MLB Issues New Domestic Violence Policy – blogged by @LoveRubyWoo

The MLB is taking a proactive approach when it comes to its players and domestic violence. On Friday, the league and the players’ union announced that they had signed a new agreement dictating how to handle domestic violence cases within the MLB going forward. The MLB has definitely had its share of domestic violence scandals in the past, though none in recent memory have been as highly publicized or criticized as those that spread through the NFL like wildfire over the past year. Therefore, this new policy was created in light of everything that has been going on in the NFL in hopes of preventing a similar disaster within the MLB in the future. 

The highlights of the new agreement include the following:

1) A new board will be established that will be responsible for developing and monitoring treatment plans for players who are involved in domestic violence cases. If the player doesn’t follow the plan, he can face disciplinary action.

2) Before the terms of punishment are decided, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has the ability to put a player on paid leave for up to seven days while the Commissioner’s Office investigates any allegations.

3) The commissioner has the full authority to suspend a player with or without pay for as long as he deems necessary, regardless of whether the player is convicted or pleads guilty. In addition, there are no maximum or minimum penalties.

4) If a player chooses to appeal his punishment, the final ruling will be made by an independent arbitrator, as well as representatives from the league and the players’ union.

This is a major step up from the policy in the past, which simply offered voluntary counseling and treatment programs for players who were involved in domestic violence cases. Additionally, in the past, the terms of disciplinary action were largely determined by the teams at their own discretion…which usually turned out to be nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Now that all the power rests with the commissioner, the arbitration process will hopefully be more independent and result in punishments that fit the crime.

Tony Clark, executive director of the players’ union, released a statement on the new policy. “Players are husbands, fathers, sons and boyfriends and as such want to set an example that makes clear that there is no place for domestic abuse in our society. We are hopeful that this new comprehensive, collectively bargained policy will deter future violence, promote victim safety, and serve as a step toward a better understanding of the causes and consequences of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.”