End the Silence of Domestic Violence in Child Custody Cases - Dr. Phil Show
Great Job Steve Burdo and the Center For Judicial Excellence!!!
End the Silence of Domestic Violence in Child Custody Cases
Dr. Phil: Stats show that in Domestic Violence Families children are abused 50% times more often than non Domestic Violence Families. So Why Are We giving Abusers and Pedophiles and killer daddy's custody of these same children?
fromwww.drphil.com
Steve Burdo is the lead advocacy consultant for the Center for Judicial Excellence. “Women are just not being believed or listened to in family court, where the majority of these cases are being tried,” he says. “Oftentimes, they are being blamed and punished. Only in family court do we see a situation where the victim is the person who has to present the case against the abuser. If it’s in criminal court, it would be a DA or a prosecutor who would present the case for the victim, but if a woman is the victim of domestic violence, and can’t afford an attorney, then she has to go into court and present that case, and it’s extremely intimidating facing your abuser in the first place, but being able to go about the more technical or litigious aspects of presenting a case. In our criminal courts, we will make sure that our most heinous murderers have adequate legal representation. However, a mother who’s trying to protect herself or her child and can’t afford an attorney in family court, she’s thrown to the courts like a lamb to the slaughter.”
“How do we change that?” Dr. Phil asks.
“We need to completely rethink the way we handle domestic violence cases, and that means having all the right people involved, not just the legislators, not just the courts,” Steve says. “You need a domestic violence community, you need domestic violence victims at that table, talking about how to change the way we handle these cases, and it’s something that’s just not happening right now.”
“It doesn’t seem to me, from my involvement in this, that we have all the entities communicating,” Dr. Phil says. “If CPS is involved, a criminal court may not know that. If there’s a custody battle, CPS may assume that the family court is looking at this, so they’re not going to start an investigation, because they think it would be redundant, when in fact they might have resources that the family court doesn’t have, particularly with our budget cuts. Why do we not have family court, criminal court people talking to each other?”
“With the hundreds of calls we get each month at the Center for Judicial Excellence, our experience is that we see it’s more of an issue of CPS not communicating with the family courts,” Steve says.
“When CPS is investigating allegations of abuse, and they see that there’s a custody dispute also, they will just close the case as inconclusive. It’ll then go to the family courts. The family courts will look at it and go, ‘Oh, this was closed as inconclusive. There’s no abuse,’ and they’ll just take that as a final verdict.”
Read more at www.drphil.comCivil and family attorney Areva Martin and the National Network to End Domestic Violence have child custody precautions every mother needs to know before leaving an abusive relationship. See their tips here!
Politics
http://www.drphil.com/shows/video/?XMLPath=%2Fvideo.xml%2F%3FShowID%3D1666%26Type%3DUncensored
Why some fathers kill, the tragic murder suicide that's reignited the debate over domestic violence.
1st collector for Why some fathers kill, the tragic murder suici...
Follow my videos on vodpod
Domestic Violence and Divorce - The Epidemic Facing Battered Mothers in Family Court
Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D
Battered mothers in divorce court often look like "swine flu" survivors that haven't realized they are part of an epidemic. These women are in awe over what is "happening" or has "happened" to them and their children.
They go into court expecting "justice" and walk out thinking they missed the boat or those on their ship merely kicked them off. And from here, they franticly reach out merely trying to stay afloat in the wake. They are perplexed as to why and how they end up with supervised visitation and no custodial rights.
The Reality of Family Court
Divorce court is not the place to go to get justice for domestic violence; rather it's the place to go to get a divorce. You are there to seek assistance in splitting up the family estate and tend to the issues pertaining to child custody and visitation.
Now, some people will argue saying that their particular state has laws to protect victims of domestic abuse. Such laws may include statutes that assert a presumption regarding best interest of the children in the context of court-documented domestic violence.
However, even in these states, litigants are granted the right to litigate. And when one plays their hand cleverly, they can jockey custody via the use of the common and customary ploys involving legal domestic and legal psychiatric abuse.
Battered Mothers and the Swine Flu
I liken baffled battered mothers blindly hit by legal domestic and legal psychiatric abuse to uninformed swine flu survivors in the trenches of their flu symptoms. What they have in common is that both of these groups may be living a nightmare and not even realize the epidemic proportions of their condition.
If battered mothers knew of the trends in family court before they stood on the threshold of their proceedings or at a minimum while navigating the system, they could better protect themselves from becoming another statistic...just like those inflicted with the swine flu may have prevented their ordeal with some knowledge of prevention and early care to avoid becoming another H1N1 statistic.
Conclusions for Domestic Violence Survivors in Family Court
You must know the larger picture of domestic violence divorce in addition to your individual vignettes and concerns. You see, this picture is much bigger than you and your children. Appreciate that in order for you to best navigate your proceedings, you will need to be informed about domestic violence divorce, legal domestic abuse and legal psychiatric abuse.
For more information about domestic violence and divorce, visithttp://www.preventabusiverelationships.com/legal_domestic_ab use.php . Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D. helps people nationwide prevent and remedy legal domestic and legal psychiatric abuse. Copyright 2010 Jeanne King, Ph.D. - Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention
Judicial Abuse
Introduction
Judicial abuse occurs when the effects of law itself are damaging to the person access to justice. In the most severe forms, Judicial abuse often occurs involving the most vulnerable members of our world: Children.
