Judge Jeanine Pirro on Chris Brown's Plea Deal

This morning I read some of the comments of 'Hollywood's biggest stars' on the Chris Brown plea deal. One quote by a celebrity at the L.A. premiere of "Transformers" literally shocked me. According to Aubrey O'Day, "Violence is never the answer, even if provoked. But with bigger issues like war, we just need to let go and forgive."

I couldn't disagree with Ms O'Day more.

Rihanna was brutally beaten by a man who said he loved her. She was punched, choked, bitten and threatened with death. She started losing consciousness in the midst of this violent assault. Curious that Ms. O'Day talks about provocation; since when is a verbal argument provocation /or justification for an assault? I will forgive Ms O'Day for her ignorance of the law but her suggestion that Rihanna is somehow responsible for her own brutalization is not just ignorant, it is callous. Even worse is her explicit statement that in the scheme of things, this isn't so bad and we should forgive Chris and move on.

One of the reasons we are one of the most violent societies in the western world is because of attitudes like this. Sure it's easy to minimize a violent assault if it doesn't happen to you. After all, why put yourself in the victim's shoes when you can empathize with the abuser? Let's sing a hosanna of redemption and forgiveness for the criminal who chose to victimize another human being.

Why are we so forgiving of violent criminals? Why do we try to find ways to blame the victim? Chris brown isn't really a criminal; he is a musician who said he was sorry. Hogwash!

Chris Brown is a batterer and one who learned early on in life (he said that he watched his mother being abused) that women don't deserve to be beaten. Its time we as a society learned to side with the victim, the person who never chose to be a victim in the first place. The criminal is the one who made the decision and choice to batter. Brown
knew what he did was wrong when he ran away from the scene, leaving Rihanna covered in blood.

Its time we took violent crime seriously and not so dispassionately. A human being has been damaged and injured in ways that we can never appreciate. It's so simple for others to move on. I, for one, cannot. To forgive is divine; but when it comes to violent criminals, I think we should leave the forgiving to God.
jeanine pirro's signature

The opinions expressed in Jeanine's Journal belong solely to Jeanine Pirro, and do not reflect the opinions or beliefs of the series' producers, AND Syndicated Productions, Inc., its parents and successors, employees, officers, agents, directors, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates and assigns. Producers are not responsible for the accuracy of any information provided by Ms. Pirro. It is recommended that you consult with an attorney in your area.

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Comments (43) | Post a comment now »

Dear Judge,
I wouldn't miss your show for all the tea in China. I love your compassion and your sense
of humor, but especially your anger when you
see right through some of the idiots appearing
on your show. Do they really think they can
fool you? I don't think so.
Angela

I don't know if you read these or not. I would like to have a email address for you if that is possible. I just happened upon your show and you remind me of the person who helped me 30 years ago. I am still friends with that person and her husband. Thank you very much for the work you do to help other women.

Dear Judge:

I've always enjoyed your analysis on Fox News but i just now caught your show for the first time. It's so nice to see a judge show where the judge is classy instead of constantly berating the people before him/her the whole time. Best of all, I really enjoyed your sense of humor.

Keep up the good work!

Keith

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Judge pirro, while i dont agree with domestic violence. i would liketo see what you think about charlie sheen. since you were so open about chris brown what do you say about charlie putting aknife to his wifes throat. is this a double standard.tiger lost endorsements and so did chris but yet charlie is still on his show .is this adouble standard

Your public service announcement is sexist. On your very page you discuss a case about a man being abused by a woman. Your psa speaks in terms of women getting away from men. This makes it harder for men to come forward, it empowers woman who would use the system to bring charges against the innocent and villifies men as a whole.

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You could have not said it better, I am a victim of abuse and my violator was recently released and has all ready attempted to contact me by mail. My dilemma is I no longer live in the state (NJ) the TRO was ordered so now I am getting the run around as to who is responsible for taking my order. Oh and the prosecutor office (NJ) told me that" a warrant is not going to stop him from coming at you", I took that as I do not need to file a complaint. The bottom line is that is one reason that people do not file or go threw with orders of protection because of lack of help within the justice system. Maybe that is why Rhinna did not come forward in the past. Something needs to be done. I an furious at the system right now.

