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ENABLING PEACE BY BREAKING THE SILENCE |
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October 2008 |
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THE DOVE |
CONNIE’S CORNER By Connie Huffman |
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This is a continuation of the July issue’s article on Sex Offender Recidivism. Studies often vary in the length of time they “follow-up” on a group of sex offenders in the community. There are two issues of concern with follow-up groups. Ideally, all individuals in any given study should have the same length of time “at risk” time at large in the community and, thus, equal opportunity to commit subsequent offenses. In practice, however this almost never happens.
In many instances, policies and procedures for the management of sex offenders have been driven by public out cry over highly publicized sex offenses. However, criminal justice practitioners must avoid reactionary responses that are based on public fear of the population, instead, they must strive to make management decisions that are based on the careful assessment of the likelihood of recidivism. The identification of risk factors that may be associated with recidivism of sex offenders can aid practitioners in devising management strategies that best protect the community and reduce the likelihood of further victimization.
It is crucial to keep in mind, however, that there are no absolutes or “magic bullets” in the process of identifying these risk factors. Rather, this process is an exercise in isolating factors that tend to be associated with specific behaviors. While this association reflects likelihood, it does not indicate that all individuals who possess certain characteristics will behave in a certain manner. Some sex offenders will inevitably commit subsequent sex offenses, in spite of the best efforts to identify risk factors and institute management and treatment processes aimed at minimizing these conditions. Likewise, not all sex offenders who have re-offense risk characteristics will recidivate.
For more information on recidivism go to www.sexoffender.com |
WHAT’S NEWS!! By Monica Huffman |
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THE ABUSE OF POWER LAW ENFORCEMENT PERPETRATED DOMESTIC VIOELNCE Many of the same qualities valued in on-duty police officers can make those same officers dangerous perpetrators of domestic violence. All abusers employ similar methods to control and abuse their intimate partners. Officers however, have an arsenal of skills and tactics not commonly possessed by civilians. Professional training in the use of force and weapons, intimidation, interrogation and surveillance techniques along with the cultural climate coalesce into a dangerous and potentially lethal combination in a domestic situation. Victims face the bias of law enforcement agencies and the legal system, psychological intimidation, and high risk of lethality. Police abusers differ from other abusers only in that they are tougher and more dangerous. They have training, a badge, a gun and the weight of the police culture behind them. Smart police do not hit, slap, kick, or choke their partners. It is not necessary. They exercise their power and control by intimidating, isolating and terrifying the victim. These forms of abuse need to be addressed when the perpetrator is an officer. They are misuses of institutional power — the badge, the gun, the support of the department — and there is the constant threat that he will use them all against her. Police are trained to walk in and take control of any situation. Their mere presence, voice and stance are used to establish their authority. They learn a full range of information-gathering techniques ranging from interviewing and interrogating to vigilant surveillance. The proficient use of these investigative techniques requires the ability to be manipulative and deceptive. If the woman calls the police, she sees that when the police arrive at the scene and learn that the alleged perpetrator is a police officer, a shift takes place. The responding officers are now responding not to the victim of a crime, but to an officer in need. Most police perpetrators' greatest fear is the loss of their job. A department's policy and attitude may be the most influential factors in deterring police domestic violence. Police departments have a responsibility to their employees and their employees' families to confront this problem. Domestic violence is not a private matter in any household. It is a crime. The claim that society is holding police officers to a higher standard is clearly unfounded. Officers are sworn not only to enforce the law, but to abide by it. To learn more please visit the following http:/www.dwetendorf.com/Article_FBI.htm. All information was collected from this site. |
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NATIONAL SUMMARY
The National Network to End Domestic Violence has done a survey of domestic violence services. On September 25, 2007, 1,346 out of 1,949, or 69% of identified domestic violence programs in the United States participated in the 2007 National Census of Domestic Violence Services. The following figures represent information provided by the 1,346 participating programs about services they provided during the 24hour period.
53,321 victims served in one day.
25,321 domestic violence victims found refuge in emergency shelters or transitional housing provided by local domestic violence programs. 27,882 adults and children received non-residential services, including individual counseling, legal advocacy, and children’s support groups. In just one day, 92% of local programs provided individual counseling or advocacy but only 35% were able to provide transitional housing. Services include: 92% individual counseling or advocacy 74% emergency shelter 71% legal accompaniment/services 64% advocacy with social services |
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60% children’s counseling/advocacy 60% group counseling or advocacy 42% childcare 35% transitional housing
7,707 UNMET REQUESTS FOR SERVICES
Many programs reported a critical shortage of funds and staff to assist victims in need of services, such as housing, child care, mental health and substance abuse counseling, and legal representation.
20,582 HOTLINE CALLS ANSWERED
Domestic violence hotlines answered more than 14 calls every minute.