For some time, judicial abuse has occurred across systems and mostly against mothers and children. Considering that it was not that long ago that both women and children were seen and not heard, just as things were improving it seemed as though humanity was finally valuing each and every precious human life.
Out in the public, such things would and do cause enough outrage for a sense of "natural justice". Away from the public eye, these human rights atrocities occur almost unseen and unheard like a thief in the night.
Secrecy
There are laws that prevent survivors from speaking out about their experiences. Whilst it is "for the children", children are not allowed to speak about the proceedings either. The media have written too few articles on the family court.
To bring the case to the media, participants must seek permission from the court itself or face imprisonment. Controversially, fathers rights groups were allowed to heavily voice their stories of "no contact", "falsely accused of child abuse and domestic violence" and few were allowed to challenge that except in utilizing generalist terms and evidence based research.
We are aware that most of these stories are not the case at all but are withheld by law to bring the public the truth.
Family Court
In the process of seeking more time with children and promoting what appears to be the most noble cause, has entrenched the rights of mothers and children in their ability to seek safety from violence.
Heads have been quoted in the media for stating that "family violence is our core business". The propaganda that is spread about the voices of children and their access to justice promotes the profitability in manufacturing child abuse and domestic violence.
They can do something about it, but it is not within their best economical advantage to do so. This will continue until something is done.
Petition:
We, the undersigned, call to the UN to eliminate judicial abuse globally.
The Stop Judicial Abuse petition to USA, Australia, UK, Canada and all other participating Family Courts that engage in judicial abuse was written by Anonymum and is hosted free of charge at GoPetition.
URGENT JUDGE DALE Wells
Hello Everyone,
Here are some past comments about Judge Wells the Judge who made the latest decision in my case. Basically he will go against the mother and the children in any situation even the most sever abuse and will act as the attoreny for the father.
It is against the judicial cannons to act as an attorney specially Judicial cannon 4G. A Judge cannot act as an attorney.
There is an emergency hearing tomorrow where the father wants to destroy all contact that I have with the children currently as he wants to ensure that I don't see them.
The judge in his tentative decision specifically referred to my South African immigrant status as an issue of concern with regard to keeping Josh and Gabrial from me.
I need people to take action.
Please phone the court and protest what is going on.
It is urgent.
I am asking for publicity and assistance as this type of situation needs to be exposed. Thank you for the past support and any current assistance or protest would be appreciated and please feel free to forward. A picture of us has been attached.
Thank you in advance
Elena Gross
(76) 625 0518
Comments made about Commissioner Dale Wells
All comments are opinions of the survey respondents.
Censor Level:
Dale Wells is sexist, pro-father and anti-child. Wells takes it upon himself
to act as attorney on behalf of the father, interrogating the mother, even
in the prsence of the farher's attorney, so it's as if the father has two
attorneys acting on his behalf, but one of them is the judge. He
consistently gives the father everything he asks for, and holds the mother t
obe suspect of anything the father may say. If the mother says anything, or
tires to, he interupts her and makes a ruling against her. Basically, if you
are a mother in Wells' courtroom you have no right to speak and you will be
ruled against regardless of any facts you present, whether in writing or if
you dare to try to speak. Dale Wells is even worse than Lawrence Best; while
they both share the habit of not allowing the mother to speak and
interrupting her and cutting her off if she tries to speak. Mothers have no
rights in the courtroom of Dale Wells, and his reckless decisions damage the
lives of our children. 2011-01-11
Negative/Critical
Report to Administrator View Survey
F(0.00)
HOW A JUDGE OF THIS LOW A CALIBRE GETS TO BE A JUDGE TO BEGIN WITH IS A
DISGRACE, HE HAS NO BUSINESS BEING A JUDGE, HE LACKS INTELLIGENCE, LACKS
KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW, AND LACKS ANY SENSE OF FAIRNESS IMPARTIALITY OR
REQUISITE JUDICIAL TEMPERMENT. 2010-07-18
Negative/Critical
Report to Administrator View Survey
F(0.16)
Well, after reading these comments, i feel a bit more confident in knowing I
got royally and financially screwed by Dale Wells. He cost me my home, and
all my financial assets that I ever accumulated and can never get back.
Thanks Dale! 2009-02-06
Negative/Critical
Report to Administrator View Survey
F(0.01)
I have always had the greatest respect for the judicial system, until
appearing before Dale Wells. I will not put the word "honorable" in front of
his name because he is far from it. He is biased, in cahoots with most of
the attorneys that appear in front of him and literally tears families AND
children apart. I have heard he is no longer hearing family law cases...if
so, that would be the best move that Riverside County could ever make. If he
is, then more children will be hurt by him. This is one man who has no
business being on the bench and I hope that someday, his actions catch up to
him. 2008-12-15
Negative/Critical
Report to Administrator View Survey
F(0.00)
Dale Wells is an EVIL, saddistic man who is 100% AGAINST mothers. He will
instantly take custody away from the mothers with a simple statement from
the father's attorney that the mother is not "sharing" the children, it
doesn't matter that there is a RESTRAINING order against the abusive father!
He has been divorced three times himself and took EVERYTHING from the
mothers of his children and NEVER paid them one dime!! He also tricked his
wives into signing INTERSPOUSAL GRANT DEEDS to their properties. He is NOT
an objective Commissioner to be on ANY bench EXCEPT for a PARK BENCH!!!
