a movement against domestic violence

LAST POST: www.4survivors.blogspot.com MOVING to mariadibari.com

2011-07-06T23:33:00.004-04:00

I am moving my site from Blogger to my own personal website.

Please visit my new site at: http://mariadibari.com/

All of my information and resources can be found on my new site. The blogging will continue there!

Protecting animals from DV: Dutchess County SPCA and Grace Smith House partner to provide Safe Pet Sheltering for victims of domestic violence

2011-07-01T06:41:00.002-04:00

HYDE PARK, NY (March 28, 2011) – The Dutchess County SPCA and Grace Smith House are collaborating to help victims of domestic violence keep their pets safe from cruelty, particularly after the victim leaves the home. This collaboration will help to identify resources and offer services so battered women have more options for safety for themselves and their pets.
The Dutchess County SPCA is launching a program called Safe Pet Sheltering which offers up to 90 days of shelter for animals in a safe, undisclosed and confidential location while their owner is staying in the Grace Smith House emergency shelter. The Dutchess County SPCA will cover the costs of care for the animal and provide a free veterinary examination. Eligibility for the program will be assessed via telephone intake by calling Grace Smith House at 845.471.3033. This program closes a gap in local services for families.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 71% of pet owners entering shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets. More than half (52%) of women in shelters had to leave their pets behind when they entered the shelter. Fear that their attacker will neglect, give away, abuse or kill pets leads some victims to stay in abusive relationships.

Leaving behind a pet can add to an already traumatic experience and denies victims and their children the comfort and companionship of a beloved pet. Securing kennel or boarding space can be expensive and time-consuming. In some instances, victims must leave home too quickly to arrange safe care for their pets. Offering free pet sheltering in a safe, confidential location can eliminate a powerful barrier to leaving a batterer. The new program will protect pets from cruelty and help keep people and their pets together through a difficult period.

The idea for DCSPCA’s new Safe Pet Sheltering Program was sparked following a 2009 conference, “The Connection: The link between animal cruelty and human violence”, which was sponsored by the DCSPCA, Grace Smith House and the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The training brought together local professionals working to end domestic violence, child abuse and animal cruelty. The conference explored the links between animal cruelty and human violence. In conversations following the day-long session, it became clear that battered women had too few resources to protect their pets, particularly when seeking emergency shelter.

Following the 2010 murder of Linda Riccardulli by her husband Anthony Riccardulli, the Dutchess County Legislative Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence submitted a report outlining several recommendations for the county, including exploring options for temporary sheltering of companion animals. The report reads, “The Committee recommends that the County’s Domestic Violence Steering Committee engage in dialog with the Dutchess County SPCA to explore options for Emergency Response, temporary sheltering/foster care for pets and for mutual assistance to assure that pets are not pawns nor is concern for their wellbeing an impediment to a victim’s ability to escape violence.”

Using valuable guidance from similar programs already functioning in Albany and Rensselaer Counties, staff from the Dutchess County SPCA worked closely with staff from Grace Smith House as well as Leah Feldman, the Project Coordinator for the Universal Response to Domestic Violence, and Tom Sisson from the Dutchess County Office of Probation and Community Corrections to develop the new program and identify other tools for victims with pets. Training was provided to staff from both organizations. The DCSPCA received a grant to help support the program.

“Our mission is to prevent cruelty to animals. Animals living in homes with domestic violence are at risk of suffering from abuse and neglect, particularly if the victim flees and the animal is in the care of someone who is abusive,” stated Joyce Garrity. She added, “Our goal in working together is to save lives – human and animal. The recent fatalities underscore just how important it is for organizations to come together, recognize barriers that prevent battered women from being safe, and eliminate them.”
The Dutchess County SPCA, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, is the lead agency for animal rescue and adoption in Dutchess County. The DCSPCA is a no-kill shelter with a 140-year history of concern, caring and providing shelter for unwanted, abused, abandoned and neglected animals. Central to the mission of the DCSPCA is the securing of caring, responsible, permanent homes for the adoptable animals in its care.

Grace Smith House is Dutchess County’s largest provider of residential services for victims of domestic violence. The mission is to enable woman and their children to live free from domestic violence. Grace Smith House offers emergency and transitional housing along with advocacy, counseling and education.

Dutchess County's Grace Smith House enjoys retreat at Omega Institute for much needed relaxation?

2011-06-28T06:25:00.007-04:00

Yes, that is true. The Grace Smith House works so hard they needed to go to a Hudson Valley Retreat to get pampered and "brainstorm". They have been working so hard, it seems they don't even have time to follow up with our local Dutchess County victim/mom who has been waiting for their call.

Grantee organizations can utilize the time to develop strategic plans, cultivate relationships among their board members and with other nonprofits on campus, re-engage with their mission statement, deepen staff cooperation, and enjoy some much needed peace and relaxation.

Re-engage with this mission statement: When a victim reaches out for help to the same organization that is funded by the county and given many donations by local businesses, the organization should respond. A simple response and basic assistance would work!

I would personally enjoy giving the Grace Smith House, as well as the other Victim Service Providers in the area and in NY a "strategic planning lesson".

Here is the lesson: Do your job and assist victims in need. If your business is to shelter, then let's try sheltering more than 19 women at a time. Do one service right. Follow-up with victims that depend on your funds for their survival.

Recently, I found the Grace Smith House Audit for 2009-2010. This audit is proof of why there needs to be an Oversight Committee to watch over these organizations. Double paychecks being cashed, bonuses, and more for the staff, feel free to read on your own.

At Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc., we have proof and documentation that the services are not working for victims. Victims reach out and there is little to no follow-up with VSPs, no resources available, and victims are finding it challenging to get basic services at all.

The Family Court Crisis in Dutchess County; Dutchess County "Funded" Victim Service Providers claim "no funds" for victim assistance

2011-06-27T12:18:00.002-04:00

A local Dutchess County domestic violence and sexual assault victim is facing what many mothers/victims are facing in the county and around the US: The Family Court Crisis.

"Rape upon Rape, upon Rape" as this victim describes her experience with DSS and the Family Court in Dutchess County.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is responsible for taking a child away from a low-income, local mother/victim and placing the child with an alleged rapist/abuser. After being raped and abused into a premature delivery six years ago, DSS intervened and unjustly removed the baby from the mother. However, she was able to fight the first set of allegations and the case was closed and sealed and the child was returned. For four years, this local mother was kept in services by DSS and consistently complied by meeting all of her appointments. She received basic therapy. DSS failed to assign her to a caseworker and did not direct her to domestic violence and rape treatments and programs.

As a mother and victim, she wept as she spoke of the abuse and re-victimization in the courtroom and by DSS. She described the instances her abuser broke into her home and how she tried reaching out for help.

Her alleged rapist, the child's father, was awarded visitation rights by Dutchess County Family Court, which he completely disregarded the first year and failed to pay child support.

In 2010, after a violent sexual assault involving strangulation, this victim lost her housing trying to deal with the traumatic events without guidance and resources. She became clinically depressed, resulting in delinquent rent payments. Based on previous experiences, the victim believed that filing another report would endanger her and her child and she was in fear of retaliation. This victim reached out once again to DSS and the agency placed her and the child in a hotel with drug addicts and pedophiles. DSS intervened again due to a complaint at the hotel and suggested other housing options and assistance.

Tired, stressed, but hopeful, this mother did as she was suggested. While resting her eyes at the DSS office from the exhaustion of living in a chaotic drug and pedophile-filled atmosphere DSS placed her in, she was accused of "nodding off" by a CPS worker at DSS-, which is not a crime. Instead of helping her, DSS interviewed her, sent her for drug tests, which were clean, and in less than 24 hrs her son was taken again. The child was temporarily placed with a family member, and finally the alleged abuser was awarded temporary custody by Family Court.

As a National Crime Victims Expert and Advocate, it is clear that DSS chose placement into known, unsafe living situations for this mother and child; this is not uncommon. Many states have embraced “prevention laws and criteria” that are actually more harmful to families than helpful, often separating families without offering them assistance and services.

Domestic violence and rape is a regular occurrence across the nation. The Center for Disease and Control- Domestic Violence (CDC) claims 1 in 6 women will experience intimate partner sexual assault in their lifetime and 1 in 4 will experience domestic violence. Studies from www.cdc.gov find that the effects of rapes and violence lead to physical injury, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, possible gastrointestinal disorders, and complications leading to disabilities, hospitalizations, homelessness, drug abuse, and even death. Untreated, one can see how this limits generations, often continuing cycles of abuse.

Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey show that 64% of rapes and violent sexual assault are from intimate partners.

Intimate partner assaults are proven to go up in pregnancy and continue to escalate. A person who is prone to committing violent assaults on an intimate partner rarely limits themselves to only hurting their partner. Sexual assault in the home goes directly hand in hand with domestic violence. No one is safe.

We are giving a free pass to abusers when the system drops the ball and allows the re-victimization of victims, as in this case. When abusers are given custody, the child is further at risk for violent assaults, often leading to death.

There are solutions to this epidemic. Family Court Judges are in need of training; often Judges defer too much to the opinion and recommendations of CPS and DSS workers. Victims are in need of resource and public policy reform. Victims need pro bono lawyers that specialize in domestic violence, disability rights, and child custody. Victims in immediate danger need shelter.

Serious advocacy is needed to assist victims with permanent housing vouchers to ensure victim stability and government paperwork assistance. Extensive DV/SA support though peer-to-peer groups and therapy to help process the debilitating effects is needed for all victims.

Life skill classes are needed to teach victims about domestic violence, healthy relationships, boundaries, money management, parenting skills, and empowerment. My own work with women in these areas has been rewarding and reports from victims state that the benefits are great.

Comprehensive child educational support, therapy, and support are services needed for children surviving abuse and previous domestic violence incidents.

Unfortunately many victims are overly referred by Victim Services Providers and aren’t given the basic assistance and tools they need to survive. Each time a victim is turned away or ignored, they learn another layer of helplessness and acceptance of violence as the only way of life. For many, obtaining these services can be as rare as winning the lottery.

Our Dutchess County mom has reached out to all of the available service providers in the area and has been overly referred and not assisted. She is still fighting to get her child back and her life in order.

Thankfully, Tri County Crisis Center, Inc. has been willing to advocate, calling in National Experts for consults, obtaining free legal advice, and attempting to get this and other victims who have been wrongfully turned away into the resources they deserve and need.

With immediate and proper guidance and access to resources and tools, victims have serious potential and can live happier, healthier lives, raising well-balanced children.

If you or some one you know is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-722-SAFE

You can contact at Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc. at info@tricountycrisiscenter.org or visit www.tricountycrisiscenter.org

Lisa Pous

National Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocate and Consultant
Survivor Speaker and Representative of Survivor Voices

NCADV charging for their stats?: The Surprising Hidden Cost of Economic Abuse Advocacy

2011-06-27T06:41:00.000-04:00

The Surprising Hidden Cost of Economic Abuse Advocacy

The Economic Abuse Recovery Center is dedicated to helping victims of economic abuse as they progress towards self-sufficiency. With that being said, I thought it was safe to assume that other organizations and advocacy groups with a a similar objective would advocate with us. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? Organizations working together, sharing information about our common goal to break the cycle of economic abuse. If you do a quick Google search about economic abuse one of the things you will notice is that the agencies that do talk about it mention over and over how it is unseen and rarely discussed - both of these facts are true. We can all agree that raising awareness about economic abuse is essential. Now here’s what I find confusing: I have been doing extensive research on the topic of economic abuse and of course I turned to who I believed were the ‘go-to’ organizations in regards to economic abuse research and information and what I found left me dumbfounded. While reviewing economic abuse facts on the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s website, I thought that it might be a great idea to add a few of those facts on our website and of course cite the NCADV’s website as the source of this information. As a national organization that is well-funded I can appreciate the information and research findings that they have to offer. Upon further investigation, I discovered a page on their website that contained rules to reproduce or even repost information from their website. You must not only submit a request on a lengthy form that contains 18 different questions, but it clearly states that if you are not a current member (and membership is not free) then they reserve the right to impose a fee. Needless to say I found this discouraging and did not complete the form and of course, I did not use information from their website.
During the course of my research I also contacted a Foundation that widely publicizes the fact that they are advocating for victims of economic abuse. In this case, I did contact them requesting permission to post a few facts from their research on our website and that I would cite the source of information. Well they never even bothered to get back to me. They discuss on their website the importance of ‘spreading the word’ and how they educate and train advocates. Well I am an advocate, as a matter of fact we are a network of advocates and obviously they aren’t even interested in responding to us - again, very disappointing.
So what kind of ‘outreach’ are we doing here? If you are a group or organization, the NCADV will share their information with you, but that’s as far as it goes unless you pay them a fee. Isn’t that kind of like saying “I’ll tell you about the devastating effects of substance abuse but you can’t warn others until you pay me”?
These recent discoveries truly make me appreciate the groups that the Economic Abuse Recovery Center does partner with - The Tri-County Crisis Center and Survivors in Action. I am proud to say that the information flows freely and I consider them to be valuable allies in the fight against Economic Abuse. For more information about the Economic Abuse Recovery Center or to download a FREE copy of our “Guide Towards Self-Sufficiency” please visit our website at www.economicabuserecoverycenter.org

Jodie SanJuan
Executive Director
Economic Abuse Recovery Center

Dutchess County Victim Service Providers ignore and overly refer local domestic violence victim/mother

2011-06-22T12:06:00.002-04:00

Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc. has been assisting local Dutchess County mom for nearly 2 months. This woman has been through the system and spit out, left with an on going custody battle for her child who resides with a rapist/abuser and no services in the area to help her. Local mom reached out to every agency in the local area and state: Battered Women's Services, The Citizens Advisory Committee for DV, LSHV, NYS Coalition, the OPDV, the Bar Association, Dutchess Outreach, and the United Way, as well as the PD, Grace Smith House, the local legislature and Senator Saland and Assemblyman Joel Miller.

Not one agnency has offered any real solutions and all have re-referred her to the same places she has already been to for help. Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc. welcomes tough cases, high risk cases, the cases that all other agencies pass along like hot potatoes. Victims need help, lawyers, resources, counseling, and transportation. Local mom should be able to receive some services, but after reaching out, only a handful have responded and the response was pitiful.

Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc. has been able to get local mom free legal advice, which is something she should have been given through local victim service providers in the area. Through volunteer efforts and "time", TCCC is picking this case apart and making a bit of headway. When other VSPs pass the victim off and ignore, we pick victims up and try to get resources to work.

After many, many homicides in Dutchess County, local mom should be acknowledged and assisted in a timely manner. There is no excuse for the endless referrals and the lack of assistance we have been seeing from local agencies that take all the funding, leaving so many behind.

Today, this victim was even unable to get transportation to a legal office-so we took her. This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately by the county and state. We MUST be able to at least get victims basic resources like a cab ride, counseling, and a lawyer. NO EXCUSES. TCCC is operating on NO FUNDS and has been able to do more than large, funded VSPs.

Dutchess County-GET IT TOGETHER and show us where the money for victims is going.

Maria DiBari
Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc.

Dutchess County Domestic Homicide #7, Maxine Nunez murdered by her boyfriend and dumped and burned in woods like trash

2011-06-21T21:42:00.005-04:00

Midhudsonnews.com
Baird State Park murder victim ID’ed; boyfriend commits suicide

POUGHKEEPSIE – State Police late Tuesday said the woman whose badly burned body was found in James Baird State Park in Lagrange on June 12 was that of a Bronx woman, Maxine Nunez, 22. She was reported missing to the New York City Police Department by her family last weekend.

Now, police said her suspected killer is also dead.

State Police and the Dutchess County District Attorney’s office pieced together the days and moments leading up to her death and believe she was last seen with her live in boyfriend, Andres Ceballos, 26.

His vehicle, a description of which was provided by a witness, was spotted on Monday, June 20 on Route 58 heading toward Emporia, VA.

Police gave chase and a man, tentatively identified as Ceballos, fled on foot and then fatally shot himself.

Police agencies are working with the families of the victim and suspect to positively identify both.

If you need a safety plan, please reach out to us at info@tricountycrisiscenter.org or visit http://www.tricountycrisiscenter.org/

Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc. is on Facebook, Linked in, and Twitter, join us.

LAWMAKERS TO HOLD BRIEFING ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HEAR CONCERNS FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND DISCUSS THE NEED FOR POLICY CHANGE

2011-06-21T12:03:00.001-04:00

Media Advisory - Hawaii House of Representatives
June 20, 2011 - For Immediate Release
Contact: Office of Rep. John Mizuno, Telephone: 808-586-6050, Cell: 808-741-0639

Several domestic violence survivors will share their story of how they lost custody of their child(ren) to the abuser, even after a finding of domestic violence by the abuser

WHAT:
The House Human Services Chairman, Rep. John Mizuno, will hold a legislative briefing to address domestic violence in Hawaii. Rep. Mizuno will identify certain concerns involving specific failures of the current "system" in adequately addressing domestic violence. Rep. Mizuno will also be hearing from domestic violence victims, survivor advocates, and agencies working directly with domestic violence victims, issuing protective orders and temporary restraining orders.

The briefing will:

• Identify and address concerns regarding domestic violence in Hawaii
• Explain the reason for the various bills which seek to provide greater protection for domestic violence victims
• Explain the difficulties in passing measures which seek to improve the state's system in handling domestic violence cases

WHEN:
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 - 11:35 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time (Televised in Hawaii on Ch. 53, for Neighbor Island residents and nationwide go to the internet www.olelo.org – click NATV Ch. 53 for online live stream coverage)

WHERE:
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 329

WHY:
Rep. Mizuno was contacted by several survivors of domestic violence who will be sharing their stories with lawmakers during the briefing. According to Rep. Mizuno, "It is extremely concerning to hear that time after time the abusers who beat our victims, many times end up gaining custody of the children. Based on our victims' testimonies and information provided by organizations and advocates for domestic violence victims, I believe our current system has many major flaws in properly addressing domestic violence issues. Therefore, I am looking for solid solutions to better address domestic violence statewide at the conclusion of this briefing."

-end-

Higher bail back on the table in NY? This is an old issue, recall "Linda's Law".

2011-06-18T08:09:00.008-04:00

In 2008, after the death of Isol Cotto, Kristina Cotto and I started urging lawmakers like Ken Zebrowski to push for higher bail for abusers. Isol's abuser bailed himself out with a credit card for a couple of hundred dollars and then murdered his wife in the middle of the night. This was a shame. Several years later, the pattern repeats itself in the case of Linda Ricardulli in Hyde Park, NY. Low bail, abuser gets out of jail easily, goes back to the home to kill his victim. This is common sense, higher bail for abusers. We proposed "Linda's Law" last year and held a press conference, which no one from the Citizens Advisory Committee in Dutchess County attended.

http://hudsonvalley.ynn.com/content/top_stories/518140/domestic-violence-laws-not-tough-enough/,/

We spoke out with the Ricardulli family, and not one DV advocate/GOP member was there to give their support. We have since tried to get lawmakers to introduce our bill for high bail for abusers, and it was thrown out. Now Dutchess County GOP and the Advisory Committee seemed to have picked up on our idea and have support:

The Poughkeepsie Journal

Roy Brown, chairman of Columbia County's Board of Supervisors, traveled to Poughkeepsie on Friday to learn how police, prosecutors and crime victim advocates in Dutchess County are working together to combat domestic violence.

At the end of the two-hour conference hosted by Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Robert Rolison, Brown said he was glad he made the trip.

"Dutchess County is well known around the region for its comprehensive approach to domestic violence issues, and I wanted to get a sense of what they do here and how they do it," he said.

Rolison said he hoped to get Brown and other officials from neighboring counties involved in lobbying state lawmakers on pending legislation that would permit judges to consider a defendant's history of domestic violence when considering bail following an arrest. And he said he planned to keep officials from other counties informed as Dutchess launches the testing of Global Positioning System equipment that may be used to help police and victims of domestic violence keep track of those accused of such crimes.

"Some people worry (a GPS tracking system) may offer a false sense of security, and it's certainly not a bulletproof vest," Rolison said. "But if there's something out there that can work, we want to make others aware of it."

The tracking of defendants through GPS devices was one of several recommendations contained in a report released last fall by the Legislature's Citizens Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence. The committee held hearings and issued the report after Hyde Park resident Anthony Riccardulli fatally shot his wife and then killed himself on July 29, 2010. Since then, three other women have been killed by their husbands or boyfriends in the county.

On Sept. 4, 2010, Maria De la Paz Ruiz-Alvarez was allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend in Wappingers Falls; Tyrese Storms, who was several months pregnant, was found dead on Dec. 3, 2010, in Pleasant Valley after her boyfriend, Robert Loucks, allegedly strangled her; and on Feb. 18, Jessica Welch was fatally shot by her husband, Lee Welch, who then shot and killed Detective John Falcone in the City of Poughkeepsie.

Leah Feldman, the county's universal response coordinator for domestic violence, told people at Friday's conference that she believed the county was addressing the concerns raised by the legislative committee.

"The report isn't just sitting on some shelf somewhere," Feldman said.

Dutchess County Legislator Kenneth Roman, R-Town of Poughkeepsie , a town police lieutenant who heads the Legislature's public safety committee, said police officers are still skeptical about new procedures they are being asked to follow when responding to domestic incidents. But Roman added he was convinced the county's system of coordinating services provided by police, prosecutors and victim advocates was paying off.

"It's easy to count the failures," Roman said, alluding to the four recent homicides, "but there's no way to assess how many lives we've saved because of the way we've intervened."

Others attending the conference included Amanda Thomas, a crime victim advocate at the Reach Center in Catskill, Greene County; Marjorie Smith, chief of the special victims unit of the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office ; Ulster County Legislator Paul Hansut, R-Lloyd; Kathy Graham, director of Dutchess County Battered Women's Services; Sue West, executive director of Family Services Inc.; and Judy Lombardi, director of outreach and support at Grace Smith House, a shelter for domestic violence victims.

Dutchess County James Baird State Park Homicide Suspect

2011-06-17T14:43:00.001-04:00

State police released a composite sketch today of a man wanted for questioning in the homicide of a woman whose body was found on fire in James Baird State Park in LaGrange early Sunday morning. Anyone with information may call state police at 845-677-7300

Two Strangulation Cases: Woman strangles her boyfriend to death/White Plains NY and a felony strangulation in Monticello

2011-06-16T15:14:00.003-04:00

Read below, Monticello man gets low bail for felony strangulation. $10,000 is low, especially when one only needs to pay 10% to be released.

Woman charged with strangling boyfriend to death

WHITE PLAINS – A Mount Vernon woman has been arraigned on felony charges in connection with the strangulation death of her boyfriend in her apartment on March 14.

Tywana Kerr, 28, of 30 South Bleeker Street in Mount Vernon has been charged with arguing with her boyfriend, Anthony Lowery that night, and during the course of the argument, choked him to death.

She waited until the next morning to call 911 to report it.

Kerr was arrested the day after the death and charged with manslaughter in the second degree and strangulation in the first degree.

If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison.

MONTICELLO – A Monticello man has been charged with felony strangulation in the second degree and other charges after he allegedly strangled a female acquaintance during a domestic dispute.

Village Police in Monticello also charged Eddie Javier Iparraguirre, 20, with misdemeanors for assault in the third degree and unlawful imprisonment in the second degree.

At 1:15 a.m. on Thursday, police were called to a reported domestic dispute in Room 303 at heritage Inn on Broadway. Iparraguirre had been involved in a dispute with a 20-year-old woman in which he choked her causing severe bruising to her neck and restricting her breathing. He also accused of holding her against her will in the room and preventing her from calling police on the phone.

Iparraguirre is in the Sullivan County jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Problems with the shelter system in NYS: A victim's point of view of shelter life

2011-06-15T14:51:00.004-04:00

Good morning,

My name is Julie Kaous. I have resided at the shelter since 2-8-2011 in the B building. During my time I found that there were many issues regarding "helping" the women staying there.

First, there is no proactive assessment done to see what the victim needs upon arrival (food, clothing etc.) Also, many of us have food stamp cases or PA cases and the abuser is the one with the ebt card and head of household status on the cases. If we are placed with P.A.T.H we go to N.O.V.A, which gets us placement at various shelters. This letter, along with the letter from the shelter we are in, can get our cases transferred to our names and make life easier. What I found is a huge disconnect within the case managers getting these letters to the women timely. This puts the woman's ability to even buy food for their children at a quick stop. As they do not have the ebt card to use, usually the abuser does. Also, having to wait in the wait area for case managers with kids that are hungry and in need of sleep and food for more then 2 hours at times. I found completely unacceptable! why do the children and women have to suffer further at the shelter they are placed at to help them?

I, myself, when I came there had just left a police precinct. We had only the clothes on our backs- no food and no belongings. The shelter gave me a mere 35 dollar voucher for 5 people and no advice as how to go about getting things done. My abuser is very tricky. I always had to be a step ahead of him or I would get plundered by him. He robbed me controlled everything and was always checking on what I was doing. This is what batterers do as you know!

So if that is the case, why doesn't the shelter have in place a way to help, really help, the women with their issues and getting back control and quickly! Everything going on is time sensitive the victim has to be quick and the case workers are fundamental to that process. I was never given any letters advocating early on when me and my kids needed clothes food. I asked, but usually was told to wait and when you have 3 young kids hungry and a staff that thinks that its appropriate to have your hungry children wait over an hour to be seen. I just don't see how this is helping the women. Many, many women return to the batterer because of the way the shelters treat them and do really nothing to help them. This is a tragedy! Who is to blame?

This brings me to the current issue I am dealing with at the shelter. May I just say I had a room mate XXXXXXX who was thrown out by the shelter on lies-she had no place to go no money nothing but was none the less made to leave at night. Her kids had school the next day and now her and her kids are on the street with nothing!

I now have an apartment my ACS caseworker has ordered me beds and I want to move out. However the shelter staff advised me that they would be calling ACS on me if I did? But not only that, I was lied to by XXXXXX and XXXXXX, they told me that I would lose my kids and that it was an ACS mandate that I have beds and a table to move. However, I did speak to ACS and they said there is no such mandate and that they have no problem with me moving to my apartment and sleeping on air mattresses with my kids. But the caseworker Beverly insisted that she would call ACS on me if I left? She even spoke with the ACS worker who said that she knew i had no beds and that she, in fact, had ordered them for me and that there was nothing in any law book or ACS mandate that says I have to have beds. Yet your agency still insists to call ACS on me if I leave.

I spoke to Mrs. XXXX, who stated that she "would do what she has to do" and that I should do what I have to do. Is this how your agency functions? One instant you throw women out who have nothing based on lies. The next you impede another woman who just wants to move forward with her life? I feel this is a gross misjudgement on the director and case managers part also not to mention that the director Mrs. XXXX said she would get me her supervisor but actually hung up the phone on me. I have been living a nightmare for the past 8 years. I thought going to a DV shelter would be a new horizon. But instead I was faced with another cold reality- no one cares and, I still have to fight for what me and my children need. Why? Because the DV shelters lack the human element of empathy and compassion, two forces that are critical to the function of us as a society and to the recovery of battered women.