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It is never ever ok to stay with a man who abuses you. Real love should never require you to forgive this kind of behavior. We need to continue to educate our daughters to be strong and to love themselves before they worry about being in love with others. Chris Brown essentially got a free pass because of his celebrity. Had he been the average young black man on the street he would be sitting in jail right now. America needs to stop treating celebrities like royalty who can do no wrong and deserve special treatment. This is a very bad example for our young people today.

And p.s. Judge Pirro, before it happened to me, I was one of those ones who thought, "Any woman who goes back to a man who has beaten her is just plain, stupid and silly and deserves what happens to her!" Trust me, I was not stupid (an IQ of 135 coupled with the street knowledge that comes from living in the ghetto) nor silly (as I said, a 45-year old, college graduate, former small business owner, who had lived independently since age 17). NO WOMAN DESERVES BEEN BEATEN NO MATTER WHAT!! So what if Rihana had a temper and was angry. Even in the midst of a blinding rage, she could not have inflicted the same type of physical injuries to Chris Brown that he inflicted on her!!
And anyone who buys the theory that he was only defending himself are saying it's alright for men to whip out a cannon to defend themselves from someone who was only wielding a pen knife - that is absolutely ludicrous.

I just finished watching part of Rihana's interview with Barbara Walters where she spoke about the DV against her from Chris Brown. It just broke my heart because she said something that so many of your watchers and posters forgot: "I loved this man UNCONDITIONALLY. He was my first real adult love." Most victims (including myself) are truly, truly in love with their abusers. Even after the first incident of abuse, we go back because we really don't want to let go of that love. We believe with our whole heart, this is 'my ONLY true love life has destined for me.' Our logic is this: "No one who loves me as much as I love him would have done this without me having made him act that way." and "I won't do that again to my beloved. I will do whatever he wants me to do because I love him so much and he loves me as much as I love him. I know he'll go back to being the sweet, wonderful person who I love as soon as I don't act the way I did when he hit me. And he is so sad and unhappy about the way he acted. I know, in my heart, he didn't mean it and I know it won't happen again. I am so unhappy without him here with me. Nobody means as much to me as he does." I know the script that went through Rihana's mind. As victim's of abuse, we all know what went through that young woman's mind in the nights following the incident. For those of you who don't know or who can't understand why we go back to our abusers, those above thoughts are why we do. And when the abuse happens again, we still try to keep on believing in the unconditional precept that says, 'No matter what you say, no matter what you do, no matter how you act, I will always love you and do everything in my power to make you as happy as you have made me.' And 'it is my fault (by hitting you in the face what a cell phone)that you are unhappy.' Sometimes we're lucky and can make it to a third or fourth beating without severe or deadly consequences. And then some of us are not that "lucky". We die in the hands of our beloved. By God's grace, I live through my third and finaly beating. According to the doctor's, one more blow from his fist to my face would have sent the broken shard of my cheek bone straight to my brain and killed me instantaneously. And you know what? I think if I had been able to leave the hospital, I would have still went back to 'my beloved'. Fortunately, the state he had relocated me to, had a no-nonsense law against domestic violence and immediately issued a warrant for his arrest whether I wanted to press charges or not! THANK YOU INDIANA for helping me come to my senses! I was released from the hospital to a domestic violence shelter for 30 days where I received counseling, and so much information about the true nature of my 'beloved' character faults. And I learned about my flawed logic. No one on this planet has the ability to control another adult's happiness or unhappiness. That is each individual's choice for themselves. Oh, I'm not saying it was easy to let go of the love I felt for my abuser. Many nights I was tempted to place a phone call to him after he was released on bail, just to hear the sound of a voice that had given me such pleasure regardless of the pain he had caused me. But I put off that impulse one night at a time. I went back to work, stayed extremely occupied during the day (to prove to everyone that I was O.K.)so that I could fall asleep more quickly and resist the impulse to call him 'one last time to found out why he did what he did to me when I had loved him so much.' Yes, Rihana that happens too. We all have this gnawing need to know "Why?" Until one night I realized, I didn't even care anymore. I had to let this love go or I would be in misery and emotional pain the rest of my life. I was given the gift of my life back by the Angel's who held 'my beloved's' arm back from delivering that fatal blow. And I COULD NOT CONTINUE to insult GOD by going against His wish for me to live. I made a decision, "O.K., it's wrap. I did everything humanly possible to preserve the love I felt for this man and it still didn't work, so it's a done deal. In time, God will send the correct man just for me." And I moved on. Sometimes, I still get embarressed by how naive I was back then, but life really is an 'all the time learning experience from birth to death'. But, Judge Jeanine Pirro, you know what the kicker part to this whole scenario was? I was not a 19-, 20-, 23-, 25- or even a 30- or 40-year old when I encountered domestic abuse. I was a 45 year old, strong, single, independent, black female who had witnessed numerous incidents of men beating their women (including my mother and step-father) and had solemnly sworn, "I WILL NOT ALLOW ANY MAN TO BEAT ON ME!" And had warned my abuser, "If you hit me, I'm going to hit back and leave you forever." I say this to demonstrate how charming, captivating, enthralling and cunning and devastating an abuser can be. I was so clueless, just as I'm sure Rihana was. Abusers, no matter what age, income bracket, education level or mental capacity deserve stiff sentences to jails or prisons. They need a greater level of counseling than a drug abuser. And they MOST CERTAINLY NEED MORE THAN JUST THE 'SLAP ON THE WRIST' that Chris Brown received. Regret is absolutely no gaurantee that you won't think it's alright to do it again and again. My 'beloved' regretted it each and every time he beat me. Judges, Judges, I beg you, don't let abusers go with just probation and a fine!! By the way, thanks to Indiana's 'get tough laws against domestic violence', my abuser received a 5 year prison sentence!!! Enough time for me to heal physically, mentally and emotionally.

