Are student-athletes more likely to get into legal trouble than other students?
The student-athletes are more geared to a laissez-faire attitude due to the institutional protectionist policy that they enjoy. They are lured to a gangster syndrome as they easily get off the hook. College athletes are more likely to avoid prosecution for crimes than non- athletes (Findlaw ). The ripple effect of the tendency to commit more felony gets a higher frequency among them.
Some High school athletes also dream that their talent will take them to a professional career loaded with cash and devoid of responsibility. The systems tend to handle their crimes differently due to their undivided attention on the impact on the institutional reputation. The athletics are commercialized to the extent that they are a component of professional teams. (Cydnee). The athletes’ images are used for profit by making their scholarship dependent on participation. The athletes are aware they are cherished by the institutions, and this makes them carefree.
Some sports, by their nature, are violent, a certain amount of aggression is allowed and encouraged. Coaching styles may encourage higher levels of aggression. Some high school athletes are rewarded by coaches when they hurt other players. The violent character is inculcated into the athletes’ thought system, so they are likely to be involved in what they deem as necessary criminal activities due to their usual sport.
Student-athletes like everyone else can make mistakes as they succumb to peer pressure, but occasionally they go out of the accepted behaviour that warrants arrest. Being athletes makes some of them feel that they are entitled to privileges to not being prosecuted.
According to the video, what types of offences are student-athletes known to have committed?
The student-athletes are involved in extreme drug abuse from performance enhancers to recreational substance abuse. This triggers a lot of energy, which, when unspent in sport, can be a negative drive.
On the background of drug abuse, sexual assaults run very carefully. The drugs, as said, induce negative energy and thinking patterns, which culminate in sexual immorality.
The athletes are known to flout minor to major traffic rules and sometimes discovered they even fail to insure their vehicles (Paula). Serious accidents, coupled with alcohol abuse and negligence, are shared amongst them.
Aggravated violent assault is easily picked from athletes. Due to the orientation of acceptable sport, violence in the athletes tends to ingrain it in their day to day life.
Give some reasons student-athletes are more likely not to be charged with a crime than are other students.
Many critics exist who question whether or not high profile student-athletes receive special treatment from law enforcement officials. The money that exchanges hands in the college-sports world is exorbitant. The highest-paid public employees are the coaches (Jonathan). The institutions have reasons to adopt a protectionist attitude for the student-athlete, the main component of this business. The institutional interference complicates the case and gives the culprit an upper hand on the charges.
Some witnesses in these cases eventually pull out due to the profiling of the accused. In many situations, the student-athletes have near-immediate access to competent legal representation. The high profile attorneys available for these cases intimidate victims and prosecutors. This gives the accused oomph even in the next criminal escapade as the patronage is evident and assured.
The athletic department officials often interfere with investigations. Some try to control when and where police talk with athletes. Some even handle potential crime-scene evidence (Paula). They, at times, must seek a coach’s or athletic director’s assistance when investigating crimes.
The high profiling of the athletic programs and athletes has a negative and intimidating effect on the cases, including how they are investigated. Numerous cases never resulted in charges because accusers and witnesses, feared harassment from fans and the media, or were pressured to drop charges in the interest of the sports programs( Paula). This cripples justice in such student-athlete crime cases where all stakeholders appear coiled by the very nature of the cases.
The backlashing that anyone involved in athlete’s case receives is enough to put them off however, justified they are to demand their rights. This boosts the athlete’s negative energy as they feel immune to any charges. Many legal officers would shy away from these cases to avoid unwanted media attention.
In 2012 Darrell Williams, former Oklahoma University basketball player, was convicted of rape and sexual battery (Findlaw). The head coach tried all he could to cover him up by corrupting the witnesses. In 2003, Carlton Dotson murdered a teammate (Jonathan). The coach instructed the other players to report that Dennehey, the victim was a drug dealer to halt prosecution.
In your opinion, how should student-athletes who break the law be penalized?
A student-athlete, just like any other student, when they violate the law, should be taken through a well-laid process to ensure justice is served. The violation or crime should be handled by either the university or the police. College athletes who commit crimes should also face additional sanctions by college administrators and athletic departments. They ought to be suspended from all sports-related activities during the investigation, while conviction of a serious crime may result in expulsion or revocation of financial aid in many schools.
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/03/the-case-against-student-athletes/518739/ JONATHAN
College Athletes and Crime: What Happens When Players Break the Law?
Created by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and editors | Last updated June 20, 2016
spn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/13065247/college-athletes-major-programs-benefit-confluence-factors-somes-avoid-criminal-charges (PAULA)