Julie Kaous
NEW YORK

SecureAlert offers Dutchess County a deal on GPS devices for domestic violence situations

2011-06-14T12:02:00.002-04:00

Below is a letter from Jason Scott,from SecureAlert. Jason is reaching out to Dutchess County with a deal and no one has responded in the county in regards to his offer as of yet.

Hi Maria,

I've only been with SecureAlert now for about 2 months now. I'm not sure where things were left with getting our equipment into Dutchess County, as well as neighboring counties.

One thing I know after meeting with Westchester County is that nobody has any money to add GPS monitoring services in he immediate and surrounding areas of NYC. I would like to get in front of Dutchess, Westchester, Rockland, etc, to pitch an offender pay program. If funds are what's holding these counties back from using GPS monitoring then we will offer our services at no cost to any of these counties. SecureAlert can put a body on the ground to perform installs, shutdowns, as well as monitor all offenders by directly billing the offender. We would even take responsibility for collections. The only responsibility to the county would be if and when an offender violates and an arrest needs to be made. It's a win-win no matter how you spin it.

I've already emailed the Director of Dutchess County Probation, Mary Ellen Still, on 6/3/11. I haven't heard anything back as of yet. If you know of anybody else that I can contact to set up a meeting, please let me know.

Thanks,

Jay Scott
Northeast Region Account Executive
SecureAlert, Inc.
P: (856) 873-2139
E: jscott@securealert.com
W: www.SECUREALERT.com

Woman killed and burned in Dutchess County NY

2011-06-13T22:14:00.002-04:00

By: Elaina Athans
A report of a brush fire turned into a gruesome find in Dutchess County. Our Elaina Athans was in LaGrange to tell us more about what firefighters found in James Baird Park after they put out the flames.

LAGRANGE, N.Y. -- Fire officials begin working to contain a brush fire at James Baird Park and discover a female burned in a wooded area. Her body was found close to the roadway, near the Taconic State Parkway entrance.

Police say the woman is in her late teens or early twenties. Police believe she was killed in another location, brought to the park and then set on fire. Police aren't releasing a cause of death, but thinks there's a clue could help their investigation.

"We are asking for the community to assist," said New York State Police Captain Robert Nuzzo.

New York State Police plea for help in identifying a female victim found severely burned. An autopsy finds she is from either African-American or Hispanic descent.

"(She was) roughly 5'9" and 150 pounds. She was wearing blue jeans, a green shirt, black flat shoes with beads," said Nuzzo.

The woman's body was discovered Sunday morning after reports of a brush fire. Police believe it was intentionally set. Authorities are hoping a tattoo will take the investigation the next step. The victim had floral body art inked on her lower back.

"It's certainly a distinctive tattoo. We're hoping someone, either the artist or a family or friend, may have seen it.," said Nuzzo.

While police are trying to identify the woman, investigators are also on the prowl for a four-door gray sedan. Police say a witness saw that type of car around the same time the body was found.

Police are now combing through missing persons cases in the area and plan to extend that search.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact Troop K at (845) 677-7300.

TCCC and SIA successful at getting a domestic violence victim in need free surgery!

2011-06-09T21:37:00.006-04:00

Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc. and Survivors in Action were successful at getting a California DV victim pro bono surgery today!

Special thanks to Dr. Timothy J. Rosio in El Dorado Hills CA for donating his time to victims of domestic violence in California. Dr. Rosio we are grateful for your kindness and generosity!

For those wishing to pay it forward visit ANewSKin Dermatology today!

Today was a succes. Together with Survivors in Action, this victim in need was able to get free surgery offered to her in 2 days.

This is advocacy and teamwork at it's best.

Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc. receives a Verizon Wireless Grant for startup

2011-06-08T21:24:00.003-04:00

For immediate release

Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc. is honored to announce that it has been awarded a Verizon Wireless Domestic Violence Entrepreneurship Grant. TCCC was recently founded in Beacon NY and will assist all victims of domestic violence; this generous grant will be used to help get the organization established.

"Victims that reach out for help need assistance and support in a timely manner. Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc. intends to make sure every victim receives services and will continue to do so with the support of generous donors like the Verizon Foundation and volunteers," said Executive Director Maria DiBari.

TCCC was recently founded in the wake of several domestic violence deaths in Dutchess County. "Given the recent tragedies, this grant is an important step toward getting TCCC up and running so that we can begin getting resources to domestic violence victims across Dutchess, Orange and Putnam Counties," said Administrative Director Alyssa Kogon.

TCCC is in need of donations and victim supplies such as pre-paid cell phones, laptops, fax machines, printers, postage, office supplies, and intends to create a “victims fund” for victims in need of emergency funds in the future.

You can learn more about the services that are offered by visiting their website www.tricountycrisiscenter.org . For more information, contact Maria DiBari at info@tricountycrisiscenter.org. Donations can be sent directly to TCCC at PO Box 346 Beacon NY 12508

DV Reform requires a two prong approach: written by Alexis A. Moore

2011-06-06T11:19:00.004-04:00

DV Reform requires a two prong approach: We not only need to strengthen the laws against violence and stalking,we also need to reach out to offer the victims some real help!

The truth is there is not any organization “picking up the slack anywhere”, instead there are non-profits founded on every corner honoring a loved one’s memory or that offer the same exact services that our nation’s shelters are doing. What is really needed is “real help” for victims in 2011.

Real help is defined as providing victims with the tools that they need to become survivors in 2011. It starts with a total reform of domestic violence victim resources starting from the national level working down to the shelter level.

Victims are a diverse group and come from all backgrounds and the “cookie cutter approach” is not working. For example victims have children, some victims have jobs, some don’t- some victims are in relationships with cops, judges, attorneys, celebrities, public officials, along with the “average joe” batterer/stalker. In addition, victims are stalked and cyberstalked when they flee and there is no agency assisting stalking victims anywhere, except a handful of volunteers (myself being one of them) in the nation today- this is ridiculous to say the least since 76% of female homicide victims are stalked prior to their deaths. (DOJ stat)

We need the domestic violence resources of today to reflect the victims that they serve by providing services that victims need in 2011. The services today are antiquated and tend to do more harm than good because they fail to address the numbers that are being left behind and what needs to be done so that victims – all victims, regardless of age, gender, offender occupation or martial status, get the help and support they need.

One key point is: Public policy changes without reform of victim resources and this does little because all of the laws on the books mean nothing if a victim dies reaching out for help relying on the law alone – resources providing support and “real help” and the laws work hand in hand.

What needs to be done to reform the domestic violence resources of today is very “doable”; however, it takes leadership that is willing to put the needs of the victims first above all else. This is very difficult for those presently employed by the DV Establishment today because they are all tied to politics and special interests and, frankly, they don’t have the passion to do what is needed. We need leadership that will put victims needs first and the bureaucracy second, always.

In addition to myself, I know of countless men and women from across the nation that are ready, willing and able to roll up their sleeves and help ensure no victim is left behind and do the “heavy lifting” to help reform the victim services and resources of today all we are waiting for is the opportunity to take action.

The White House Advisor for Violence Against Women Sarah Lynn Rosenthal knows of this offer and that the resources are in dire need of reform; however, she has failed to take any action- we need action, not words, and fast, or more lives will continue to be lost.

For every statement I have made above I have evidence that I can provide in support which is why DV REFORM (domestic violence victim resource and public policy reform) was launched by Survivors In Action in 2009. We were told by Ms. Rosenthal that she needed evidence to support that victims were falling through the cracks. We have the evidence. Now we need action.

Sincerely,

Alexis A. Moore .
Founder:Survivors In Action
4354 Town Center Blvd., Suite #114-143
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Alexis@SurvivorsInAction.com

Open Letter to Lynn Rosenthal, White House Advisor on Domestic Violence

2011-05-31T14:53:00.000-04:00

AN OPEN LETTER TO LYNN ROSENTHAL, WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
On June 26, 2009, Vice President Biden named Lynn Rosenthal as White House Advisor on Violence Against Women (VAW). Rosenthal has championed the movement against domestic and sexual violence for three decades, leading the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) from 2000 to 2006. Most recently, she served as executive director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Previously, she played a major advocacy role in reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act and assisted states and communities with its implementation. For the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, she developed service models and created the state’s first comprehensive plan to help survivors find housing. She has also worked with corporate partners to promote economic empowerment for survivors and to bring millions of dollars in aid to communities in responding to domestic violence.

Ms. Lynn Rosenthal
White House Advisor on Violence Against Women

Dear Ms. Rosenthal,

As you are aware, domestic violence is a matter of life and death for millions of Americans. Each month, it is estimated that thousands of victims are turned away from state and federally funded domestic violence coalitions and shelters. These victims ¬-- abused by the people they trust -- have no recourse when this happens, and no place to report their experiences or grievances.

The cold, hard reality is that these victims are falling through the cracks—ignored by the very organizations whose mission is to assist them. Because of this failure, a growing number of victims are reaching out to Survivors In Action (SIA), a non-profit national advocacy group that provides individual assistance to victims of domestic abuse.

Ms. Rosenthal, given your extraordinary qualifications and clear commitment to preventing domestic violence, SIA is encouraged by your appointment as White House Advisor. Your appointment signals recognition at the highest levels of government that now is the time for real change and domestic violence resource reform. Without such reform, more victims will be subject to what advocates and victims now refer to as "The DV Run Around," and more will die.

We believe the DV Run Around occurs in large part because there is so little oversight of how funds are used by the thousands of state and federally funded domestic violence organizations and no assessment of whether these organizations are meeting victims’ needs. Additionally, DV reform has done very little to assist teen, LGBT and male victims -- who are afraid to reach out for help because of social stigma -- or victims of military or officer-involved violence, who remain silent for fear of legal repercussions. Accordingly, SIA is leading a two-pronged movement for national domestic violence resource reform:

•First, we are advocating that the government audit the federal grants and other funds that domestic violence organizations receive to determine how these funds are being used and to ensure accountability.

•Second, we are advocating the creation of a Federal Domestic Violence Oversight Committee to oversee state and federally funded domestic violence organizations and provide victims a place to document their experiences and file complaints.

As evidence of increasing public recognition of the urgent need for measures like these, we have obtained more than 1,000 signatures on our petition for Domestic Violence Resource Reform in just a matter of weeks.

As stated by Family Violence Prevention Fund President Esta Soler, “At a time when domestic, dating and sexual violence are pervasive problems that touch every community, and on average three women are murdered each day by their husbands or boyfriends, we need renewed attention to this issue and increased resources for victims and prevention measures.”

Ms. Rosenthal, I can’t express this any more clearly than Ms. Soler has in her statement above. The victims of domestic violence desperately need—and SIA respectfully requests—your support for the above measures. Please stand up for these reforms now.

Thank you so much for your attention and concern.

Sincerely,

Alexis A. Moore
President
Survivors In Action
"No Victim Left Behind"

What is Survivors In Action?
Survivors In Action (SIA) is a non-profit national advocacy group that supports victims and the families of victims of any crime, including domestic violence, identity theft, elder abuse, cyberstalking, stalking, child abuse, rape, and sexual assault Other national organizations typically help victims at specific points in their victimization cycle—such as when they first report the crime or in writing parole opposition letters—leaving “gaps” in needed services. SIA is the only organization that fills the gaps, providing support through all stages of the journey from victim to survivor, with no time limitations, cut-off dates, or conditions. Our mission is to ensure that no victim anywhere in the nation is left behind.

Dutchess and Ulster County: an inability to coordinate an electronic monitoring effort for a teen

2011-05-26T08:22:00.003-04:00

The counties are calling this a "glitch". They are also testing their own devices on domestic offenders within the next few months. I hope they choose an active, live monitoring system so that glitches don't occur with violent batterers. If we are going to release people that are threats to society, we need people monitoring them 24/7 on the other end of the device.

By Freeman staff

THE inability of Dutchess and Ulster counties to coordinate efforts to electronically monitor a Plattekill teen awaiting action in a criminal case against her appears to have been a “one-time glitch,” an Ulster County legislator says.

Jack Hayes, who chairs the Legislature’s Law Enforcement and Public Safety committees, said he called Ulster County Executive Michael Hein and his own counterpart in the Dutchess County Legislature to make sure there were no problems with the two counties working together after reading news stories that said electronic monitoring could not be arranged for suspected car thief Tavia Alvarez, 17.

Hayes, R-Gardiner, said he also spoke to Dutchess County Senior Assistant District Attorney Edward Whitesell, who had requested Alvarez be monitored.

“At this point, it appears to be a one-time glitch rather than a major policy issue,” Hayes said on Wednesday. He said he still had follow-up calls to make on the issue but that it did not appear any policy changes by the counties were needed.

In a letter to Dutchess County District Attorney William Grady, Hayes said the two counties have had, and must continue to have, a strong relationship, be it in criminal justice matters or other areas. Hayes said he also spoke with Dutchess County Legislator Ken Roman, a town of Poughkeepsie police officer and chairman of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee. Hayes said he and Roman, R-Poughkeepsie, agreed if there was anything they needed to address in terms of policy, it would be attended to immediately.

Earlier this month, Whitesell said he had wanted Alvarez electronically monitored as a condition of her release on March 9 from the Dutchess County Jail, where she was being held after a February incident in which police chased her while she was driving a stolen car and ultimately shot her when she allegedly tried to ram them with the vehicle. Because Alvarez is a Plattekill resident, however, Dutchess County and the Ulster County Department of Probation had to coordinate their efforts and were unable to do so, he said.

Alvarez, who was freed from the Dutchess jail because of a medical issue, then was arrested earlier this month in connection with two car thefts that occurred after her release from the Dutchess jail.

Whitesell has said he was not criticizing anyone for the inability to coordinate the monitoring effort; he merely was noting obstacles that could not be overcome.

Alvarez remains in the Ulster County Jail in connection with the most recent car theft charges and still has charges pending against her in the Dutchess County case.

In yet another case, she pleaded guilty in early April in Plattekill Town Court to five misdemeanor counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and was sentenced to three years of probation.

Struggling as a victim of violence in NY, now struggling to advocate freely

2011-05-25T21:58:00.006-04:00

I'm writing this evening to clarify a few things. There are many out there trying to dig up information about me, trying to find a way to discredit me and what I do for crime victims. Good luck. I will save everyone time.

I learned to struggle when I was victimized and temporarily paralyzed by my abuser in 2007. I rarely discuss what happened to me anymore because I got over it. I had to get over it; I couldn't possibly be a victim and battle with the domestic violence agencies for help at the same time. Life for me became very dark after my abuser assaulted me and left me unable to walk. I struggled to relearn how to walk, jump, workout, walk stairs; the list goes on. And while I couldn't walk, I crawled. I was humiliated-but I crawled because that was my only choice. I called the hotline. Nothing. I didn't get anywhere. I stayed with my abuser for a year out of fear of retaliation. I tried getting a restraining order during the most dangerous time in my victimization cycle, and a court advocate turned me away after waiting over an hour at the Orange County Courthouse. I was left alone, and no one helped me when I needed assistance as a woman trying to survive a horrible situation.

I struggled my way out of my marriage. I went through this journey alone, and I learned a lot. I learned more than anyone with any social work degree will learn in a classroom. I give myself an A+ in survival.

I also struggled and battled through the DV establishments. Everything was a struggle. I waited and waited for help. I wrote letter after letter to agency after agency. I begged, pleaded, cried, and fought my way through this system we have in place for victims of domestic violence. The assistance I received was minimal. It would have been non-existent if I had given up.

I learned how to be persistent from the DV establishments. Most of the agencies I ran to for help sent me on an endless run around. They overly referred me when I needed immediate assistance. I struggled and fought to get Crime Victims Compensation and sat through appeal hearings and meetings, and responded to hundreds of endless requests from the state to prove that I was a victim of violence. At the same time, I was struggling through a job loss, a divorce, and horrible injuries. No one at any shelter taught me how to do anything. Now I am an expert at this entire process, and I have since helped many with the same problems.

I struggled to get a pro bono lawyer from agencies that claimed to assist victims of DV. In fact, I almost went bankrupt paying for my divorce. The agencies sent me on a run around and every day was a different story, "We offer DV attorneys for divorce” or “We don't offer DV legal representation for divorce". Everything took a hundred emails. Everything was stressful. It was confusing for me, and very dangerous for me to experience as a high-risk victim of violence in need.

There are gaps in the system. I have fell into them. Hundreds of people reach out to me each year for help because they have fallen into the gaps too. I am a volunteer. I have a full-time job and I advocate for free. I am starting a non-profit, Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc., and, no, the website is not up yet, but it will be. No, I do not have a space yet, but I will. The demand is too high. Regarding my name, DiBari is my maiden name....I changed it after I divorced my abuser. Hoping that clarifies everything. Nothing is a secret, my life is on the web. Feel free to search and search and I wish anyone looking for anything negative "good luck".

You will find:

the victims I have helped, the papers that have published my work, that I'm a Scientist, an activist, that I'm starting a Crisis Center, that I'm passionate about domestic violence reform, that I hold degrees in Science, that I'm critical of everything and every agency because there needs to be accountability. I'm also active in proposing legislation to protect crime victims and have worked with state officials on domestic violence policy reform for years. You will see that I'm affiliated with a group that I'm proud of, Survivors in Action. You will see that I'm a victim, and also have an educated opinion about this issue and valuable solutions. My opinions and analyses matter because I lived through it, struggled through it, unprotected, and was forced to swim against the current.

If anyone has any questions, please contact me at info@tricountycrisiscenter.org

Domestic violence victims often unaware of victim notification system

2011-05-25T21:39:00.001-04:00

In 2008, Isol Cotto of Stone Ridge NY in Ulster County was gunned down in the middle of the night by her batterer, a retired officer. Isol’s abuser bailed himself out of jail with his own credit card and was released in the early morning hours, free to re-victimize Isol. Isol had a history of domestic violence and her case was high-risk. Her death could have been prevented.

Having worked with the family after this murder/suicide case, I quickly learned that Isol Cotto was not aware of and not registered for a service that could have saved her life-V.I.N.E, a victim notification system offered in every state that alerts victim via telephone when an offender is released.

After reaching out to local police departments in the area after this homicide, I also learned that many officers were unaware of V.I.N.E., and a few had to scramble to find the V.I.N.E. pamphlets in order to give any explanation about the service. After doing further research, I discovered that local police departments received pamphlets on V.I.N.E. once per year and domestic violence training for officers was limited. Domestic violence training, given by domestic violence service providers, is still limited and lacking.

As a victim of domestic violence, I was also unaware of this notification system. I was never verbally informed by law enforcement about this service when I was victimized in Orange County NY. Is this a coincidence? No. In fact, many victims are unaware of V.I.N.E. The lack of awareness may be due to the fact that victims do not receive a verbal notification about V.I.N.E. from first responders. Rather, V.I.N.E. information is provided to the victim with the Domestic Incident Report (DIR). Unless a victim reads through the entire report, he/she may not be aware of this life saving service.

Each and every state, county, and community must spread awareness about this life saving notification service for victims of domestic violence. One way to improve awareness about V.I.N.E. is for officers to verbally notify victims of domestic violence about this service and assist them with registration shortly after a domestic incident. This is a training issue, one that I’ve started to address in local police departments. V.I.N.E. is not a perfect system. Very often victims get short notice of a release, but it is better than no notice at all. At minimum, victims can flee and alert police if they are being threatened and are in danger.

Currently, Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc. is working on promoting awareness about the importance of a first responder verbal notification of V.I.N.E. for victims. Law enforcement is also in need of domestic violence training and we are striving to improve domestic violence response at the local and state level.

For more information, please visit www.tricountycrisiscenter.org.

To learn more about V.I.N.E. or register, call 1-888-VINE-4NY (1-888-846-3469).

Maria DiBari

*Note: Tri-County Crisis Center's website will be up in the next week or so, thank you for your patience*

Sullivan County in the News again for domestic abuse, man held without bail

2011-05-25T06:27:00.002-04:00

This is one of the most tragic cases I have heard in the last few months. This story is exactly why we all need to start thinking more progressively about domestic violence prevention and response. This woman was held prisoner by her abuser, and tortured. I hope this woman finds the help she needs and protects herself.

MidHudson News

Man charged with trying to abort his pregnant girlfriend

LIBERTY – A Liberty man has been charged with felony abortion in the second degree and other charges for allegedly punching his 17-year-old pregnant girlfriend in the stomach in an effort to abort the pregnancy.

Travis Mervine, 20, was also charged with third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal mischief, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, and harassment in the second degree.

The girlfriend called police on May 22 from her mother’s house to report she had been held prisoner by Mervine at his home from May 21 through May 22 and while there, he punched her in the stomach.

Mervine was located and arrested on Lake Street in the Village of Liberty and while police were taking him to court for arraignment, he fled from an officer on foot, while handcuffed. After a four hour manhunt, Liberty Police, assisted by a Fallsburg Police K-9 unit, State Police and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, he was located at his father’s home in Liberty. He was also charged with felony escape in the second degree.

Mervine was arraigned and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail without bail.

Predators roam free with out of date GPS tracking devices

2011-05-24T21:59:00.004-04:00

Alison Sandy and James O'Loan From: The Courier-Mail May 25, 2011 12:00AM

SEX predators in Queensland are roaming free wearing antiquated tracking devices while authorities across the border use updated satellite technology with "huge success".

There are 72 dangerous sex offenders living in the Queensland community tagged with radio frequency-based electronic monitoring devices fitted to their ankles.

An alert is sent to Queensland Corrective Services when the device moves out of range from a monitoring unit outside of approved curfews.

However, the antiquated devices are prone to failure, The Courier-Mail revealing this week there had been 152 breaches of supervision orders by 53 sex offenders in the past year.

GPS-enabled tracking devices have been used by NSW authorities since 2007, with 40 serious sex offenders and high-risk offenders fitted with a GPS tracking device.

"The monitoring system has been a huge success," a NSW Corrective Services spokeswoman said.

Despite that success, Police and Corrective Services Minister Neil Roberts wouldn't commit to an upgrade, saying the Government continued to assess its feasibility.

State Government reviews into GPS span five years.

"Queensland Corrective Services continues to review the effectiveness and reliability of GPS technology," he said.

"However, GPS technology is not a silver bullet. Nothing can replace the vigilance of staff in the field who are already checking the whereabouts of offenders and their movements."

Mr Roberts ruled out naming and shaming pedophiles but said neighbours were told when a dangerous sex offender moved in.

"What Queensland Corrective Services will do is when one of the high-risk offenders is to be released under a supervision order, in the main they will go to the transitional housing first, because you can never place them in the community," he said.

"They will do targeted consultation before a person is released into a particular area they will talk to the neighbours it's done on a confidential basis.

"But in terms of broad-scale publication of offenders' photographs, where they live, on the internet, no, we don't support that."

In the US, 225 sex offenders have been subject to GPS monitoring in New Jersey in its first two years and only one had been charged with a new sex crime.

"Significantly, only one of these high-risk sex offenders has been charged with a new sex crime while under GPS supervision," a report by the state parole board stated.

"The sex offender was arrested at the crime scene, a rape that occurred in April 2006.

"Even if the sex offender had left the scene, however, GPS data was available to pinpoint his presence at the time and place of the crime, and was ready to serve as a vital aid to the investigation."

A 2006 report found that the cost of GPS tracking of prisoners in the US was about $8 a day.

Hetty Johnson, founder of victim support group Bravehearts, said satellite technology would cost too much and argued dangerous pedophiles shouldn't be released into the community at all.

"It's not just about punishment, it's about community safety," she said.

"I can't understand why offenders are knowingly released when it's not safe."

Dutchess County uses Madrid, Spain as a model for domestic violence prevention?

2011-05-23T19:44:00.003-04:00

Thirty years ago I went to school with a lovely blond girl named Laura Cerna. She had bangs and a heart as big as her smile. We weren't best buds, but we certainly were friends and would sometimes sit outside on the school's lawn and play Frisbee or have lunch together.

Little did I know back then, that Laura would eventually move to Spain. I also did not know that my friend, Laura, would meet an end in Spain so tragic it is hard for me to write about here.

I never would have guessed that one day I would be involved in advocating for the victims of domestic violence. I also would have never imagined that my home county of Dutchess, New York, would choose Madrid, Spain as a model city to protect it's own citizens against domestic violence.

The coincidence of these two events is something I did not put together until just now. Dutchess County, NY and the powers that rule it, have decided to test out the same Israeli GPS tracking system that Madrid, Spain now uses for monitoring their own domestic violence offenders, Elmo-Tech. How strange. There are no geographical similarities in the two places. Madrid is heavily urban. Dutchess County has urban pockets with vast areas of rural and suburban properties. As for the justice system of Spain, let me continue my story.

Laura had gone to Spain to teach English. She had happily lived there for six years. Last summer, a male acquaintance murdered Laura. She was raped, stabbed and dismembered by her attacker. He then cut up her body and threw it in a river in garbage bags and a suitcase.

One would think the penalty for such a horrific crime would be lifelong incarceration. However, Laura's murderer could be out of jail in 10 years. That is the penalty for murder in Spain. The murderer had a previous record of violence and sexual assaults against women. The Cerna family has had to hire a lawyer to argue for the most serious crime of aggravated homicide for her attacker. Even if he were found guilty of this charge, his sentence would be a maximum of only up to 25 years.

This brings me back to Dutchess County, NY. If Spain has such a low penalty for a murder so brutal, just what is their penalty for the crime of domestic abuse? Madrid has the highest rate of Domestic Violence in the E.U. Until 1975, DV was not even considered a crime in Spain. Even today, the longest sentence a male can receive for domestic abuse is five years, a female, three. It also takes 72 hours for an Order of Protection to be issued for any crime. The victim must then live in fear for three days until their abuser is finally sentenced to an OP. Obviously, the Spanish are far more tolerant of domestic violence than those of us in the United States. It’s unusual that Dutchess County and the Citizens’ Advisory Committee on DV would consider using Spain as their model for domestic violence prevention.

Apparently, Senator Steve Saland has decided on the technology we will be using on offenders in Dutchess. The Isreali based company, Elmo-Tech, has offered Dutchess County ten free GPS units on a trial basis. The County will test the feasibility of these units in the following weeks. The only statements made about these devices were that they were free, and that seems like the number one reason they were chosen. The Isreali GPS system of choice is inferior to most American made GPS competitors offering superior protection for victims. Choosing the wrong provider for high-risk offenders may do more harm than good for victims of domestic violence.

Recently, Rob Rollison has been quoted saying that Dutchess County would be the “first place in the country to use this GPS technology” for domestic violence offenders. He is incorrect. At least 18 other American municipalities already have the system in place. This technology is not new to the US.

It seems that Dutchess County has set up their domestic violence response for failure. Failure to source out high quality, American made GPS tracking systems and using the backward legal system of Madrid, Spain as their model are strategies that seem hard to understand.

As for the family of Laura Cerna, please consider signing this petition to help bring justice to her loving family at: http:www.thepetitionsite.com/2/see-justice-for-laura/ .

Alyssa Kogon

Administrative Director

Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc.

