Courts 'fail child sex-abuse victims' - New Zealand

The increasing demand for corroborative evidence to convict has been termed the CSI effect, linked to the popularity of crime television shows that have convinced the public there will be a raft of forensic evidence in any crime. When it is not there, they tend to acquit.... Courts 'fail child sex-abuse victims' - New Zealand, world, sport, business & entertainment news on Stuff.co.nz

Cars help domestic violence victims

Donors and recipients cried during Grand Rapids' first Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Charity Cars Campaign.... Cars help domestic violence victims - mlive.com

Donating the time to bring a safe, reliable vehicle to a domestic violence victim is something Curt and Kathy Ritchey wanted to do to give back to the community....The Morning Sun

Kalamazoo Co. deputy suspended for domestic violence, won't be charged- mlive.com

Anderson said Williams' wife refused to cooperate with the sheriff's department's internal investigation of the incident. Authorities decided.... Kalamazoo Co. deputy suspended for domestic violence, won't be charged- mlive.com

Attorney helps victims of domestic violence

K Royal continues to keep the promise she made seven years ago, after fleeing an abusive ex-husband with her children in tow while dressed in pajamas.... Attorney helps victims of domestic violence

Talk to a Lawyer in NC for FREE!!

Need your help- Friday April 4Please spread the word about this community resource. Friday, April 4 is designated "4 ALL Day" and anyone in North Carolinacan call and talk with a North Carolina lawyer for FREE. More than 700lawyer volunteers will be available to speak with anyone who wants tocall. The same toll free telephone number will be used statewide:1-877-404-4149.Volunteer lawyers will be available from 7:00 in the morning to 7:00 inthe evening on Friday, April 4. Callers will not be asked for names orany contact information. A caller can just ask any questions about thelegal system--child support, speeding tickets, employees rights,business incorporations, real estate issues, foreclosure, insurance,wills, powers of attorney, you name it. He or she will talk directly toa North Carolina lawyer.

UNH research:Sex abuse prosecution takes too long; harms victims - Boston.com

Finally someone is looking at this!! UNH research:Sex abuse prosecution takes too long; harms victims - Boston.com

BATTERED WOMAN'S SYNDROME

The Unreported Epidemic:
     Domestic Violence

BATTERED WOMAN'S SYNDROME

"Battered Woman Syndrome" describes a pattern of psychological and behavioral symptoms found in women living
in battering relationships."

Although many people believe that the battered woman's syndrome
is the result of physical violence, there are many dimensions of violence that can result in emotional, financial, spiritual , sexual and physical abuse to the victim.

 

There are four general characteristics of Battered Woman's
Syndrome:

• The woman believes that the violence was her fault.
  
• The woman has an inability to place the responsibility for the violence elsewhere.
  
• The woman fears for her life and/or her children's lives.
  
• The woman has an irrational belief that the abuser is omnipresent and omniscient.

THE MYTHS OF "BATTERED WOMAN'S SYNDROME"

Battered Women Are Crazy

The Batterer Is Not A Loving Partner

The Batterers Are Provoked

Battered Women Must "Like It" Or They'd Leave

Batterers Are Violent In All  Of Their Relationships

Middle And Upper-Class Women Do Not Suffer Abuse As Much As Poorer Women

Alcoholism And Drug Addiction Are Major Contributors To Battering

More....

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Father, son found dead in state park - Oregon

Two days after a worried mother flagged down an Oregon State Police officer and reported her son had not returned from a court-ordered visit with his father, the boy was found dead at his father's hands in a state park.... Father, son found dead in state park - OregonLive.com

Two months ago, she had obtained a restraining order citing concerns about Stephens’ conduct. But three days after the order was issued, a judge modified it and allowed weekend visitation by Stephens, according to police.... Police: Father Killed Self, Son At State Park - News Story - KPTV Portland

During a Jan. 22 hearing, Davis told Columbia County Judge Steve Reed that Stephens had threatened to kill her..................Despite that, Reed increased the amount of visitation granted to Stephens, allowing alternate weekend visitations. When Davis said she was concerned he might take off with the child, the judge told her the FBI would track him down, the recording revealed.... Oregon father and son, 10, dead in apparent murder-suicide KOMO-TV - Seattle, Washington Local & Regional

I really hope this wakes some people up and keeps this judge up at night, knowing that he made the decision that allowed this child to be killed.

Family Court Crisis; Our Children at Risk

Family Court Crisis; Our Children at Risk
2008 Family Law Documentary

www.CenterForJudicialExcellence.org
As part of our ongoing effort to educate and engage the community, the Center for Judicial Excellence recently produced a 42-minute documentary addressing the serious systemic breakdown of our family courts.

Family Court Crisis: Our Children At Risk features personal testimony from individuals who have experienced the pitfalls of our family law system and expert evaluations of what has gone wrong. The video was screened on the East Coast as part of the fifth annual Battered Mothers Custody Conference on January 12, 2008. www.BatteredMothersCustodyConference.org
Advocacy

We are taking our efforts to Sacramento! CJE is introducing the idea of a Judicial Performance Evaluation (JPE) program for California to our State legislators. JPE programs already exist in 19 other states and are generally popular among judges and voters alike where they have been established.

