Dharun Ravi released from jail after serving 20 days for using webcam to spy on Rutgers roommate

Dharun Ravi, 20, walks out of Middlesex County jail in North Brunswick, N.J., June 19, 2012. / AP Photo

Updated at 10:20 a.m. ET

(AP) NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. - A former Rutgers University student who was convicted of bias for using a webcam to see his roommate and another man kissing was released from jail Tuesday after serving 20 days of a 30-day sentence.

Dharun Ravi, 20, reported to the Middlesex County jail on May 31, though he could have remained free while his case is appealed. His lawyer, Steven Altman, picked him up around 8:30 a.m. Ravi, who was clean-shaven when he entered jail, had a beard when he left.

He did not stop to speak with the media before he rode off in Altman's car.

A judge sentenced him to 30 days in jail — far less than the 10-year prison sentence he could have given him. He still faces three years of probation, plus more than $11,000 in fines and assessments, 300 hours of community service, and counseling.

Like other county jail inmates, Ravi automatically was given five days off for good behavior and five for working.

Federal immigration authorities said Monday that Ravi will not be deported to his native India. He lived there until he was 5 years old and remains a citizen, though he is in the United States legally.

Foreign citizens convicted of crimes here can face deportation — usually after they complete their prison or jail terms. Last year, Ravi rejected a plea deal under which prosecutors would have sought to protect him from being deported.

Ravi's supporters argued for leniency in part to make it less likely that he would be deported. Experts say the proceedings are usually initiated against those who are incarcerated for a year or more.

Ravi was convicted in March of 15 criminal charges, including bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and tampering with a witness.

Jurors heard during a trial that lasted three weeks that he used a friend's computer in September 2010 to view a few seconds of live streaming video from his own dorm-room webcam and saw roommate Tyler Clementi and another man kissing.

He told others about it in person, in texts, instant messages and tweets — and alerted others again two days later that Clementi, 18, wanted the room to himself again. That time, the camera did not operate.

A night later, Clementi committed suicide. His story has been held up since then as a prime example of what can go wrong when young gays are bullied, though Ravi was not charged with the death.

Prosecutors are appealing the sentence, arguing that Ravi should have to serve more time for his actions. Ravi is appealing the conviction, saying he is not guilty.

Ravi's lawyer has said he'll start paying off the fines and begin working on the community service part of his sentence.

His time in jail was nearly as long as his time as a Rutgers student.

[dsny22]

I spoke to Dharun and his mom yesterday for the first time, he is a soft spoken, polite and gentle person, definitely not the monster the prosecutors and the media in this case has made him out to be.

I am so outraged by this case, words fail me at this time. The Ravi family is so polite. This immigrant family has been blindsided by these exaggerated charges trumped up by the NJ Prosecutors office because of pressure from the LGBT Pr campaigns to bring more rights for the gay community. In my heart I feel Dharun needs to be exonerated of these charges. I have no doubt the appeal will prove just that.

The NJ prosecutors need to stop their relentless persecution of this innocent and hard working family. The American Justice system that we hold in such high regard has failed this family. The Jury and the NJ Middlesex county prosecutors in this case has allowed their own bias to stand before their reasoning. I am saddened beyond belief.

[ReckonedTruth]

AGAIN, if you're not a natural BORN american and you come to this nation?..You are a INVITED GUEST..SO remember this..so RESPECT first of all-- ALL AMERICANS .. especially who are law abiding and tax- paying citizens of the nation.. you're ONLY a invited guest..and can be booted if your break this nation's laws..and a RIGHT TO PRIVACY UNDER THE LAW IS A RIGHT TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS NATION... SO RESPECT THE FREEDOMS THAT GOT YOU HERE AS AN INVITED GUEST FOR STARTERS!!! Otherwise WE THE PEOPLE (citizens) of this nation don't WANT YOU HERE.. we know you come here for the benefits and FREEDOMS you CAN'T get elsewhere outside of the western world..RESPECT OUR FREEDOMS UNDER THE LAW..even if you don't agree morally of "SAID RIGHTS".. as a INVITED GUEST residing in this nation.

..somehow this CHUMP-RAVI..thought he was BETTER than his gay room-mate who was an AMERICAN..born and raised.. RAVI is only a INVITED GUEST TO THIS NATION..

..I would have deported him after his release..and let this be a lesson to the parents who come to this nation as result of our freedoms...if you can't respect our freedoms and teach your kids to respect our freedoms..then you or your family DON'T belong in this nation PERIOD..(IMPO)..

.. what this guy did was needless and stupid..and I guess he thought- what he did --was going to get him somewhere on the campus social ladder.. little did Ravi know..or needless to say his parenst didn't teach him better-- what RIGHT TO PRIVACY IS.. maybe in INDIA there's no right to privacy laws..given the fact the entire family of 2nd, 3rd generations and so-forth live together forEVER..parents, kids, grand parents, uncle, aunts..

[aarooruvan]

Why is CBS allowing this piece of racist, xenophobic drivel to be posted here?

to the poster: Please take your comment to the Citizen americans who beat a gay guy to death and tied him to a fence some time ago, and to the born Citizen who followed and beat up an asian guy to death just because he had lost an argument to the asian guy - and the perpretator was not even convicted or jailed.