I agree with what you are working for. I was from a marriage of verbal and emotional abuse. It took me alomost three years to leave. I married my high school sweetheart until I do the abuse starting and went down hill since. I am married now for 20 years and I have 4 girls who I strive for them to find a men that will treat them like a queen and not a piece of dirt. I watch the show everyday and I enjoy what you do for people.

I agree with you , to a degree. Chris Brown and Rihanna are in the public lime lights. This not a health thing unless you keep it out the media. I think he was Wrong in all ways, a man no matter what should leave or remove them selves from that situation. However were not assure of Rihanna part in this,I truely believe in the system but lets be fair. I love both as entertainers, but THE MEDIA is no help in this, blowing it up like this.

www.judgejp.com - da best. Keep it going!
Rufor

All these comment's all this talk still no info on shelters. No advice no help.What a senseless line of comunication.Judge Perro do you ever even get on here and see what's going on you have been no help whatsoever.Why do you even have this site.

Super post, Need to mark it on Digg

I still see all these comment's.but i posted one the other day when i had a chance to get on here.I am looking for help the shelter's are full here in town. There are others but someone please tell me how they work. I have no job no money no car nothing to give back once im there.I am so far into this i cant make a mistake when i run. The last time he caught me before i made it 5 feet from the door it was not good.

Not sure that this is true:), but thanks for a post.

I think it's sad to think that us women who have been grossly disfigured should forgive any man that puts his hands on a women. Maybe you don't know what it is like to not be able to see out of one eye anymore, or have no teeth or pallet....how about undergoing 55 surgeries todate with more to come yet? How about having my seventeen yr old son come home and finding his mother locked behind two doors to die? that she lost 5 pints of blood in her room that looked like a slaughter house..
They are all sorry...and thats only cause they were caught or reported....He never bothered to look at me or my family in court....Please don't tell people who they should forgive or shouldn't...I'm a firm believer in God and when his judgemnt day comes let God take care of him.....Do you think he was thinking of me when he did what he did? I don't dislike or like this man....I just wont ever let him have the sadisfaction of ever winning....I wont waste my time thinking what he did or what I have to do next. When you say forgive him you are sending a mixed message to the women who have been abused and telling them it is ok....It's not ....I refuse to be anyones victim ...not even his.
There are times when you can not turn the other cheek because a man has taken your rights away and broken both of you cheeks.