2008-12-12
Negative/Critical
Report to Administrator View Survey
F(0.00)
This is not just my opinion but my personal experience. Dale Wells has had
No respect or concern for the lives or outcome in the countless, faceless
children involved in these many custody cases. Removing them from their
mothers in too many cases to name here(in the 100's), without proof - all on
the word of just one attorney & her grown daughter adult attorney)and
usually without notice - In an emergency exparte hearing, the other party
not present or even represented, where illegally and with civil rights
violated, (no proof of service available in many cases, others just the
claim of a phone call left on an unmanned answering machine that was untrue)
& custody illegally switched immediately on the spot from having primary
physical custody to possibilities of future supervised visitation. Very
Prejudicial and obvious that time after time he favored attorney's Carol
Adams & Jennifer Clark. Most always without asking them to prove or back up
their outrageous accusations & claims of outrageous behavior & character
accusations. So outrageous that time after time, the same story for every
mother (very few fathers)accusations identical or similar and Mr. Wells,
seems not to notice. Why is he favoring this "Mother-Daughter" Law team as
they lied and perpetrate fraud upon the court, claiming to be a Christian
law firm to add insult to injury, Using God as a Representative for their
aggregating behavior. Yes, there are transcripts and videos and a river of
tears. $100,000's of dollars paid to attorneys who all but two or three in
the Valley, fell prey to this judge and these two attorneys who's conduct
was so out of control and obvious, yet nobody would listen to the women who
cried out for their children missing them and having gone from full custody
to not even visitation in many cases(or not for months while these Attorneys
avoid returning phone calls to prevent timely visitation) and for justice,
many still scrounging for money to return again to the court, to fight in
hopes of disproving these allegations and get their babies back. It would
have been better to be accused of a crime in a criminal court because We'd
have had an advocate to speak on our behalf. Instead, we're accused of
criminal type behavior, with no proof to base it on and not asked for any
proof by the other sides attorney. Their children are given to the other
parent who is either delinquent with child support or actively protesting
having to pay the primary custodial parent support. What goes on between
these two women attorneys and this one time Baptist Minister - gone
commissioner- (now Rogue Judge)! Will anybody ever care or look into the
years of parents and children from 2003 to 2008, separated basically because
these attorneys had so much control, power and authority in the Riverside
County Family Law Court Room 3M, in Indio California. These Childrens' lives
have been permanently scared and the parents have lost faith in our Justice
System and in what it is to be an American. To have your children taken from
your arms and not be able to afford to get them back or taking years in
court hearings to be told by court order Physchologist that I must agree to
50/50 custody or keep returning the hour drive to his office, missing work,
until i do agree to his requirement. It seems these attornies and this
commissioner, own everybody and have control over some of the other
therapist as well, conducting evaluations. Nobody can do anything to help
for fear of their own children or divorces having repercussions. We have
tried and are still trying to get help. Is there any Justice? People would
be horrified around the World to read the transcripts of these cases and
hear the untold sorrow and pain of the mothers (at least more than 100 and
some of the parents still have not yet been contacted or were too fearful to
become involved for possible repercussions in ongoing (YEARS!) court cases.
A Mother who loves her child will fight til the end to save her child and
never give up. Even in Nature, Mother Animals will kill for their young to
protect them. So much greater is the love of a human for there offspring!
Here, we are forced to hand over or worse, have our babies forcefully pulled
from our arms, kicking and screaming time after time and living in shameful,
pitiful situations with usually somewhat abusive parents in an unloving
home, and who don't care let alone love, and only wanted relief from paying
child support. 2008-12-12
Negative/Critical
Report to Administrator View Survey
F(0.00)
Dale Wells will grant whatever attorney law firm Adams,Clark and Clark ask
for. He requires no evidence to base his deceision, When Adams, Clark &
Clark are involved. He has complete Disregard for the best interest of the
child and puts children in harms way. He has been heard to state "Unless
there is Blood on the floor there is no emergency" I have compiled hundreds
of cases where Dale Wells has taken the children from a safe home and placed
them with the abusive parent at the request of Adams, Clark & Clark.
2008-12-12
Negative/Critical
Report to Administrator View Survey
F(0.34)
> http://ratethecourts.com/comments.php?id=965566
Elena Gross
47822 Belvedere Way
Indio CA 92201
(760) 625 0518
In Pro Per
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE
Timothy Gross ) CASE NO.: IND098669
Plaintiff )
) Objections to Inaccuracies, Omissions and
) Ambiguities in the Tentative Statement of
) Decision 5/5/2011
vs )
)
)
Elena Gross )
Respondent
----------------------------------------------------------------
MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES
CA Rules of Court 3.1590 (b) states that a tentative decision is not binding and does not constitute a judgment and is not binding on the court.
Respondent objects to the proposed statement of decision as it does not resolve a controverted issue either by ambiguity or omission (Code of Civil Code Procedure Section 634). The court addressed the issues that relate to the statement of decision as significant in making a tentative decision and addressed alleged deficiencies in the case and placed significance on the items that were belabored in the case. The court has colored the evidence with it's own opinion, speculation, conjecture and beliefs that does not match the evidence presented and has failed to interpret evidence that was presented in the correct manner and has not allowed presentation of appropriate evidence in an evidentiary trial to the detriment of the children. The legal standard used was “least willing to share”.
The Court refers to Plaintiff's children as “his” children, whereas they refer to Respondent's children as “the children”.
