12.14.2014

A Step in the Right Direction

 Goodell states that this new process will handle
violence within the NFL "firmly,
consistently, quickly"
This past week, NFL fans and justice-seekers alike finally heard the news they've been waiting for: the NFL will be taking a new, more affective approach to dealing with domestic violence within the league. According to Commissioner Roger Goodell, this new process is "significantly more robust, thorough and formal," something that is much needed after a long year filled with back to back scandals. Two major changes to the policy include the NFL conducting its own investigations by hiring a "highly qualified individual with a criminal justice background" (this individual will also determine punishment) and having any and all league personnel (players, coaches, owners, etc) charged with a crime go on immediate leave, with pay. These changes stem from mass criticism of Goodell's poor handling of past incidents, many claiming that Goodell was given far too much power over a situation that he didn't have the skills to handle. The hope now is to remove any ambiguity with the crime (and the punishment) that has existed in cases such as Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson.

Although this policy is a huge improvement over it's predecessor, there's still a substantial amount of growing to do, namely in its concern for the victim. According to the National Organization for Women, "there is no guarantee that economic support will be there for as long as it takes for a victim to get back on her feet, and no indication that the NFL even understands that a six-game unpaid suspension could spark even higher level of violence." I believe this oversight could potentially lead to another crisis for Goodell, but that it the changes they did make will make a huge difference.

If this policy works as well in reality as it sounds like it would on paper, I think that we will begin to see more justice in the punishments given by the NFL and as a result, less domestic violence cases. If the policy doesn't live up to its expectations, then the question remains: what can the NFL really do to discipline the staff and players?