You know it's really sad when a educated women like the Judge says we should leave the forgiveness to God ...maybe she is to educated to read a bible where it says that if we don't forgive others God will not forgive us (Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. )
and I am sure the Judge has some sins that she needs forgiven for as all of us this is not to say Chris Brown wasn't wrong he was but the man said he was sorry and I believe him because of all the misery this is causing him maybe to the end of his career so why shouldn't he be forgiven and as for the Judge I love her and her show but for this one judge you missed the mark and no I ain't no saint I am minister and I have forgiven.

My name is Bette DelliSanti I have amazed some of the most renown Doctors in the Medical field @ Johns Hopkins, and to this day still marvel most Doctors I meet there. I was attached brutally beaten beyond recognition, my whole face broken, and stabbed 50 times in the face. Left blind in my left eye, no palette, lose of 5 pints of blood and locked behind two doors to die by a man I knew & trusted. With 54 surgeries to date, a trach, food tube & a picc line. I have been known to battle anything they do to me, medically or mentally I am probably the fittest person any Doctor will ever meet. No one person has lived with all the injuries I have sustained, I have been told. I guess you’d say I am a coinsure on surgery leaving it there, recovering, taking care of myself, reconditioning myself to be normal, again endless hours of practice eating drinking walking & talking with hoping no one will notice my disabilities at a glance. Not to mention being a victim & loosing everything I owned and worked for. I don’t let that get me down. Now after seeing the signs that I had ignored I think I am an expert on all of these subjects. How to get out and on with your life & never feel sorry for yourself. I would have to say your inner soul. Never losing sight of it & who you are. It can only happen if you let it. Not to mention I had 2 kids to finish raising. Which you are never done doing. This is where the beauty comes shinning through. I may be disfigured but my attitude says it all about me & I know people see that more then my face. To see my 2 happy and healthy young adults even though they watched their mother struggle but stand strong & continue what she had started. It has made us all a little stronger and I have only one regret (what my family & friends went through that night I was his victim). As disappointed as he was that I lived after running for 2 months from police and fleeing the state…there is never a need for violence.
The true fact is I am no ones Victim not even his……….If I can ever be of any help to you or your show please let me know…..
Thank You

personally, I believe that Brown should be horsewhipped for battering his girlfriend; God knows I'd never do mine that way! :(

I divorced my husband in 1968 after he beat the heck out of me for the 3rd time. On the 3rd occasion, he beat me, ripped my dress off me and then 'kidnapped' our 18 month old daughter.In those days, the victim had to press charges and the police were loathe even then to take a report. Fortunately, they believed me and took a report, transported me to the hospital. My BP was so high, they were afraid I would have a stroke.

The next day, after much investigation, we found my daughter and the husband (huddled up with a 16 yr old prostitute in a nearby motel). He was arrested and my daughter was returned to me. Because he already had a record (unrelated to abuse)he was quickly taken to jail. I offered to drop charges if he would agree to leave me alone. He refused, claiming if they let him out, he would kill me. They took him at his word and sent him to prison.

He was out of my life for almost 10 years. When I did re-encounter him, he was in a 3 year substance abuse program (heavily monitored, in house program) and was turning his life around. Once he completed that program, he went back to school, got a degree, and became a Substance Abuse Counselor.

To the best of my knowledge, he never abused a woman again. He helped many people overcome addictions and led a good, decent life for the last 20 years of his life.

The last communication I had from him before his unexpected death, he told me he still loved me dearly and thanked me for doing such a good job raising our daughter, singlehandedly. To this day, a part of me still loves him. He was a good decent man, once he was rid of his addictions and associated issues. I believe in my soul, that my sending him to prison for abuse was the best thing that ever happened to him. He truly turned his life around.