Colorado and Alaska are two great examples of states with successful JPE programs. To learn more about JPEs visit the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (University of Denver) online or click here to download a one-page pdf about CJE's advocacy work.

Healing the effects of abuse « Zadaknows’s Weblog

First, a little about me: molestation, rape, domestic violence and abuse are all a part of my past history. I suppose you would call me a true survivor. I was raised in a time when... Healing the effects of abuse « Zadaknows’s Weblog

Domestic Violence Survivor Asks International Tribunal To Hold U.S. Responsible For Human Rights Violations

NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union and Columbia Law School's Human Rights Clinic filed a merits brief with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) detailing their charges that the U.S. broke international law in violating the human rights of a domestic violence survivor. The brief was filed on behalf of Jessica Lenahan (formerly Gonzales), whose three daughters were kidnapped by her estranged husband and killed, and whose domestic violence protection claims were rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.... American Civil Liberties Union : Domestic Violence Survivor Asks International Tribunal To Hold U.S. Responsible For Human Rights Violations

From Outrage to Courage, Women Taking Action for Health and Justice

From conception to death, females are more likely to be terminated during sex selective abortions, left to die as unwanted newborns, sold as child sex workers, contract AIDS during adolescence, be victims domestic violence, die as casualties of war and be forgotten in old age. In poor households, food and medical care are given to male children first. Girls are less likely to be educated: worldwide, 25 million boys and 90 million girls don't go to school.... Media Mouse: From Outrage to Courage, Women Taking Action for Health and Justice - Book Reviews - Grand Rapids, Michigan News & Independent Media

Even the judge's heart breaks in Domestic Violence Court | www.azstarnet.com ®

"There are some women who will say, 'I will take a beating every couple of months for the sake of a roof over my head and food on the table,' " Peyton said. "People's needs don't stop at a couple of stitches."... Even the judge's heart breaks in Domestic Violence Court www.azstarnet.com ®

Disfellowshipping and consequences « End of the Loving Time

Katherine van Wormer, a University of Northern Iowa professor of social work, has long studied domestic violence homicides. The Longo and Bryant cases are “totally different” from the classic pattern, she said.... Disfellowshipping and consequences « End of the Loving Time

Alaska: Representative Mike Kelly: One of the “Beasts Among Us” « subarctic mama

Let’s stop “shacking up” with Representative Kelly. He’s been abusing the voters in his district for years with his indifference to their opinions. It’s time for us to kick him to the curb. If we stop voting for him, we’ll finally be rid of one of the “beasts among us.”... Representative Mike Kelly: One of the “Beasts Among Us” « subarctic mama

Angela Shelton TV!!

Check it out...New video's of Angela ..... http://www.angelashelton.tv/

Police file new charges in Middleborough child abuse case - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe

This article has more information than the one posted earlier.... Police file new charges in Middleborough child abuse case - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe

DSS ignored 'red flag' of abuse - The Boston Globe

The state Department of Social Services allowed a 7-year-old boy to stay in a home where his mother's boyfriend, a former convict who had served time for crack cocaine possession and assaulting a police officer, beat the boy with a belt, burned his genitals with lit cigarettes, and urinated on his head, police said yesterday.... DSS ignored 'red flag' of abuse - The Boston Globe

WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Judiciary Committee passes cockfighting bill, tables domestic violence bill