I. CONTROVERTED ISSUES ON STATEMENT OF DECISION
The court inferred that respondent did not present evidence of the kinds of activities she engages in with the children during their time with her, nor any evidence why it would be in
10 Worst States To Be a Woman
There really needs to be a more comprehensive study of the worst places to be a woman that includes domestic violence, custody laws and reproductive choice. Anything that affects a woman's autonomy should be considered harmful.
http://www.alternet.org/news/150878/10_worst_states_to_be_a_woman/
10 Worst States To Be a Woman
By Amanda Marcotte, AlterNet
Posted on May 9, 2011, Printed on May 11, 2011
http://www.alternet.org/story/150878/10_worst_states_to_be_a_woman
In a time of war and record unemployment, the GOP is sending a message: fertile women are the country’s number one enemy, and their freedoms must be quashed at all costs. State Republican (and some Democratic) legislators have introduced nearly 1,000 laws restricting women’s reproductive health access on the state level, and this is on top of decades of reproductive health policies that have made women second-class citizens in many states.
Here are 10 of the worst states to be a woman between puberty and menopause:
1. Mississippi. Mississippi has been such a bad state for women for so long it rarely even gets noticed in the news anymore. Legal and cultural harassment has reduced the number of abortion providers in the state to two, making the abortion rate in the state four times lower than the rest of the country. This doesn’t mean that women in Mississippi don’t need abortions; just that they go out of the state to get the services, making the actual abortion rate much closer to the national average. The demand is surely higher and not being met, as Mississippi is far from the place to go for decent sex education and birth control. Mississippi has the third highest teen birth rate in the country, the fifth highest maternal mortality rate, and fifth highest rate in STD transmissions. Because women can’t say no to childbearing easily, one in three Mississippi children live in poverty.
2. Texas. Thirty-five percent of women in their childbearing years are uninsured in Texas, making the need for subsidized family planning services especially strong in the state. Republican lawmakers responded to this need by slashing family planning funding, while leaving untouched the money the state spends on crisis pregnancy centers, even though these centers offer no real services women need. But even this isn’t enough for the Texas GOP. Republicans are currently concocting a scheme that would dismantle the entire state program dedicated to reproductive health care for low-income women. Just in case there was any doubt left in women’s minds that Texas Republicans hate them, Rick Perry will be signing an ultrasound requirement to get an abortion.
3. South Dakota. Anti-choicers in South Dakota tried to ban abortion in 2006, but the non-misogynist population turned up at the polls and beat the ban back. But searing hatred for ovulating women will not be thwarted so easily! The state then passed a law requiring women to wait 72 hours and subject themselves to a hectoring lecture at a crisis pregnancy center before they can get an abortion. Surprise! It turns out that no crisis pregnancy centers have applied to be official counseling centers. It makes sense, since by agreeing to do so, they’re allowing women to fulfill their paperwork requirements to get an abortion. Letting crisis pregnancy centers become an impassable obstacle to abortion has given misogynist legislators a way to deprive women of any ability to get an abortion while leaving abortion technically legal.
4. Indiana. Not to be outdone by South Dakota, Indiana has gone a step further and moved toward attacking both contraception and abortion access. Gov. Mitch Daniels recently signed a law banning abortions after 20 weeks, and cutting off all federal funding for family planning. Lawmakers claimed they only wanted to attack clinics that also provide abortions, but because of federal non-discrimination policy, the law basically means an end to all federal funding of contraception, as well as STD testing and treatment. Now women in Indiana who rely on Medicaid and Title X subsidies to afford contraception will have to come up with hundreds of dollars they don’t have for contraception, or go without and run the high risk of unwanted pregnancy. The Guttmacher Institute estimates that without these clinics, teen pregnancy would be 21 percent higher and there would be about 3,500 more abortions in the state a year.
5. Oklahoma. Oklahoma legislators looked at how Indiana Republicans are using the specter of abortion to cut off contraception and thinking of ways they can expand on that for brand-new ways to punish women for having working uteruses. Why stop at attacking women not giving birth, when you have women who have babies to punish, as well? With this in mind, the Oklahoma House passed a bill that would eliminate independent contractors from administering Women, Infants and Children (WIC), a federal program that distributes nutrition vouchers to low-income women with children. As usual, Planned Parenthood was cited as the reason, with the GOP claiming the organization is so evil that it’s better to starve babies than allow Planned Parenthood to receive government funding. In practice, the result is one more punishment inflicted on women, this time for having the nerve to have babies who need to eat.
6. Kansas. Kansas went from being a pretty bad place to be a woman to a hellhole rapidly, between the murder of Dr. George Tiller in 2009 and the recent election of devout misogynist Sam Brownback as governor. The murder emboldened the radical anti-choice movement, as it resulted in the closure of Tiller’s clinic and proved to them that terrorism does work. Because of this, anti-choicers in the area moved to terrorizing Dr. Mila Means, a Kansas family doctor who was discovered receiving training to provide abortion. So far, Dr. Means has been unable to find relief from the harassment campaign at her office and her home, and a federal judge refused to issue a restraining order against Angel Dilliard, an anti-choice fanatic who has been threatening Dr. Means’ life.
Despite the atmosphere of fear and violence, Gov. Brownback is giving the terrorists what they want by signing more abortion restrictions into law, and pushing to strip family planning funding from women who depend on it.