(His daughter is a strong independent woman,who learned early on in her dating experience, that any abuse from a male is unacceptable. She had to realize however, after several 'close encounters' that there is no turning back once the abuse begins. Fortunately, she listened to me and learned to say 'no' very quickly upon any evidence of abusive behavior.) She is married now, and raising my 12 year old granddaughter.

Thank you, for standing strong for victims of abuse. The message needs to be loud and clear: 'zero tolerance' for abuse. I only wish the courts would get a clearer picture and sentence accordingly.

Could you guys put a fan mail address on this site please?


I being a victim (survivor) of domesic violence for years seem to dissect every single one of these cases that I ever hear about.Not to mention being a mother of my attacker's daughter and son.
There is nothing we could do to destroy our children and all future generations faster than to start making this a small problem, something to be swept under the rug, or not a big deal. It is reaching a point in this country that this problem needs to start being cracked down on harder and harder. It is the only answer to this.
If we all need to stand up, quit trying to take the easy way out by being friends with our children, and be parents. Teach them, punish them, communicate with them, praise them, love them.
Teach our boys to be men. Men who are caring for other people, their property and their feelings. Men who provide for, and protect their families.
Teach our girls how to be strong, independant, caring, and loving.
Teach both that everyone is someone's daughter, sister, mother, brother, father, son. Everyone means something to someone regardless of if they are the rich guy in the nice shiny car, or the homeless guy asking for change in front of the gas station. When those situations arise, remind them of that..........ask how they would feel, make them relate everyone they see to their own family. But the key is respect. If we don't raise our children to respect home and family, how are they ever going to respect anyone else around them ???
This exploding problem will destroy this country if it does not start being cracked down on harshly.
It all starts at home.

I totally agree with you Judge Pirro. There is no excuse to act that way towards any human being. I love watching your show everyday.

Hi Judge Pirro,
I can't agree more with you on abuse. No one has the right to hit/abuse anyone. I was abuse myself for five years, till I said enough is enough. The person that is being abuse knows it's wrong, but don't know how to get out of a situation. Rihanna, states she loves him but that isnt enough. She can forgive him if she likes but stand up for yourself. By the way if she was the one who hit first, that is totally wrong but Mr. Brown should of been the better person and walked away. This is a topic that most people don't want to address, but it's the #1 cause of deaths.

Thanks Judge Pirro, for your insight. I love your show.

Beatrice

Gut!

Chris brown is nothing but a woman beater, I am fed up with people getting away with women beaters getting away with the crime they commited.

He should have gone to jail, where Bubba a hillybilly redneck would have made him his girlfriend and shown chris brown, how it feels to be beaten.

WHAT IS THE REAL STORY IT WAS SAID THAT RHANNA HIT CHRIS IN THE FACE WITH THE PHONE FOR A TEXT RECEIVE IF ITS TRUE WHAT CAN A MAN DO WHEN THE WOMAN HIT FIRST I KNOW ITS SAID TO WALK AWAY BUT HOW CAN A MAN DEFEND HIMSELF FROM A WOMAN ABUSE

Judge,
I love your comment on Chris Brown for too long we have turned things around when someone is famous and proceed to slant the truth and facts and place the blame on the victim
Thank you so much Judge for standing up and stating what's right.

Judge I made a little mistake about Chris Brown &
his probation it 180 days and 18 months and also
one year of Anger Management Classes. I guess
you have to kill a person to get jail time for DV.

Pat


Judge Jeanine Pirro:
Just read your Journal on Chirs Brown’s Plea Deal. I was so disappointed in what the JUDGE
Gave him only Five Years of Probation and Eighteen Months of Community Service and No Jail Times.
Money and a good attorney buy freedom. If it was a regular person they would go to prison for years.

I can’t understand why Rhannna didn’t presscharges on Chris Brown.I believe this was not
her first beating by him. I know I wouldn't stand from any man believe me.

I received your book “To Punish and Protect” as a gift from my husband.It was on my wish list. It was easy reading and great print and written by a super author.Believe me we need more people like you fighting for women of abusers

Amazon E-mail my husband last week and would like us to write a review of it. What do you think I should do. Let me Know.

Pat


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