MLB, MLBPA Agree to Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Abuse Policy

Major League Baseball announced Friday a joint agreement with the MLB Players Association regarding a new policy for domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

You can read the full guidelines below:

In July 2014, SB Nation's Mike Bates wrote that the league needed to do something more to punish those who were alleged to have committed domestic abuse. Bates highlighted numerous instances in which players were arrested for domestic violence but received little to no reprimand from MLB.

The new plan ushers in the formation of a joint policy board, which will determine the proper treatment for players found guilty of any of the three crimes listed above. The board will be composed of three domestic violence, sexual assault and/or child abuse experts, in addition to two representatives each from the league and MLBPA.

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark is happy to see MLB and the MLBPA strengthening domestic violence protocols:

One particularly notable aspect is the amount of power wielded by the commissioner. He can place a player on administrative leave with pay for up to seven days while the league investigates any allegations. In addition, no minimum or maximum limit exists for a prospective suspension.

Nathaniel Grow, a legal analyst for FanGraphs, was surprised the MLBPA agreed to those somewhat broad terms:

What should help to prevent the commissioner from overstepping his bounds is the presence of the arbitration panel, which will hear any potential appeals. The panel will have three members, an independent arbitrator and one representative from the involved parties.