7. Minnesota. So much for “Minnesota nice.” The much-ballyooed unwillingness to be confrontational was shoved aside by Minnesota legislators who are all too willing to simply ignore court rulings that restrain misogynist legislation. Legislators sent a big F-you last week both to the supreme courts of the nation and their own state by passing two laws that have already been deemed illegal by the courts. One, a ban on abortions after 20 weeks, violates the Supreme Court’s ruling that abortions can only be banned after viability. The other, a law banning public funding of abortion, violates the Minnesota supreme court ruling that found that such a ban violates women’s right to equal treatment under the law. Minnesota Republicans may not confront you on most things, but they’re willing to take it to the mat to deprive women of basic equality.
8. Georgia. Last year, reproductive justice advocates beat back a bill that would require doctors to “screen” women of color having abortions for some kind of pressure to abort because of race. By inventing a non-existent problem (women of color aborting because of racism) legislators would have put doctors in a position where providing abortion to any woman of color could result in jail time, which could make the service only available to white women. The bill didn’t pass, but it did end up kicking off a nationwide frenzy of anti-choicers attacking the reproductive rights of women of color specifically while pretending to be concerned about racism.
In reality, Georgia is a terrible place for women of childbearing age, especially women of color. The state has the highest maternal mortality rate in the country, and maternal mortality disproportionately affects women of color. Real concern for the well-being of women of color would start with doing something about the maternal mortality rate, not feigning concern about their reasons for abortion.
9. Arizona. Race-based abortion restrictions may have failed in Georgia, but unfortunately, such a law recently passed in Arizona, a state that can’t even pretend that it’s not run by a bunch of wild-eyed racists. The “concern” for women of color aborting because of racism is laughable in a state where the legislature basically accused President Obama of not being a real citizen on no real evidence besides his appearance and in which it’s now the law for the police to harass Hispanic citizens for their papers. Of course, Arizona ignores the real problems facing women of its state -- 23 percent of women of child-bearing age are going without insurance coverage; the state has the third highest teenage pregnancy rate in the country; and 23 percent of Arizona children live in poverty. In light of all this, the safe assumption is race-based abortion laws are about making it that much harder for women of color to get abortions, which makes these laws not anti-racist, but just plain racist.
10. Louisiana. Louisiana has a ban on abortion on the books in case Roe v. Wade is overturned, as well as a host of other restrictions on abortion that have reduced the number of providers to seven in the state. Despite this, a Louisiana legislator has introduced a bill to ban abortion, apparently on the theory that if you pass the same illegal law over and over, it might just take. In addition, Gov. Jindal has indicated support for laws that would put additional restrictions in place for women of color seeking abortion, modeled on the abortion law in Arizona. As in Georgia, the concern for women of color is a centimeter deep; the state ranks 46th in maternal mortality and there’s no evidence that Republican legislators are lifting a finger to save the lives of women who do have their babies.
Amanda Marcotte co-writes the blog Pandagon. She is the author of It's a Jungle Out There: The Feminist Survival Guide to Politically Inhospitable Environments.
© 2011 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.
View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/150878/
[w1]
Maui Mothers Day Rally a Success!!
Courtesy AngelGroup
Maui Rally a Success
To bring attention to the fact that fit mother's are having ALL contact with their children removed, Hawaii supporters got together on Mother's Day on Maui to get the message out.
What did these mother's do wrong? They fled relationships of Domestic and Family Violence.
Maui's Family Court Judge Keith E. Tanaka is a notorious renegade judge who disregards statutory law in favor of abusers, placing children in harm's way.
Please come out and support the next rally...for the children.
Much Thanks to Maui's Kmart for supporting Domestic Violence Awareness.
CALA NY Participates in Million Mom March Mother's Day 2011 in Washington DC
1st collector for CALA NY Participates in Million Mom March Mothe...
Follow my videos on vodpod
A must read post from CALA NY. Great Job Moms!!!
http://calany.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/cala-ny-participates-in-million-mom-march-mothers-day-2011-in-washington-dc/#wpl-likebox
Australia: Family law change 'puts kids at extra risk'
Family law change 'puts kids at extra risk'
- Patricia Karvelas
- From: The Australian
- May 03, 2011 12:00AM
- 23 comments
THE Chief Justice of the Family Court, Diana Bryant, has warned the Gillard government that the changes to family law before parliament would reopen many cases and put children at extra risk by log-jamming the courts and adding stress to families.
The danger in the government's bill is that the laws can be applied to cases that had largely been heard, Chief Justice Bryant states in a submission to the Senate committee examining the legislation.
The retrospectivity meant any cases that may have been largely heard but not finally decided could be reopened with new evidence, and this could cause delay in the delivery of reasons for judgment.
"Cases involving actual violence or abuse or the risk of harm to children are precisely those cases that need to be brought on quickly, heard in a timely manner and finalised so that appropriate protective arrangements can be put in place," Chief Justice Bryant said. "It would be most unfortunate indeed if a consequence of the amendments, which are designed to improve responsiveness to family violence, was to place vulnerable children at risk of harm through delay . . .."
A spokesman for federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland said family violence measures would operate prospectively, but might affect matters before the courts that were not finally determined. "The government considers the need to protect children from harm should be the most important consideration," the spokesman said.
The bill came before parliament after the Gillard government watered down its original proposal, which deleted the shared parenting provision at the centre of the Howard government's 2006 family law reforms. But the Senate inquiry has exposed more potential flaws.
Under proposed new arrangements, the Family Court will still have to consider whether divorced parents have encouraged a close and continuing relationship between the child and their former partner when awarding custody.
In changes since the first draft of the bill were circulated last November, the definition now contains a general characterisation of harmful behaviour instead of an exhaustive listing.
