Former Penn State Coach Arrested

[southbymidwest]

There are the legal requirements and then there are the moral requirements. Joe, the GA, and janitor, to varying degrees, probably met the legal requirements, but as to the moral, can't say they did. That being said, I have not heard how hard Joe pursued the investigation, or how long it took him to report it- and if he could get his head wrapped around the possibility that his friend and member of his clan of coaches there was a pedophile- after all, most pedophiles are married men, often with kids of their own. They are often involved with activities associated with kids-coaches, teachers, boy scout leaders, etc. Not to slam the 99.99% of coaches,teachers and volunteers who day in and day out, make a positive difference in the lives of kids. They don't walk around with a red P on their chest. But ultimately, Joe had the moral responsibility to follow through.

[Kevin]

In Oklahoma, if you suspect child abuse you can be criminally prosecuted for not reporting it. I speculate that the laws in Pennsylvania are not dissimilar. JoePa and the whole lot of 'em should be criminally prosecuted if they knew anything.

It looks like the state is indicting just about everyone related to the crime. I hope this can be used to educate people about it being required that they report crimes such as these.

[33girl]

OK, I got a very inappropriate LOL out of the fact that JS's autobiography is called "Touched: The Jerry Sandusky Story."

As far as JoePa's involvement...it's my understanding that he didn't witness the abuse firsthand, but was told about it by a third party. He reported that to the appropriate parties, and from there an in-depth investigation should have been carried on - NOT by Paterno. He is not the administrative or disciplinary arm of the university. Why on earth are people trying to place everything on his shoulders?

This is the part of the article that hits home:

If every person that suspected child abuse in an institutional setting were permitted to take the law into their own hands by contacting authorities, it would become incredibly easy for anyone with a vendetta against a colleague, a superior, or an underling to ruin a career and a reputation by making unfounded reports with no check. That is why they are to report to the heads of their institutions, whose responsibility it is to make the report, based on whether or not there is 'reasonable suspicion' that abuse has occurred.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by 33girl

OK, I got a very inappropriate LOL out of the fact that JS's autobiography is called "Touched: The Jerry Sandusky Story."

As far as JoePa's involvement...it's my understanding that he didn't witness the abuse firsthand, but was told about it by a third party. He reported that to the appropriate parties, and from there an in-depth investigation should have been carried on - NOT by Paterno. He is not the administrative or disciplinary arm of the university. Why on earth are people trying to place everything on his shoulders?

This is the part of the article that hits home:

If every person that suspected child abuse in an institutional setting were permitted to take the law into their own hands by contacting authorities, it would become incredibly easy for anyone with a vendetta against a colleague, a superior, or an underling to ruin a career and a reputation by making unfounded reports with no check. That is why they are to report to the heads of their institutions, whose responsibility it is to make the report, based on whether or not there is 'reasonable suspicion' that abuse has occurred.

What? So, if you witness a brutal crime in an institutional setting, you're not supposed to call the police? That's just asinine.

[33girl]

He didn't witness it. That's my point. He was told about it by another person. What that person's motives are he does not know. He's Joe Paterno, not Carnac.

I mean, as far as the janitor who saw it and walked on by, there isn't lava hot enough to dump him in. That's a whole different matter.

[amIblue?]

I'm not talking specifically about Paterno. The portion of the article that you quoted said that those who contact authorities are taking the law into their own hands. That's the part that is asinine.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

I'm not talking specifically about Paterno. The portion of the article that you quoted said that those who contact authorities are taking the law into their own hands. That's the part that is asinine.

Again, the line is, "If everyone who SUSPECTED child abuse..."

And yes, if everyone who suspects a crime has taken place called the police, the police would never be able to do their jobs.. They'd go crazy. That's why you see Judge Judy laugh people right off their high horse.. Because they walk into court THINKING that a person had damaged their property, but there's no one there with them to verify that they actually saw the person hitting their car with a golf club.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

I'm not talking specifically about Paterno. The portion of the article that you quoted said that those who contact authorities are taking the law into their own hands. That's the part that is asinine.

In an institutional setting. Institutional setting =/= everyday life.

I could say I "suspect" my history professor of child abuse and go straight the police. Never mind I have never seen my history prof in the presence of a child and am just pissed about the D I got on my paper.

[AOII Angel]

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefoot...scandal-110711

Police say Paterno didn't do enough.

[Kevin]

Again, I know nothing about Pennsylvania law, but reporting is a legal requirement for absolutely everyone with knowledge of abuse in Oklahoma. That would have included Paterno in this hypothetical.

And even that legal requirement doesn't result in the deluge of reports to DHS that you'd think occur. I've made many reports when clients came in and informed me of ongoing child abuse. It's not a big deal. It first goes to a caseworker who then checks to see whether the child is okay. They get to interview the child and make sure their living situation is minimally satisfactory and then they either move on, recommend services like a safety plan or ask for a pickup order to take the child into protective custody.

In 33's situation where she "suspects" her prof of being a child abuser, she could go to the police with any facts she has, but just thinking someone is the sort of person who'd abuse kids isn't going to be enough to make it criminal for her not to. Clearly, the folks up at Penn State had more than mere suspicion.

[amIblue?]

Yes, the people at Penn State had more than mere suspicion. They had two witnesses to a 10 year old boy being raped.

[Greek_or_Geek?]

If I walk in on a man raping a little boy, the chain of command starts at my fists.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Randomly catching a coach in the locker room shower with a boy is reportable. It is not a matter of your eyes playing tricks on you or a possible misunderstanding.

If you are the person who did the random catching.

Again, that WASN'T Paterno.

[33girl]

On a slightly different matter...

Game days are usually "white out" for the stadium. Some people are proposing a "blue out" or "black out."

Do you think this is an effective way of supporting the school and helping the victims to begin to heal?

Also, I just want to say that the townies are pissing me off. They have been sucking off the Penn State tit for a long time and now they're the first ones building the gallows - when in reality, they were probably more aware of this situation than anyone else. Where else did the victimized children come from?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Again, that WASN'T Paterno.

I did not know you all were talking about Paterno. My bad.