Military Violence: Soldier at Fort Drum NY facing charges for domestic violence shooting

2011-05-20T08:29:00.005-04:00

Water Town Daily Times

The wife of a 31-year-old Fort Drum soldier was discharged from Samaritan Medical Center after being treated for wounds she suffered Wednesday evening when she allegedly was shot by her husband.

Being held at Fort Drum and awaiting charges by the military is Sgt. Jason Edward Seeds, Toms River, N.J. The Army disclosed no charges early this afternoon, but said an investigation is continuing.

Mrs. Seeds, first name not provided by authorities, suffered shotgun pellet wounds to her back and the back of the head, according to a source who was at the scene but asked that he not be identified because he is not part of the investigation. Fort Drum spokeswomen declined to comment on the nature of the woman's injuries.

The Times in Thursday's edition said spokeswoman Julie A. Cupernall indicated the woman was shot in the back, but Ms. Cupernall made no such comment.

The shooting occurred outside the Seedses' on-post residence on Hickory Drive, and was reported to civilian authorities about 6:31 p.m. Wednesday. The police and ambulance dispatch was to 99002 Hickory Drive.

The source said some vehicles parked in the neighborhood also were damaged by shotgun pellets.

There was indication that the couple has four children, none of whom was said to be injured.

Although Jefferson County sheriff's patrols and state police responded to the scene, the investigation will be handled by Fort Drum authorities, who were releasing limited information.

Other than his basic training and four overseas deployments, Sgt. Seeds has spent all of his 11-year Army career assigned to Fort Drum. He was sent to Kosovo for one tour, and served three deployments in Iraq, according to Fort Drum. He arrived at Fort Drum in March 2000, and is a chemical operations specialist with the 59th Chemical Company, 10th Sustainment Brigade.

Survivors in Action and Tri-County Crisis Center join forces and address the needs of the LGBT, male, female, and immigrant domestic violence victim

2011-05-17T18:30:00.006-04:00

Survivors In Action joins New York’s Tri-County Crisis Center to push for DV REFORM -domestic violence victim resource and public policy reform helping to ensure no victim is left behind.

The DV Establishments of today are failing to address the needs of abuse victims in the 21st century. The rise in the numbers of victims who reach out for help to traditional domestic violence resources, shelters, state coalitions and partnerships as well as to the National Domestic Violence Hotline and networks are finding far too often that no real help exists, and this must change in 2011.

Survivors In Action, national non-profit crime victims organization in partnership with the Tri-County Crisis Center in New York , are joining forces in the push for accountability of domestic violence and stalking victim resources of today and have established what is fast becoming an internationally recognized movement to reform public policy and domestic violence and stalking victim resources throughout the nation.

Addressing the needs of the LGBT community along with male victims, military victims and immigrants is part of this campaign.

"Addressing the needs of the LGBT community, male victims, victims of officer-involved, immigrants and all abuse and stalking victims needs to be the priority of our nation's efforts to aid abuse victims, not an after thought", says Maria DiBari the founder and Executive Director of Tri-County Crisis Center in New York, which was successful this past month in proposing the nation's first DV REFORM legislation.

"There is nothing worse than knowing that today's domestic violence and stalking victim resources are failing victims and not just women and children are being left behind. Women, men, children, immigrants, victims of officer involved domestic violence and victims within the LGBT community deserve equal protections and services and this is what DV REFORM is all about."

Assisting all victims of stalking and domestic violence regardless of race, gender, marital status or the batterer's occupation must be top priority of the crime victim service providers of today or victims will continue to be left behind", says Alexis A. Moore founder of Survivors In Action national non-profit crime victims organization.

To learn more about DV REFORM and how you can help to bring about change to ensure "no victim of stalking or abuse is left behind" contact Info(at)TriCountyCrisisCenter.org for more information.

Alexis A. Moore . Founder
Survivors In Action
4354 Town Center Blvd., Suite #114-143
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Alexis@SurvivorsInAction.com

Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc. Addresses Rob Rolison, Leah Feldman and the Dutchess County Legislature GPS Technology Decision

2011-05-13T14:00:00.007-04:00

It is frightening when the Citizens' Advisory Committee on DV and Chairman, Rob Rolison in Dutchess County announce that their substandard GPS tracking pilot plan is the first program in the country for offenders. Below is a letter I sent out to the Legislature.

Dutchess County Legislature:

We are concerned with the County's choice in technology (Elmo-Tech) for monitoring High Risk Offenders. The right technology is critical for the overall success of the program.

I can arrange a demo/presentation with Secure Alert, a superior GPS device provider for high risk offenders that provides superior protection compared with Elmo-Tech:

Elmo-Tech is a company out of Israel , as opposed to Secure Alert, which is a US company. They have a few different devices including GPS. Secure Alert GPS products are far superior over Elmo-Tech. Below is a list of reasons why:

1-SecureAlert has the option to use our patented SecureCuff. This steel reinforced strap is designed to provide law enforcement an extra 10-15 minutes of time to be on-site when an offender is attempting to cut a strap and abscond. This feature helps address the critical “strap cut” issue so prevalent in domestic violence offenders. This feature serves to significantly reduce the number of officer response hours attempting to locate offenders who have absconded or are in violation. This is not offered by any other offender monitoring company. The Elmo Tech strap is not even close in terms of security.

2-2/3 Way Voice – SecureAlert’s embedded on-device voice technology ensures immediate communication with offenders. This immediate intervention of a live person serves as a deterrent when offenders are testing the system (e.g. draining the battery and other precursor actions). The offender is forced to respond to inquiries making it difficult to continue with the counterproductive behavior. This feature also includes the capability to connect with officers who manage the offender as an added measure of interactivity. This feature serves as a proactive measure to reduce the number of offenders being re-incarcerated for probation/monitoring violations saving substantial time and money. This is not offered by any other offender monitoring company.

3- 95dB Siren – Much like the 2/3 voice interaction, the 95dB siren is meant to act as a deterrent. If the juvenile offender will not communicate with the officers via voice communication the siren can be activated effectively warning the juvenile to stop undertaking counterproductive behavior or warn citizens that the offender is in an area where they should not be located. In addition, the siren can be used to help officers, which are attempting to locate/apprehend a juvenile offender, find them much more quickly. This capability serves to protect ordinary citizens (victims) as well as add a component of safety for supervision officers. This is not offered by any other offender monitoring company.

4-Instant Backup Tracking – A new offering that will be available to you is our instant backup locationing. In the event that GPS is blocked for any reason (e.g. offender attempting to mask the signal) SecureAlert’s device automatically and instantly collects cellular triangulation data points. This transition is seamless and ensures continuous tracking of the juvenile offender. While other providers offer triangulation as a backup locationing technology, their implementations are designed for low risk offenders that are not time sensitive.

We would love for the County to do a side by side comparison.

If the County is willing to try this particular system side by side along with Elmo-Tech, Leslie will come out and help give a presentation and set up a demo. ElmoTech GPS is not a tracking device for high risk offenders and it is a limited system in comparison to Secure Alert, which is being used successfully IN THIS COUNTRY.

Contact:

Leslie Anderson

Eastern US Channel Manager

Murfreesboro, TN

(615) 305-1296

FAX: (888) 315-1767

landerson@securealert.com

www.securealert.com

Thank you,

Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc.
serving domestic violence victims in Dutchess, Orange and Putnam

www.tricountycrisiscenter.org

Guest Writer, Tara Taylor Quinn: It Happened On Maple Street

2011-05-11T21:00:00.000-04:00

I’m Tara Taylor Quinn, USA Today bestselling author of fifty-six books of romance and suspense. And I’m Tara Gumser, domestic violence survivor. I’m a spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-3224). And I’m currently on tour with my husband, Timothy Barney, promoting our new book, a true story of the healing power of love. Tim and I were asked to write this book by the non-fiction publisher of the original Chicken Soup for the Soul books. The publisher thought that through my ability to craft compelling stories we’d be able to reach out to people who needed help but wouldn’t pick up a ‘domestic violence’ self-help book. We had an entire audience of women out there that we might be able to save from lives of abuse. Women who wouldn’t pick up a book to help themselves. The book, It Happened On Maple Street, exposes my thirty-year secret, the abuse I suffered silently because there didn’t use to be help for women who were mistreated by the men in their lives. With Tim’s love and support I am coming clean about my dark life lived in silence. My family and friends are hearing my truth for the first time along with the rest of the readers of this book.

Like many women, I was in denial of my own abuse. I was convinced the things that had happened to me were my fault. I didn’t even consider reaching out for help as I didn’t think I’d be welcome among those who had truly been abused. I didn’t want to use services that were needed by women who were victims. But when my daughter, while in law school, became president of an advocacy group to help victims of domestic violence, I hung on every word she said – and I did every thing I could to help her with her projects. I attended court one day. I heard a victim on the stand detail what her husband had done to her. And I turned stone cold. She could have been describing me. The judge ruled in favor of the victim. She told the defendant that he was an abuser. And punished him as such. He went to jail that day.

Shortly after that time my publisher, Harlequin Books, asked me to take part in a charity project. I was to write a fiction novella based on the life’s work of their charity recipient, Sandra Ramos. Sandra founded Strengthen Our Sisters, the first battered women’s shelter in the United States. Sandra began telling me about her life’s work, about the victims she’d helped, about the statutes she’s fought for, the laws that were results, in large part, of her tireless effort on the behalf of women who are victims of domestic violence. (Much like the work Maria DiBari is doing here!) As I listened, I could no longer doubt that I was a victim. Sandra’s example, her strength, and the constant support of my husband, Tim Barney, held me up through the incredibly painful process of coming clean with myself. I had lies to unfurl, fear to face, but most difficult of all, I had to look myself in the eyes and open my heart again. I am here today to thank and support Maria and Sandra and everyone else who won’t let abusers get away with victimizing women – and to testify that there is hope after abuse. Love and joy wait on the other side.

This post is brought to you as part of the It Happened On Maple Street International Blog Tour. For a complete tour schedule visit www.tarataylorquinn.com. All blog commenters are added to the weekly basket list. Gift Basket given each week to one randomly drawn name on the list.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, or if you suspect someone is, please contact www.thehotline.org, or call, toll free, 24/7, 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). The call can be anonymous and is always confidential. There is not one second of life that is worth wasting.

Next tour stop: Monday, May 16, Second Memory: http://kachlynda.wordpress.com/.

To get your copy of It Happened On Maple Street, visit your favorite bookseller, or www.maplestreetbook.com.

Don’t miss The Chapman Files! Still available at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Tara+Taylor+Quinn.

It Happened On Maple Street is available on Kindle and Nook, too! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0757315682/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d2_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0SKJ9D86BB5XG2BPT4MV&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846; http://search.barnesandnoble.com/It-Happened-on-Maple-Street/Tara-Taylor-Quinn/e/9780757315688/?itm=15&USRI=tara+taylor+quinn.

“CREAMING”: WHY MANY DV VICTIMS DON’T GET HELP

2011-05-07T11:48:00.003-04:00

Written by Anne Caroline Drake, MBA/JD in July 2009
http://annecarolinedrake.com/
This article is still so current. To me, it is genius.

Today I’m blowing the whistle on a corrupt system. I promised myself when I started this site that I would only write positive stories. But, I think it is time for y’all to know the truth about how the system operates. . .notice I did not use the word “works.”

While I was researching the story of Nancy Tyler yesterday, I discovered the story of Alice Morrin in the Hartford Courant.

Both women were trying valiantly to survive relationships with pit bull abusers. Both women frantically contacted friends for help. Nancy survived. Sadly, Alice did not.

Linda Blozie of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence was quoted in articles about each of them:

. . .the onus gets placed on the victim to keep themselves safe. . .

. . .there’s always some kind of trigger point that would put someone more at danger. I don’t know if you can ever predict that someone is going to be murdered.

Those of us who have survived domestic violence know the first statement is ever so true, and the last sentence of the second statement is pure bullshit. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to predict that Richard Shenkman would burn down the house before he’d surrender possession to Nancy. He’d done it before.

Neil Jacobson and John Gottman published their excellent book When Men Batter Women: New Insights into Ending Abusive Relationships in 1998. The book clearly explains the difference between a “cobra” and a ”pit bull” abuser.

The domestic violence system deals fairly effectively with people fleeing “cobra” abusers. Why does the system so frequently fail people fleeing “pit bull” abusers?

Creaming.

“Creaming” is a non-profit term for the practice of accepting clients who present a quick and easy fix. . .like skimming cream off the top of an old-fashioned butter churn.

It’s relatively easy to get free from a “cobra” abuser. All you have to do is call in sick and wait for him to leave for work. By the time he comes back home, you can be safely relocated. He’s not likely to hunt you down or stalk you. He’s more likely to slither on to his next victim.

But, “pit bull” abusers don’t let go. They stalk. They engage in litigation abuse. They destroy careers. They burn down houses and kidnap people. And, when they realize the relationship is, in fact, over, they kill. Their victims need lots of help and resources to survive.

When they don’t, their murders present fantastic fund raising opportunities for domestic violence agencies.

I’m blowing the whistle because I know for sure that Crystal Brame and Rebecca Griego both called domestic violence agencies. Crystal also called NOW. Rebecca worked for the University of Washington which bragged about their workplace safety program for DV victims, but they did nothing to protect her. Crystal and Rebecca did everything they knew how to do to stay alive. But, the system failed them miserably.

Vernetta Cockerham similarly did everything she knew how to do to protect her daughter. But, the cops let her down.

What leaves me furious is that the people who were paid to protect them didn’t. And, most of them still have their jobs.

We need to start holding the system more accountable. Like the good folks in Connecticut, we need to start asking hard questions. Why wasn’t Richard Shenkman in jail? He’d been terrorizing Nancy Tyler for years. Yes, he got arrested. Several times. The judges always grant his bail requests. He’s yet to be prosecuted. Why?

We also need to be vigilant about who gets Violence Against Women (VAW) funding from the Department of Justice (DoJ). They dispense the bulk of their funding to domestic violence agencies and police departments. Some do wonders with the funding they receive, but others let us down. We need to lobby our elected federal representatives and the DoJ to make sure VAW funds are increased for agencies who get the job done, and funds to the rest get cut or eliminated.

No more excuses.

The Domestic Violence Reform Act (A07367): Big thanks to Assemblyman Kevin Cahill and Kristen McManus

2011-05-05T17:35:00.006-04:00

It was 2008. I had been waiting in the Orange County Court Building in Goshen NY to speak with an advocate about a restraining order I was in need of. I was divorcing a batterer and was in need of protection. I was desperate. They turned me away. I walked out of the building with nothing but my anxiety. I couldn't understand it. I moved to Rockland County, and after months of stress I finally struggled to get a 9 month restraining order against a man that broke my bones and degraded me, and was also re-victimizing me in court through our divorce. 9 months, that's all I got with advocates assisting me, a shelter working with me, and evidence of injuries and police reports.

I am so glad Kevin Cahill has listened to our requests and has introduced this act for all victims of violence. We shouldn't have to fight for 9 month protection.

Proposed by Maria DiBari and Alyssa Kogon:

A07367 Summary:
BILL NO : A07367

SPONSOR: Cahill

Amd SS842 & 1056, Fam Ct Act; amd S240, Dom Rel L; amd S530.12, CP L
Relates to duration of orders of protection in cases involving domestic
violence.

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the family court act, the domestic relations law and the
criminal procedure law, in relation to orders of protection in cases involving domestic violence

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: Enacts the "Domestic Violence Reform Act" and extends the period of time for orders of protection in cases of domestic violence to five years for family court and ten years for criminal court.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: This bill amends section 842 of the family court act, subdivision 1 of section 1056 of the family court act and subdivision 3 of section 240 of the domestic relations law to extend the order of protection to a period of no less than five years in cases involving domestic violence.

The bill also amends subdivision 5 of section 530.12 of the criminal procedure law and subdivision 5 of section 530.12 of the criminal procedure law to extend the order of protection to a period of no less than ten years in cases involving domestic violence.

JUSTIFICATION: In order to ensure the safety of victims of domestic violence, it is critical that restraining orders are
structured to provide sufficient security in terms of the time protected. In the past, restraining orders have been time limited, and by providing judges with the flexibility to ensure that the time of the restraining order will protect the victim is essential. Therefore, sentencing should at a minimum require five years protection if awarded by a family court judge and ten years protection if awarded by a criminal court judge.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: This is a new bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.

The Poughkeepsie Journal: The Domestic Violence Reform Act is Introduced

2011-05-05T06:28:00.007-04:00

State must do more for victims of domestic violence

Written by Maria DiBari

Domestic homicides have been rampant in Dutchess County in the last year. We have lost four women, one unborn child, and one officer. This county has been devastated by domestic violence, and we need to re-examine the current system and create a coordinated community response so that victims of abuse are protected, offenders are held accountable, and deaths are prevented.

Many of these homicides have something in common. The perpetrators are often jailed, but then released on low bail and given freedom while their victims remain vulnerable. Many victims stay in the family home in fear of retaliation or in fear of losing child custody; others stay because of their obligations to mortgage payments or their responsibility to their career. The pathway out isn't always an easy one to walk. By allowing perpetrators their freedom after a violent offense, or after the violation of a restraining order, we assume that the victim will escape to a shelter, and that the shelter isn't at capacity.

Shelters were created to save abused women when the courts did not, or would not, hold the offender accountable for abuse. Since we have moved past a time when the court system didn't recognize domestic violence as a crime, it is time we expand upon relying on emergency shelters as our only safety net for a victim of abuse.

After the murder of Linda Ricardulli of Hyde Park in 2010, Alyssa Kogon and I have proposed Linda's Law. Although this proposal is still being worked on by the state, we have recently proposed The Domestic Violence Reform Act, which has been introduced in Linda's honor. In the near future, we will be opening the Tri-County Crisis Center in Beacon, which will be a nonprofit dedicated to assisting victims of domestic violence. One of our focuses will be to enhance and expand upon the current support system for domestic violence and to initiate the use of lethality assessment by first responders and service providers.

The state does not utilize effective lethality assessment tools. These assessments are questionnaires that are administered to victims by first responders at crime scenes. They are meant to predict high-risk cases and can be used in conjunction with location-based tracking devices. But because these tools aren't utilized, state law enforcement cannot accurately predict risk.

A location-based tracking system requires that a perpetrator wear an ankle bracelet, which is used to track and notify victims and law enforcement if the perpetrator is outside the designated safety-zone and is violating a restraining order. GPS legislation has been introduced but not passed in New York state. According to www.cindysmemorial.org, a website that tracks national progress on GPS legislation, 16 states are already using this technology for domestic batterers. With overcrowded jails, high incarceration costs and an increase in domestic homicide, location-based tracking devices seem to be an invaluable asset for victims, law enforcement and the courts.

Surprisingly there are domestic-violence organizations such as the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence that outwardly oppose GPS monitoring and view it as a "quick fix, one-size-fits-all approach" despite the fact that many victims are in need of and are demanding this technology. In spite of the opposition, GPS monitoring has a high success rate in preventing death and is little to no cost to the taxpayer. An added benefit to location-based tracking is that it provides indisputable evidence that a restraining order was or was not violated, which eliminates false allegations from being made against the defendant, thereby protecting the rights of the accused.
Domestic homicide and domestic violence can be prevented.
By using the tools and resources available to us, we can prevent domestic homicide by strengthening the network of first responders, providing more accurate information to the courts, improving visibility for law enforcement, and protecting victims who are denied shelter after reaching out for help.

Suffolk County Judge Fails Victim of Domestic Violence: NYPD Commander is beaten/broken and abuser gets no jail time

2011-05-04T17:40:00.005-04:00

No jail for ex-cop William Fowlkes in beating of his officer wife

BY BOB KAPPSTATTER
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, May 4th 2011, 4:00 AM

A man charged with beating his wife, an NYPD precinct commander, avoided jail time after pleading guilty to a couple of misdemeanors, officials said.

Police said William Fowlkes, 47, followed Deputy Inspector Juanita Holmes to the Islip, L.I., home of another man on March 21. When Holmes came outside, Fowlkes began beating her on the front lawn, police said. Holmes, the commanding officer of the 81st Precinct in Bedford-Stuyvesant, suffered broken ribs.

An NYPD detective assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force heard the woman's screams and chased Fowlkes off, sources said. Fowlkes, a retired Hempstead cop, claimed Holmes, 46, was having an affair with the NYPD detective.

A Suffolk County judge on Monday ordered Fowlkes to attend domestic violence classes. He pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and criminal trespass, both misdemeanors, and disorderly conduct, a violation.

The judge also issued an order of protection for Holmes, a 24-year NYPD veteran, and said she'll sentence Fowlkes to three years of probation.

Holmes returned to work on April 18.

Letter to the Editor: Poughkeepsie Journal reader questions the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence

2011-05-03T06:36:00.003-04:00

County not doing job on violence response

In response to the Valley Views, "GPS surveillance plan under review in Dutchess" (April 24), written by Leah Feldman: Global positioning systems works via satellite. Mountaineers use it. Why is there an idea that there's inconsistent service in Dutchess County?

I've read that organizations in other states have run these systems privately, at a small profit. It seems to me that it would serve as a model, and be reason enough to eliminate the discussion of the cost to the taxpayer. It's all in how you manage it, of course.

Recent words from the Dutchess County Republicans and domestic violence organizations have stated that the county serves as a model county for domestic violence response. To publicly state this, both before and after some of the recent deaths, is disgusting. If these public officials worked for a for-profit business and spoke with such ignorance of the facts, they'd be fired, no question.

A business has a bottom line, and cannot afford to carry on such nonsense. Perhaps these officials can wake up and realize that people's lives are their bottom line.

Hudson Valley resident Maria DiBari has been writing about GPS for three years already. Where have these taxpayer-paid representatives been?

Ms. Feldman's article is another soft statement about the idea of progress, biding time for the slow grind of politics.

Benjamin Giardullo

Facing Trauma: Discovery Health is giving away FREE reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries to victims of domestic violence

2011-04-30T09:26:00.004-04:00

Recall Project Lily: http://4survivors.blogspot.com/2010/07/discovery-health-helping-lily.html

Lily Morales in NYC reached out to me last year in need of assistance and could not get help from the resources available and was in need of reconstructive surgery due to abuse. After teaming up with Survivors in Action, both SIA and I helped Lily get the surgeries she needed and sent her to the Discovery Channel for help after the NCADV failed to assist her in a timely manner. This woman was given free, cosmetic, dental and reconstructive surgery by Discovery Health and we are glad to see she is living a new life after the transformation.

Discovery Fit and Health is looking for survivors who have sustained facial injuries resulting from domestic violence or violent crimes for the documentary series FACING TRAUMA.

Facing Trauma follows Dual Board Certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Andrew Jacono as he helps put back together the faces and lives of people who have been tragically and visibly scarred by violence and are struggling to move forward.

Dr. Jacono's expert reconstructive treatment will be provided FREE for the benefit of the survivor.

If you or someone you know could be a potential candidate please send a summary of the story to facingtrauma@gmail.com and include the following information:

1.Your Full Name

2.Telephone number and/or email address

3.City/State

Mid Hudson News:Outspoken domestic violence victim creates crisis center

2011-04-29T20:43:00.003-04:00

BEACON – Maria DiBari, a domestic violence survivor from Dutchess County who has been critical of the existing network of counseling services, has created her own not-for-profit service. The Tri-County Crisis Center in Beacon will provide counseling for battered women in Dutchess, Orange and Putnam counties.

DiBari said she wants to fill a void that she perceives exists in the current counseling efforts.

“I was a victim; the best way to know how one’s services are working is through their customers and I was a customer, and I can say as a customer or a victim of domestic violence, I know,” she said. “And also after living in many counties in New York that the services, yes, are available, but they are very hard to actually tap into as a victim.”

An early supporter and member of her advisory council is Jacqueline Axt of Congers, whose sister was Linda Riccardulli, who was murdered by her husband in their Hyde Park home before he took his own life.

“It has been kind of my goal in honor of my sister to help make some changes in the laws as well as try to find a way to help people when they are in this type of situation to get help and understand how the system works,” she said.

There are also the traditional counseling services provided by a number of agencies in each Hudson Valley county.

Tri-county Crisis Center may be reached at info@tricountycrisiscenter.org .

Jackie Axt setting the record straight in the Hudson Valley News...

2011-04-28T17:49:00.001-04:00

Open publication - Free publishing

Orange County NY hit with domestic homicide: Woodbury Murder/Suicide

2011-04-26T20:37:00.001-04:00

By Alyssa Sunkin

Times Herald-Record

Published: 4:44 PM - 04/24/11
Last updated: 4:46 PM - 04/24/11

CENTRAL VALLEY — Town of Woodbury Police believe a man shot his girlfriend multiple times before taking his own life in an apparent murder-suicide early Saturday morning.

Officers responded to a 1 a.m. Saturday call for shots fired on Woodward Terrace. Police believe Vincent Russo, 26, of Virginia, used a .40 caliber handgun to shoot his girlfriend, Ramy Jacildo, 22, of the Philippines, multiple times before taking his own life.

Officers found Russo lying in the home’s driveway with a gunshot wound to the head, officials said. He was transported by Woodbury Ambulance and Mobile Life to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern where he was pronounced dead.

Jacildo was found slumped against the side of the home. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Autopsies were scheduled Sunday afternoon at the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Russo and Jacildo apparently met about a year ago while she was on vacation in Washington D.C., police officials said. They had been in a long-distance relationship ever since.

Jacildo was in Central Valley visiting family who live at the Woodward Terrace home. Russo came up from Virginia to meet her and her family, police said. Police are trying to piece together what happened next.

The investigation is ongoing. Town of Woodbury Police were assisted at the scene by the State Police and Village of Harriman Police.

This is the first murder in the Town of Woodbury in more than 40 years, officials said.

asunkin@th-record.com

Two opposing views on GPS monitoring: Dutchess County's Domestic Violence Leader, Leah Feldman, is Featured in The Poughkeepsie Journal

2011-04-24T12:53:00.010-04:00

To view Ms. Feldman's article: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110424/OPINION/104240349/GPS-surveillance-plan-under-review-Dutchess

Comment by Former Law Enforcement Officer:

Dead Zones? Really Ms. Feldman? What cereal box did you read to ascertain that wonderful bit of DIS-INFORMATION?

After reading your article, it’s apparent that you couldn’t possibly have written it. Because it’s the same diatribe, the same drivel spouted misandry. Which equates to nothing more than bigotry, and denotes an overall lack of intellectual mental capacity.

While I pray that is not the case, I’m going out on a limb here; but do you hate the “Amber Alert System” too? How about the GPS device that is inserted under the skin of our beloved pets at the local Veterinarians office? I did not see one, NOT ONE article; scientific, newsworthy or otherwise that attested to, or attempted to verify both your claims and stated position.

In your posting, you mention – “Implementation of this system must address a process for training multiple law enforcement agencies and judges. It also needs to create a selection process to assure its deployment for appropriate offenders. We also must ensure that all community agencies are committed to use of the technology for the safe and effective implementation of the system.

Lastly, funding must be considered. Some of the costs included with the technology are the bracelets themselves, the GPS servers and software, and the salaries for the people operating the computers 24/7.”