Family law professor Patrick Parkinson, the architect of the Howard government's original family law changes, argues the new broad definition of violence is still flawed and could be abused.
In his submission he argues the opening words of the definition require that the behaviour complained of "coerces or controls" a family member. He says this is flawed because it does not say that the person accused of such behaviour needs to have the intention of coercing or controlling.
"It would certainly be problematic if someone could be held to have engaged in 'violent' behaviour without intending to do so, because his or her former partner felt coerced or controlled," Professor Parkinson argues.
He also objects to the requirement in the bill to consider family violence orders, arguing family violence is seen by many as a "weapon in the war between parents".
"There is now a very widespread view in the community that some family violence orders are sought for tactical or collateral reasons to do with family law disputes," he says
Related Coverage
- Breaking up: it's not me, it is you The Australian, 1 day ago
- Parental conflict to be considered abusive The Australian, 1 day ago
- Fears family law change will hurt kids Adelaide Now, 8 days ago
- Darcey's Law to protect other children Herald Sun, 29 Mar 2011
- Family law revamp keeps shared care The Australian, 23 Mar 2011
Inspiration
OpEd-Letters to the Editor:
We live in the greatest country in the world. We have a Constitution, the preamble states;
We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America
When you and your children are being abused and no one will help; When no one will listen then justice is lost. To some people this may sound like a “unabomber manifesto”. I assure you it isn’t. It is the hope that these ideas written will bind us together as people.
History has proven that when our Government fails to protect the rights of citizens that the American people will rise to the occasion and fight for a noble cause.
Happy Mother's Day Linda Marie Sacks, AKA- Mother of the Year.
May 6, 2011 Press Release: Linda Marie Sacks Filed Today in The US Supreme Court -- Historic Moment for all of America’s “Protective Parents”
May 6, 2011
Press Release
HISTORIC CASE FILED IN THE US SUPREME COURT IN THE US SUPREME COURT IN WASHINGTON DC TODAY
In a landmark case, the Sacks v. Sacks case was accepted today at the US Supreme Court in Washington DC. Linda Marie Sacks, a Florida Mother hand delivered her 40 Petition for Certiorari, all wrapped in Red, White, and Blue American Flag ribbon. She said “This is an historic moment for all of America’s “Protective Parents” and their children who are not being protected by the “official avenues” who are supposed to protect them, judges, police and the Dept. of Family and Children. I am truly the all American Mom, and never did I ever imagine, that I could lose custody of my children for believing them and trying to protect. The Family Court system is giving pedophiles and batterers custody, and the safe, fit “protective parents” rights are terminated, or like me are placed on supervised visitation for years without a case plan or reunification plan”.
She is a pro se litigant, and many years ago was quoted in the Momlogic.com article that she had her sights on the US Supreme Court if the family court did not return her children to her, as they were “legally kidnapped in April 2007 by Judge Shawn L. Briese. His ruling was REVERSED and REMANDED in 08/08 due to her constitutional rights to due process being violated, but this rare reversal provided no relief as Judge Briese refused to vacate the supervised visitation order or protect the minor children.
The last time a case similar to this was presented was the Wendy Titelman case. Wendy wrote a book titled “A Mothers Journal” Let my Children Go! And it’s all about child placed in the custody of their abusive parent and the failure of Cobb County GA to protect her children. The book is included in the Sacks Cert Petition, on page 38 and it quotes Hon. Sol. Gothard when he says “the problems expressed in Wendy’s book are epidemic and widespread.
These types of case and outcomes are noted by the DOJ, and OVW, as well as national advocates and Mothers all over the US.
Sacks is only allowed to see her children for 2 hours a month at the local visitation center the 2nd and 4th Saturday for 1 hour. This has only amounted to 82 hours in 4years and 2months.
Sacks, is a “squeaky clean”, mom, and before the April 2007 ruling by Judge Briese, she was her daughter’s primary care giver, and a loving caring Mother, as well as their class mom, soccer mom, car pool Mom, community volunteer, with no drugs, no alcohol, no abuse, no infidelity, and she lost physical custody of her children, and all she did was try to protect them. The trial court dismissed, ignored, and suppresses credible evidence of child sexual and physical abuse.
The Fifth District Court of Appeals with Judge Evander, Judge Torphy and Judge Cohen, affirmed Judge Briese’s ruling and now this is an historical case being presented to the US Supreme Court.
Her daughter’s teacher said “America better wake up, and you of all Mothers can lose custody, it can happen to anyone”. This crisis is noted by the Dept. of Justice.
Eric Holder, the US Attorney General, at the DOJ, Dept. of Justice is quoted on page 37 of the Sacks Petition for Certiorari, as she notes his speech to the National Summit on Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment and asks the question, “Why are battered mothers losing custody of their children to the courts or child protective services”. (http://justice.gov/ag/speeches/2009/ag-speech-090602.html).
The Sacks case is a Justice for Children case and they advocate for children when “official avenues have failed to protect them”, judges, police, Department of Children and Family, (www.justiceforchildren.org)
The Leadership Council, states that 58,000 are court-ordered to live with a sexually or physically abusive parent after a divorce in the U.S. and considers this a “public health crisis” for America’s children.(www.leadershipcouncil.org) and is also included on page 24.
The CPPA, California Protective Parent Association, Connie Valentine and Karen Andersen, site case studies where a pattern is evident and have asked for Congressional Hearings to address this crisis.( www.protectiveparent.com) CPPA is on page 34 and 35 of the petition before the US Supreme Court.