(Columbia) April 20, 2005 - The State House took up two pieces of legislation this week aimed at protecting two different groups. Up for debate was cracking down on gamecock fighting and protecting victims of domestic violence.A bill protecting cocks passed through the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. John Graham Altman (R-Dist. 119-Charleston) was in favor of the gamecock bill, "I was all for that. Cockfighting reminds me of the Roman circus, coliseum."A bill advocates say would protect victims against batterers was tabled, killing it for the year. Rep. Altman is on the committee that looked at the domestic violence bill, "I think this bill is probably drafted out of an abundance of ignorance."Wednesday, Vicki Bourus, an advocate for victims of domestic violence, was inundated with phone calls and e-mail. The people were reacting to Graham Altman's comments against the bill, "There's just an outcry going on."Both cockfighting and domestic violence are currently misdemeanor crimes, punishable by 30 days in jail. If the bill passes, cockfighting will become a felony, punishable by five years in jail. Domestic violence crimes will remain a misdemeanor.Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Dist. 66-Orangeburg) says of the two bills, "What we have said by the actions of the Judiciary Committee is we aren't going to create a felony if you beat your wife, partner. But now, if you've got some cockfighting going on, whoa! Wait a minute."Rep. Altman responds to the comparison, "People who compare the two are not very smart and if you don't understand the difference, Ms. Gormley, between trying to ban the savage practice of watching chickens trying to kill each other and protecting people rights in CDV statutes, I'll never be able to explain it to you in a 100 years ma'am."News 10 reporter Kara Gormley asked Altman, "That's fine if you feel you will never be able to explain it to me, but my question to you is: does that show that we are valuing a gamecock's life over a woman's life?"Altman again, "You're really not very bright and I realize you are not accustomed to this, but I'm accustomed to reporters having a better sense of depth of things and you're asking this question to me would indicate you can't understand the answer. To ask the question is to demonstrate an enormous amount of ignorance. I'm not trying to be rude or hostile, I'm telling you."Gormley, "It's rude when you tell someone they are not very bright."Altman, "You're not very bright and you'll just have to live with that."In the follow-up interview, Rep. Altman commented, "I wanted to offend that snippy reporter who come in here on a mission. She already had the story and she came in with some dumb questions and I don't mind telling people when they ask dumb questions."Rep. Cobb-Hunter says, "The reality is the law says domestic violence regardless, first, second or third offense is a misdemeanor, and what they passed yesterday says cockfighting is a felony."Rep. Altman spoke about domestic violence, "There ought not to be a second offense. The woman ought to not be around the man. I mean you women want it one way and not another. Women want to punish the men, and I do not understand why women continue to go back around men who abuse them. And I've asked women that and they all tell me the same answer, John Graham you don't understand. And I say you're right, I don't understand."Gormley, "So it's their fault for going back?"Altman, "Now there you go, trying to twist that too. And I don't mind you trying. It's not the woman's fault, it's not blaming the victim, but tell me what self respecting person is going back around someone who beats them?"Bourus says there a number of reasons, "She may have children with that person, and she may fear that it will harm them to live without their dad, or she is majorly financially dependent on his check to feed her children."Bourus adds another reason women sometimes stay, "After an incident a violent incident, quite often the batterer will say I'm so sorry, it will never happen again."Rep. Altman has worked with abused women, and in a second interview with a Lowcountry station he said he tells them not to go back, and when he does, "They listen to me, they don't don't go back."When asked whether he was sure, he said, "At least not while I'm representing her."During the same interview, he responded to the reporter's question, "You seem to be drawn to this fixation that women have to go back. I don't think that speaks highly of women. I think women can think and be responsible for their own actions. Woman are not some toys out there, drawn back to the magnet of the man. A lot of these men are bums and cretins and they have to be punished but I think women are independent enough to not go back to the men who beat them. And we have a lot of men who are abused by women, but they are too ashamed to admit it."Rep. Cobb-Hunter explained her bill, "The question that needs to be asked is this. Should a woman because she decides to go back for whatever the reason to return to an abusive relationship, does that mean it's okay to beat her, to kill her, for her to lose her life, for her children to witness the violence they witness?"Rep. Altman, "I know you are after a story. And it's kind of a nice story, that we've tabled a CDV bill. Because then you can talk about the insensitive man, the insensitive legislator, but it's not the case. But I don't know why a woman, there would ever be a second offense."Cobb-Hunter admits there was a lot of information in the bill, which she co-sponsored, but she is already working on breaking it down, "One of the things I've learned, having been here as long as I have, is that if at first you don't succeed, try, try again."Rep. Altman spoke out against a number of items in the bill, including dealing with restraining orders and training judges, "Clearly this bill is drawn by people who don't know what is going on out there."Rep. Altman doesn't agree with the training, "What are you going to tell a family court judge that a family court judge doesn't already know about domestic violence?"Vicki Bourus helped draft the bill, and what she calls a key item in it, the training of family court judges and magistrates, "There is very little if any training in domestic violence for them on a mandatory basis."Bourus says, "You may know that many magistrates are not trained as attorneys so they wouldn't even have that piece of it that attorneys might get."Speaker David Wilkins issued the following statement Wednesday regarding this story, "Criminal Domestic Violence (CDV) and animal cruelty are both critical issues that this body takes very seriously. The House is working diligently to improve the language on the CDV bill and pass meaningful legislation. That is our goal. In its present form, the bill has a number of legal and technical problems that would have made it very difficult to pass. We intend to fix those problems and get a bill to the floor of the House."While Bourus doesn't agree with what Graham Altman has to say, she is happy that people are starting to talk about the issue of domestic violence, "Is Graham Altman alone in his way of thinking? Oh, no, no, no. I think he's a very vocal rep, resistant to really seeing domestic violence as the serious crime that it is, but we know that sentiment is runs throughout the House and Senate as well. But we also know there are some very valiant allies."Wednesday, Rep. Altman told the Lowcountry television station that he didn't mean to offend victims of domestic violence, but had no apology for the interview.Cobb-Hunter plans to reintroduce the bill in January. If you want to voice your opinion on these bills, you can call the House Judiciary Committee at (803) 734-3120. Rep. Altman's office phone number is (803) 734-2947 and you can contact Rep. Cobb-Hunter's office at (803) 734-2809 or you can email Cobb-Hunter at gch@scstatehouse.netReported by Kara Gormley

WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Judiciary Committee passes cockfighting bill, tables domestic violence bill

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Group Targets High Domestic Violence Rate « Family Corruption In The Big Easy