While your statement is grammatically correct. Did you actually read it? In the first part you identify your unfounded and uncorroborated fears. Fears that you have chosen to echo as fact, onto an unknowing and ill-advised audience. Concerning who needs to be trained, and questing how much such training might cost.

And then you never advise that there are already people in place who do exactly that, and so it wouldn’t cost anything. REALLY? How exactly did you get into a position of “Public Trust” anyway?

Since you mentioned it. Perhaps you could tell me exactly how much training did Law Enforcement and Judicial Officers need, with the implementation of the “Amber Alert GPS Bracelet Monitoring” for our children?

In the same breath, how much training did Law Enforcement and Judicial officers need with the implementation, of the “under the skin or subdural GPS device” that was placed into my Dog when I adopted him from the shelter?

You mention these costs, but you offer nothing – ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BY WAY OF SHOWING THESE COSTS. Do you work for the current Presidential Administration? I ask, simply because that’s seems to be a favorite ploy of theirs. Is your idea of progress and helping to mitigate and quite possibly eliminate a crime, to spout nothing but unfounded rumors? Unintelligent, unscientific facts and clearly identified misinformation.

You initially stated “While GPS has been used successfully in locations other than New York, it has not been implemented in other than limited pilot projects in this state. Significant study and planning must be completed before GPS can be operational in Dutchess County. The committee is actively engaged in that task so that responsible recommendations can be made to the Legislature.”

You also mention “Significant study and planning must be completed before GPS can be operational in Dutchess County.” So tell me, who is “SIGNIFICANTLY QUALIFIED” on your amazing committee and felt obliged to warn the public of the dangers concerning the “Amber Alert GPS Bracelets”? What “significant study” did your “Highly Intellectual” committee utilize for that?

And remember, these are your words, not mine.

Clearly once again – you are taking an idea and position postulated by a more informed individual, and attempting to make it your own. Exactly what advantage are you seeking? Because you have quite obviously failed miserably at it.

In fact, the only thing you seem quite adept at is taking a proposal from another person, and attempting to make it your own. Have you actually done any research into this matter? It’s doubtful, otherwise you would have much better informed, and in your position offering “A Public Service to Abused Women.” I for one as a Parent, as a Father of my only little girl, would want that; from someone proclaiming themselves to be "HER" only advocate.

Let me help you here. I am including and listing below several news worthy articles attesting to the usage and costs for a GPS monitoring device, when used stemming from a “Domestic Violence” situation. I would recommend this for my daughter, for any young woman in my family, and to friends, and their children.

I firmly believe in this, having both studied the engineering aspects of the device, as well as the intellectual implications of what this device means in an “Orwellian Society” today.

Such as it is, it can both protect and go a long way in ensuring her protection involving a Domestic Violence scenario. You and your committee cannot say the same. Not only that, but I also hope it goes even one step further. And takes great steps to eliminate the issue of “False Complaints” used by immoral partners, corrupted former partners and immoral attorneys, in the highly overburdened family law court system today.

I for one have done the research; and furthermore, I have actually utilized a GPS when I was a Law Enforcement Officer. I also used a GPS in the Military, when I volunteered my service during Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

I know they work, and I know the limitations that you speak of. And they are nothing but the rehashed and postulated drivel from the ill informed. The Amber Alert GPS Monitoring device is accurate down to 33 feet. 33 feet, is just over the width of 1 lane of traffic.

And I also know they do not rely upon cell phone or cell towers to operate. Only an idiot would postulate such a position. The GPS devices used in the "Amber Alert System" and in this device are a three tier design - THREE ACTIVE TYPES OF SURVEILLANCE AND/OR MONITORING, NOT RELYING ON JUST ONE, OF THE THREE....

I would suggest that you contact the Poughkeepsie Journal, and ask them to retract your initial statement. I would suggest further that you contact your “Committee” the local City and County Officers, Law Enforcement, and Officers of the Court and advise them that you were misinformed.

If you actually believe in telling the truth, you should tell them that you took this idea form someone else, and did very little research to support your disingenuous conclusion, and that your are both very ashamed and sorry for what you have done.

Besides committing plagiarism, you assumed a “Factual” position without first gaining the appropriate knowledge to do so. Then to compound matters, in assuming an expertise in such a position.

Perhaps you could advise each and everyone them, and of us, readers of the Poughkeepsie Journal included. How many lives would have been spared, if in-fact you had done your promised job? And that is: To offer a form of protection. Any AVAILABLE form of protection, for victims of Domestic Violence.

And just how does GPS Tracking work?

The Global Positioning System functions as follows:
The GPS Receiver receives signals transmitted from orbiting GPS Satellites. Once these satellite transmissions are received by the GPS Receiver, crucial information such as location, direction, and speed are then calculated. A GPS Receiver generally requires transmissions from at least three GPS Satellites before effectively determining the correct position. (The term for the technique to calculate distance is: Trialateration.) GPS Receivers then measure the time delays between transmissions and reception of radio signals from each GPS Satellite.

AND NOW YOU KNOW, AND YOU ARE MUCH BETTER INFORMED.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=133674
http://gizmodo.com/#!5553760/gps-device-helps-domestic-violence-victims-avoid-their-abusers
http://www.housearrestsolution.com/Has_news.aspx
http://www.allbusiness.com/society-social-assistance-lifestyle/families-children/14560074-1.html
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/ontario-ca/TFIV15R1PAPUAO10H
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/01/huffpost-innovators serie_n_631796.html#s99110&title=GPS_Monitoring_Solutions
http://www.allbusiness.com/society-social-assistance-lifestyle/families-children/14560074-1.html

Comment by Benjamin G:

Doesn't GPS work via satellite? Mountaineers use GPS. We're under 100 miles from NYC. What dead zones?

I've read that organizations in other states have run these systems privately, at a small profit. It seems to me that it would serve as a model, and be reason enough to elminate the discussion of the cost to the taxpayer. It's all in how you manage it of course. Recent words from the Dutchess County Republicans and DV organizations have stated that the county serves as a model county for domestic violence response. To publicly state this before and after some of the recent deaths is disgusting. If these public officials worked for a for-profit business and said such an ignorant thing, they'd be fired, no question. A business has a bottom line, and cannot afford to carry on such nonsense. Perhaps these officials can wake up and realize that people's lives are their bottom line. Hudson Valley resident Maria Dibari has been writing about GPS for 3 years already. Where have these taxpayer-paid representatives been?

This is another soft statement about the idea of progress, biding time for the slow grind of politics.

Comment by Benjamin G:

Numerous deaths, some serious discussions, various solutions on the table, and somehow Pokperson chose to focus on sentence fragmentation. If he/she can't see what's wrong with that, then they aren't the brightest one in the bunch. Such a blatant disregard for the subject at hand, and still some favorable votes. It's disappointing to know that several readers think it's good to discuss grammar when victims and their families can read this. Whether we agree or not, let's talk about the real problems and solutions instead of broadcasting such monumental ignorance.

Over the years I've heard several officers in Hudson Valley counties state that their most frequent problems are DV related calls. Recently this was said to be the case in Dutchess County, at least at some of the stations. I then learned that the county provides police training once per year for DV response. Now, in what other profession would this be sufficient? A business person getting an MBA by going to school once per year? No. A professional athlete practicing his/her sport once per year? Not possible. A farmer learning better soil management skills by getting dirty once per year? Of course not.

The needed DV reform has been overdue. Knowledgeable advocates have been proposing good, well-informed solutions for years. County officials are numerous steps behind these advocates, even if their intentions are good. Surviving victims and family members seem to be far ahead of most social workers because the experience is different; when social services fail a victim, it isn't the social worker who gets killed in their 8 hour day. The inherent urgency is understandably one-sided.

NY officials have been following the lead of Maria DiBari (advocate, scientist, engineer, and DV survivor) for a long time. Articles such as this clearly echo the words on www.4survivors.blogspot.com. Our public committee needs to have Ms. DiBari at the table. Everyone stands to benefit from her knowledge and leadership.

Lost to Domestic Violence: Jackie Axt speaks out on behalf of her late sister and domestic violence victims in NYS

2011-04-22T18:08:00.004-04:00

Recently, I've been reading about all of the available services for domestic violence assistance in Dutchess County. I cannot help but point out how this "model" for DV response has failed so many people.

I'd like to set a few things straight. My sister, Linda Riccardulli, was not helped by Grace Smith House. She did not get directed to a Domestic Violence Court in Dutchess County. She was not assigned a DV Divorce Lawyer who would have given her appropriate council. She and her children were not protected by the "Order of Protection" that was given to them. Her estranged husband who was a danger to himself and others was released from jail and what she was given was 40 minutes notice that he was out. That was the "model" that did not save Linda's life last summer, the same model I keep reading about.

I can not correlate the military level response to the woman who was being evicted from her home, to the lack of response that Linda encountered in Dutchess County when she brought her multiple OP violations to her lawyers, the DA and Police, and ultimately as she lay bleeding in her home on the night she lost her life.

I really cannot fathom the reluctance that the advocates I work with, Maria DiBari and Alyssa Kogon have encountered trying to offer solutions to the problems. Not far fetched solutions or unproven theories. These are solutions that have been proven effective in other places. Ideas that have been dismissed or ignored, and in some instances, many months later, are being touted as their own.

As previously mentioned, the press conference we held in September for "Linda's Laws" was not attended by anyone from any DV assistance group even though they were all invited.

The latest slap in the face was the Committee hearing on April 7th. You can see for yourself how the discussion of the GPS proposal was mentioned and tabled and the reaction from the Angela Friesland -R who seemed annoyed that it was even being brought up. I wrote a letter to the Legislature/Advisory Committee regarding my feelings from a victims point of view. (letter attached below)

I got three responses (Thank you!) out of 25 people in the Legislature. Most notably , I received no response from Leah Feldman who is the Project Coordinator of the Universal Response to Domestic Violence. The most resounding response I got was the Web Cast taken down the day after my letter was received by the Legislature. Only after complaints from the public, the Webcast was put back up and a letter from the Advisory Committee went out to appease those concerned and angered about the Legislature Meeting.

Stop using my sister as a political pawn. I am appalled that these groups keep invoking Linda's name when I know first hand that they did not help her before her death, nor have they supported or even acknowledged the family in the wake of her murder.

ATTACHMENT LETTER TO LEGISLATURE 4-14-11

County Legislature,

I would like to thank those Legislators in Dutchess County that value saving the lives of domestic violence victims in the community and were willing to speak out, along with the unpaid advocates in the county.

However, I'm sorry that the value of saving lives for some is not as obvious as the value of a free ice machine.

I am shocked and appalled by what occurred in the committee meeting on April 7th. it is unbelievable that the committee was so quick to table the GPS proposal with nothing more than a vague "We're looking into it" from the Advisory Committee Liaison. That Leah Feldman, the Project Coordinator for the Universal Response for Domestic Violence had nothing to say on the matter is baffling.

Furthermore, my family and I are offended by the callus comments made by Legislator Angela Flesland as though it was out of line to bring this proposal to the meeting. My sister, Linda Riccardulli, is dead, and other families in addition to my own have been destroyed by homicides related to DV since. The Committee is not working fast enough where domestic violence is concerned. The offenders were all out on bail. Victims go unprotected. The GPS would have saved lives, and as part of a solution deserves discussion, not distain. You must remember we are dealing with lives, not political agendas.

Jacqueline Axt

Congers, NY

Sister of Linda Axt Riccardulli

7-18-1963 to 7-29-2010

Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend

Lost to Domestic Violence

The Advisory Committee responds to the criticism and are finally taking a field trip out of Dutchess County!

2011-04-20T06:30:00.005-04:00

The Dutchess County Committee covers their backs due to all the criticism last week. I wonder where they are all going on their field trip? Maybe it's the place I suggested, the Crisis Center in MA where this is being done successfully. I'm sure it's not Madrid....

Dutchess County Legislative
Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence

April 19, 2011

Dear Members of the County Legislature:

Thank you for providing to us a copy of a proposed resolution submitted to the Dutchess County Legislature regarding support of GPS monitoring systems in high risk domestic violence cases. As members of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence we applaud your efforts to speed along this County’s use of GPS monitoring in conjunction with lethality assessment tools to improve victim safety. While we understand your desire to speed up the process, we also recognize that it must be done properly.

Before you adopt this resolution, we would like to update you on the work of the Advisory Committee. While we stand by our report, the committee understands that there are multiple concerns that must be addressed before such a program is adopted.

To address the issues, we are undertaking a comprehensive review to ensure that the plan can work, that it is affordable and that above all, it improves safety for victims. Our responsibility is to ensure that our system in Dutchess County is structured to safely implement this new initiative. As part of our review we are actively exploring many different issues such as a process for training law enforcement and judges on this new system, a selection process for an offender to qualify for this service, ways to address loopholes in the technology, etc. We also are ensuring that various departments that would be affected by the technology are included in the research process.

We are planning a visit to a jurisdiction that uses GPS monitoring so that we can see how such a program works in their community and learn from those already involved how best to implement this proposal. After we have had the opportunity to visit a GPS community, we believe that we will be in a better position to provide a report to you on implementation of a GPS protocol.

In light of our intention to provide a comprehensive plan to implement GPS monitoring, we are hopeful that you will wait to consider this resolution until we have had an opportunity to report to you. If any members of the Legislature would like to discuss the proposal outlined in the report, please feel free to contact the committee so we can update you on the status. As always, we appreciate your tremendous support of our work to advise you on domestic violence issues in Dutchess County.

Very truly yours,

Dutchess County Legislative Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence

Legislator Donna Bolner

Elaine Andersen

Susie Balutis-Mallory

Leah Feldman

Kathryn Graham

Brittany Lee

Judith Lombardi

Det. Sgt. Jason Mark

Michael Reed

Lisa Rubenstein

Catherine Poluzzi

Marjorie Smith

Janice Weinstein

"A DV victim trying to get help is like a dog trying to catch it's tail"

2011-04-19T16:49:00.005-04:00

A victim's point of view of the available resources for domestic violence:

"Speak up and lose your children"

"It's just more people saying - call so and so... here is a nice pamphlet on DV"

"Run and die tired"

Of the victim's that I provide service to in the US, this victim's comments to me regarding the available resources hit close to home. Resources not properly working for victims is a topic that no one likes to talk about. No one likes to discuss their flaws, and unfortunately, that is a flaw in itself. How can we learn what is and is not working if we can't discuss the flaws of our support services? And who better to get this information from than victims themselves?

I just had a meeting with one of the police stations in Dutchess County today. I am trying to initiate lethality assessment into Dutchess in response to the many domestic homicides in the county. I am also trying to inform law enforcement about the various concerns I have about victim response in domestic violence situations. Unfortunately, it is very hard for survivors of violence to advocate for victims in the community, or to even have a voice. It has been more of a challenge to try and help people in the community with domestic violence issues than it has been living though violence first-hand, and navigating through broken domestic violence services in NY. One would think that it would be easy to communicate good ideas to other adults for the benefit of battered victims, but it has been a struggle. Unfortunately, one needs strong political ties to enter the domestic violence arena.

We learn something new everyday.

There aren't many domestic violence service providers that are willing to listen and learn from survivors of violence that know the system inside and out because they lived through it. Survivors are assets to domestic violence service providers and law enforcement because they are the "customers" of these service providers-who better to know the services than the customers? I am beginning to notice that people are more interested in my credentials when I present myself as a victim advocate, which I am. My credentials are, for those who are interested, a BS/MA in Molecular Biology, years of work in the analytical science field and management, legislative reform in the areas of domestic abuse, and surviving a high-risk domestic violence situation. I have become an expert in navigating through the various support systems in NYS. At first unsuccessful at accessing resources and assistance in many counties in NY, I quickly learned that it is not as easy as reaching out to the local hotline or shelter. Victims need skills to be victims, and I have helped hundreds of victims get proper assistance.

I am opening a Tri-County Crisis Center in Dutchess County NY to do what I do best, help victims get help, give them real, life skills to deal with their situations, empower, propose new, progressive ideas in combatting domestic violence, and I am doing so with or without the support of our county leaders in the field. Although many in the field would like to see me go away for whatever reasons, there are more abused women out there than there are domestic violence service advocates. The victims I help are loyal and there are many of them. They learn from me as much as I learn from them, and that's how my organization is being modelled. I welcome the opinions of the survivors and victims because they are my customers and they have something important and valuable to share.

In the Pharmaceutical field, we hire auditors and pay them to come in and do major inspections on the way we run our facility. They audit our procedures, our methods, our experiments, the workers, the equipment, and the products. We actually pay these people to come into our business and turn it upside down so that we can do our job better by learning from our mistakes, our flaws. We do this with the risk that our whole business could be closed down if we aren't performing our jobs effectively because in the Science field we directly impact human lives. I honestly believe that domestic violence service providers should be run in the same way. Instead of silencing survivors for speaking out about flaws and gaps in the system, they should welcome the critique. When we do jobs that directly impact human life, there is a standard that we need to measure up to. If problems are being pointed out, we need need to acknowledge them and work on correcting our errors-and we should be thankful for people that are pointing out the errors for free.

Letter: Dutchess fails its citizens

2011-04-19T16:17:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of the Daily Freeman

Dear Editor:

Shame on the Republicans in the Dutchess County Legislature. On April 7, they tabled ground-breaking domestic violence legislation (introduced by the Democratic legislative minority) that would have begun the process of GPS tracking of alleged abusers. They did not even allow discussion. Assistant Majority Leader Angela Flesland even had the audacity to suggest that Dutchess County does not have a domestic violence problem.

Well, I don’t know what she considers a “problem,” but six deaths in less than a year seems problematic to me.

Flesland also stated that a Domestic Violence Advisory Committee has been investigating GPS tracking since January so there was no need for this legislation. It’s almost May now. When will this committee have a working model for the county? Next year?

During public comment, both myself and Maria DiBari, as volunteer DV advocates, addressed the Legislature. We begged them, on behalf of DV victim Linda Riccardulli’s family, to vote for this lifesaving legislation. Apparently our plea fell on deaf ears.

Surprisingly, Leah Feldman, project coordinator for Dutchess County’s Universal Response to Domestic Violence, did not make a statement at this meeting, but sat quietly through it. One would think she would have implored the legislators to vote for a bill that could potentially save the lives of many victims.

Once again, Dutchess County failed its citizens. Domestic violence is a non-partisan issue. It’s time that our Republican lawmakers realize it.

Alyssa Kogon

The Holly Collins Case: recognizing the Family Court Crisis in the US

2011-04-16T13:46:00.001-04:00

A few months after Holly Collins turned 22 years old she opened the front door of her family home in St Louis Park, Minnesota to Hennepin County Child Protection investigators. They made it known that they were aware of her husband’s abuse to her and her children, specifically citing a recent fracture to her little boy’s skull. This young mother was warned that if she didn’t flee immediately with her children and file for an Order For Protection her children would be removed from her care as well and there would be a procedure of Failure To Protect charges filed against her. This is one way to force a battered woman to leave her abuser and protect her children. One may think it is a bit harsh to threaten an abuse victim with criminal charges but perhaps necessary to protect her and her children.

It is incomprehensible that as a result of the Order For Protection, which was granted and forbade Mark Collins from abusing his wife and children, the father was simultaneously granted unsupervised visitation with the very children he abused. This girl, barely a woman couldn’t understand the ramifications of the family court system. Holly Collins sought out the Child Protection Investigators who forced her to take her children away from their abusive father and went directly to the Child Protection office in a panic begging them to protect her children. “This is why I stayed” She wept “At least I could protect the children MOST of the time. Now my children have to go alone with him and there is no one there to protect them.” The child protection desk agent was sympathetic but explained that once this battered woman took actions to protect her children and left her abuser the case was then transferred from Juvenile Court to Family Court and it was her duty as a mother to get the family court judge to protect her children.

In the meantime Holly’s young children would return from court ordered visitations battered and bruised. Holly’s little boy was treated by their pediatrician for injuries sustained from his father‘s abuse. The doctor’s report documents the bruises to the young lad and clearly states “Mother will be alert for abuse potential situation.” For 5 more years Holly Collins was alert and vigilant to protect her children but time after time and one court hearing after another Mark Collins somehow managed to convince the judge that Holly was trying to “Alienate” him from his children’s lives. Eventually a family court judge instructed Holly to take the children to the Boston Children’s Hospital to be evaluated by the Child Abuse Trauma Team and he simultaneously ordered a custody evaluation. Both Dr. Eli Newberger and the entire investigative team at the Boston Children’s Hospital found that the children and their mother were severely abused by the father. Back in Hennepin County the Family Court Investigator also confirmed domestic violence but conceded that Holly’s fear of her husband was (although unwittingly) indeed interfering in the children’s relationship with their father. And just like that custody was reversed to the very man who terrorized, beat and battered this woman and her children.

Holly eventually fled the country with her children and was the first American citizen granted asylum in the Netherlands. After 14 years in hiding she was found by the FBI. After a lengthy investigation ALL international and domestic kidnapping charges were dismissed. When questioned by reporters in the lobby of the Minneapolis Court House Holly Collins responded that the biggest mistake she ever made was leaving her abuser.

Is this really the message we want to send to abuse victims?

written by Jennifer Collins

Thank you to Lisa O. for having the Tri-County Crisis Center on your show!

2011-04-15T00:48:00.002-04:00

Alyssa Kogon and I did the Lisa O. Show today on WHVW 950AM in Poughkeepsie NY.

Thank you to Lisa for inviting us on the air and giving us a chance to speak about our Crisis Center, which will be opening in Beacon NY.

Newburgh NY Mother and Three Children Drive to Their Death After Domestic Violence Incident

2011-04-13T09:29:00.009-04:00

So many battered women feel that they don't have options after surviving domestic violence. This Orange County victim, LaShanda Armstrong, kills herself and her family after a domestic dispute. As a community and state we need to acknowledge that domestic violence victims are in need and are not properly being assisted by our current domestic violence support system. As a victim of domestic violence, I know the struggle of trying to navigate through the support system. Fast, effective solutions to this problem are hard to find, and many victims don't have time, patience, or the ability to battle an abuser and the system set up to protect them simultaneously. We need to come together as resource providers and provide hope and real plans to victims, and empower the victims beaten down by their abusers.

(CNN) -- A mother and three of her children were found dead after the woman drove her van into the Hudson River Tuesday night, a fire department official said.

The woman drove her van into the river in Newburgh, New York, according to Michael Vatter, the city's fire chief.
A 10-year-old boy alerted authorities to the incident upon arriving at the city's fire station shortly before 8:00 p.m., Vatter said. Responders found the van approximately 25 yards offshore in 8 to 10 feet of water, according to the chief.
Vatter said it's "hard to tell" at this point whether the woman drove the van into the water deliberately.
"There was apparently a domestic disturbance just prior to this incident involving that family," Vatter said.

According to MSNBC
Altercation 10 minutes before:
The domestic altercation occurred about 10 minutes before the woman drove into the river, said Vatter, who didn't have any more information on it.

City of Newburgh police Chief Michael Ferrara said officers had gone to an address in Newburgh at 7:45 p.m. following a report of the domestic dispute, according to The Times Herald-Record.
However, he told the paper that when they arrived, there was no one at the house. Minutes later, the boy turned up at the fire station.

"It's a horrible sight, all of them in the car," Ferrara said.

A neighbor Jim Simeon said he would often hear sounds of children playing in the home upstairs, but added he had not spoken to the family.

"The kids play, but not fighting ... It's terrible," he told The Times Herald-Record.

"This is the worst call I’ve been on in 12 years," a Newburgh city firefighter told the Hudson Valley Insider.

Newburgh, which has about 30,000 residents, sits on the western shore of the part of the river that runs south through New York state and eventually splits New York and New Jersey.

Dutchess County domestic violence service providers paid to monitor my website?

2011-04-12T13:44:00.009-04:00

Dutchess County domestic violence service providers paid to surf the net make anonymous posts while victims pleas for help go unanswered...

I am a volunteer victim advocate. I do this for free. I do this on my free time. I advocate for victims only, and I do this because I know what it is like to be frightened, unable to get assistance, and in fear of my life. I'm dedicated to this cause, to victims, because they are horribly under-represented in communities, across states, and around the world. I also work full-time in the Science field.

What completely disturbs me as both a victim of domestic violence and an advocate is this: Our paid advocates spending time during business hours criticizing me, leaving strange, anonymous comments on my site, and researching my blog for hours at a time during the work day instead of helping victims overcome abuse.

I rarely put people on display for this, but today I will. We are having a serious problem in Dutchess County with domestic violence homicide and I am serious in solving the problems in this community and in others. When I notice public domestic violence leaders in this community spending entire work days on my blog, it highly disturbs and frightens me. I will not mention this woman's name here. I will keep that information confidential, but I will post her search history below and use it as an example of how some of the paid advocates are using their work days. Below is a sample of a Dutchess County domestic violence advocate and leader searching my website for hours on end during business hours:

Paetec Communications (63.139.130.10) [Label IP Address]

Poughkeepsie, New York, United States

Date Time Type WebPage

11th April 2011 12:50:24 Page View www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2F4survivors.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fpress-conference-with-alyssa-kogon-and.html&rct=j&q=maria%20dibari%20domestic%20violence&ei=RTGjTdeYMqbe0QGcz93dDg&usg=AFQjCNHyKAJ-9Lmw4nuZxrHJhDzZ-wOE-w4survivors.blogspot.com/2010/09/press-conference-with-alyssa-kogon-and.html

11th April 2011 12:50:26 Page View 4survivors.blogspot.com/2010/09/press-conference-with-alyssa-kogon-and.html4survivors.blogspot.com/

11th April 2011 12:55:51 Exit Link https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6394926884608020889&postID=7426507427489465543&isPopup=true

11th April 2011 12:56:00 Exit Link https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6394926884608020889&postID=4463281833456581371&isPopup=true

11th April 2011 16:22:01 Page View No referring link
www.4survivors.blogspot.com/

11th April 2011 16:23:39 Page View www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CCAQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.4survivors.blogspot.com%2F&rct=j&q=survivor%20blog%20maria%20dibari&ei=Q2OjTdbyMPO90QGXq9mGBQ&usg=AFQjCNH0FAK0NzMMm79EgFbOczMtxkvHGg
www.4survivors.blogspot.com/

11th April 2011 16:24:32 Page View No referring link
www.4survivors.blogspot.com/

11th April 2011 16:30:36 Exit Link https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6394926884608020889&postID=1056175626387882476&isPopup=true

11th April 2011 16:31:24 Page View www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CCAQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.4survivors.blogspot.com%2F&rct=j&q=survivor%20blog%20maria%20dibari&ei=Q2OjTdbyMPO90QGXq9mGBQ&usg=AFQjCNH0FAK0NzMMm79EgFbOczMtxkvHGg
www.4survivors.blogspot.com/

11th April 2011 16:31:47 Page View www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CCAQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.4survivors.blogspot.com%2F&rct=j&q=survivor%20blog%20maria%20dibari&ei=Q2OjTdbyMPO90QGXq9mGBQ&usg=AFQjCNH0FAK0NzMMm79EgFbOczMtxkvHGg
www.4survivors.blogspot.com/

11th April 2011 16:34:48 Page View No referring link
www.4survivors.blogspot.com/

11th April 2011 16:35:35 Page View No referring link
www.4survivors.blogspot.com/

11th April 2011 16:35:52 Page View www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CCAQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.4survivors.blogspot.com%2F&rct=j&q=survivor%20blog%20maria%20dibari&ei=JWajTbPgFsyE0QHLzcWGBQ&usg=AFQjCNH0FAK0NzMMm79EgFbOczMtxkvHGg
www.4survivors.blogspot.com/

11th April 2011 16:36:08 Exit Link http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=6394926884608020889&postID=1056175626387882476

11th April 2011 16:36:17 Page View No referring link
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What is going on at the Right?: GPS Resolution for Dutchess County Tabled by the GOP

2011-04-09T14:27:00.007-04:00

If you haven't already watched the webcast of the Legislature's Committee Meeting on April 7th, 2011, please do.