On March 2, 2011, Peter Jamison from the SF Weekly published an article “ILLEGAL GUARDIANS” When Judges Give Custody To Abusive Parents the Family Court System is broken. This article documents child sexual abuse cases and the identified perpetrator/ pedophile will get Sole Physical Custody of the minor child(ren), and the safe protective parent, will be restricted to supervised visitation or all contact will be terminated. It’s on page 24 and 25 of the Cert as well. (sf.weekly.com)
This national case clearly shows how fit parent’s all over the U.S. are being be deprived of a relationship with their children, and this case exposes the national crisis for America’s children who are victims of child sexual abuse and or physical abuse, and the failure of family courts to protect them.
This is a liberty right protected by the United States Constitution, for a parent-child relationship, but not protected by family courts or CPS all over the U.S.
The National Organization for Women, NOW and the NOW Ad Hoc Law Committee are addressing this issue and in their Spring 2011, “and explore what can happen to a protective mother and her children when she does nothing more than to protect her children”, as quoted on page 36 of the Petition for Certiorari.
The Petitioner, in the US Supreme Court case, Linda Marie Sacks, has been chosen as the “Poster Mother” of the Family Court Crisis, is interviewed for the article.(www.now.org) Click on the Family Law Spring Newsletter.
O Magazine, by Oprah, 10/06 article by Jan Goodwin, “Please Daddy No”, Stopping Court Ordered Parental Child Sexual Abuse is quoted on page 37. (www.jangoodwin.com/articles/pleasedaddyno.pdf)
Dr.Phil has also addressed this crisis on 04/14/10, “America’s Family Courts System Failing It’s Citizens”. (http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/1442/) and Sacks references this on page 37 in the case before the US Supreme Court.
This latest research is available in the book “Domestic Violence, Abuse and Child Custody, Legal Strategies and Policy Issues” by Editors: Dr. Mo Therese Hanna Ph.d and Barry Goldstein, J.D. and is included in the Sacks petition on page 34 (www.domesticviolenceabuseandchildcsutody.com)
Catherine Pierce, then Acting Director of the Office of Violence Against Women, in 2008 is quoted on page 12 and 13 of the Sacks Cert Petition, in her speech to the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary It was “The Importance of the Violence against Women Act”. Pierce states “the complicated issue of child custody presents another challenge involving the intersection of children and domestic violence. Battered women losing custody of the children is a serious and growing problem”. http://tinyurl.com/3qbx91c
In the Sacks case, the “Court appointed” psychologist, Dr. Deborah O. Day of Psychological Affiliates is quoted on page 5 as she stated “that it is this examiner’s opinion that this child is experiencing a significant mental health crisis, likely to pediatric bipolar, and therefore that negates any child sexual abuse”. Then she thwarted the investigation by the police department and DCF, Dept. of Children and Family. The child never had pediatric bipolar, but yet Dr. Day falsely labeled her, and provided false and misleading information to the court, and failed to protect the minor children.
Linda Marie’s daughter in April 2007, said “Mommy fight for us, and do something every day to get us back, and don’t ever stop”. This Florida Mother has kept her promise to her daughter’s and now is speaking on behalf of America’s children and their “protective parents”.
Mothers Day in Washington DC is bringing in Mothers and Advocates from all over the US
Mothers of Lost Children and their supporters are having a speak out and candlelight vigil on Mother’s Day May 8th , 2011 at the White House.
6:00 PM-9:30 PM
6:00 PM Speak out 7;00 PM March
7:45 Candlelight Vigil,
Information will be available Sunday Night about Monday’s activities.
Another event will take place for the Million Mom March in the afternoon. American Mothers Political Party Rep. is Linda Marie Sacks 386-453-3017
The Sacks v. Sacks case is cert worthy as this is a national crisis for “protective parents” and their children all over the US.
For more information:
Please call:
Linda Marie Sacks
386-453-3017
For Press
Please contact:
Kathleen Russell
Executive Director
Center for Judicial Excellence
495 Miller Avenue, Suite 304
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Main 415.388.9600 Fax 415.388.4610
Alaina Giordano Should Not Lose Her Kids Because She Has Breast Cancer
In domestic law on May 7, 2011 at 5:12 am
Check out the ABC news story on a mom with breast cancer – who is also DV victim per the written article below – who lost custody based on a psych report.
There are many psychologists that are well known for taking children away from mothers so the fathers can have custody. It’s one of America’s Dirty Little Secrets. You will find many others with similar stories. See reports use the same language for different moms. http://www.thelizlibrary.org/liz/custody-evaluator.html
See crazy reasons for moms to lose custody http://www.custodyprepformoms.org/lrflc.php
Custody Evaluator – Case Study A www.thelizlibrary.org custodyevaluator, child custody report, custody evaluation guidelines, forensic custody evaluation
###
Like her face book Page which was started today and already has 2,053 people like this—the power of the www—and social media for human rights change. :http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alaina-Giordano-Should-Not-Lose-Her-Kids-Because-She-Has-Breast-Cancer/127024814041233?sk=wall
A judge has ruled that Alaina must give up both her children to her soon-to-be ex-husband on June 17th (so they can move to Chicago for his job) because she has Stage 4 Breast Cancer and there is no telling "how long she will live."