29,902 PEOPLE TRAINED
Programs provided more than 1500 trainings, where community members gained much needed information on prevention and early intervention.
MONTANA SURVEY SUMMERY
On September 25, 2007 14 out of 28 or 50% of domestic violence programs participated. Same date, 24 hour period
230 VICTIMS SERVED IN ONE DAY 99 domestic violence victims found refuge in emergency shelters or transitional housing provided by local domestic violence programs 131 adults and children received non-residential services, including individual counseling, legal advocacy, and children’s support groups In just one day, 93% of local programs provided individual counseling or advocacy but only 7% were able to provide transitional housing. Services include: 93% individual counseling or advocacy 43% emergency shelter 64% legal accompaniment/services 50% advocacy with social services 57% children’s counseling/advocacy 36% group counseling or advocacy 36% childcare 7% transitional housing
129 UNMET REQUESTS FOR SERVICES
Many programs reported a critical shortage of funds and staff to assist victims in need of services, such as housing, child care, mental health and substance abuse counseling, and legal representation.
88 HOTLINE CALLS ANSWERED
Domestic violence hotlines answered more than 4 calls every hour.
41 PEOPLE TRAINED
Individuals across Montana attended community education and trainings, gaining much needed information on prevention and intervention. |
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACROSS THE WORLD Around the world, across geography, language, race, religion and culture, domestic violence is all too often defended in the name of law, culture, tradition, or just life. The numbers are staggering. In the United States, a woman is battered every 15 seconds. In India, 40 percent of adult women reported physical assaults by a male partner. In Sweden, one of every six murders is committed by a man murdering his partner. In Nicaragua, nearly thirty percent of women reported partner abuse. In South Africa, one women is killed approximately every six days by her male partner. 38 percent of Korean women reported battering by their spouse in the past year. Domestic violence is clearly a world-wide epidemic. In this article, let’s look at domestic violence in Russia.
Every fourth family in Russia experiences some form of domestic violence, with 82 percent of such crimes being committed by husbands, according to government statistics. Each year, about 14,000 women die at the hands of their husbands or intimate partners. In the United States, by comparison, this number stands at about 1,200, according to the 2001 Bureau of Justice Statistics Report. Russia's population is 144 million; the U.S. population is more than 293 million.
"The number of women dying every year at the hands of their husbands and partners in the Russian Federation is roughly equal to the number of all soldiers who died in the 10-year war of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan," says Natalya Abubikirova, executive director of the Russian Association of Crisis Centers. The Moscow-based umbrella organization of 32 groups advocates for women's rights and seeks to raise awareness to prevent discrimination and violence against women.
And apparently, a woman seeking a divorce due to domestic violence is unusual in Russia because, while divorce is not stigmatized in Russia, being alone is. There is a general pressure to get married as soon as possible, and as a result many women marry men they hardly know. If these women change their minds about their marriage or if they face domestic violence, they often don't have an opportunity to divorce because of financial dependence on their husbands.
In a 2003 Ministry of the Interior report that polled victims of domestic violence, 76 percent of the women said they had suffered from abuse for a long time before reporting it to the police or making it public in some other way. The report lists some of the common reasons given by the women: "Didn't believe that the law enforcement would help," "Was afraid of revenge," "Was afraid of losing housing, had nowhere to go," "Was afraid of public scorn," "Didn't want to leave the kids without a father."
Another 2003 study found that most Russian women blame themselves for being beaten or abused by their husbands. In cases of domestic conflict that ends with violence, women are not likely to seek outside help. Rather, they will keep the problem inside the family and consider themselves at fault.
Courts in Russia have provided little encouragement to women hoping for help there.
In one case recorded by the Moscow-based crisis center ANNA, the husband of a young female pianist broke all of her fingers in a jealous rage. The court found him guilty of causing slight physical damage and gave him a suspended sentence. For the woman, however, the incident was more than "slight harm." It ended her career, according to the center.
"Men who beat or rape their wives or commit other acts of violence in the family are unlikely to face prosecution in the Russian Federation," according to a 2003 Amnesty International report. "Many victims seeking to prosecute their abusers face indifference or neglect at the hands of the police and the courts. The police often fail to register such cases properly and to conduct thorough investigations; the criminal justice system often denies the victims their right to justice."
Women also perpetrate domestic violence, but 9 out of 10 use violence against their husbands in response to being attacked, the Ministry of the Interior has reported.
Journalist Lisa McAdams reported from Moscow in an article dated December 21, 2005 that “One of the more shocking statistics….. is that the capital city - Moscow - with a population numbering well over 10 million, does not have a single shelter to house victims of domestic violence. The nearest shelter is in Khimki, on the Northern outskirts, and Muscovites are not afforded service there because they do not have residency status for Khimki.” |