Pay close attention to the women, surprisingly, that are "insulted" about the Democratic Party wanting a discussion about domestic violence and life-saving technology, GPS tracking for abusers. Instead of a discussion, the Republicans move to table the GPS resolution for Dutchess County, silence the Democrats, and insist that the "DV Committee is already working on it" and "we are already doing this".

Sure they are.

I would like to share this: The Citizens Advisory Committee has been hard at work following my work. Last month I wrote an article on location-based tracking and I mentioned a progressive Crisis Center in MA that has been having 100% success with GPS and lethality assessment tools-like many states using GPS for offenders. Less than one week later, Leah Feldman, our expert in the field, made a phone call to a contact of mine at the MA Crisis Center with sudden interest in the program. Previously, the Advisory Committee was using Madrid as a model community for domestic violence response (sigh)-I guess the experts failed to realize that we have working models in the Northeast. Luckily, they follow my writing.

I would also like to introduce you to our Assistant Majority Leader, Angela Flesland (R). Be sure to watch her in action at the Committee meeting (about 103 min. in). This is a woman that represents the community, makes decisions on our behalf, and I wanted to point her out to everyone. Also, take notice of Robert Rolison (R) and his opinions on the issues. I am frightened that these people are making decisions about such an important issue in our community, domestic homicide. "The Committee is working on it", and has been doing so for nearly a year with no action.

Also, notice the absence of advocates at the meeting. Wait, Leah Feldman was there, a domestic violence expert and universal advocate. She was keeping her chair warm, advocating from the very back of the room next to the door. I guess that would be me too if the government was giving me my pay check.

Let me define "advocate" because many do not understand what the word actually means:

advocate
vb [ˈædvəˌkeɪt]
(tr; may take a clause as object) to support or recommend publicly; plead for or speak in favour of
n [ˈædvəkɪt -ˌkeɪt]
1. a person who upholds or defends a cause; supporter
2. a person who intercedes on behalf of another
3. (Law) a person who pleads his client's cause in a court of law See also barrister, solicitor, counsellor
4. (Law) Scots Law the usual word for barrister
[via Old French from Latin advocātus legal witness, advocate, from advocāre to call as witness, from vocāre to call]
advocatory adj

"So long as our domestic violence advocates are "paid" by the political party in power, they remain at their beck and call. When funding for DV programming comes from the government, hence the ruling party, there is no such thing as advocating for the sole purpose of helping. The advocate then "owes" their salary and position to the man in charge. They speak when asked and remain strangely quiet on important matters when told to. When paid DV advocate Leah Feldman attended the very important Dutchess County Legislature Meeting and remained quiet during the time alloted to public comment for much needed DV legislation, that was a perfect example of this phenomenon. She should have been up at the microphone begging and imploring to have this legislation passed and GPS technology used to track alleged abusers. Instead, the Republican county legislators tabled it. The Republican did this because this was a Democratic initiative. They did not want the Democratic assembly members to get any credit for passing it. Instead, they made a comment about a Domestic Violence Committee working on a similar idea since January. Well, May is just around the corner. Where is it? Shame on the Republicans and the way they run Dutchess County. How many more DV deaths do we need to enact some vital legislation that actually makes sense? "

Alyssa Kogon

Recent domestic violence cases in the Hudson Valley:

http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2011/April/09/Brown_guilty-09Apr11.html

http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2011/April/10/Thomas_arr-10Apr11.htm

Dutchess County Legislature Not Ready to Tackle Domestic Violence

2011-04-08T19:46:00.002-04:00

Click on the link above to view the April 7, 2011 meeting in Dutchess County (approximately 94 minutes into the video).

County Legislators,

I would like to express my gratitude to those legislators that have supported the slain women in our community and have urged the county to use life saving technology to keep domestic violence victims safe.

Unfortunately, I feel that many are ignorant to this technology and are depending on a single Advisory Committee in Dutchess County to advise and provide information on something they know very little about. I would also like to say that GPS legislation has already been introduced in NYS, and although I am working on amending that bill with a state legislator due to problems I've noticed in the text, all is not lost for women in NY unable to live normal lives due to their batterers.

I am deeply disappointed in those who do not feel that domestic homicide in Dutchess County is a problem that needs immediate attention. I was also disappointed to see the absence of advocates at yesterday's meeting. I can't believe how some can call themselves "advocates" when there is such a lack of presence from these agencies that are supposed to be begging and pleading for such life saving technology. The silence from our paid advocates is deafening.

I will continue to be a resource to those that need my assistance and knowledge about domestic violence prevention in the county, it seems as though many need the information.

Maria DiBari

Life saving GPS legislation tabled in Dutchess County after multiple domestic violence homicides

2011-04-07T20:19:00.004-04:00

Six domestic violence related deaths in Dutchess County in the last 10 months and life saving GPS legislation gets tabled.

2011099 (.pdf) Urging the DA and criminal and family court judges to work together to implement a GPS monitoring system for high-risk domestic violence offenders

I attended this meeting today and spoke out in support of the many lives lost due to domestic violence in Dutchess County and in NYS. Alyssa Kogon spoke out on behalf of the Riccardulli family, the family lost Linda Riccardulli in 2010 to domestic homicide. Tragically, the Dutchess County Majority (R) doesn't see domestic violence as a priority and feels that the legislation can take a back seat.

Sadly, the wrong people are sitting in positions where they are able to save lives by taking a vote, and they choose not to. Everyday they choose to ignore the simple fact that victims are being slain by their batterers and are in dire need of protection. We have "advocates" that hold important positions that do not advocate. We have public officials that make the wrong decisions on our behalf. We have few activists. We are all too scared to demand better from all of these people.

The Dutchess County GOP has chosen to ignore the Femicide that has taken place in their own back yards.

Hudson Valley YNN covers the Crisis Center

2011-03-30T20:33:00.001-04:00

Thank you to Curtis Schick at YNN for covering our story today!

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- "I am a victim of domestic violence," said Maria DiBari.

Nine screws and a metal plate are in DiBari's leg. The injury caused by an abusive husband three years ago. Now DiBari, with help from friend Alyssa Kogan, is using her experience getting away for her abuser and trying to get help, to help others.

"It is going to be a one-stop center for victims of domestic violence," said DiBari.

DiBari and Kogan call it the Tri-County Crisis Center. They said it will be located in Beacon and will serve Dutchess, Orange and Putnam counties when it opens this summer. Both women said they are here to help abuse victims navigate the domestic violence services system, from finding councilors and pro-bono attorneys to changing identities.

"Not everyone wants to use the emergency shelters. There are people that can't or will not," said Kogan.

"We need everyone on board with us and we are willing to work with everyone," said DiBari.

They said the center will advocate for tougher domestic violence legislation, specifically Linda's Law. They said the law pushes for GPS tracking for repeat offenders, tougher bail requirements and offender lethality assessments. It is named for Linda Riccardulli. She was killed by her husband in Hyde Park last summer and was the first of a string of domestic homicides that has left Dutchess County shaken.

"We need to work together there have been six deaths and one of those deaths was of an officer," said DiBari.

"We are hoping to save lives," said Kogan.

Tri-County Crisis Center: Dutchess County takes action against domestic violence

2011-03-28T11:37:00.004-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Poughkeepsie, New York, United States of America March 24, 2011 --

In response to multiple domestic violence homicides in Dutchess County and the Hudson Valley in the last year, Dutchess County residents Maria DiBari and Alyssa Kogon will be starting the first Tri-County Crisis Center in New York. The Center will focus on assisting three counties: Dutchess, Putnam and Orange. This Crisis Center will expand upon and enhance the current resources in place in all three counties and will be located in Dutchess County.

Many victims of violence today are struggling to navigate through the system after reaching out for help, and many fall through the cracks and are left behind. Victims of domestic violence are in need of free legal representation, counseling, safety planning, and advocacy. The Tri-County Crisis Center will be modeled after progressive Centers around the US that are trying to go above and beyond to help victims from start to finish and provide assistance and follow-up.

As a victim of violence herself, Maria DiBari is aware of the struggle to survive in an abusive situation with resources that are not adequate.

“ This Center will address the needs of victims today and focus on building resources that are lacking in the community. A future project of the Crisis Center will be to build a High Risk Response Team for high-risk domestic violence cases.” says DiBari.

The Tri-County Crisis Center will be in need of community support and will be accepting donations. Your donations will help ensure the success and growth of this Center. Presently, donations can be given directly to our fiscal sponsor, Survivors in Action at www.survivorsinaction.com.

For more information, please email info@tricountycrisiscenter.org

Strangulation: A red flag in domestic violence cases

2011-03-26T14:42:00.009-04:00

A few days back I had a conversation with a person from the Office for Women in Westchester County NY. Something struck me about this conversation and I felt the need to write something about our discussion, which to me felt something more like an interrogation. In any case, something positive did come out of the conversation. It forced me to reexamine my own domestic violence case again and present my readers with valuable information on strangulation. Thank you, Office for Women.

I have been thinking about strangulation. It may seem dark to some, but for domestic violence victims it's vital to know what classifies as strangulation, and what to report if strangulation occurs. Strangulation is a method used to cause death. It accounts for 10% of all violent deaths in the US. Many domestic violence victims experience strangulation as a form of violence and may not report it, or even realize what classifies as strangulation. This crime is one that can go unnoticed, as physical signs of strangulation aren't always apparent to first responders.

For those who are eager to see my resume, much of my experience with domestic violence comes from analyzing my own case, which was high-risk and complex. My case was high-risk before I reexamined it again the other day and realized something I hadn't realized before. I realized that I was strangled by my abuser and did not know it. Therefore, I did not report it on any of my police reports. Police officers handling my case didn't note it in the reports either, although they had a detailed description of my assault. Therefore, mistakes were made and evidence was not properly collected. Proper evidence collection is vital for victims of domestic violence. Before I was brutally assaulted and injured, I was restrained. My abuser held my mouth and nose shut before he proceeded to physically lift, shake and injure my body. This is classified as non-fatal strangulation and this is now considered a felony in NYS. (I am also highly analytical, and that skill comes from being trained and schooled in the Science field.)

When we think of strangulation, we think of someone putting their hands around our necks and applying pressure. There are many ways victims can be strangled: Manual, ligature, and hanging. Blocking someone's breathing by covering their nose and mouth is also considered a felony crime of strangulation under the NYS Strangulation Prevention Act of 2010.

For victims of violence that have been strangled, it is imperative to document everything about the crime and the injuries. Personally, I have had permanent damage to my neck because of my assault and have been suffering ever since. My suggestion is to inform first responders immediately if you have been strangled. Provide very detailed accounts of the crime. Describe your injury in detail, even if there is no physical evidence of strangulation. YOU CAN AMEND POLICE REPORTS.

For victims of violence:

1. Document the crime in any way you can: Police report, petition for a restraining order, or with a medical professional.

2. Describe the mechanism for the injury: Ligature, objects, hands, fingers, knees, arms.

3. Document the amount of pressure used: Pushed onto the floor, squeezed, hand over mouth and nose.

4. Report all breathing problems/neck problems/swelling/changes in voice (record yourself on an answering machine).

5. How long did the strangulation occur?

6. Document any other injuries before or after the strangulation.

7. Document what the abuser was saying before, during and after the strangulation.

8. Document if you lost consciousness.

9. Take a picture of any physical signs of strangulation and go to a medical professional to record all signs of injury.

The most important suggestion I can make to any victim of domestic violence is to document as much as possible. For more information, feel free to contact me directly.

Domestic Violence knows no gender, age, race or religion

2011-03-22T22:24:00.003-04:00

I rarely write about domestic violence committed by a woman. Today the article linked above caught my eye and I had to mention it on my site. When we think of domestic violence we often think of a male perpetrator. This is something we are almost conditioned to do, unfortunately. Many cases of domestic violence reported do involve male offenders, but there are cases of abuse where the female is the abuser. This case is a clear example of domestic abuse committed by a female offender against a male.

Although I personally do not know of many cases like this, I wanted to highlight this case because domestic abuse knows no age, gender, nationality or religion. It is a crime against another human being, and those who offend should be punished severely.

For more information on domestic violence for males: http://ncfm.org/2009/01/issues/domestic-violence/

Domestic Homicide all over the Hudson Valley

2011-03-18T10:04:00.007-04:00

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110318/NEWS02/103180342/Family-devastated-by-40-year-old-nurse-s-death?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

New Rochelle nurse, Tina Adovasio, age 40, found dead off the Taconic Parkway. Mr. Coello, the domestic abuser/murderer, is a former NYPD officer that had a long history of beating this woman and her child. For more information on this case, click on the link above.

We are seeing blood shed all over the Hudson Valley region. I hope this year is the "year of change" for this area and for NYS. I hope NYS recognizes that women in our communities are being slain by their batterers because the system allows abusers to abuse and leaves the victim in a state of vulnerability. We need options for victims. We need GPS technology in place for victims that need protection from abusers. Shelters aren't cutting it. Restraining orders aren't cutting it. When will enough be enough?

UPDATE:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/03/22/2011-03 22_excop_eddy_coello_skips_murdered_wife_tina_adovasios_funeral_eldest_sons_word_mo.html

Location-based Tracking: A solution for domestic violence homicide in NYS

2011-03-12T08:41:00.001-05:00

Featured in The Hudson Valley News on March 16, 2011

Domestic homicides have been rampant in Dutchess County NY in the last year. We have lost four women, one unborn child, and one officer. This county has been devastated by domestic violence and we need to re-examine the current system and create a coordinated community response so that victims of abuse are protected, offenders are held accountable, and deaths are prevented.

Many of these homicides have something in common. The perpetrators are often jailed, but then released on low bail and given freedom while their victims remain vulnerable. Although shelters may be available to victims, domestic violence cases are unique and complicated. Many victims stay in the family home in fear of retaliation, or in fear of losing child custody; others stay because of their obligations to mortgage payments, or their responsibility to their career. The pathway out isn’t always an easy one to walk. By allowing perpetrators their freedom after a violent offense, or after the violation of a restraining order, we assume that the victim will escape to a shelter, and that the shelter isn’t at capacity.

We should recall why shelters were set up in the first place. Shelters were created to save abused women when the courts did not, or would not, hold the offender accountable for abuse. Since we have moved past a time when the court system didn’t recognize domestic violence as a crime, it is time we expand upon relying on emergency shelters as our only safety net for a victim of abuse.

After the murder of Linda Riccardulli of Hyde Park NY in 2010, Alyssa Kogon and I proposed “Linda’s Law” for NYS. I have since revised this bill to include a location-based tracking system and lethality assessment tools. It is being reviewed by state officials in NY and can be viewed at www.lindaslawnys.worpress.com.

Currently, NYS does not utilize lethality assessment tools. These assessments are questionnaires that are administered to victims by first responders at crime scenes. They are meant to predict high-risk cases and can be used in conjunction with location-based tracking devices. But because these tools aren’t utilized, NYS law enforcement cannot accurately predict risk. The inability to predict risk leads to domestic homicide.

The location-based tracking system requires that a perpetrator wear an ankle bracelet, which is used to track and notify victims and law enforcement if the perpetrator is outside the designated safety-zone and is violating a restraining order. Currently, GPS legislation has been introduced but not passed in NYS. According to www.cindysmemorial.org, a website that tracks national progress on GPS legislation, 16 states are already using this technology for domestic batterers. With overcrowded jails, high incarceration costs, and an increase in domestic homicide, location-based tracking devices seem to be an invaluable asset for victims, law enforcement, and the courts. Surprisingly there are domestic violence organizations such as the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence that outwardly opposes GPS monitoring and views it as a “quick fix, one size fits all approach” despite the fact that many victims are in need of and are demanding this technology. In spite of the opposition, GPS monitoring has a 100% success rate in preventing death, according to GPS Monitoring Solutions in CA, and is little to no cost to the taxpayer. An added benefit to location-based tracking is that it provides indisputable evidence that a restraining order was or was not violated, which eliminates false allegations from being made against the defendant, thereby protecting the rights of the accused.

There is one community that can be considered a “model” for domestic violence response, the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center Inc. in Newburyport , MA. This center strives to protect victims and tries to keep them out of shelters by creating a safety zone for them as an alternative option to hiding, and incorporates lethality assessments and GPS technology in their prevention plan. The Crisis Center presents a new model, one that creates a coordinated community response effort that involves victim advocates, law enforcement, and the courts. A model for domestic violence response is a community that doesn’t tolerate domestic homicide. Since the founding of this Crisis Center and its High Risk Response Team, there have been no intimate partner deaths in this community. This is a working model and one that NYS should be following, and Dutchess County should lead as an example.

Domestic homicide and domestic violence can be prevented. We have the tools available to guard victims of abuse and track offenders, and we have programs in other communities that we can learn from and use as a resource. As a state, the initial step should be to enact location-based tracking system legislation for domestic violence cases in Family and Criminal Courts. The second step should be enforcing this legislation by starting a location-based tracking pilot operation in Dutchess County NY. This seems to be a prevention plan worth implementing, with domestic violence funds being reworked and reallocated toward this project. By using the tools and resources available to us, we can prevent domestic homicide by strengthening the network of first responders, providing more accurate information to the courts, improving visibility for law enforcement, and protecting victims that are denied shelter after reaching out for help.

A National Model for Domestic Violence Response: The Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center

2011-03-06T16:21:00.002-05:00

By David Liscio / The Daily Item

SALEM - Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett often says domestic violence is homicide waiting to happen.

Others in the business of keeping spouses and children safe from dangerous family members and intimate partners agree, but preventing tragedy isn't always easy or possible.

That's why the accomplishments of Newburyport's High Risk Response Team has drawn attention among the professional community concerned with reducing domestic violence. The model has been adopted in Lynn, Peabody, Salem and other Massachusetts towns and cities.

Comprised of Newburyport-area police, probation officers, prosecutors, hospital personnel, advocates and batterer intervention specialists, the team has effectively prevented domestic homicides since its inception in 2005.

According to Blodgett, the team reviews and creates a preventative response for domestic violence victims deemed most at risk of being murdered. Team members meet monthly to evaluate cases using a research based screening tool that identifies the red flags of homicidal risk between intimate partners. Indicators include whether the victim has been strangled previously by the partner, the presence of weapons and the making of threats to kill.

The team then develops a preventative plan that may include additional police surveillance, probation conditions or GPS monitoring, the prosecutor said.

"Domestic violence is homicide waiting to happen," reiterated Blodgett. "The High Risk Team brings professionals together with a common purpose to provide enhanced support and services to those who need it the most and to inform the court of the most dangerous offenders who need containment, monitoring or conditions placed on them to help victims to live safely within their own community."

The Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center, serving nine communities in greater Newburyport, last week released a four-year report examining the Newburyport High Risk Response Team and its effectiveness preventing domestic violence homicides. Blodgett said there have been no intimate partner murders since the team was formed, and of the 78 cases deemed to be high risk since then, only six known instances of re-offense of another domestic assault were reported.

"Pulling all the partners together to share information is the key to the success of this model," said Suzanne Dubus, executive director of the Geiger Crisis Center. "We may come from different perspectives, but we're all concerned with the same issue of keeping families safe in their home without having to flee to shelter at the same time we hold batterers accountable. It's a model that works and works well. The High Risk Response Team is saving lives."

Based on the success of the High Risk Response Team model, the Geiger center was named as a national model of best practices at the National Summit to End Domestic Violence in November 2009.

A strong proponent of prevention and early intervention to prevent crime, Blodgett described the High Risk Response Team as a powerful tool in helping to halt domestic homicide. It has also improved law enforcement, changing how investigators approach domestic violence cases, interview witnesses and gather evidence, he said.

Revised: Linda's Law for NYS

2011-03-04T13:36:00.009-05:00

The following has been revised and will continue to be revised to ensure fairness to each party involved in a domestic dispute:

1. Keep domestic violence victims safe. In order to ensure the safety of domestic violence victims, it is critical that restraining orders are structured to provide sufficient protection in terms of the time protected. In as such, there shall be no preference given nor rewarded to gender, thereby avoiding a damaging gender bias by the courts. In the past, restraining orders have been time limited, and by providing judges with the flexibility to ensure that the time of the restraining order will protect the victim is critical. Therefore, sentencing should at a minimum require five years protection if awarded by a family court judge and ten years protection if awarded by a criminal court judge.

2. Providing adequate resources for domestic violence victims to live their lives. Many domestic violence victims have limited access to resources to retain skilled Domestic Violence attorneys to represent them in divorce and other proceedings. While there are existing programs, they are inadequate, have long waiting lists and are often ineffective in providing adequate counsel. A new program that leverages existing resources and funding, is necessary to ensure that these victims have timely and effective access to the legal representation they need in divorce cases. Representation must be provided to and for any and all victims of Domestic Violence, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or sexual preference. In the strictest of terms, a victim of Domestic Violence is exactly that, a victim of Domestic Violence. Implementation of a state Oversight Committee for all domestic violence organizations would ensure that funding is directly helping/protecting victims of violence in NYS.

3. We recommend that New York State implement a three prong approach to address domestic violence incidents that includes a location-based tracking system used for high risk, alleged domestic batterers and convicted repeat offenders in both Family and Criminal Court as a condition of their release and/or coupled with an order of protection.

- For first time offenders, revise bail bond and assurity bond requirements to ensure that those accused of domestic violence are incented to show up for their court date and financially penalized if they violate their terms of release and/or order of protection.

- Lethality assessments must be used by first responders to predict risk and and full cash bail and full cash assurity bonding must be implemented and location-based tracking devises ordered for high risk cases. Full cash bail needs to be set at no lower than $50,000, and this amount must be reviewed every two years to keep current.

- For repeat offenders or violators of domestic violence restraining orders, offenders should not be provided the luxury of bail, but should remain incarcerated until trial is completed.

Breaking Free: the journey of domestic violence survivors

2011-03-04T08:57:00.002-05:00

"Our documentary, BREAKING FREE, directed by Camila Martins, will show survivors at different stages of escaping domestic violence, including one that has escaped and broken the abuse cycle. Victims of Domestic Violence are daily survivors and need to know that there can be a way out. We intend to be their hope."

For more information, please click on the link above and "Like" on your Facebook page.

Thank you.

The Hudson Valley News: When will lawmakers and domestic violence organization leaders start acting on solutions for NYS?

2011-03-02T21:51:00.003-05:00

The article below is written by Jackie Axt, Linda Riccardulli's sister. Linda was murdered last year and was a victim of domestic violence in Dutchess County NY. We are all still waiting on domestic violence agency/coalition/shelter leaders and state officials to act and advocate for domestic violence victims that are falling through the cracks of the system. We are waiting for support, for someone to represent us, for someone to stand up, acknowledge the problem, and make it their mission to solve the problem.

BY JACQUELLINE AXT

On July 29, my sister, Linda Axt-Riccardulli, was murdered by her estranged husband in cold blood in front of her daughter. She was a victim of domestic violence and her husband had been jailed for one month for this crime. He was charged with multiple domestic violence-related felonies. He held my sister and my nieces at gunpoint, in front of police. Even then, one month later, he was released on bail and two days later, ambushed her in her home as she slept.

The horror of this act is immeasurable. How could such a horrendous crime take place? Something must be done. My niece and I, working with Alyssa Kogon and Maria DiBari, held a press conference asking for changes in domestic violence laws. We stood outside the Poughkeepsie Courthouse together and as painful and difficult as it was, we were anxious to be heard. We thought we could bring about change. Imagine our disappointment when not one person from any local domestic violence organization, or state government official, even bothered to show up to show support.

The media was there. They listened as we told our story. The press conference was televised on a local station and covered by the local paper. Still, no elected official reached out to us. No one was listening. It was disheartening. Maybe one victim, two deaths and a single family destroyed was not enough to convince lawmakers that a change is needed.
Since my sister was murdered, six more domestic violence-related deaths have occurred in Dutchess County. A total of eight lives have been lost in less than seven months. The death toll climbing, and still no movement, no changes in legislation or protocol in handling domestic violence have been made. A closed-door committee in place to address the issue has produced no results, and is not accountable to anyone.

With every report of a domestic violence death, it is like Linda is being murdered again. Our wounds are ripped open and we feel helpless. Our advocates write letters and draft proposals for changes, but they stall on desks or fall on deaf ears. Linda’s children cannot heal until changes are made. How can we ask victims to stand up against abusers when the system turns them away and puts the abusers back on the street to hurt, and, yes, kill?

Someone in power must listen. Someone must stand up, make this their mission and make changes. Lawmakers must acknowledge that the laws must change and act. Polices and procedures must change. Innocent people are dead and families devastated. How many more lives must be lost before something is done?

Respond to this column at editorial@thehudsonvalleynews.com

Social Security Administration hard on domestic violence victims

2011-03-02T13:07:00.001-05:00

Written by Alexis A Moore:

"I had to fill out paperwork on my new job today. They called yesterday...so I called the Social Security Office to check on my application for a new Social Security Number. They said they sent a letter...must be in the mail because the decision was made on the 16th to deny me a new number. The worker left me a message on my phone...Said, there wasn't enough evidence of ongoing abuse."

"What do I do now?"

This is an actual recent account of the tragic breakdown of resources available to abuse and stalking victims today who are attempting to change their social security numbers and identities to help prevent future harm or worse death.

Survivors In Action continues to receive thousands of requests from domestic violence victims from across the nation desperate to find the "magic bullet" to get social security administration to accept their application for social security number change.

Victims continue to rely upon volunteer victim advocates with Survivors In Action along with public officials to help cut through the red tape when requesting a social security number change.

Social security number changes are for many abuse and stalking victims a matter of life or death because of the datafurnishing agencies of today and technology. It is easy work for batterers and even those behind bards to locate a person using the net today.

The majority of the requests that are sent in to the SSA, Social Security Administration by abuse and stalking victims requesting a social security number change are denied on the same basis, "not enough evidence of ongoing abuse."

As a victim I can attest to the fact that for those like me who have applied to SSA for this change receiving this canned response in the mail is support for the need for DV REFORM and for allocating dollars to improving the social security administration response and promoting awareness of id change for victims of stalking and abuse.

Special thanks to Senator Mike Rogers in Alabama for his office's assistance helping victims of stalking and abuse. It is my hope that more public officials from across the U.S. will follow suit.