Group Targets High Domestic Violence RatePosted by familydynamics on February 1, 2008The Community Alliance Against Interpersonal Violence has been meeting monthly in a room of the Noisette Building to try to combat alarming domestic abuse statistics in South Carolina. The state of South Carolina is ranked seventh in the United States for incidents of domestic violence. And from 1991 to 2004, Charleston County had the greatest number of domestic violence victims in the state.The group’s newest venture has been to disseminate petitions across the Charleston area in support of a U.S. Senate bill that would establish a domestic violence volunteer attorney network to represent domestic violence victims. Petitions have been posted at the College of Charleston, The Citadel, Trident Tech, City of Charleston Police Department, My Sister’s House and to area businesses in Mount Pleasant and West Ashley.Once signatures are collected, the petitions will be presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Copies will also be given to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; state Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston; State Attorney General Henry McMasters; and Vicki Bourus, executive director of the S.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.The Senate bill introduced by Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., would allow the attorney general to award grants to the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence to work with other organizations to recruit lawyers who would help victims pro bono. If the bill is approved, the U.S. Department of Justice would establish a pilot network in five states. Alliance committee members hope South Carolina’s domestic violence statistics and Graham’s position on the Senate Judiciary Committee will help make the case that South Carolina should be one of the five.Anyone interested in the petition may contact Crises Assistance Response and Education by calling 953-3390 and asking for a CARE team member. The Community Alliance Against Interpersonal Violence will hold its next meeting from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 4 in the Noisette Building, 1360 Truxtun Ave., North Charleston.

Group Targets High Domestic Violence Rate « Family Corruption In The Big Easy

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School ransacked by relatives of abuse victim

Now THAT's what I'm talkin' bout... The Hindu : Front Page : School ransacked by relatives of abuse victim

Panic Rooms For Domestic Violence Victims (from News Shopper)

The Safer Homes Project, which is costing £57,000 for a six-month pilot, is designed to help those who have left an abusive partner feel safer in their homes. Councillor Crada Onuegbu, cabinet member for community safety, said: "We are making support for our victims a priority and are always looking for new and better ways to prevent abuse from continuing.... Panic Rooms For Domestic Violence Victims (from News Shopper)

BlogTalkRadio - Tammy D. Thompson - Abuse on Women...Overcoming and starting over

UPCOMING SHOW: 3/24/2008 8:00 PM; for more information check out the link... BlogTalkRadio - Tammy D. Thompson - Abuse on Women...Overcoming and starting over

Bill would criminalize false abuse charges

On Thursday, state senators passed House Bill 3065, after the measure met overwhelming approval in the House of Delegates last week. The bill charges those who makes a false abuse report with a $1,000 fine, or forces the plaintiff to pay for the defendant’s legal fees. The misdemeanor crime would also carry a punishment of up to 60 hours of community service....Bill would criminalize false abuse charges Journal News

Sitbonzo » Domestic violence. March 2008.

All too often we hear only the bad stories with bad endings. Here is a good one, that should help those that need the courage to talk to someone! Click on the picture, it is a short slide show, turn your sound on...
Sitbonzo » Domestic violence. March 2008.

Violence Against Women on the Internet

Violence Against Women on the Internet

Safety on the Internet

__________________________________________________________________
A New England woman planned to escape her violent husband. She secretly found a new home for herself and her 2 daughters and she sent an email to a friend asking for help moving. She thought she had deleted the email, though it sat in her email program's "deleted mail folder". Her husband found the email, learned that she was planning to flee for safety, and he killed her. __________________________________________________________________

In the previous modules, we looked at ways the Internet perpetuates violence against women, as well as ways that the Internet can be used to fight violence against women. In this module, we consider the question of safety planning for victims using the Internet. This question has the potential to either harm or help victims depending on how well informed the advocates advising the victim are. The purpose of this Module is to educate the participants on these critical, and non-obvious issues surrounding safety planning for victims.
__________________________________________________________________

Increased access is making technology an important resource for victims of domestic violence. However, if not understood and used strategically, technology may increase their danger. Most victims of abuse do not know how to safely navigate technology resources to access help without increasing their risk of further abuse.

There has been explosive growth in domestic violence organizations creating web presences. To get one snapshot of the increase of domestic violence organizations on the web, Jerry Finn from the University of New Hampshire looked at the number of websites indexed as "domestic violence" by Hotbot.com. One of Finn's articles, Domestic Violence Organizations Online: Risks, Ethical Dilemmas, and Liability Issues, is posted HERE.

Survivors of abuse are accessing the Internet to request help and resources. In one brief study looking at emails sent between October 1999 and September 2000, victims of abuse sent 153 unsolicited email requests to the Violence Against Women Online Resources (Kranz, 2001).
Many local, state, and national domestic violence websites have email links with limited or no warnings.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

As more records become available by a simple Internet search, victims of abuse are at greater risk. If is becoming very difficult to relocate to a new community and hide from a batterer. Land records are available online in many communities with maps to the house. Online "white pages" allow you to search for phone numbers and often provide driving directions to the house. A "Stalker's Home Page" shows how much information is available on the Internet: HERE.

