abetting unless they are actively taking part in rights of another being violated. A driver doesn't really do that.
 
whysoserious said:
I voted "yes" only on the condition that they can show, without a doubt, that she knew what was going on.
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Then she walks. It is her story versus the kid's story.

But at this point I have to take the kid as being honest as far as I know he hasn't lied before.

Sandusky's claims to just like showering and slapping boys legs just sound pathetic to me. Showering all alone with a 10yr boy in the university shower room just shows how bulletproof he thought he was. It isn't too hard to imagine him being that bold in the privacy of his own home even with wife there.

There most likely will never be enough evidence to indict her. But I find it hard she didn't see all these red flags.
 
How do we know she's not a victim as well? He could be abusive to her, in a way that inhibits her from helping the other victims. But if there's a law that makes what she did or didn't do a crime, sure she should be charged provided there's enough evidence.
 
She is speaking out and of course claiming innocence and denying the basement thing. As if she would admit it:roll:

U.S. News - Sandusky's wife: 'I continue to believe in Jerry's innocence'

From part of her statement:
I have been shocked and dismayed by the allegations made against Jerry, particularly the most recent one that a now young man has said he was kept in our basement during visits and screamed for help as Jerry assaulted him while I was in our home and didn’t respond to his cries for help.

As the mother of six children, I have been devastated by these accusations. I am also angry about these false accusations that such a terrible incident ever occurred in my home. No child who ever visited our home was ever forced to stay in our basement and fed there. All the kids who visited us ate with us and our kids and other guests when they were at our home. Our children, our extended family and friends know how much Jerry and I love kids and have always tried to help and care for them. We would never do anything to hurt them. I am so sad anyone would make such a terrible accusation which is absolutely untrue. We don’t know why these young men have made these false accusations, but we want everyone to know they are untrue.
 
jamesrage said:
Penalties for Failure to Report and False Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
Approximately 47 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands impose penalties on mandatory reporters who knowingly or willfully fail to make a report when they suspect that a child is being abused or neglected.2 Failure to report is classified as a misdemeanor in 39 States and American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.3 In Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota, misdemeanors are upgraded to felonies for failure to report more serious situations, while in Illinois and Guam, second or subsequent violations are classified as felonies.

Twenty States and the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands specify in the reporting laws the penalties for failure to report.4 Upon conviction, a mandated reporter who fails to report can face jail terms ranging from 10 days to 5 years or fines ranging from $100 to $5,000. In seven States and American Samoa, in addition to any criminal penalties, the reporter may be civilly liable for any damages caused by the failure to report.5
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Was she a Mandatory Reporter?

.
 
The Emperor's New Clothes.
 
Henrin said:
I find it ill headed to start charging people with crimes merely because they did nothing to stop a crime.
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I do not agree with that statement with some crimes...especially with someone who is in a house where peophillia on a child is being perpetrated a mere phone call would stop it....if she was in fact in the house and let it go on...she certainly should be charged
I cant vote in this poll until its proven either way if she had knowledge a child was being abused..
 
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