OJ Simpson Back in the Courthouse
September 24, 2008The Trial of the Centrury Touched It All:
Sex, Celebrity, Murder, Race… and Bail
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Video: Associated Press, YouTube |
OJ’s back in court, but this trial surely won’t be as much of a spectacle as the murder trial. It’s hard to believe that more than 10 years have passed because, for those of us living in Southern California, television was “all OJ, all the time.”
That case had everything: sex, money, star power, murder, and a rocky celebrity marriage. It changed the way the public viewed the former football star and the way we talk about race in the United States. |
It also changed how the country – and especially Southern California law enforcement – deals with the crime of domestic violence. Since then, domestic violence cases are taken much more seriously by the police and court system.
Before OJ, a routine domestic violence (“DV”) call to the police usually didn’t result in an arrest. Assume a couple was arguing, neighbors called the police (possibly out of safety concern, but likely because they were tired of listening). Police arrived, maybe there were some tears but both parties in the dispute said, “no problem here, officer.” The police were on their way to more “serious” crimes. Today, the same situation will almost certainly end with the police arresting someone and taking him or her downtown for booking.
Not only have the number of arrests on domestic violence risen drastically, DV bail amounts have skyrocketed. Before the rocky relationship of OJ and Nicole came into the glaring spotlight, basic domestic violence bail in Southern California ranged from $1,000 to $5,000. Now, a basic Ventura domestic violence bail is $20,000 and in Los Angeles and Orange Counties domestic violence bail is $50,000.
The good thing about this is that the police are defusing more potentially dangerous situations. A spouse is more likely to be arrested and certainly has to pay more for a bail bond, but in our experience as bondsmen, a first offense is treated relatively lightly. Routinely, first-time domestic violence offenders are sent to anger management classes and placed on probation.
In LA County, some may consider that an expensive lesson in how to control your temper. My guess is that the Browns wouldn’t think so.
For most offenders, the arrest and class is a big wake-up call that their anger response is potentially out of control. If that keeps families peaceful and intact, I think it’s a public service – and a bargain.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Celebrate it with a happy, peaceful family, please.
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