Beth Givens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse outlines some privacy concerns about open records in her article written for a presentation at the 2002 Computers, Freedom, and Privacy Conference. Public Records on the Internet: The Privacy Dilemma


INTERNET WARNINGS

Many domestic violence websites are developing their own Interent Warnings or linking to the American Bar Association's site. The existing warnings neglect to fully discuss "SpyWare" and potentially give the impression that "merely" deleting history and cache will prevent an abuser from discovering a victim's online activities. However, Australia's City of Fremantle has one of the best sites I have seen: Domestic Violence: Hiding Your Tracks On-line including step-by-step instructions and a glossary of terms.

Cynthia Fraser at the National Electronic Network on Violence Against Women (VAWnet) has compiled a list of some of the Internet warnings currently available: HERE.

• American Bar Association: How an Abuser can Discover Your Internet Activities

CINDY SOUTHWORTH'S BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

I have been working to end Violence Against Women for the past 10 years at local, state, and national organizations -- and focusing on Domestic Violence Technology Projects for the past 4 years. I am advocate by passion, social worker by training, and techie by birth.

I am working with the
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Network to End Domestic Violence Fund
National Safe and Strategic Technology Project.

This online Safety Module is an opportunity for activists from around the globe to share ideas and stories about Internet safety -- and help shape the scope of our emerging national technology project. I feel privileged to have this discussion with you. Please add your voice to the discussion board and/or contact me at: Safety@EscapeAbuse.org

Forum Spotlights Domestic Violence

We commend Theta Xi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, a sorority on UL's campus, for sponsoring a forum on one of this area's major problems, domestic violence. The sorority brought together a counselor, police officer, a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and a representative from Stuller Place. The need for the forum was accented by two tragedies.

Keosha Spikes, a member of the sorority, was killed Jan. 25 by her boyfriend, who later killed himself.

Tonya Major, a UL nursing student, was killed Feb. 10 by the father of her 1-year-old son.

The president of the Theta Xi chapter, Sheraya Bernard, said the forum was designed to pay tribute to the two victims and "to educate the public on how prevalent domestic violence is in this community."

According to Billi Lacombe, executive director of Faith House, the forum is the start of an ongoing dialogue on the campus about domestic violence.

It is a critical problem throughout the state. In 2000, Louisiana ranked as the fifth worst state in the nation in the frequency of men murdering women. The 2007 report by the Violence Policy Center shows that things have worsened. Louisiana now ranks third worst in the nation for men killing women.

The effects of deadly domestic violence reach far beyond the victim. Of immense concern is the effect of violence in the home on children. The Violence Policy Center says such children are four times more likely to become violent juvenile offenders and to commit or suffer violence when they reach adulthood.

If human concern is not sufficient motivation, then the impact on all of us as citizens and taxpayers should be considered. Caring for battered women is a significant burden on taxpayers. According to a 2006 study by the Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina, women who are battered have more than twice the health-care needs and costs as those who are never battered. They are disproportionately represented among the homeless and suicide victims. All of this has an impact on the state's public-health system and social services system.

We can help through generous support of Faith House, which offers shelter for abused women; Lafayette's Family Violence Intervention Program, which is working toward a system of education and abuser accountability that will interrupt the cycle of domestic violence; Stuller Place; and other organizations in Acadiana that are engaged in the battle.

People who know of cases of spousal abuse can learn from these agencies the most effective ways to support the victim. Then they can, and should, get involved.

We can also demand that all law-enforcement officers are trained to deal with spousal abuse.

There are things we can do that may help ease the suffering of innocent women and children and reduce the potential for senseless destruction of human life. It is imperative that we try.

Kaufman County mom sees seminar as way to help others protect kids from sexual abuse

Kaufman County: After seminar, mom hopes to help others protect kids

09:35 AM CDT on Saturday, March 15, 2000

By RICHARD ABSHIRE / The Dallas Morning News

Predators aren't easy to spot.

MIKE STONE/Special Contributor

Anne Ferguson (center) of the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center
comments as Sara Cantu (left) and Barbara Landregan work through a
role-playing exercise during a recent Stewards of Children seminar on
child abuse detection and prevention.

But Brandy Walker knows the signs – and she's made it her personal
mission to spread the word on how to identify those who victimize
children.

"I think if we educate people, it's the first
line of defense," Ms. Walker said recently after finishing a Stewards
of Children train-the-trainer seminar given by the Dallas Children's
Advocacy Center.

Ms. Walker, a single mother with a
10-year-old son, a 14-year-old daughter, and a full-time job with a
consulting firm, makes the time to speak to groups throughout Kaufman
County about protecting children from sexual abuse.

"The profile of a predator is that there's no profile," Ms. Walker said. "It could be anybody."

Most abusers are friends or family members. People who prey on children
– mostly men – usually rely on charm and guile to get close to their
targets.

In a process called "grooming," they befriend or
romance a single parent and feign a wholesome interest in the child.
They volunteer to help supervise or entertain kids in the family,
informally or by acting as coaches or counselors in youth-oriented
groups.

Child sex abuse sometimes progresses from viewing
pornography to inappropriate touching to sex. It's all criminal, and
too often goes unreported.