If you are a domestic violence victim being given the "run around" by social security administration officials here are some easy steps for you to use to cut through the red tape.

1) Obtain letters from your local public officials in support of your social security number change. A simple statement from your assemblyman or local senator can make a big difference in cutting through the social security administration red tape.

2) Obtain letters from lawyers, victim advocates, family members, co-workers or any member of law enforcement or individual that will oblige your request to write a support letter.

3) Find a advocate at your local domestic violence shelter or reach out to Survivors In Action we will help you!

There is nothing worse than living or working in fear and SIA knows the importance of victims being afforded safety measures like social security number changes- they are far too often a matter of life or death.

The Daily Freeman: Killings in Poughkeepsie spur call for tougher domestic violence laws

2011-02-24T21:54:00.005-05:00

In my opinion, Dutchess County is NOT a model county for domestic violence response. I haven't seen a county in NYS that could be considered a "model". Needless to say, I disagree with Leah Feldman's statements below. Just earlier this month, I was helping a victim in serious danger relocate and find shelter in Dutchess County. The Grace Smith House and every other shelter in Dutchess turned this woman away. No space. Therefore, in my opinion, this county is not a model for domestic violence response when the most basic need cannot be met for a victim. It has been almost one year since I started pressuring the county and State of NY to introduce my domestic violence legislation after the death of Linda Riccardulli. The result: The Citizen's Advisory Committee produced a handbook of resolutions using my solutions as a model and we are all still waiting for action.

Addressing Leah Feldman's comment about the services available to victims...Yes, there are services available, but the question is "Are those services working and who is not getting help?".

By Mid-Hudson News Network
and Freeman staff

POUGHKEEPSIE — An advocate for tougher domestic violence laws says the deaths on Friday of three people, including a Poughkeepsie police officer, point to the need for reform.

“Victims need services, they need organizations and shelters that will provide them safety plans, they need basic services, pro-bono legal services for divorce, they need assistance in domestic violence courts, which we don’t currently have in Dutchess County,” said Maria DiBari, herself a domestic violence survivor.

DiBari was speaking in the wake of Catskill resident Lee Welch killing his wife, Jessica, Poughkeepsie Police Officer John Falcone and himself on Friday, all with gunshots.

In calling for tougher laws, DiBari noted that Lee Welch was allowed to get out jail on just $1,000 bail after assaulting his wife last month, only be arrested and jailed again three days later — and be freed again, this time on $20,000 bond.

After Linda Riccardulli of Hyde Park was killed by her estranged husband last year, DiBari proposed Linda’s Law, which would have toughened domestic violence laws and provided more protections for victims. But “not one Assembly member has responded” to DiBari’s call, she said.

Leah Feldman, project coordinator for Dutchess County’s Universal Response to Domestic Violence, noted that Dutchess County has a number of services available to assist victims of domestic violence.

“Dutchess County is a model county around the state with domestic violence response,” Feldman said on Tuesday. Among the services provided, she said, are shelter accommodations through the Grace Smith House and House of Hope and services and programs offered through Battered Women’s Services and the Crime Victims Assistance Program.

Additionally, Feldman said, the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office has four outreach workers assigned to assist victims of crimes involving domestic violence, as well as a Special Victims Unit that handles the prosecution of all domestic violence-related crimes.

The MidHudson News Speaks Out Against Domestic Violence

2011-02-21T20:06:00.001-05:00

Domestic violence activist and victim says more is needed to fight the scourge

POUGHKEEPSIE – In the wake of last week’s murder-suicide of a man who shot and killed his wife and then turned his gun on himself, only after he shot a Poughkeepsie City police officer to death, a domestic violence law reformer Monday said Dutchess County is losing its battle as the death toll rises.

Maria DiBari of Dutchess County, a domestic violence survivor herself, said much more must be done to curb the growing instance of attacks.

Among those reforms, DiBari told MidHudsonNews.com, is the need for tougher laws. She noted that Lee Welch had assaulted his wife, Jessica, was charged third-degree assault, was jailed on $1,000 bail, which he posted himself. Three days later he confronted his wife, was charged with a felony, was jailed with $20,000 bond on Friday, February 18, was freed the same day, drove to Poughkeepsie from Catskill and killed her.

There are other considerations for the victims, she said.

"Victims need services, they need organizations and shelters that will provide them safety plans, they need basic services, pro bono legal services for divorce, they need assistance in domestic violence courts, which we don’t currently have in Dutchess County,” she said.

After Linda Riccardulli was killed by her estranged husband last year, DiBari proposed Linda’s Law, which would have toughened domestic violence laws and provided more protections for the victims. Since she offered her ideas to state lawmakers, “not one Assembly member has responded” to them, she said.

Dutchess County NY losing battle against domestic violence as death toll rises

2011-02-20T10:57:00.008-05:00

Friday afternoon Jessica Welch was murdered by her husband in the City of Poughkeepsie.

Let me give my readers the background information:

Mr. Welch had previously assaulted his wife, violated a stay-away, was charged with third-degree assault, was jailed on $1,000 bail which he posted himself, three days after that confronted his wife, was charged with a felony, was jailed with $20,000 bond on Friday Feb.20, was also freed on bail on the same date and drove to Poughkeepsie where he killed his wife and an officer.

When are we going to stop reading about these tragedies in the paper? When will we actually take action and have time for domestic violence issues in this country, in this state, and in this community?

I have proposed Linda's Law in 2010 after the death of Linda Ricardulli. Since then, not one Assembly member has responded to my proposals. Not one person from one organization or Committee has offered to give me a chance in voicing my ideas on this issue. What have we been doing as a community in Dutchess? We have been having a lot of meetings, forums, discussions, but very little action. We are missing the big picture and focusing on smaller issues. We are doing everything and anything besides targeting the problem. We are missing the mark.

Let me highlight Linda's Law for everyone once again, and maybe some will see the connection between the murders that have happened in the last 8 months and the things that need to change. And while some say "Bail should not be a deterrent" I don't see how many deaths need to occur before bail should become a deterrent.

Linda's Law

1. Keep domestic violence victims safe. In order to ensure the safety of domestic violence victims, it is critical that restraining orders are structured to provide sufficient protection in terms of the time protected. In the past, restraining orders have been time limited, and by providing judges with the flexibility to ensure that the time of the restraining order will protect the victim is critical. Therefore, sentencing should at a minimum require five years protection if awarded by a family court judge and ten years protection if awarded by a criminal court judge.

2. Providing adequate resources for domestic violence victims to live their lives. Many domestic violence victims have limited access to resources to retain skilled Domestic Violence attorneys to represent them in divorce and other proceedings. While there are existing programs, they are inadequate, have long waiting lists and are often ineffective in providing adequate counsel. A new program that leverages existing resources and funding, is necessary to ensure that these victims have timely and effective access to the legal representation they need in divorce cases.

3. Ensure that alleged domestic abusers are properly scrutinized and retained in custody to ensure repeat offenses do not occur. Recognizing the right of the accused we must also represent the right of the victim. Therefore, NYS needs to:

A. For first time offenders, revise its bail bond and assurity bond requirements to ensure that those accused of domestic violence are properly incented to show up for their court date and financially penalized if they violate their terms of release and/or order of protection. Full cash bail and full cash assurity bonding must be implemented, as well as utilizing domestic violence screening tools as part of the bonding process. Full cash bail needs to be set at no lower than $100,000, and this amount must be reviewed every two years to keep current.

B. For repeat offenders or violators of domestic violence restraining orders, offenders should not be provided the luxury of bail, but should remain incarcerated until trial is completed.

Poughkeepsie Journal article on the press conference, more to come...
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100920/NEWS01/100920013/Victim-s-family-calls-for-tougher-domestic-violence-laws

Dangers of datafurnishing: Sites like Peek You continue to furnish consumer information without notification

2011-02-17T07:36:00.000-05:00

Written by Alexis Moore:

The datafurmishing industry is growing and so are the number of stalking, cyberstalking and stalking incidents.

Sites like Peek You are making it extremely difficult for anyone to maintain any level of privacy. Worse however, is the way that Peek You and others treat those who are victimized by crime and desire to be removed from their databases. It is nearly impossible.

The datafurmishing companies like Peek You that provide a person's home address, age and other identifying information to anyone only makes it easier for perpetrators to stalk and cyberstalk or worse.

Stalking victims, domestic violence victims, members of law enforcement and our nation's public officials need to find ways to work together to protect the public including our youth who are jeopardized by datafurnishing companies like Peek You and others.

I have been lobbying for a consumer notification program since 2004. There is no stopping the billion dollar data furnishing companies but there are ways to protect the public-Mandatory Consumer Notification being one way.

Mandatory notification to consumers when datafurnishing sites like Peek You provide their personal information is an easy step for these companies to help protect the public from id theft, cyberstalking or worse death. The datafurnishing companies already have the consumers address and personal information so notifying them that their private records are being furnished to 3rd parties should be law.

Stalking victims like Peggy Klinkle and Amy Lynn Boyer lost their lives from being stalked by perpetrators utilizing the information obtained from the datafurnishing industry. These are only two victims that authorities have documented and that the media has reported. Since there deaths little has changed and the datafurnishing business has continued to grow and flourish.

I know of thousands of others who have had their own personal struggles with privacy protection because of the datafurnishing industry. It is time for our public officials to react and to help protect the public.

Poughkeepsie Journal demands change: Society must enact changes to protect victims

2011-02-06T12:53:00.004-05:00

Enhancing notification systems to protect victims. Devising new methods to track offenders. Educating people when they are young and impressionable.

Stopping domestic violence at its source.

The Dutchess County Legislative Citizens' Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence and advocates cite an array of ways to halt what has been happening here and throughout New York: A spike in domestic violence cases, including some with deadly consequences.

The public must do its part, refusing to be appeased and keeping pressure on the system to make changes.

To read the rest of this article, please click on the link above.

NYC Victim denied shelter in three counties and counting

2011-02-03T18:53:00.003-05:00

I have been helping a NYC victim of violence get help this week. I have been outlining a safety plan for her and her child, giving her shelters to call for emergency relief, and offering her my knowledge. She has been doing everything right, in fact, she is ready to go to any shelter that will have her. The problem: She has been denied by every shelter she has reached out to.

No room at the inn?

The answer she is getting: "We are full". Then they hang up the telephone and their problems are gone. What is this woman to do? These are the women I assist out of my own home. I am not a paid advocate and do not work for the domestic violence agencies. When these women have no where else to turn, I usually can get them some help, and I am hoping I can deliver a solution to this woman this week.

After three tragic deaths in Dutchess County, one would think that shelters like the Grace Smith House in this area would be prepared for DV cases. Unfortunately, this woman was denied by the Grace Smith House in Dutchess County today. She was also denied by Safe Homes in Newburgh NY. It turns out that every shelter in Dutchess is full. What are victims supposed to do? I don't have that answer.

The answer I do have is that communities need to be aware of this problem, and if a shelter needs more rooms to house victims, they should start thinking of ways to cut back on other things: pamphlet creation, luncheons, other luxuries (just brainstorming). I haven't thought about solutions to this problem yet, but I will be doing so this year. This is a shame. A woman tries to get shelter from NYC to Orange County NY and it is impossible. I actually wasn't aware of this and didn't realize a woman and her child would be turned away by this many shelters for emergency relief.

Damning report must put judges on notice; another great article by the Poughkeepsie Journal

2011-02-02T08:24:00.005-05:00

Any judge failing domestic-violence victims by refusing to handle arraignments at certain hours, or not answering their phones, or treating these potentially deadly matters like an ordinary traffic summons should be tossed from the bench.

Period.

The community should expect no less; the victims must be protected and have the utmost confidence in the system.

Yet a Dutchess County Legislative Citizens' Advisory Committee has cited "grave concerns" about the judicial response at the local court level following arrests in domestic-violence cases. People directly involved in these cases — from law enforcement agencies and the district attorney's office to those serving at battered shelters and other judges — are going to have to speak up. They have to use the avenues available to them to end what are clearly contemptuous and detestable practices.

Committee members caution there are plenty of good local judges who answer the call at all hours and act appropriately in domestic-violence cases. But the report, authored by people connected with local shelters, the district attorney's office and sheriff's department, also said there have been "repeated instances" when police have taken suspects into custody but have been unable to locate a town, village or city judge to consider bail or to issue an order of protection.

The report further states that "on not infrequent occasions, local judges will not answer their telephones, will refuse to respond or will direct the arresting police agencies to issue an appearance ticket that is the essential equivalent of a traffic summons directing the offender to appear in court on a particular date at some specified time in the future."

This is completely outrageous.

The Journal editorial board contacted judicial officials to get their response to these allegations, and their columns appear below. They vow to bring about necessary reforms. Yet it is deeply disturbing that — in light of three domestic-violence-related deaths in Dutchess County in a six-month span and the issuance of this report several months ago — the judicial system hasn't responded sooner to these grave concerns. Neither Dutchess County Magistrates Association President John D. Crodelle nor Alan D. Scheinkman, district administrative judge for the 9th Judicial District, which includes Dutchess County, were familiar with the report until the Journal contacted them. This bewildering breakdown in communication must be addressed when committee members, legislative leaders, judicial officials and others attend a roundtable forum at the Dutchess County Legislative Offices Thursday afternoon.

Judge Scheinkman has informed the Journal he will impress upon judges the importance of being available for after-hours arraignments and will ask local police departments to keep track of instances when they cannot locate a judge, "especially if it's a domestic violence case and when an appearance ticket is issued instead of an arraignment."
Judge Scheinkman stresses, "Only a judge can issue a order of protection; an appearance ticket does nothing to safeguard the victim from future harm or retaliation."

The citizens' advisory report was written in response to the death of Hyde Park resident Linda Riccardulli, killed by her husband before taking his own life last July. The committee made it clear it had "no criticism whatsoever with the judicial response that occurred in the Riccardulli case."

Yet it felt compelled to bring up these outrages about some judges not recognizing the seriousness of domestic violence, in part, because it has become apparent many victims have no faith in the system.

Judges have to respond to these challenges. The committee suggests the judicial system divide the county into segments and that an "on call" rotation be implemented so that "a reliable judicial response is not dependent on the willingness of a judge to answer his or her telephone or to be inconvenienced in the middle of the night."

Judges also must ensure the amount of bail they set for offenders is appropriate, that orders of protection are being issued when warranted, and that offenders and repeat offenders violating these orders are dealt with more seriously.

For myriad reasons, domestic violence cases can be complicated and difficult for both law enforcement and the judicial system to handle.

But this report, authored by people on the front lines of these brutalities and neglect, makes it clear the system is woefully deficient in areas.

Anyone aggrieved or who has direct knowledge of blatant bad behavior also can file a report with the Commission on Judicial Conduct, which reviews complaints and has the authority to discipline judges, including for gross neglect of duties. The commission doesn't act like an appellate court and review judicial decisions, but it has the authority to ensure judges observe high standards of conduct. The commission can take a range of actions, from admonishing a judge publicly to removing him or her from office. Over the years, in fact, several judges across the state have been removed for highly offensive comments made during domestic-violence cases. No one has accused any local judge of belittling victims in such a manner, but benign neglect cannot be tolerated either.

Judge Scheinkman stresses, "Only a judge can issue a order of protection; an appearance ticket does nothing to safeguard the victim from future harm or retaliation."

(For the rest of this article, please click on the link above.)

NYC Safe Horizon moves victims of violence from crisis to confusion

2011-02-01T09:59:00.002-05:00

I just started working with a NYC victim of violence this past week. Another woman from NYC trying to get help in a bad situation, that is about to get worse, and can't seem to get help from Safe Horizon in NYC.

This domestic violence victim has a job, is trying to raise her child, and has an abuser that is being released from jail in 2 months that has made death threats. She tried contacting Safe Horizon in NYC so that she and her child could enter the shelter system, but Safe Horizon wanted to charge her a fee for her stay since she is employed. Because she has an income, this family would only be given a 60 day stay at this NYC shelter with no further assistance/protection or guidance and then she would be back on the streets with her child.

(Why not just stay at a hotel?)

If this woman was unemployed she would have probably been offered a better package at Safe Horizon. In my opinion, most shelter systems (not all) seem to punish those of us that have an income, and aren't completely destitute.

This week I will be trying to find this woman assistance in NYS; it won't be easy. She needs a plan and protection, and while there are many shelters and programs available, I will be providing her with assistance and giving her a plan. It looks as though the shelter system chewed up another victim in crisis and spit them out again- not surprising.

Poughkeepsie Journal prints my Domestic Violence Article: Victims need more help

2011-02-01T08:15:00.002-05:00

Following the election year, it is my sincere hope that our elected officials start making Domestic Violence a priority. In seven months, Dutchess County experienced three domestic violence murders. As a survivor of domestic violence and a volunteer advocate for victims, I know that the only way this crime will be eradicated is by implementing tougher laws and creating a true accountability system for offenders.

I began advocating for victims of domestic violence in 2008, as a struggling victim trying to navigate through the support system in New York. The help I found was limited, and difficult to obtain. Despite the number of support organizations available, many serve only as referral-agencies; very few offer direct support. It wasn’t easy to get a restraining order, domestic violence counseling, or compensation from NYS Crime Victim Services. And the pro bono legal support I received came only after spending ten thousand dollars battling my abuser and his union-paid lawyer for more than a year. These experiences are common, as victims often fight two battles: one against the abuser, and the other to find assistance.
While shelters and DV organizations have good intentions, many only provide minimal services and emergency relief. Victims are often turned away or referred in circles before receiving support and protection. Entering a shelter might seem straightforward, but leaving a home, leaving a family, maintaining a career, and living in fear of an abuser are formidable challenges. Getting help shouldn’t be.

Victims of violence need to be empowered and protected. They need basic services. They need access to pro bono legal services and assistance in domestic violence courts. They need support in obtaining restraining orders. They need domestic violence advocates to provide reliable guidance.

Hospitals need improved domestic violence screening tools. Law enforcement needs to be thoroughly trained to recognize abuse at crime scenes, and to advise and protect victims. Moreover, we need stricter laws in place to provide real protection. Victims need more than a pamphlet and a 1-800 number. The status quo isn’t good enough. More action is needed from our local DV organizations and elected officials.

After the death of Linda Riccardulli in Hyde Park, I urged the Dutchess County Legislature and NYS officials in the Hudson Valley to support my Domestic Violence Resolutions for NYS and the county. In my experience I have worked with victims across the US, and have been able to scrutinize the issues. I have proposed several cost free solutions, and tougher laws for the state to implement. These proposals have been reviewed by the county legislature, along with the county’s DV Advisory Committee and the Grace Smith House. The latter two organizations have since provided the county and state with their own proposals, which are potentially helpful, but nearly all require funding. While the additional funding will serve the interests of both victims and the support organizations, cost free solutions are a victim-centered approach that can be implemented immediately.
Although I was not given an opportunity to work on resolutions with the local shelters and the Advisory Committee, I did have the opportunity to work directly with the Riccardulli family. After reviewing the details of this domestic violence murder, I proposed “Linda’s Laws” in an effort to prevent domestic violence related deaths. These proposed laws focus on providing adequate legal resources for victims using existing funding and resources in place. They create an accountability system for first and second time offenders, and restraining order extensions for victims of violence in need of protection. For more information on Linda’s Laws, please visit www.4survivors.blogspot.com.

Moving forward in the fight to end domestic violence, it is imperative to realize the importance of collaborating on all ends. While shelters and organizations are doing what they can, others in the community have valuable ideas to contribute as well. And given limited financial support from the state, it is time we get more creative in our advocacy.

The Poughkeepsie Journal's Domestic Violence Editorial; Three Deaths in Six Months; had enough?

2011-01-30T11:27:00.004-05:00

Please follow the Poughkeepsie Journal this week. The Journal has decided to do an Editorial on Domestic Violence in NYS and Dutchess County. During the week, writers from NYS will be focusing on domestic violence problems/solutions for the county and state. I, too, will be one of those writers and will be addressing domestic violence solutions for NYS. Please be sure to follow the articles and feel free to leave comments or Letters to the Editor on these issues.

The community can't stand idly by while these atrocities continue. Not when reports of domestic abuse are on the rise. Not when we know so many other cases never get reported. Not when we know the violence tends to get worse — and shouldn't be tolerated to begin with.

For more on this article, please click on the link above.

-Ideas from a Domestic Violence Survivor-

2011-01-11T20:39:00.001-05:00

Hi Maria,

I would like to talk with you about the efforts to help women and children impacted by domestic violence.

I live in California and also am shocked by the lack of laws protecting women. As a college educated women who worked in the corporate world for 18 years in mid-level management I am shocked to have found myself in a DV situation. It has ruined my life and drastically impacted my relationship with my daughter.

I have some ideas that I think will make a huge difference nationally and possibly worldwide.

Some of the things I read on your blog/website ring true for California. After 7 years of marriage and 4 years trying to get my divorce finalized the key issue that has come to my attention is that almost all the agencies in my area are referral agencies and very few of them actually offer direct services.

It seems very convenient that they have created jobs/paychecks for themselves and a "DO-Gooder Button" to display to the public. And in my humble opinion this is not a benign issue as it also creates the image to the public, law enforcement, child protective services, doctors, social workers, therapists, lawyers, judges, policy makers, the media (i.e., Oprah and Dr Phil etc) that there are services in place.

In my area it is especially true that there are no services for native english-speaking, college educated american women. All women are impacted by the insidious, far reaching devastation of DV. And all women deserve legal protection and services that meet their needs.

Not all women can flee their home and enter a shelter. Hard earned careers cannot be maintained with the current shelter system in my area. There was also never an opening any of the times I called in the 7 years I was married. And without the "umbrella of the shelter system" no one believes you were actually abused and the backlash is that you are wrongly accusing your spouse for your own manipulation and gain.

Thank you,
XXXXXXXXX

A Battle to get Domestic Violence Laws passed for NYS...

2011-01-09T13:14:00.006-05:00

I started this blog in 2008. Shortly after starting this site, I became passionate about DV legislation for victims of violence. I began listening to the stories of many women facing the same domestic violence situations I was facing, struggling through the same fight I had been battling at the time. I started researching NYS laws for abuse victims, specifically DV victims, and found that laws were not tough enough, and many did not exist.

In 2009, I met with my Assemblyman, Ken Zebrowski, and I submitted my many domestic violence resolutions and bill proposals for NYS. Out of our meeting came two important pieces of legislation: An extension on the statute of limitations for abuse victims (A.02090) and An Amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law (A10736).

It is now 2011 and these bills have not been passed. I don't believe they have even made it out of Committee. It is a shame. And I have been trying to get in touch with Assemblyman Zebrowki and staff and no response....too much campaigning, I guess.

In 2010, Dutchess County NY alone saw two domestic violence murders. I tried my best to propose more laws for victims of DV in NYS in honor of those women lost in Dutchess, and at best, only got the attention of few in the county and state with much resistance. Dutchess County Legislators reviewed many of my DV resolutions, had a few meetings and services, and then came out with Resolutions/Proposals for the state and county, all of which would cost the state money and as of right now nothing more has been done.

That's the problem. We have meetings, we pat ourselves on the back for the wonderful job we do, we introduce laws that sit endlessly in Committee, we waste time pondering and pondering about how to help domestic violence victims and survivors, we waste so much time resisting change and reform, and all while innocent lives are taken and families are ruined.

Status as of January 2011: Nothing has been done.

Survivors in Action announces partnership with McGruff the Crime Dog to "take a bite out of internet danger"

2011-01-07T18:26:00.003-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT:
January 7, 2011 916.496.1648
January is National Stalking Awareness Month

Survivors In Action (SIA) a national non-profit advocacy group, announces partnership with McGruff the Crime Dog ® during the launch of (SIA’s) handbook: A Parent’s Guide to Cyberstalking and Cyberbullying

El Dorado Hills, CA -- January 4, 2011-- Statistics reveal that 76% of women murdered in the US was stalked, prior to their deaths. This January marks the seventh annual observance of Stalking Awareness Month. Through this month we remember the millions of people victimized by stalking and domestic violence and that they remain vulnerable in a world where there as still few resources available, to victims of stalking. What can we do to make sure those victims have the resources they need to become survivors of the abuse they suffered? During National Stalking Awareness Month, Survivors in Action (SIA) a non-profit advocacy group has partnered with the McGruff Crime Dog who provides simple common sense approach as a national symbol of a reminder to do the right thing. The McGruff Crime dog® and president of SIA plan to visit sites in the United Sates -- and abroad to reach out to teachers, parents and children alike -- to educate through McGruff’s reminders and long trusted advice, alongside with SIA’s unique guide about the dangers of cyberstalking and bullying.

“Stalking is a way perpetrators of domestic violence monitor and control their victims, and the behavior often escalates. Sadly, it appears there really are no resources available to victims of stalking and domestic abuse,” said Alexis Moore, founder of Survivors in Action. “Victims of abuse who reach out to centers designated to help find out that there really aren’t direct services available to them. It’s time to ensure that ‘victim resources’ are indeed resources available directly and specifically to the victims and their families,” added Moore.

Moore has transformed herself from victim to survivor as a nationally recognized advocate for domestic violence and cyberstalking and bullying victims. She is leading the way in bringing awareness to needed reform of the current system of domestic abuse treatment after founding and serving as president of Survivors in Action, a nationwide non-profit advocacy group that supports victims of crimes including domestic violence, identity theft, elder abuse, cyberstalking, stalking, child abuse, rape, and sexual assault. In her efforts to bring awareness, Moore has given presentations across the country and has been featured on ABC's Good Morning America. She has also contributed articles on domestic violence, stalking, and cyberstalking for outlets such as The New York Times and Glamour.
Survivors in Action (SIA) is a non-profit, national advocacy group that supports victims and the families of victims of any crime, including domestic violence, identity theft, elder abuse, cyberstalking, stalking, child abuse, rape, and sexual assault. Other national organizations typically help victims at specific points in their victimization cycle - such as when they first report the crime or in writing parole opposition letters - leaving gaps in needed services. SIA is the only organization that fills the gaps, providing support through all stages of the journey from victim to survivor, with no time limitations, cut-off dates, or conditions. Our mission is to ensure that no victim anywhere in the world is left behind. Please visit our website at www.survivorsinaction.com for more information.
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A Parent's Guide to Cyberstalking and Cyberbullying: Protecting Your Children as Simple as 1 - 2- 3

2010-12-14T23:21:00.006-05:00

Every day you hear another statistic about victims of cyberbullying. Teens and tweens unknowingly invite strangers into their worlds. They provide the ammunition for these strangers to emotionally tear them down when online relationships fall apart, as they typically do with teens.

Reality television is partly to blame. We see into the worlds of private, everyday citizens with nothing deemed too personal. With the popularity of social networking combined with the real aspects of reality television, teens and tweens believe it's acceptable to put their entire lives on display. They don't understand that to some, it's a game of voyeurism and that some choose their victims online.

For years Alexis A. Moore played the game. She was the target of playground bullies and she didn't realize that she gave the bullies the ammunition they needed to target her. It was in the third grade when she first learned the saying, "They can't get your goat if they don't know where it's tied." As a young child, the meaning behind the words didn't sink in until years later after surviving domestic violence and online stalking that she learned how to tie her goat. Now she's teaching others the difference between being social and smart online and tying your goat where everyone has access to it and knows how to "get your goat."

