Ravi Sentenced to 30 Days in Jail, Probation In Clementi Spy Case [Poll]

Dharun Ravi, the 20-year-old native of India convicted of spying on his Rutgers roommate's sexual encounters, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years of probation by a Middlesex County judge on Monday.

Ravi, of Plainsboro, was , a shy musician who days after a series of spying incidents in 2010 at the state university.

Judge Glenn Berman on Monday morning could have sentenced Ravi to 10 years in prison but opted for a lighter punishment.

Conceding attorneys on both sides will likely be disappointed in the sentencing issued, Berman said Ravi's actions were "cold and calculating" and "colossally insensitive."

Prosecutors said they plan on appealing the sentence.

Berman said his interpretation of the law was that the bias intimidation charges were designed for violent crimes and not what transpired at the Rutgers dorm room in fall of 2010.

"I'm not condoning or defending the defendant's actions, but I believe that's what the legislation had in mind when they adopted this statute," he said, adding he felt the punishment should be in "balance" with the charges.

The prosecution argued the charges –  – carried the presumption of incarceration.

Berman – who ruled that Ravi would serve 300 hours of community service, complete a cyberbullying and alternate lifestyles program, and also pay about $10,000 in probationary fees – took umbrage with Ravi having never apologized for his actions.

"M.B. did nothing wrong whatsoever," Berman said, referring to the second victim, Clementi's lover. "It was no one's business. Tyler Clementi did nothing wrong but to mistakenly trust his roommate to respect his privacy."

Ravi was  in March on 23 of 35 charges contained in 15 counts, including bias intimidation, witness tampering, and invasion of privacy. 

Clementi committed suicide on Sept. 22, 2010, by jumping off the George Washington Bridge, and his death gained national attention as a talking point for bullying cases involving gay and lesbian youth.

Ravi is not charged in connection with Clementi's death though his attorneys argued the jury was likely overcome by the cloud of his suicide.

The family members on both sides, through streams of tears, pleaded for what they believed was an appropriate punishment.

M.B. said the emotional pain only intensified with the drawn-out, public trial and constant media attention.

"I was not opposed to a plea bargain," the victim said through his attorney. Ravi's defense team initially turned down a plea offer that would have kept him out of jail.

"I did not have malice," M.B. continued. "I did not want him to have to go to prison. I just wanted him to acknowledge that he had done wrong and take responsibility for his conduct."

"He did it without a thought or any consideration of how it would affect Tyler and his friend," read Joseph Clementi, Tyler's father. "He did it in a cold and calculating manner and tried to cover it up."

Tyler Clementi's mother, Jane, struggled to hold back the tears in arguing for a sentence that carried a measure of "deterrence".

Jane Clementi chastised Ravi for what she said was a judgment onto her son from the very beginning, because he was gay.

"We need to make sure everyone knows these actions are wrong," she said to Berman. "They are mean-spirited, they are evil and most importantly, they are against the law."

The family of Ravi, who along with supporters , said Monday their son was never raised with hate and has been maligned in the media.

"Dharun’s dreams are shattered and he has been living in hell for the past 20 months," she said. "As a mother, I feel Dharun has really suffered enough."

Berman will write a letter to federal authorities asking they not .

"Down the road you can expunge this judgement," Berman said. "You cannot expunge the conduct or the pain you caused."

Berman also terminated the pre-trial intervention program of , who struck a plea deal to testify against her former friend Ravi. Ravi can return home on Monday. He will report to jail on May 31.

What do you think of the sentence? Too light? Fair? Take our poll below.