Darkness to Light, a South
Carolina-based organization that provides training materials on
preventing and reacting to child sexual abuse, cites a study by the
Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault at the University of
Texas at Austin that found that 9 percent of female Texans were
assaulted before the age of 14.

Another study cited by
the group found that embarrassment is the most common reason children
do not report abuse and that a close relationship to the offender makes
prompt reporting less likely.

Child sexual abuse victims
may show physical signs – bruises or bleeding, for example. Or their
behavior may change: They may withdraw or act out. Children who have
stopped bed-wetting may regress.

The kind of information Ms. Walker teaches is not meant to frighten children or parents.

"There's a way to teach this where it's not intimidating," she said.
"It's empowering. It's telling people it's OK to say 'no.' "

Armed with knowledge, children who are abused are more likely to
recognize that it is wrong and report it to parents, teachers or other
adults.

Ms. Walker credited the Kaufman County Sheriff's
Department for its support of her efforts and for the job it does
keeping track of registered sex offenders.

Sgt. Bryan
Francis, a spokesman for the department, said that local cases have
followed national patterns. Victims tend to be easily accessible to
offenders, who often live in the home or have close associations with
the victim's family.

Already in 2008, Kaufman County has logged a conviction for murder and rape of a juvenile.

Two child sexual abuse cases are pending in the county, according to
Sgt. Francis. One involves alleged possession of child pornography by a
teacher. The other involves child porn and assault allegations against
a registered sex offender.

In 2007, one defendant pleaded
guilty to indecency and assault on his stepdaughter. Another, found
guilty of sexually abusing his granddaughters, was sentenced to four
99-year prison terms.

In 2006, a man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a neighbor and was sentenced to 30 years.

At the Stewards of Children training session, Anne Ferguson of the
Dallas Children's Advocacy Center led discussions based on material
provided by Darkness to Light.

Ms. Ferguson said the
session was designed to prepare attendees to make presentations to
groups – churches, sports teams and leagues, schools, parents, service
organizations, homeowners associations, Scouts and even licensing
boards – "anybody that works with kids."

She went around the room asking why students had come to the class.

"Because I saw a need," said Jerry Waynant of the Child Abuse Prevention Coalition.

"It felt like a calling," said Ana Lilia Aguirre, who works at a Dallas church.

"I felt like this can totally, dramatically improve my ministry at the
orphanage," said Sara Salguero, a house parent at a Guatemalan
orphanage. "I see the results of [abuse] every day."

The
material includes philosophical principles and practical tools, but Ms.
Ferguson told the class that what mattered most was commitment.

"The most important ingredient of your success as a facilitator is to
know what you are passionate about," she said. "Always go back to why
you do it – for the safety of children."

WHAT EXPERTS SAY

To help prevent child sexual abuse:

• Learn the facts and understand the risks.

• Minimize opportunity.

• Talk about it with children and adults.

• Stay alert.

• Make a plan – where to go, whom to tell.

• Act on suspicions.

• Get involved.

Possible consequences of child sexual abuse:

• Drug and alcohol dependence

• Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder

• Eating and sleep disorders

•vDelinquency

• Teen pregnancy

DallasNews.Com

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SC DSS employee charged with failure to report abuse

And, we still wonder why this nations children are not being protected...hhhmmm....MyrtleBeachOnline.com 03/16/2008 DSS employee charged with failure to report abuse

49-Pound, 17-Year-Old Worst Case Of Abuse, Says Witness - Orlando News Story - WKMG Orlando

All I can say about this is WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE????... 49-Pound, 17-Year-Old Worst Case Of Abuse, Says Witness - Orlando News Story - WKMG Orlando

Carey 'sleazy' deal outrage-Australia

CAMPAIGNERS against domestic violence are outraged by disgraced footy great Wayne Carey's "sleazy" deal with a women's magazine.

"If they're paying for a story based on someone beating up somebody else it's sleazy and it goes back to the fact that most people think that it's not criminal," she said.

"It undermines all these people who work in family violence who are trying to reassure women that it's not normal and it is criminal.".... Carey 'sleazy' deal outrage Herald Sun

For those who do not know who this is.... Wayne Carey

Although it is not really that important WHO he is, it is the fact that a women's magazine would pay for an interview with him and his girlfriend, that he has abused, to discuss their drug usage and the abuse......just sick!

North Carolina Department of Justice--Address Confidentiality Program

Many survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking need a way to protect themselves even after they have taken the initial steps to escape a dangerous situation.... North Carolina Department of Justice

The LAW didn't save her

She tried a court order. She had him arrested. She took all the legal steps she could right up to the day her ex-boyfriend shot her dead in a parking lot.... The law didn't save her -- chicagotribune.com

LET'S RAISE OUR VOICES FOR SURVIVORS!

