Former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi was released from prison this morning after serving time for his bias crimes conviction, Reuters is reporting. The 20-year-old Indian citizen, who has been living in the United States for most of his life, served 20 days out of a 30-day sentence imposed by Judge Glenn Berman.
Ravi left the Middlesex County jail in New Jersey shortly after 8:30 am EDT, and was accompanied by his attorney. He received a 10-day credit for good behavior. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said yesterday they wouldn’t seek to deport Ravi back to India.
Ravi was convicted in March for using a webcam to spy on his gay roommate, Tyler Clementi, and his encounter in their dorm room with an older man he met online. Clementi learned that Ravi had spied on him and then used social media to urge other people to watch the tape as well. Days after discovering the invasion of privacy in September 2012, Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge.
Berman imposed the 30-day sentence, even though Ravi faced up to 10 years in prison, at the urging of gay advocates who felt he didn’t deserve jail time. Many advocates, including Out magazine editor Aaron Hicklin and The American Prospect E.J. Graff, felt Ravi was being turned into a scapegoat for Clementi’s death.
Written by: Karen Benardello
