N.J. Senate leader seeks review of prosecutor’s handling of Rice assault case

The leader of New Jersey’s Senate went on a nationwide sports talk show to call for the acting state Attorney General John Hoffman to review how the Ray Rice assault case was handled.

The Atlantic County prosecutor allowed the former Rutgers and Baltimore Ravens star running back to enter a pre-trial intervention program and avoid a jail sentence for punching his wife in the face in an Atlantic City elevator.

The NFL suspended Rice indefinitely after a surveillance video of the assault was released.

Speaking on ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike” program, Senate President Steve Sweeney said New Jersey needs to change its laws if such violent conduct does not result in punishment.

“The concern is this is his wife. What about when there’s the next wife, and the next wife gets beat if the person doesn’t get the treatment and things don’t get better?” said Sweeney, D-Gloucester.

Assemblyman Joe Cryan, D-Monmouth, plans to introduce legislation that would prevent anyone charged with aggravated assault in a domestic violence case from participating in the pre-trial intervention program.