This year, the U.S. Congress has the historic opportunity to counteract the results of the FY 2008 cuts and the President’s proposals by fully funding VAWA and FVPSA, raising the VOCA Fund cap to $717 million, and protecting the VOCA Fund in FY 2009.... National Network to End Domestic Violence - Take Action

Budget cuts for Domestic Violence Programs in Maine

"We could be going back to the days of hotlines on kitchen tables," Galgay-Reckitt said. "We're talking about three decades of progress in the balance."... Domestic violence programs may face budget cutbacks

In Gov. John Baldacci’s current budget proposal state funding for domestic violence projects is eliminated.... Budget cuts endanger domestic violence programs

Shepherd, executive director of the Family Violence Project in Augusta, said all nine of the state's domestic-violence programs might close -- not because... What anti-violence budget cuts will look like

The budget makers in Augusta and Washington must have lost their minds....Cuts to domestic violence programs make bad budget

Custody Cases Put Under Supreme Legal Watch

Due process violations in family court are usually appealed to state courts. Now, advocates for battered women are combing cases for federal rights violations that might be used to boost them all the way to the Supreme Court....Custody Cases Put Under Supreme Legal Watch

IDB approves US$24.5 million loan for citizen security program in Trinidad and Tobago

IDB approves US$24.5 million loan for citizen security program in Trinidad and Tobago

Washington -- March 13, 2008 -- The Inter-American Development Bank announced today the approval of a US$24.5 million loan to Trinidad and Tobago for a citizen security program to reduce crime and violence.

The operation will focus in 22 high crime pilot communities through the financing of preventive interventions addressing the most proximal and modifiable risk factors. The program will include community action, support to the police services and the institutional strengthening of the Ministry of National Security.

“The program will contribute to the decrease in the rate of homicides, robberies and wounding in partner communities and will increase the perception of safety in the partner communities,”  said IDB team leader Jorge Lamas. “It will also reduce injuries related to firearms, child maltreatment, domestic violence and youth violence; and increase the collective efficacy to prevent violence”.

The loan is for a 20-year term, with a 6 year grace period at an adjustable interest rate. Local counterpart financing will total US$10.5 million. The Ministry of National Security will carry out the program.

Source: iadb.org

IDB approves US$24.5 million loan for citizen security program in Trinidad and Tobago

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N.C. - Suspect in Toddler's Death Arrested in S.C. - alt.true-crime | Google Groups

N.C. - Suspect in Toddler's Death Arrested in S.C.

Fayetteville, N.C. - South Carolina authorities have arrested a Fayetteville man in the beating death of a 1-year-old child over the weekend, authorities said Wednesday. Marcus Dontell Miller, 32, of 2918 Dwelle Drive, Fayetteville, was arrested Tuesday in Greenville by the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Apprehension Team. Authorities charged him  with first-degree murder and felony child abuse. He was being held in Greenville awaiting extradition to Cumberland County. The unidentified toddler was found dead Saturday morning, authorities said. An autopsy report from the State Medical Examiner's Office determined the child died of blows to the head. Miller was a recent boyfriend of the child's mother, and she left the child in Miller's care at his home last Friday while she went to work, authorities said. Investigators said Miller disappeared before the mother awoke Saturday morning, and they said he took her keys, car, money and a cell phone. http://wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/2563897/

N.C. - Suspect in Toddler's Death Arrested in S.C. - alt.true-crime | Google Groups

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Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels Signs "Cool Off" Bill

Gov. Daniels signed the bill, introduced by Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte, which requires people arrested for domestic violence to spend at least eight hours in jail to cool off.

Read the story.

Way to go!

Indiana Man Accused of Forcing Daughter to Kill Cat

39-Year-Old Charged With Animal Cruelty, Child Neglect

MUNCIE, INDIANA
UPDATED: 7:03 am EDT March 14, 2008

Read the story.

A father forcing his children while on visitation to kill the family cat, because he wanted them to learn how to kill! The children's grandparents have custody of the children, a 7 year old daughter and 11 year old son....where's mom?

Can Domestic Violence Victims Be Protected | Live 5 News | Local News

Authorities admit in many cases restraining orders are not enough protection for victims.

"Restraining order are rarely going to work on someone who is bent on breaking the law," said 9th Circuit Solicitor Scarlet Wilson.

Wilson says electronic monitoring devices are the best option for suspects awaiting trial for domestic violence......
Can Domestic Violence Victims Be Protected Live 5 News Local News

The Game

The Game by Disturbed is about someone being beaten. For more information on Domestic Violence go to www.uaadv.org

Video by: doves4luv on YouTube

Political Activist Appears In Court On Domestic Violence Complaint - News Story - WRC | Washington

Hunter told News4 after the original story aired that he is innocent and predicted he would be exonerated in court........
Political Activist Appears In Court On Domestic Violence Complaint - News Story - WRC Washington

Oh, I'm sure that no matter what he did his answer would have been the same, because he KNEW he would be exonerated! What a crock.....

State police looking for escaped domestic violence suspect

Michigan State Police are seeking a 22-year-old man who escaped troopers following an early morning arrest Friday for domestic violence.....
State police looking for escaped domestic violence suspect

Who is Angela Shelton?

Click to Play

What is Angela Shelton up to?

'Extraordinarily Brutal' Crime Draws 28-Year Term - washingtonpost.com

The issue here isn't whether these are women or men, the issue I want to point out it how the system failed repeatedly, until something tragic happened....

