need to stop violence

[lmk]

Could anyone provide links to legislation currently in place in your State concerning acts against sports officials. If you don't have a link, just provide the name of your State that has such legislation and I can do an internet search my self.
At times attitudes seem to be out of control with no consequences to the perpetrator. The latest being a threat to put a bullet in a league officials head.
Has reached the point act is needed to protect officials. Both on field and league officials are fair game at the moment.
Any "information lead" would be appreciated.

[mbyron]

The Ohio Senate proposed a bill to stiffen penalties for crimes (assault) against sports officials and health care workers. It seems to have died in committee last year. The proposed revisions do not appear in the current Revised Code section.
http://tinyurl.com/2v5x7t

[bob jenkins]

www.naso.org

[Ump29]

I am thinking fron a Canadian point of view but I think would also apply in the US that if a sports official is threatened with or suffers actual violence then charges could be brought against the person just as if it was violence against any ordinary citizen.

[blueskysblue]

New Mexico: New Mexico Statutes Annotated 30-3-9.1
Assault;battery;sports officials.

[MajorDave]

In Kentucky the crime is either a Misdemeanor (12 months) or a Felony (1 year to 5 years) depending on the facts and prior offenses. I have included the full text of the Kentucky Statute for your perusal.


Kentucky Revised Statute 518.090 Assault of sports official.
(1) A person is guilty of assault of a sports official when he intentionally causes
physical injury to a sports official:
(a) Who was performing sports official duties at the time the physical injury was
perpetrated; or
(b) If the physical injury occurs while the sports official is arriving at or departing
from the athletic facility at which the athletic event occurred.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "sports official" means an individual who serves as
a referee, umpire, linesman, or in a similar capacity that may be known by another
title, and who is duly registered as or is a member of a national, state, regional, or
local organization engaged, in part, in providing education and training to sports
officials.
(3) A person who is guilty of assault of a sports official shall, for a first offense, be
guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, unless the defendant assembles with five (5) or
more persons for the purpose of assaulting a sports official, in which case it is a
Class D felony.
(4) A person who is guilty of assault of a sport official shall, for a second or subsequent
offense, be guilty of a Class D felony.
Effective: July 15, 1998
History: Created 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 508, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1998.

[TussAgee11]

In CT a bill recently lost steam on the committee level. I'm not sure if it was to heighten penalties, or just to create a law in the first place.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

In CT a bill recently lost steam on the committee level. I'm not sure if it was to heighten penalties, or just to create a law in the first place.

Yeah, Right! This damn bill has been passed over for 5 years by our wonderful CT State Legislature. They don't give a $hit! I've personally addressed the morons in Hartford on three separate occasions only to have them shove it off the Committee Floor for other "more important" items. Personally, I've resolved myself that this State will never do anything for us until an official gets seriously hurt or worse!

Regards

[greymule]

. . . charges could be brought against the person just as if it was violence against any ordinary citizen.

I'm not for creating special classes of victims, whether in sports or anything else. "Hey, judge, I didn't split his skull because he was [fill in name of protected victim group]. I did it because he claimed the hands are part of the bat."

However, violence in sports has generally been treated more leniently than violence in the general society. Though this might be a sensible position when it comes to brief and inconsequential flare-ups in heated sporting events, umpires should be protected from violence the same on the field as on the street. But we don't need another special class of victim.

[mbyron]

I understand your point. Maybe the word "special" is doing too much work: we have different classes of crime, why not different classes of victim?

Moreover, if the usual penalties for assault do not deter crimes against sports officials (or others - the Ohio bill included, strangely, just sports officials and health care workers), then perhaps a greater deterrent is needed.

Oregon:

http://www.oregonreferee.com/SB482.pdf

I would REALLY like the get the darn $1000 award!

[rcjhyman]

Here's a link to a site that identifies the states that have criminal laws re assaulting a sports official: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0747.htm

FYI - Accoriding to this, the following states have such laws: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.

Two additional states (Minnesota and Oregon) have civil statutes.

[TussAgee11]

Ozzy - not sure if you heard, but I read in the paper a soccer official in my town (Fairfield, CT) was assulted at a men's league game. Required several stitches (I believe a headbutt)

Guess Hartford will never listen... :sigh:

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I understand your point. Maybe the word "special" is doing too much work: we have different classes of crime, why not different classes of victim?

Moreover, if the usual penalties for assault do not deter crimes against sports officials (or others - the Ohio bill included, strangely, just sports officials and health care workers), then perhaps a greater deterrent is needed.

Which is the entire point, well said. Either sports officials are valued at a higher standard, considering that most work with children and are part of their development process, or they are not. Passing of statutes is one thing, having the justice system support the extent of the criminality is another. I don't believe in what I read and see they do either, support the extent or value sports officials. See "school teachers" as the purest example of social neglect.

We're treated all too often as points of abuse and since we get paid, that's A-OK. It's inhumane and it is pure crap.

I also lay the blame for this on the doorsteps of sport official organizations who even when they have the upper hand (competition is spread and many times "fixed " by agreement geographically) they refuse to assert their positions with the Contractors. Shame on them, too often run by those who are much more concerned about keeping their personal interests in focus (assignment fees, preferred game and pay, etc)

[kylejt]

Idiot lawmakers grandstanding for votes.

Look, I don't need a special set of laws to protect me. There's plenty on the books already. Hit me, and I'm either going to defend myself, or press charges and sue you. If I go to self defense mode, more than likely it will end quite badly for the aggressor. If I decide to just press charges, you will go to jail, and I will own your house and cars.

What I don't need are special laws because I'm wearing my Honig's outfit at a ballfield, as opposed to Armani at the opera. What's the freaking difference?

Hate crimes for umpires. What's next?