[4Integrity]

Aarooruvan, the man who was tied to a fence and tortured and killed for being gay was 22 yr. old Matthew Shepard. The incident took place in Wyoming and Matt was a college student, an excellent son, a terrific brother, a bright and sensitive human being, and gay. Because of prejudice and ignorance, some individuals took his life from the rest of us. Just as in the case of Tyler Clementi, we are all now damaged because of that negative action on the part of a few and suffer the loss as a people.

[Transatlantique]

How this spying incident coincided with Clementi's suicide has never been proven to be related, which is why he wasn't charged with Clementi's death. This might have been a mischievous prank gone wrong, but that is no reason to sentence someone for years, and I can't believe how media hyped this has become. Ravi has learnt his lesson, so why are the **** victims still calling for such extremes on someone who is not the monster the media has made him to be? This is why I don't call myself "gay," even though I may be attracted to very few men, and even fewer women. I refuse to be a part of a politically correct group that will knee jerk to the extreme on any infraction against gays. Gay people kill themselves for many reasons, and this may have been a contributing factor, but it wasn't the sole factor if at all.

[vegasstevo]

Certainly a tragic story, but perhaps fruit from this idea that we all have to embrace, approve and indulge in the gay lifestyle. Did he know he was getting a gay roommate? Perhaps the video was a shock to him and he had no idea how to handle it. It is one thing to be gender tolerant but when shoved in your face as in sharing a room with someone who knows how a young person would handle it.

[rightontarget]

I don't think it has anything with "embracing" or "approving" a gay lifestyle. It has to do with INVASION OF PRIVACY. Personally, I wouldn't want to have a STRAIGHT roommate who would "indulge" in any kind of sexual activity right in front of me or who would even consider watching what I did in private. What the heck is wrong with people? A person's sex life is their own business unless you are into having an orgy and even then it's CONSENTIAL and with their knowledge. SPYING on somebody, no matter when, whether having sex, taking a shower or whatever, is simply INVASION OF PRIVACY. And then to post such a thing for others to see and think somehow that's alright?? That's just lame!!! This college frat boy needs to go back to India.

[Transatlantique]

Gay isn't a lifestyle. Many people end up believing themselves gay because society tells them they are as children based on the higher standard to which we hold males. Lower the bar for what is male and more people will be comfortable with who they are and allow their true selves to emerge uninfluenced by conventions and poisonous minds, whatever that orientation may eventually be.

[matt6052]

Left untried is the role of university housing services. They placed an openly gay freshman student in a private, two-student room with a religious and racial minority student. The two-student configuration to dormitory housing is intentionally designed to exclude gay and mixed sex student housing. It is a violation of a student's privacy right to place him or her in a private room with a student who can become romantically or sexually attracted to him or her. Rutgers owes everyone involved a few million each.

[DiatribesAndOvations]

I'm afraid that all the bullies out there are hearing "Look! You can bully some *** until he kills himself and only have to serve 20 days in jail!"

Ravi's punishment did not fit his crime.

And Tyler Clementi is still dead. http://wp.me/p1se8R-lh

[4Integrity]

I have taught students for over 30 years who are the age of Dharun. I think I have a comprehensive perspective of how young men think at his age. It seems to me that Dharun because of the immaturity of most young men at that age, had no real concept of the harm he was causing Tyler Clementi.
What Dharun did was absolutely wrong and I hope others will learn from Dharun's mistake. I also hope that Dharun will learn from this mistake and go on to live a productive and meaningful life. We cannot undo the past, but we can learn from it. This young man is obviously gifted and has a great deal to offer society once he gets past his immaturity and grows into adulthood. I wish him well.

[rightontarget]

Well then, maybe this will serve as an example to change "how young men think at his age". Not ALL young men his age would ever think of doing something like this. My mother, God rest her soul, taught for 33 years and yet she NEVER would have made excuses for this type of behavoir. (I didn't raise my sons to think like that at all and they never did.) It's time to get over the "boys will be boys" mentality and make people accountable for their own actions. Do I think he got off easy for what he did? Yes I do. "Immaturity" is no excuse. I don't doubt that this young man is intelligent and may have a great deal to offer but I regret that he is not being given the opportunity to offer it to his native country, India, instead of being allowed to stay in the US. He is no better than any other foreign citizen who commits a crime. (No excuse for being immature.) I think he should be deported.

[sentienssapiensque]

Gosh! It takes a teacher to get to the truth. Dharun didn't mean any harm. He probably thought Tyler would laugh and maybe this gesture of commeradery would break the ice. It would probably be the best way to get him aquainted with Molly and the boys. I didn't think of that. Thanks. NOT!

[pbaird2]

Ravi has received much more compassion than he ever gave another. Had he been convicted in India his conditions would have been much harsher. Hopefully, this has been an "awakening" for this young man and he will mature. Then again, some people never get over their ignorance.

[forumcomments]

Is this contradictory to the new imagination policy?

[Martha12345]

Once he's done his time and paid the fine, deport him.

[otherview1]

Bullpoop. He did did a stupid thing, no more stupid than college kids do everyday. It was a matter which should have been resolved with pre-trial diversion or the similar rather than becoming the clear witch hunt it was. He's a bright young man who can contribute to America, IF he's not unreasonably hounded