Excerpts from the article:

Brown said she had no idea that Johnson had a history of domestic violence cases involving former girlfriends and boyfriends dating to 1999. In 2004, a D.C. Superior Court judge ordered Johnson to attend a domestic violence program. But she failed to show up for several classes and was kicked out, court records show.

On Aug. 13, Brown sought a protective order against Johnson, which a judge granted. Prosecutors also charged Johnson with misdemeanor assault.
Johnson appeared for a hearing on the assault charge Sept. 8 and was ordered to return to D.C. Superior Court two days later. But she didn't show up, records show, and a warrant for her arrest was issued.

Prosecutors said that Johnson surprised Brown at 12:15 a.m. Sept. 25 near the Safeway store in the 1700 block of Columbia Road NW. As Brown bent over to pull a newspaper out of a vending machine, Johnson walked up, raised her right arm and fired a gun at Brown's neck from a foot away, prosecutors said.

'Extraordinarily Brutal' Crime Draws 28-Year Term - washingtonpost.com

Mayor Seeks Same-Sex Domestic Violence Protections - March 5, 2008 - The New York Sun

A proposal backed by Mayor Bloomberg to expand protections for unmarried victims of domestic violence would open the family court system to individuals in same-sex couples seeking protection from an abuser....

Mayor Seeks Same-Sex Domestic Violence Protections - March 5, 2008 - The New York Sun

Witherspoon Lends Star Power To Fight Domestic Violence - Forbes.com

Actress Reese Witherspoon was at the United Nations Tuesday, lending her celebrity to the new partnership between Avon and the United Nations Development Fund for Women [UNIFEM], in their efforts to end domestic violence globally....

Witherspoon Lends Star Power To Fight Domestic Violence - Forbes.com

National Alliance for Family Court Justice

National Alliance for
Family Court Justice

The
National Alliance For Family Court Justice, founded in 1993 by Elisabeth
Richards of Annandale,Virginia, is an international group of volunteers
dedicated to addressing system failure in the courts and social
services resulting in retaliation against non-offending parents who complain
of family abuse, especially mothers of children who disclose sexual abuse.

NAFCJ activists are dedicated to creating synergy
and power through networking and lobbying for change for those caught up in the
vast web of custody corruption involving such court chicanery as political pork
barrel cronyism, guardian ad litem kickbacks, fraudulent psychological testing
by GAL appointed evaluators and local Bar Associations who run MCLE seminars
with judges (Mandatory Continuing Legal Education) concealing contributions
"coffee and flower" slush funds through County Court Judicial Associations.

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National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) - Break the silence, make the call.

The National Domestic Violence
Break the Silence, Make the Call
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
Get Help! Get Educated!
We believe that every caller deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We believe that every family deserves to live in a world free from violence. We believe that safe homes and safe families are the foundation of a safe society.Until the violence stops, the hotline will continue to answer…One Call at a Time. Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hotline advocates are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 140 languages through interpreter services. If you or someone you know is frightened about something in your relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) - Break the silence, make the call.

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NOW - Put Volunteer Attorneys to Work for Domestic Violence Survivors

Tell Congress you agree that survivors of domestic abuse should have access to the same legal resources so readily available to more fortunate and affluent members of society....

Our automated system will provide the appropriate sample message, which you can edit if you wish.
The bill needs more legislative support! Tell your senator that ending violence against women is a priority....

NOW - Put Volunteer Attorneys to Work for Domestic Violence Survivors

County domestic violence plans may go statewide

Work done by a coalition of 13 Morgan County agencies may affect the way domestic violence is treated statewide and even nationwide.....

Read the rest of the article her: Fort Morgan Times

Increased calls to DV Hotline in Spain

Publicity following recent domestic violence deaths has resulted in more calls to the 016 helpline in Spain

To read about the four deaths that lead up to this....

Four women killed in domestic violence murders in Spain

NYSCADV's 2008 Legislative Awareness Day

For those near Albany NY.....

Join us on March 11, 2008 to tell New York Lawmakers it's time to"Cross the Line - Join the 49"....

Events.org - NYSCADV's 2008 Legislative Awareness Day

Congress.org - Send a Video Advocacy Message to Congress!

Share your thoughts with your officials about the topic that concerns you this week with a Video Advocacy Message. .....

Congress.org - Send a Video Advocacy Message to Congress!

Domestic Violence Services Looking For Volunteers

Anyone in this area? You may be interested in this upcoming training.

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- Domestic Violence Services of Benton and Franklin Counties is looking for volunteers. DVS will start their volunteer training on Saturday March 8th......


KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA Domestic Violence Services Looking For Volunteers

Crime Stoppers: Domestic Violence Suspect

PORTLAND - The Portland Police Bureau Domestic Violence Reduction Unit, in cooperation with Crime Stoppers, is asking for your help in finding a suspect with a long history of arrest for domestic violence related crimes....


KOIN News 6 for Local News Weather and Sports, Portland, OR; KOIN.com - Crime Stoppers: Domestic Violence Suspect