Today, Moore has transformed herself from victim to survivor as a nationally recognized advocate for domestic violence and cyberstalking and bullying victims. She is leading the way in bringing awareness to needed reform of the current system of domestic abuse treatment after founding and serving as President of Survivors in Action, a nationwide non-profit advocacy group that supports victims of crimes including domestic violence, identity theft, elder abuse, cyberstalking, stalking, child abuse, rape, and sexual assault.

In her efforts to bring awareness, Moore has given presentations across the country and has been featured on ABC's Good Morning America. She has also contributed articles on domestic violence, stalking, and cyberstalking for outlets such as The New York Times, Glamour, and About.com. She keeps other survivors up-to-date with news and trends with her blog at http://www.AlexisAMoore.blogspot.com.

Moore's story arc is certainly clear-from victim to victim's advocate-from scared, uninformed girl to woman in control of her life. Moore is an experienced high-tech investigator and shares her sage advice for online safety in a manner which parents and caregivers of teens and tweens can relate and then utilize in their protection efforts-starting with her playground experience and the lesson that she has never forgotten.

A Parent's Guide to Cyberstalking and Cyberbullying: Protecting Your Children as Simple as 1 - 2- 3 is a parent's survival guide to engaging with children and grandchildren to help ensure that they find refuge and security from their family members and caregivers when and if a cyberstalker or cyberbully and your child cross paths.

Order your copy today!

100% of the proceeds being donated to develop a victim resource so that "no victim is left behind"

Survivors In Action"No Victim Left Behind"

Connecticut father of Domestic Violence Victim, Tiana Notice, finds innovative ways to help victims this season

2010-12-10T22:33:00.004-05:00

GARDNER, Mass. — Now, before venturing out, she checks the live views of what's going on outside on her computer or television screen.

"You can't have enough eyes in a situation like this," she said. "It gives you a little piece of your life back."

Michelle Colangelo, 41, of Gardner, Mass., was the first woman to get Notice's cameras. She got two last December. Notice returned and installed two more and adjusted them for a better view. Like Tiana Notice, Colangelo suspected her ex-boyfriend had been coming to her home and slashing her car tires.
On Jan. 2, Notice remotely checked out how the cameras were working from his house across town. He logged in to his home computer, plugged in the code for Colangelo's cameras, and looked at live footage of what was going on outside her home while he talked to her on the phone.

The two had just hung up when Colangelo saw something on her 42-inch television screen that shocked her, she said. Her ex-boyfriend came into view. Notice saw him, too.

By accident, Colangelo called Notice instead of dialing 911.

"Oh my God, he's here!" she told him. He told her to call the police.

She did, and the police eventually arrested Michael Williams, 47. Williams, who Colangelo said slashed 10 tires in 17 days, faced multiple counts of criminal harassment and malicious destruction of property.

Colangelo testified against him earlier this month during a 1 1/2-day trial in Fitchburg District Court. He was found guilty of one count of malicious destruction of property, a court spokeswoman said.

Colangelo was disappointed that Williams wasn't found guilty of all five tire-slashings — two others of which were captured on film. She said it appeared the jury was concerned that those videos weren't as clear.

In the Jan. 2 incident, however, Williams turned his face toward the camera, she said, and two eyewitnesses — her friend and her husband — pulled up while he was slashing.

Colangelo was grateful for the conviction and was especially happy about something else: The judge ordered Williams to pay for all of the slashed tires, $1,500.

While video evidence enhances the chance of obtaining a conviction, nothing is automatic, some domestic violence victims have learned.

Take, for example, the case of Yamilett Solis. She had three installed outside her townhouse in Dedham, Mass., on Labor Day weekend, she said.

Less than two weeks later, her fiancé heard footsteps outside in the middle of the night, she said. The next morning, when she was able to review what the camera had recorded, she saw that it was her ex-boyfriend, she said.

Gilberto Martinez, 39, who had just finished serving a nine-month sentence for violation of probation, was arrested and charged with violating a no-contact order, Solis said.

After a one-day trial in Dedham District Court, a judge found him not guilty. The police had not marked the DVD as evidence or filled out the proper paperwork, causing the judge to be concerned about its authenticity.

"It was a horror show," Solis said. "I couldn't believe that I finally had this man on video," but the court wouldn't accept it as evidence.

Even before the not-guilty verdict, Solis warned that domestic violence victims shouldn't let the cameras lull them into a false sense of security. They may deter people from visiting a place they are not supposed to be, but cameras can't physically stop intruders.

"They're not going to keep you safe," she said. "But at least now, [the abuser] knows there's a camera there."

"The only way you feel safer is if they're behind bars where they belong."

Donations may be made online at tiananoticefoundation.org or by mailing a check to the Tiana Angelique Notice Foundation, P.O. Box 735, Gardner, MA 01440.

Please donate to Survivors in Action this X-mas for victims of domestic violence and stalking...

2010-12-10T20:07:00.002-05:00

Survivors In Action's list for Santa is growing this year as the numbers of victims of abuse and stalking continue to rise while victim resources continue to fall short.

The needs list below are items that victims are hoping Santa brings them this year. This list is growing by the day and the numbers of victims who are in need has tripled this past year.

Survivors In Action is all volunteer and our efforts are focused on ensuring "no victim is left behind".

If you or your community is looking for a way to make a difference in 2011 please adopt a needy crime victim and purchase one of these items so that "no victim is left behind".

Victim Needs List:
Prepaid cell phones

Digital tape recorders

Surveillance equipment

Self defense classes

Pepper spray

Retail gift cards

Computers

Printers

Fax machines

Survivors in Action comments on White House Advisor Lynn Rosenthal's Commentary on Domestic Violence for 2010

2010-12-08T11:08:00.002-05:00

After a colleague pointed out that White House Advisor on Violence Against Women Lynn Rosenthal had written a commentary I was anxious to read it hoping that domestic violence and stalking resources were going to be changing in 2011 or that there were plans to improve resources "something"...alas there was nothing except more rhetoric and zero substance.

While I am sure that Lynn Rosenthal has good intentions like the many who are paid directing and working for the "DV Institutions" of today, however good intentions won't help to save lives only actions will. Right now domestic violence and stalking resources are failing victims and I cannot turn my back on them or the families of the loved one's lost until DV REFORM (domestic violence resource reform) becomes reality.

Domestic violence (DV) victims continue to suffer and die at the hands of their abusers—and even one victim who suffers or one life that’s lost to domestic violence is way too many. Yet the victims of domestic violence and their children are not getting what they need from the organizations that have been established to help them. Quite simply, victims are falling through the cracks. In the United States and in the 21st century, there simply is no excuse for this.

The appointment of Lynn Rosenthal as White House Advisor on Violence Against Women (VAW) signals recognition on the part of the White House that the critical problem of domestic violence needs a higher profile. Ms. Rosenthal has the opportunity to spearhead real, effective change that will save lives and give victims renewed hope—if she provides strong leadership and uses her position to enforce accountability on the part of agencies that provide services to victims.

More specifically, what kinds of change should Ms. Rosenthal make? Here are the key steps I think she should take:

1) Implement uniform protocols and procedures in every state to ensure that every federally and state-funded domestic violence victim organization operates under the same standards—standards that ensure that victims are not turned away and get the help they need.

2) Appoint a liaison in each state that victims and their advocates can contact to voice concerns and complaints when victims are refused service or do not receive the assistance they need, as well as report positive experiences. The state liaison does not necessarily have to be a public official (such as California Domestic Violence Committee Chair Fiona Ma). It could be a representative of any one of the many non-profit organizations—such as Survivors in Action—or state coalitions willing to serve as a clearinghouse. Today’s technology permits many things to be accomplished quickly and effectively, making it possible for such a clearinghouse to begin operating rapidly and at minimal or even no cost.

3) Form a national oversight agency or committee, reporting to her, to which state DV agencies and resources would be accountable and would report what is and isn’t working, and to which state liaisons could escalate grievances that cannot be resolved at the state level.

4) Provide strong, effective leadership for the many non-profits, volunteers, and other individuals who are eager to bring about domestic violence resource reform. To be effective, all these resources need to be marshaled and organized. Lynn Rosenthal, along with an effective oversight committee, can provide that leadership and organization. I am happy to offer my services and those of Survivors In Action to serve as a liaison to the White House, help form an oversight committee, and organize the wealth of resources committed to this cause.
##

Survivors In Action"No Victim Left Behind"

Alexis A. Moore, President & Founder

Survivors In Action

Uma Thurman's stalker arrested for the second time: Advice from Stalking Expert Alexis Moore

2010-12-02T15:53:00.003-05:00

Jack Jordan, already convicted in 2008 for stalking actress Uma Thurman, has been arrested a second time for allegedly violating his restraining order by calling the star's office and cell phone, allegedly telling an office assistant that Thurman's boyfriend was "not good enough" and "she should marry me."

According to what a police source told the website TMZ, Jordon had been Googlinig Thurman's name moments before he was taken into custody at his parents' Maryland home.

In 2008 Jordan was found guilty of stalking the actress. During the trial, Thurman read aloud from his letters. "He used words like 'mouth,' 'soft,' 'kissing' and seduced," she said, and she recalled a photo he sent of a headless bride.

Since then, Jordan, who works as a pool cleaner, has lived without known incident, leading some to wonder why he surfaced now.

Watch Good Morning America with Expert, Alexis Moore.

SAVE working backwards instead of forwards for Domestic Violence Victims " Remove mandatory arrest policies"

2010-11-09T19:50:00.007-05:00

Below is an article that was forwarded to me regarding "policies" domestic violence organization Stop Abuse and Violent Environments (SAVE) is working on for victims of abuse. It's articles like this one that truly makes me wonder what is being discussed within these DV organizations. In my opinion, SAVE is advocating for the offender and not the victim in this case, no matter what a Harvard study puts forth. SAVE wants to remove mandatory arrest policies, so that if victims call 911, it will no longer guarantee an arrest if need be. They claim that mandatory arrest claims the lives of innocent victims every year and that mandatory arrest deters women from calling the police and reporting in the first place. I say, victims hesitate to call 911 because they know that their abuser will be released in a matter of days or hours following a crime. That is the reason why victims of DV hesitate to phone the police in bad times.

I say, why don't they discuss how to keep a violent offender in jail?

Why doesn't SAVE discuss how to hold a violent offender accountable for abuse in his/her state?

Why doesn't SAVE demand legislation like NYS "Linda's Law" that demand full cash, high bail for first time offenders, and full trials for second time offenders?

Why isn't SAVE thinking out of the box and why is SAVE taking the power out of the victims' hands and handing it over to the violent offender?

These are questions I have for all Domestic Violence "Organizations".

Mandatory arrest for abusers is part of offender accountability. If victims were given the right to choose whether or not their abuser were to be arrested in most dangerous situations, many wouldn't choose an arrest due to fear of retaliation and unclear thinking. But, without the arrests made, without some offender accountability, victims wouldn't have documentation and evidence in courts of law, and this would only set a victim up for failure in the future, especially in divorce, child custody, and civil cases, even criminal cases. Victims wouldn't have any clear cut proof of the crimes committed against them and that is not something I support at all. We have law enforcement for a reason, and that is to serve and protect us and to make decisions that we can't in dangerous circumstances. If I dial 911, it is because I need help. Speaking from experience, I wish the officers involved in my case would have been trained better and noticed that the situation they were walking in on was domestic violence. Instead, they gave me the choice, and I didn't make the right choice and have my abuser arrested.

Be sure to email your local legislators opposing this policy. Please also send your emails to: Lydia_Griggsby@Judiciary-dem.senate.gov and Stacey_Smith@boxer.senate.gov

By Caroline May, The Daily Caller

One of the more counter-intuitive initiatives in recent weeks comes from the Stop Abusive and Violent Environments (SAVE), which on Monday launched a campaign to repeal mandatory arrest for domestic violence. The organization contends that the policy results in the loss of 600 lives a year.

In conjunction with its campaign SAVE, a non-profit focused on improving the effectiveness of America’s domestic violence laws, has compiled and summarized research on the impact of domestic violence laws in the report, “Arrest Policies for Domestic Violence.”

The report highlights a Harvard University study that found that mandatory arrest laws have the unintended result of increasing partner homicides by 57 percent, as they discourage victims from calling the police.

SAVE notes that mandatory arrest acts to usurp the victim’s autonomy — when victims call 911, they often do so to stabilize a situation, rather than get their partner arrested. Once the police arrive, however, the victim cannot prevent that arrest.

“Following an incident of mutual pushing and shoving, one woman recounted, ‘I called 911 to prevent the situation from escalating. Thus began the spiral into hell … the police told my husband that one of us would have to go to jail … My right to choose was taken away from me and I have been placed in the stereotype of a weak woman with no backbone … I am bitter and angry and truly feel like a victim, not of my husband, but of the legal system!’” reads an example from the report.

According to SAVE, only 30.5 percent of people arrested for domestic violence are ever convicted of a crime, and that the 700,000 wrongfully arrested each year cost the government $390.9 million annually.

Teri Stoddard SAVE’s director of public affaids told The Daily Caller that the emotional repercussions of mandatory arrest policies have been “devastating” for those involved.

“Half of all domestic violence is mutual,” she said. “So often there is a situation where both people are angry at each other, and often there might not even be any physical confrontation yet. They are just angry, yelling. Somebody might call the police, send somebody out. And in states where they have mandatory arrest laws, a police officer will have to chose one person to arrest.”

While the 2005 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act removed its policy requiring mandatory arrest, there are still many states which continued to subscribe to mandatory arrest policies. SAVE is working to get popular support to change these policies.

“For years, persons have known get-tough mandatory arrest policies weren’t working,” said SAVE director Dr. Claudia Cornell. “Now, victims of domestic violence need to send a powerful message to lawmakers: ‘Remove mandatory arrest policies.’”

SAVE is calling on Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy to ensure that states soon will strike the policy from their books.

“Call Senate Judiciary Chairman Leahy NOW! Tell him to make sure the upcoming reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act includes strong incentives to get these states to remove their mandatory arrest policies. These states need to re-establish the ‘probable-cause’ standard for arrest — that’s what the Fourth Amendment says, and that’s what victims are demanding!” the group writes on its website.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/08/in-twist-non-profit-save-calls-to-end-mandatory-arrest-for-domestic-violence-saying-it-costs-hundreds-of-lives-a-year/#ixzz14pylGR2C

Womensenews.org covers NYC Victim of Domestic Violence Failed by the System

2010-11-05T18:09:00.003-04:00

Click on the title above to read this story on Womensenews and see how Lily Morales gets help in NYC after brutal domestic violence.

The Danger of "Working while Female”

2010-11-02T11:57:00.001-04:00

PRESS RELEASE: November 1, 2010
Law Offices of Dawn V. Martin, LLC
e-mail: dvmartinlaw@yahoo.com (202) 408-7040; (703) 642-0207
website: www.dvmartinlaw.com

The Danger of "Working while Female:” The Law Needs to Protect Victims of Stalking and Domestic Violence from Employment Discrimination and Retaliation

Washington, D.C. – D.C. Attorney Dawn Martin is urging an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that would expressly protect victims of stalking and domestic violence against employment discrimination. “Many of these victims are afraid to let their employers know that they are being stalked or are victims of domestic violence,” Martin said, “They are afraid of being fired. No woman should have to choose between her job and her safety.” 78% of stalking victims are women. 54% of female murder victims reported their stalkers to the police before being killed by them. New York City Human Rights Law does protect these victims against discrimination. Martin says that a federal statute should as well, since courts may deny the protection. Today, she filed an appeal in her own litigation, Martin v. Howard University, to try to correct, what she says, was an improper and unjust denial of that protection. When Martin was a Law Professor at Howard University, she was stalked by a delusional, homeless, serial campus stalker, Leonard Harrison. Harrison was searching for the physical embodiment of his "fantasy" wife -- a fictional female character in a book, written by the renowned Professor, Derrick Bell. Howard did not ban the stalker from Law School building, despite advice from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department to do so and its own established Campus Police banning procedures. Further, Howard refused to renew Prof. Martin’s teaching contract. Martin sued, alleging sexual harassment/hostile work environment and retaliation. In 1999, the U.S. District for D.C. set precedent in Martin, holding that an employer can be held liable for the sexual harassment of an employee by a non-employee, if it knew or should have known of the harassment and failed to take reasonable steps to stop it. Martin v. Howard University. 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19516, 1999 WL 1295339 (DD.C. 1999) In 2006, a jury agreed with Prof. Martin that Harrison’s harassment did create a “hostile work environment” and that that Howard did not take reasonable steps to end it; however, the jury asked for a clearer legal definition of “sexual harassment” and the judge refused to provide it. The confused jurors then concluded that Harrison’s harassment of Prof. Martin was not based on her sex or sexual in nature. This meant that she was not “protected” by Title VII. Martin is appealing District Court Judge Thomas Hogan’s October 8, 2010 decision: 1) refusing her motion for a new trial based on the Court’s failure to adhere to its own 1999 decision that Harrison’s harassment was based on sex and/or sexual in nature and to instruct the jury in accordance with that holding; 2) imposing Howard’s litigation costs, of $10,000, on her; and 3) failing to order Howard to pay the undisputed $364,0000 in attorney hours spent on drafting her motions to compel discovery, which she won, after Howard withheld crucial documents in the case for years. Ms. Martin said, “Courts do not generally impose the Defendant’s costs on the Plaintiff. I’m sure that Howard paid its outside law firm more than $10,000 just to try to get that much from me. More importantly, it sets precedent that will discourage and punish other plaintiffs in civil rights cases. It’s shocking and ironic that Howard University would establish precedent that punishes civil rights plaintiffs by imposing the defendant’s fees on them and by refusing to punish defendants that withhold evidence from plaintiffs to delay or destroy their cases. This precedent is going to hurt plaintiffs in all employment discrimination cases, including those based on race, national origin, religion, disability and age, as well as sex.” The National Organization of Women (NOW) and the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) filed an Amicus Brief in Martin. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxyzwRGYIgA (documentary, including then NOW President Kim Gandy, Prof. Derrick Bell and a former Howard Security Officer); Good Morning America http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/erin-andrews-leads-stalking-round-table/story?id=11322694 (Martin interviewed by journalist Erin Andrews, who was also stalked by a stranger) and dvmartinlaw.com/HowardU.

Dawn V. Martin, Esquire
Law Offices of Dawn V. Martin, LLC
1725 I Street, N.W., Suite 300
Washington, D.C 20006
(202) 408-7040 D.C. phone
(703) 642-0207 home office
(703) 642-0208 facsimile
DVMARTINLAW@yahoo.com
www.dvmartinlaw.com

Make It Stop: Every click will help me raise money for my NY Non-Profit

2010-10-31T14:40:00.005-04:00

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Make It Stop is an anti-domestic violence video created by the Met Police in London. 1 in 5 murders in London are the result of domestic violence. I am proud to display this video here on my site in honor of the last day of DV awareness month and hope that many will click on the video and help the cause. The producers of this video are offering to pay Survivors in Action donation money for every click, and SIA will be donating some of the money toward my new NY based non-profit organization this winter. Thank you to the Met Police in London for letting me display the video and offering donations to the cause!

Please pass along and make sure to click on the video for a good cause!

Assemblyman Frank Skartados (D) taking time out for Domestic Violence Victim Legislation in NYS

2010-10-22T10:39:00.007-04:00

Yesterday evening Frank Skartados' office called me to schedule a meeting next month after the election to discuss Linda's Law for NYS. I wanted to post this information because he has been the only public official in Dutchess County willing to take a look at Linda's Laws for victims of domestic violence in NY. Victims in NYS and all over the country want Domestic Violence Reform and I am proud to say that Skartados is taking the time to sit down with me and discuss these issues and the laws I am proposing to keep domestic abuse victims safe in NY.

Currently, Assembly candidate Alyssa Kogon (D), has been assisting me with publicizing Linda's Law and is volunteering her time to this cause, especially after the death of two Dutchess County women over the last few months.

Voting time is almost here, and I hope people make the right decisions at the polls this year. We need to pay attention to those who are helping us and making our communities a better place to live. We also need to pay attention to those who are turning a blind eye to important issues like these, and sweeping domestic abuse under the rug.

Project Lily: Lily Morales gets help in NY from the Discovery Channel and will be featured in People Magazine

2010-10-16T20:52:00.005-04:00

After a brutal act of domestic violence, Lily Morales found herself struggling to stay alive and had the scars to prove it. Her entire body was horribly slashed with a butcher knife by her abuser and her smile had been ruined.

Lily reached out to me last year, and I started to gather information from her and help her as fast as I could. Together with Survivors in Action, I got Lily the help she couldn't get on her own with the resources available in NYS and in the US. After a long "run around" with the NCADV, Lily finally got help when Alexis Moore and I directed her to a Discovery Channel contact of ours that was searching for a domestic abuse victim in need of cosmetic surgery. Lily got the help and surgeries she needed and will be featured Discovery Health in December 2010 and in People Magazine.

Lily:

Hi Maria and Alexis. I wanted to give you a little update of what's been going on lately with me. My whole smile has been fixed top and bottom by Give Back a Smile pro-bono dentist Laura Torrado, it was a painful but short process and I am super super happy with the results and my confidence has gone up tremendously. I will send you pictures soon so you can compare. Yesterday I was in Dr. XXXXX office for some pictures, he is the doctor working with Discovery for the documentary, ironically he is also the chairman of Face to Face. My scar is healing well, there's still laser treatments pending to make it look better. They told me there was going to be a makeup person over there to do my makeup...

The lady was Aryn Quinn, founder and CEO of Beauty Cares (www.beautycares.org) it's a foundation that I never heard before of, they work with survivors in shelters to elevate their self-esteem, they give them makeovers and goodies and organize events to raise money and have various celebrities working with them, she was supper nice and supportive and her mother and aunt are survivors. The guy was celebrity makeup artist Johnny Dosse who has worked with Beyonce, it's the makeup person for the Desperate Housewives show and Project Runway, he did my makeup flawlessly and was really nice. He also volunteers for Beauty Cares. I talk to them about you guys and they asked me for your contacts, they told me that they offered their services to many shelters for free and many don't seem interested, and I told them that there are many, many survivors that not necessarily live in a shelter and need help. They will have this event on Oct. 28 in Haven Lounge to raise money for their foundation and will sell tees designed by celebrities and will have a silent auction, they put me as a guest and I think I will be attending. She told me she will invite you and the information is in the website.

Also there will be an article in People Magazine about me and Dr. XXXXX I believe, they haven't interviewed me yet but it will be soon. I'll keep you updated on that. Yes, so that's whats going on so far. Thanks you again both of you for all your help all this started happening after I reached out to you Maria and just look at everything that has happened. Thanks, bye...

Photo after surgery

My letter to the Dutchess County Legislature/Domestic Violence Advisory Committee

2010-10-14T15:51:00.002-04:00

After reviewing the resolutions Dutchess County had for NYS last night, I realized most of the points made will need funding, unlike my resolutions, which could be implemented with existing resources and funds. I wanted to post a letter I just sent to the legislators and the Committee in hope that next time they will involve me in the resolution process for domestic abuse.

Legislators/DV Committee,

I want to commend your work and effort in regards to the Dutchess County Domestic Violence Resolutions that were presented last night. I am glad to see shelters and committees on board with the resolutions and being there in support. After reading through the proposals and resolutions, I noticed that many of the points made were the points that I suggested, not all, but some. It would have been great to have been involved in the process and decision making, especially because many of my ideas were used in the resolutions.

Often, victims and survivors of crime can be highly beneficial in finding real solutions that work for many problems in society. I have been finding/formulating resolutions for this crime for 3 years now, and, having gone through the entire process myself and helping victims in need in the US, I know what works and what doesn't work. Sometimes it would be more productive to sit down with the people who have lived and learned through experience and find solutions together as a community. I have also worked with legislators on new DV legislation that has been introduced for NYS and I'm familiar with the problems victims face and the solutions they need.

In the past, I've worked with families like the Riccardulli's and Cotto's in NYS (murder/suicide situations) come up with solutions for other victims to prevent tragedies like their own (Linda's Laws).

In the future, I would be glad to work with any group or shelter, committee or team of people that are willing to fight for the many crime victims that have lost their lives and are still struggling in the fight. Next time, I only hope I am invited to participate, rather than educate and stand on the side lines.

Respectfully,

Maria DiBari

Dutchess County Domestic Violence Advisory Committee and the Grace Smith House put out "their" Domestic Violence Resolutions for 2010...

2010-10-13T19:41:00.008-04:00

I couldn't attend the conference that was held tonight in Dutchess County NY. I was planning to be there, wasn't invited or asked to speak, but was planning to show up to hear this county address domestic violence resolutions for 2010. After recent deaths in Dutchess, I urged the Dutchess County Legislature to consider my domestic violence resolutions following the murders that have taken place in the Hudson Valley over the last 2 years. In Dutchess County, we have a Citizens Advisory Committee that deals with Domestic Violence issues directly. Tonight the Advisory Committee and the Grace Smith House of Dutchess County presented their resolutions, and although they did not involve me in the process at all, they did present some of my ideas as there own, as well as some original ideas that I am honored to have on my site.

Domestic Violence Resolutions

1. Utilization of a Lethality Assessment Tool

(I suggested we follow in the footsteps of Maine an implement a Domestic Violence Assessment tool upon the release of any domestic violence offender).

2. Enhanced Victim Notification System

(My suggestion was an automatic VINE registration at the scene of a crime so that victims are protected immediately and not left to figure out what VINE is on their own. In Dutchess County, victims do have "human contact" from the jail upon the release of an offender, but the call is still placed right before the offender is released. Linda Riccardulli had 20 minutes to formulate a safety plan, and unfortunately she didn't survive).

3. GPS

(This was something that was introduced and didn't pass in NYS. Although this is a great idea, states often do not have the funds to implement this tool. I recently found a new article where this has already been proposed, "Savage proposes GPS monitoring for domestic abusers", my suggestion to all the shelters and state agencies is to support any legislation like this and actually get involved.)

4. Temporary Animal Sheltering for Victims

(I love this idea,completely original).

5. Improve the Availability of Judges for purposes of arraignments in order to assure consideration for Orders of Protection and Bail Status

(My suggestion was "Linda's Laws" which would solve many problems Judges face when it comes down to determining bail and dealing with restraining order violations.)

6. CPL Amendment to permit arraigning magistrates to consider victim safety concerns when setting bail.

7. Legal Amendment to provide arraigning magistrates with access to DIR data and Order of Protection history.

8. Searchable DIR database in NYS.

(This idea has already been put into play by Myra Spearman at www.theweakervessel.org).

9. Mental Health Evaluations of Offenders.

10. Mental Health Notifications to victims when offenders are released from institutions.

11. Require arrest for violations of restraining orders through email, text, or any other contact.

12. Require arraignment in domestic violence cases and prohibit issuance of desk appearance tickets or stationhouse bail.

13. Judicial Training and Accountability

(Again, enacting Linda's Laws would be free and save lives. Judges should have clear guidelines and those guidelines should be the law).

Good job, Dutchess County! Although I would have loved to be involved in some of the decision making and resolutions, at least you used many of my ideas to form your response for victims and the community!

In most cases, victims can be the best resource for resolutions of issues that plague our communities. I have spent 3 years advocating and writing about domestic violence solutions and hopefully in the near future I will be able to be involved in the process of determining what solutions/resolutions get attention for victims of abuse. Below I will post the laws I have proposed to NYS:

Linda’s Law Proposals

1. Keep domestic violence victims safe. In order to ensure the safety of domestic violence victims, it is critical that restraining orders are structured to provide sufficient protection in terms of the time protected. In the past, restraining orders have been time limited, and by providing judges with the flexibility to ensure that the time of the restraining order will protect the victim is critical. Therefore, sentencing should at a minimum require five years protection if awarded by a family court judge and ten years protection if awarded by a criminal court judge.

2. Providing adequate resources for domestic violence victims to live their lives. Many domestic violence victims have limited access to resources to retain skilled Domestic Violence attorneys to> represent them in divorce and other proceedings. While there are existing programs, they are inadequate, have long waiting lists and are often ineffective in providing adequate counsel. A new program that leverages existing resources and funding, is necessary to ensure that these victims have timely and effective access to the legal representation they need in divorce cases.

3. Ensure that alleged domestic abusers are properly scrutinized and retained in custody to ensure repeat offenses do not occur. Recognizing the right of the accused we must also represent the right of the victim. Therefore, NYS needs to:

A. For first time offenders, revise its bail bond and assurity bond requirements to ensure that those accused of domestic violence are properly incented to show up for their court date and financially penalized if they violate their terms of release and/or order of protection. Full cash bail and full cash assurity bonding must be implemented, as well as utilizing domestic violence screening tools as part of the bonding process. Full cash bail needs to be set at no lower than $100,000, and this amount must be reviewed every two years to keep current.

B. For repeat offenders or violators of domestic violence restraining orders, offenders should not be provided the luxury of bail, but should remain incarcerated until trial is completed.

Poughkeepsie Journal article on the press conference, more to come...
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100920/NEWS01/100920013/Victim-s-family-calls-for-tougher-domestic-violence-laws

Domestic Violence Awareness in 2010

2010-10-12T19:10:00.002-04:00

Domestic Violence awareness must be focused on exposing the realities faced by victims who reach out for help to domestic violence resource centers, shelters and hotlines everyday and find that no real help exists.

Victims need resources that work.

Domestic violence victim resources must be held accountable for their actions.

Support DV REFORM end the run around faced by victims of abuse and stalking who reach out for help.

We are a nation of great promise and we must do more than ignore the signs of failure and hope for change because for victims failure of domestic violence resources is a matter of life or death.

Recall the following stories:

Regan Martin

Claudia Valenciana

Heather Thompson

Survivors In Action

"No Victim Left Behind"

Alexis A. Moore, President & Founder

Survivors In Action

The Courage Companion: How to Live with True Power

2010-10-11T13:45:00.006-04:00

These intrepid authors have gone to the front lines of adversity and fear to surface those brave hearts who have taken action, confronting and overcoming their trials and trepidations in ways that encourage us all. From world-class athletes, to spiritual teachers, to cancer patients, to ordinary people who in extraordinary ways have transformed their lives, these stories help lead us to our best lives. Enhanced with motivational quotes, expert advice, and exercises, this courage guidebook will help you turn apprehension into action to reap the many benefits of living your life with guts and gusto.

The Courage Companion features courageous people from all walks of life and across the globe, including:

• Romel Joseph, the blind Haitian violinist who survived the earthquake by playing music in his mind and who returned to rebuild the music school he built with his pregnant wife

• Lucille Jackson, an African-American grandmother who is waging war against gangs and extreme violence to provide hope for her grandson in Chicago's most dangerous neighborhood

• Alexis A. Moore, who founded Survivors in Action and is spearheading a movement known as DV Reform, which exposes the harsh realities faced by victims of domestic violence

• Peg Farrell, a 60-year-old former publisher for Family Circle, who traveled to Italy alone, leaving behind family and friends to train as a novice chef with pros who did not speak English

• B.J. Caldwell, the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo;

• Eli Rosmarin, a man who survived the Nazi death camps as a teen and Lt. Commander, and mom, Heidi Kraft, the wounded healer who became a guardian angel to physically and emotionally injured soldiers.

Courage means different things in different circumstances—from having the courage to make a difference, right a wrong, to begin again, or just to face the next day—but, as Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons show in The Courage Companion, facing up to adversity not only determines our destiny but our identity.

The difference that separates those who took action in the face of their fears and those who stay frozen: courageous people feel their fear but take action anyway. Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons have seen this manifest in their own lives, and in The Courage Companion, they assemble a team of people “brimming with bravery, and teeming with verve.”

Nina Lesowitz is an award-winning marketing professional who runs Spinergy Group, which represents authors, corporate clients, and nonprofits. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two daughters, and she does volunteer work for local literary organizations and schools. She is co-author of the bestselling book, Living Life as a Thank You.

Mary Beth Sammons, a 20-year veteran reporter, specializes in community journalism and her work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune and Crain’s Chicago Business. At the national level Sammons work regularly appears in AOL Health, Family Circle, and Beliefnet.com. She has written 10 books about wellness, health, ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and other lifestyle issues, including: Second Acts That Change Lives: Making a Difference in the World and We Carry Each Other: Getting Through Life’s Toughest Times. She lives with her three children and she still finds the time to train and compete in triathlons and half-marathons.

The Courage Companion: How to Live Life with True Power

By Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons

ISBN: 978-1-57344-409-5 US Price: $15.95 5 x 7 Trade Paper Oct. 13, 2010

Our NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Hard at Work...

2010-09-30T11:36:00.005-04:00

I am posting a letter from the OPDV to a victim that is in need and having trouble navigating through the judicial system in place. I will hold back on saying anything more on this issue, instead I will post the letter as it is and let my readers make their own judgements. Having said that, I, too, have tried and tried to get help from the NYS OPDV when I was struggling through the system. In the end, I was endlessly referred in a circle and received no help from the resources offered.

Dear XXXXX,

I am the Victim Resource Coordinator at the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. I am responding to your request to speak to our Executive Director. We have spoken on numerous occasions about your frustrations with the court systems. Unfortunately, as I have explained previously, our office is unable to address your concerns. Additionally, I have identified local resources within your community to assist you in getting your needs addressed. At this point I do not believe that our Office can assist you any further. Good luck on your quest for change in the workings of the judicial system.

Debra Darby
Victim Resource Coordinator
NYS Office for the
Prevention of Domestic Violence
80 Wolf Road - 4th Floor
Albany, NY 12205
Phone: 518-457-4100
Fax: 518-457-5810

ACP (Address Confidentiality Programs), SSN and Identity Change continue to be difficult to achieve for victims of stalking and abuse...

2010-09-24T15:15:00.004-04:00

"I had to fill out paperwork on my new job today. They called yesterday...so I called the Social Security Office to check on my application for a new Social Security Number. They said they sent a letter...must be in the mail because the decision was made on the 16th to deny me a new number. The worker left me a message on my phone...Said, there wasn't enough evidence of ongoing abuse."

"What do I do now?"

This is an actual recent account of the tragic breakdown of resources available to abuse and stalking victims today who are attempting to change their social security numbers and identities to help prevent future harm or worse death.

Survivors In Action continues to receive thousands of requests from domestic violence victims from across the nation desperate to find the "magic bullet" to get social security administration to accept their application for social security number change.

Victims continue to rely upon volunteer victim advocates with Survivors In Action along with public officials to help cut through the red tape when requesting a social security number change.

Social security number changes are for many abuse and stalking victims a matter of life or death because of the datafurnishing agencies of today and technology. It is easy work for batterers and even those behind bards to locate a person using the net today.

The majority of the requests that are sent in to the SSA, Social Security Administration by abuse and stalking victims requesting a social security number change are denied on the same basis, "not enough evidence of ongoing abuse."

As a victim I can attest to the fact that for those like me who have applied to SSA for this change receiving this canned response in the mail is support for the need for DV REFORM and for allocating dollars to improving the social security administration response and promoting awareness of id change for victims of stalking and abuse.

Special thanks to Senator Mike Rogers in Alabama for his office's assistance helping victims of stalking and abuse. It is my hope that more public officials from across the U.S. will follow suit.

If you are a domestic violence victim being given the "run around" by social security administration officials here are some easy steps for you to use to cut through the red tape.

1) Obtain letters from your local public officials in support of your social security number change. A simple statement from your assemblyman or local senator can make a big difference in cutting through the social security administration red tape.

2) Obtain letters from lawyers, victim advocates, family members, co-workers or any member of law enforcement or individual that will oblige your request to write a support letter.

3) Find an advocate at your local domestic violence shelter or reach out to Survivors In Action, we will help you!

There is nothing worse than living or working in fear and SIA knows the importance of victims being afforded safety measures like social security number changes- they are far too often a matter of life or death.
Survivors In Action"No Victim Left Behind"

Alexis A. Moore, President & Founder

Survivors In Action

Courtesy of Survivors in Action: Domestic Violence Shelters and Advocates noticeably absent for Domestic Violence press conference in NY

2010-09-21T18:18:00.006-04:00

Abuse shelters, domestic violence advocates noticeably absent during domestic violence legislative rally in Poughkeepsie, NY yesterday.

After the tragic slaying of Linda Riccardulli, her family and abuse survivor, Maria DiBari, gathered the courage to speak yesterday in a live press conference in support of DV REFORM along with district 102 Assembly candidate, Alyssa Kogon.

Noticeably absent at the press conference were domestic violence representatives from the local shelters, state and national domestic violence coalitions or partnerships. They all failed to show up in support of DV REFORM legislation or to even offer their condolences to those brave enough to speak out at the press conference in support of abuse victims.

There is definitely something wrong with this picture and that is why Survivors In Action along with thousands of supporters is leading the movement known as DV REFORM to make the domestic violence coalitions, partnerships, agencies and shelters accountable to the victims they are supposed to support.

"We invited many. None came.", said Alyssa Manner Kogon, NY Assembly district 102 candidate who held the press conference yesterday to introduce domestic violence legislative proposals including Linda's Law after Linda Riccardulli who was tragically slain months earlier in a domestic violence incident in Hyde Park, NY.

“She tried, using the tools available to make this change, and protect her family. Her efforts were in vain,” said Jackie Axt, Linda Riccardulli’s sister.

"Abuse victims reaching out for help deserve better than to be ignored by those that are supposed to be there to support them", says Alexis A. Moore founder of Survivors In Action advocacy organization and abuse survivor abandoned by the system in California.

“All the gates are open for the offenders, and they are closed for the victims,” Maria DiBari said. “They system is extremely complex, it’s not as easy as just reaching out.”

It should be easier for abuse victims to get assistance and protection from local and state resources. Making it easier however requires domestic violence agencies at the national, state and local level to take action.

Domestic violence victims will continue to fall through the cracks until victims' voices are heard and public officials, domestic violence advocates, shelters and coalitions are willing to take a stand and do more than hide behind the crime scene tape hoping that the problem will go away.

The videos below are real victims of domestic violence telling their tragic stories and these women are living proof of the failures of the domestic violence resources of today. So far Survivors In Action has collected over ten thousand signatures in support of DV REFORM in less than six months.

Even after the appointment of Lynn Rosenthal as White House Advisor for violence against women victims continue to be ignored and left behind.

I have spoken to Lynn Rosenthal at the White House and have proof that the White House is reading the Survivors In Action blogs and monitoring our web sites. Yet our offer to assist and work with public officials, national, state and local domestic violence agencies from across the nation continues to be ignored.

Some say what Survivors In Action is trying to do is impossible.

I say, "No way!".

Join Survivors In Action and help promote DV REFORM.

Let us honor all who have lost their lives and those who have survived abuse by taking action to ensure no victim left behind.

Sample videos of victims being left behind by the system...

Claudia Valenciana

Heather Thompson

Regan Martin

Survivors In Action

"No Victim Left Behind"

YNN: Domestic Violence Laws Not Tough Enough

2010-09-20T21:49:00.005-04:00

A big thanks to Alyssa Kogon, candidate for the NYS Assembly, for throwing this Press Conference today in Poughkeepsie and advocating for all Domestic Violence Victims in NY. Many thanks to Nikki Riccardulli and Jackie Axt for being brave enough to speak out against this horrific crime, and to Zoey and Tyler for supporting all of us. You will all make a difference.

YNN: Press Conference Coverage in Poughkeepsie NY

Poughkeepsie Journal article

Proposals for NYS: Linda's Law

2010-09-20T07:13:00.002-04:00

Linda’s Law Proposals

1. Keep domestic violence victims safe. In order to ensure the safety of domestic violence victims, it is critical that restraining orders are structured to provide sufficient protection in terms of the time protected. In the past, restraining orders have been time limited, and by providing judges with the flexibility to ensure that the time of the restraining order will protect the victim is critical. Therefore, sentencing should at a minimum require five years protection if awarded by a family court judge and ten years protection if awarded by a criminal court judge.

2. Providing adequate resources for domestic violence victims to live their lives. Many domestic violence victims have limited access to resources to retain skilled Domestic Violence attorneys to> represent them in divorce and other proceedings. While there are existing programs, they are inadequate, have long waiting lists and are often ineffective in providing adequate counsel. A new program that leverages existing resources and funding, is necessary to ensure that these victims have timely and effective access to the legal representation they need in divorce cases.

3. Ensure that alleged domestic abusers are properly scrutinized and retained in custody to ensure repeat offenses do not occur. Recognizing the right of the accused we must also represent the right of the victim. Therefore, NYS needs to:

A. For first time offenders, revise its bail bond and assurity bond requirements to ensure that those accused of domestic violence are properly incented to show up for their court date and financially penalized if they violate their terms of release and/or order of protection. Full cash bail and full cash assurity bonding must be implemented, as well as utilizing domestic violence screening tools as part of the bonding process. Full cash bail needs to be set at no lower than $100,000, and this amount must be reviewed every two years to keep current.

B. For repeat offenders or violators of domestic violence restraining orders, offenders should not be provided the luxury of bail, but should remain incarcerated until trial is completed.

Poughkeepsie Journal article on the press conference, more to come...
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100920/NEWS01/100920013/Victim-s-family-calls-for-tougher-domestic-violence-laws

Press Conference with Alyssa Kogon and Maria DiBari in Support of Domestic Violence Reform: Monday, September 20th

2010-09-15T12:42:00.004-04:00

September 14, 2010

For Immediate Release

Assembly Candidate Alyssa Kogon to Propose Domestic Violence Reform

Assembly Candidate Alyssa Kogon will announce her proposal for legislation on Domestic Violence Reform on Monday, September 20 2010 on the steps of the Dutchess County Courthouse, 10 Market Street,Poughkeepsie, NY at 10:00 AM.

“The Bill will be known as "Linda's Law" in memory of Linda Riccardulli, Hyde Park resident and domestic violence victim,” said Alyssa Kogon. “It is the responsibility of our state representatives to understand the importance of this issue, and to pass meaningful domestic violence measures to protect victims, and prevent future tragedies.”

Maria DiBari, domestic violence survivor and Dutchess County resident proposed this much needed legislation hoping to help save other Domestic Violence victims from the same fate. “There is nothing worse than reaching out for help and finding out that there is no real help.This legislation will help save lives and end the needless bloodshed in NYS and beyond and it is long over due!”

Kogon will be joined by:

Jackie Axt, sister of Linda Riccardulli
Maria DiBari, domestic violence expert and advocate
Sandy Goldberg, Minority Leader
Dutchess County Legislature Dan Kuffner, Assistant Minority Leader, Dutchess County Legislature Zoey Keegan, and daughter Tyler Keegan, domestic violence survivors

For more information, contact Alyssa Kogon at845-876-7539, or Pat Kelly at 845-325-2659 and Pat.Kelly.RH@gmail.com.

NYS Assembly: Alyssa Kogon vs. Joel Miller

2010-09-14T19:00:00.003-04:00

I want to personally thank Alyssa Kogon for standing up for Domestic Violence Victims in NYS and in Dutchess County. I do hope everyone gets out and votes for Alyssa, as we need advocates in office...true leaders. Thank you, Alyssa, for all the work you do!
Take note at the end, when Alyssa Kogon mentions the recent death of Linda Riccardulli, Miller finds it rather hilarious and starts to laugh.

Watch live streaming video from poughkeepsiejournal at livestream.com

The Joyful Heart Foundation

2010-09-13T15:20:00.003-04:00

Hi Maria

My name is Caroline and I am contacting you on behalf of the Joyful Heart foundation. Given your blog’s primary goal of helping survivors I wanted to quickly reached out to you about a current dysfunction in our justice system and ask if you could help spread the word!

When a rape victim goes to the hospital or reports the crime against her, she will be asked to have a rape kit taken--a collection of DNA evidence which, if tested, provides essential investigative leads. Testing a rape kit can identify an unknown perpetrator, confirm the presence of a suspect, identify serial rapists by connecting individual crime scene evidence, affirm a victim's version of events, and exonerate innocent suspects. Yet today in the United States, experts estimate there are hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits in police and crime lab storage facilities across the United States.

The rape kit backlog is a symptom of the inadequate criminal justice responses to rape. Only 22% of reported rapes in the United States results in an arrest--the lowest arrest rate for rape in thirty years. This means that a victim has a one in five chance of seeing her rapist apprehended, and that a perpetrator has an 80% chance of getting away with his crime. Testing rape kits can help move more rape cases through the system. It also sends a message to rape victims--your case matters.

The Joyful Heart Foundation – founded by “Law & Order: SVU” actress Mariska Hargitay and dedicated to issues of sexual and domestic violence and child abuse – is working to end the rape kit backlog in the United States. They are launching the first comprehensive web-site on the rape kit backlog, endthebacklog.org, on September 29th, in conjunction with the airing of a special SVU episode about the rape kit backlog.

I was hoping that you could spread the word to your readers to watch the special SVU episode on September 29th and learn more about how they can help end this problem.

Also, if you are interested I can also arrange for you to speak with Sarah Tofte, a nationally-known expert on rape kits and the Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships of The Joyful Heart Foundation regarding the rape kit backlog, the launch of the new web-site, and the various reform efforts underway across the country.

Thank you so much!

Best,

Caroline

Update:NYS Republican Party kills Democratic initiative to protect DV Victims by keeping Domestic Abuse off the agenda in Dutchess County NY

2010-09-07T19:14:00.006-04:00

Though many in Dutchess County NY have sent letters of support to get my Domestic Violence Resolutions and Proposals for NYS on the agenda in Dutchess County NY, Chairman Robert Rolison has made sure Domestic Violence stays off the agenda. Instead, Mr. Rolison, who I have never spoken with regarding these issues, handed my proposals over to Leah Feldman, Chairwoman of the Domestic Violence Committee in Dutchess County, who I have also not had the pleasure of communicating with regarding these serious issues that plague the lives of many women in this very County and in NYS. I have made several attempts to discuss the issues with Ms. Feldman and anyone else in Dutchess County on my free time, which is after 5pm. I am mentioning the exact time here because I do work as well, and after work I dedicate my time to the cause. Although many Democratic officials found the time to communicate with me after 5pm over the weeks, every Republican member refused to speak with me after 5pm.

Ms. Feldman responded to my letter today, one that stated my disappointment of the GOP turning down my Resolutions for the County and NYS: " I can assure you that the information you have sent me from your website has been passed around at our meetings. Your resolutions along with those of many others are being considered within our report. As far as finding a time to discuss your issues on the phone, between the hours of 9 to 5 works for me, but unfortunately not for you. Please be assured that we are all dedicating our time to make our community safe for victims of domestic violence on the daily basis. Any other information you would like distributed at our meeting please send along. Thank you for your dedication."

I am grateful that the Committee is passing around information from my website, but I am afraid it isn't enough at this time. Domestic Violence Victims need stricter laws and it's only a matter of time before we see Domestic Violence in the papers again. As a community we seem to forget tragedies that happen in our own backyard very quickly. A woman is slain in Dutchess County and our Republican Party makes certain Domestic Violence resolutions are NOT on the agenda. I'm afraid this isn't a Democratic or Republican issue, it's a human issue- one that runs deep in our society and can only be solved if everyone is on board.

The good news is that Alyssa Kogon, who is running against Joel Miller (R) for the NYS Assembly, has reached out to me this evening (after 5pm) to discuss the issues and take action. She has expressed some of her own ideas regarding Domestic Violence solutions for the state and we plan on holding a press conference in the up and coming weeks. I am truly grateful to those who make this issue a priority, unfortunately, it's not the Majority.

If you would like to express your frustrations with Mr. Rolison, please contact him at: roli213@aol.com

Where does Assemblyman Joel Miller stand on Women's Issues?

2010-08-31T20:09:00.003-04:00

Two weeks ago I started sending out mass emails to county/state politicians regarding my domestic violence proposals for NYS. So many supporters sent letters to these politicians in NYS as well, backing my ideas and resolutions and taking a stand against domestic violence in the community and in NYS. Thankfully, many Dutchess County Legislators embraced my ideas and followed up with me last week. I had a few phone conferences, was a guest on the Joel Tyner (legislator) Radio Show, and was approached by two local papers in my area.

Unfortunately, I have not heard very much from my Assemblyman, Joel Miller, regarding these issues. Last week his assistant left me a message in support of my ideas, but I haven't heard anything else regarding the domestic violence resolutions I have proposed. I emailed him several times, called back immediately, left my phone number and email address, and there has been no communication thus far. In fact, Joel has never called or emailed me himself. I did some researching on Assemblyman Miller and found out that Miller actually voted NO in a vote to pass a bill that expands the list of serious offenses that makes possessing a firearm a class A misdemeanor to include family offenses like DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. The bill was passed despite Miller's voting NO on prohibiting a domestic violence offender from owning a firearm (A 7575). I am shocked that he voted against such an important piece of legislation, one that would only protect women and children from violent offenders. I am unclear as to what side Assemblyman Miller is standing on in the fight against domestic abuse...maybe his vote says it all.

As of now, I'm in the process of waiting for a phone conference with Chairwoman of the Dutchess County Domestic Violence Citizen's Advisory Committee, Leah Feldman, but nothing has been set up yet. At the end of every work day, I come home and make time for anyone that wants to discuss the ideas I have for NYS on behalf of all DV victims and survivors in need of help. Currently, I'm waiting for Ms. Feldman, a NYS Assemblyman, and a NYS Senator to make it a priority to listen to the problems and solutions I have for NYS. Many in NYS want change, and now it is in the hands of our public servants to take action.

DEMANDING ACTION: Calling on NYS Assemblymembers and Senators to sponsor my work against Domestic Violence...

2010-08-25T07:09:00.015-04:00

Please copy and paste this below and send to the following:

leibell@senate.state.ny.us

millerj@assembly.state.ny.us

saland@senate.state.ny.us

Senators Leibell/Saland and Assemblyman Skartados:

Please support Maria DiBari's resolutions for domestic violence issues in Dutchess County and in NYS. Following another domestic violence killing in the Hudson Valley (Linda Riccardulli),she is proposing the following solutions to the various problems/barriers she has seen in the last two years. I am confident that these solutions will save the lives of innocent women affected by violence. Please sponsor her resolutions and help her make the changes we need in NYS. These changes are mostly free of cost to the state and many women are in need of protection.

(for more information, visit www.4survivors.blogspot.com)

1. Lack of Domestic Violence divorce lawyers for DV victims. We need to challenge resources that claim to offer these services (LSHV, shelters, and other resources in NYS).

2.Improper Domestic Violence screening at hospitals in NYS (primary screening is not mandatory in hospitals, and is poorly executed. Improper documentation of abuse will set a victim up for failure in the future, especially when seeking compensation for medical bills from state victim compensation services). Ken Zebrowski of Rockland County NY is drafting a bill that will be addressing these issues. Please support this bill and make contact with this Assemblyman.

I've put together a non-verbal/written secondary screening tool that should be mandatory in all ERs/hospitals/Dr offices in NYS. This short, written screening tool could save lives and help women affected by abuse get help the help they need in situations where they can't verbalize the abuse due to fear of retaliation etc.. I would like to see this tool first implemented in the hospital that didn't screen me three years ago: St. Lukes in Newburgh NY.

3. Revision of the NYS Crime Victims Board Application for abused vicitms. Extensive barriers prevent DV victims from collecting compensation for medical bills with the NYS Crime Victims Board. Before the changes that recently took place at the NYS CVB, I proposed that the CVB have staff that only dealt with complex crimes such as DV and stalking cases, as these cases usually tend to be more complicated and detailed and lack evidence and documentation (police reports etc.). I also suggested that the NYS CVB revise their application for domestic abuse victims in the coming year to include a more detailed outline of the "crime description" section in the application. This will eliminate confusion on both the victims'end and the CVB's end.

4. Lack of V.I.N.E. knowledge from all institutions, including the NYS police departments (Orange, Rockland, Ulster Counties), shelters in every county, and most importantly VICTIMS who are unaware of this notification system. Shelters need to do more than send out pamphlets to police stations every year--we need training, which can be provided by most shelters free of charge.

5. Inadequate training in police departments, no SOP for DV calls (creating a DV training program, or a standard operating procedure for an officer when dealing with a domestic incidence call). Separating two parties at a crime scene and collecting data from both parties separately in order to obtain an accurate police report will save lives and promote accurate police reports for abuse victims; most women do not report abuse and/or lie on police reports out of fear of future retaliation. A simple SOP in place in NYS for poice officers would better protect women affected by abuse.

6. Domestic Violence organizations endlessly referring victims in a circle as a primary response to DV/ DV organizations keeping donation funds for themselves and not helping victims. I propose the implementation of a DV Oversight Committee to ensure that victims aren't being abused by the very institutions that are set up to aid them.

7. Implementing high full cash bail for first time offenders (batterers)/No bail for abusers that re-offend/violate restraining orders--no bail and full trial before release. Domestic Violence screening tools used before an offender is released from jail in either situation (Maine implements this tool and it works).

8. Automatic V.I.N.E. registration for victims following a DIR/911 call/arrest. (Police training on V.I.N.E. is needed and officers should be verbally communicating the V.I.N.E. option with victims after an arrest.) This automatic registration at a crme scene will save lives, especially for women that are lulled into a false sense of security after an arrest.

9. Restraining order extensions for battered women need to be implemented. Bargaining for a 1 year restraining order in Family Court, or a 1-5 year OP in Criminal Court is not good enough for our women. We need extensions on issued restraining orders in NYS. I'm proposing a 5 year restraining order to be issued in Family Courts for abused women in NYS, and a (minimum) 10 year OP issued for abused women in Criminal Court. Women need the courts to protect abused women and offenders need to be penalized for domestic abuse.

10. The initiation of Domestic Violence Courts in all counties in NYS. Dutchess/Orange/Ulster are in need of DV courts in order to better protect the lives of women suffering from domestic violence.

Thank you,
(your name)