Alaina is strong, physically well, and gets monthly treatments. Her cancer is controlled-which means it’s stable and not progressing. Not to mention- Durham, N.C. is home of the Duke Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.duke.edu/) where Alaina has her top-notch medical team. Alaina has a strong support system for her children in Durham, N.C. compared to Chicago- where there will be NO ONE besides the father of the children.
This is unfair, unjust, and needs to be stopped. No children should be taken away from their mother because of Breast Cancer. Alaina’s battle against cancer should be the ONLY battle she should be fighting.
The PURPOSE of this Fanpage is to raise awareness in the media: television, newspaper, talk shows, etc. Please feel free to post links to webpages, phone numbers, or anywhere else on this page that might help our fight. This ruling MUST be overturned. We will fight this battle FOR Alaina so she can work on her #1 priority: staying healthy and being with her children.
Website http://beautyintruth-alaina.blogspot.com
###
Check out the ABC news story on a mom with breast cancer – who is also DV victim per the written article below – who lost custody based on a psych report.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/mom-with-cancer-loses-child-custody-battle-13544447
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8036947/breast_cancer_mom_loses_custody_of.html
###
Breast Cancer Mom Loses Custody of Children
Priscilla Benfield, Yahoo! Contributor Network
May 6, 2011 "Contribute content like this. Start Here."
Alaina Giordano’s story about her desperate battle to win back her children sounds too unbelievable to be true. A mother with breast cancer loses custody of her children during her divorce trial. A judge (a female judge) states that she is uncomfortable with the fact that the mother doesn’t know when she will die so she rules to give custody to the father. (see more here) In June, her soon-to-be ex-husband will be able to move them out of North Carolina to Illinois where he has been living and working since August of 2010.
Certainly this is a case of discrimination. According to the court order, the judge felt that it would not be good for the children to be with their mother in Durham because of her breast cancer diagnosis. The judge also factored in that Alaina is currently unemployed.
Alaina may have stage 4 breast cancer but the cancer is contained. Her doctors at the Duke Cancer Institute are amazed at how well she is doing. She cannot jeopardize her treatment by moving out of Durham and finding a new treatment center. She currently gets monthly treatments for her cancer but as you can see in this recent television interview, she does not look like she is dying. see video of interview here
Over 1800 people have "liked" the Facebook page that was set up by a childhood friend of Alaina’s in order to get support for this injustice. People are outraged over the idea that a judge and a father would use a woman’s breast cancer diagnosis to rip these children from their mother. A petition has also been started to get the governor of North Carolina to review this case. The support from total strangers is overwhelming. From breast cancer survivors to people whose own mothers had breast cancer, everyone is in agreement that taking the children away from this mother will do more harm than good.
In every divorce case there are two sides of the story. I have personally interviewed Alaina Giordano. I have also reached out to the father of the children on my blog where I first talked about this case. For legal and moral reasons, it is difficult for me to share all that I know.
Alaina is a woman who is extremely protective of her family. She moved from Pennsylvania with her family after she got her cancer diagnosis because her husband expressed an interest in furthering his education.
While living in North Carolina, (since July 2008) the children have put down roots. Alaina has been receiving cancer treatments at Duke Cancer Institute, one of the best treatment facilities in the world. In the May of 2009, her husband took a job in Georgia, leaving the family behind for 4 months. He would fly out to see the family on weekends but he never gave her an address of where he was living.
When he was home, there were frequent arguments and there are documented calls that were made by Alaina to the National Domestic Violence hotline and the Durham Crisis Response Center. Like many victims of domestic violence, Alaina’s fears kept her from standing up for herself.
In January of 2010 her husband announced that he was going to take a job in the Chicago area and Alaina stood up to him and told him that she did not want to move. Her cancer treatments are in North Carolina at Duke Cancer Institute and how could she leave while still in treatment? She has no support system in Illinois, unlike in Durham, North Carolina where she has supportive friends and trusted doctors. He responded by filing for full custody of the children and a separation. Unbeknownst to her, he had a lawyer on retainer.
Even though she had witnesses and proof of domestic violence, the judge did not pay attention and in the order said that domestic violence was not an issue. The children’s father made many accusations that he did not have to back up with any kind of proof. It appears that he had more money to spend on legal representation than Alaina did and that hurt her. Like many women who go through a divorce, Alaina found that he had been keeping a secret bank account.
Alaina needs to file an appeal with the court in order to reverse this decision but has no attorney to help her. She desperately needs a lawyer who is willing to go the distance and fight against a judge who is biased against a cancer patient.
The real issue here is that two children, ages 5 and 11, will be taken away from their mother who has been their primary caregiver for much of their young lives. These children have already been coping with their mother’s cancer and their father’s frequent absences. Is it fair and just to take these children from their mother just because she is battling cancer and may not win her battle?
The argument can be made that each one of us is dying from the moment we are born and no one knows when our time is up. Having a diagnosis of breast cancer is not a death sentence. Many women survive breast cancer often against unbeatable odds. Alaina’s cancer is contained, which for now means she is winning. She has a medical team at the Duke Cancer Institute that she trusts which is important for a successful battle against her breast cancer.
This is not just another ugly custody battle between two divorcing people. This is a story of a mother with breast cancer whose rights have been violated and who has been victimized not just by her husband but by the justice system. It is also a tragic story of two innocent children whose best interests are not being taken into account.
There is still time to undo this by getting involved and having your voice heard. Cancer should not be a factor in what kind of mother you can be. Alaina’s children need their mother for as long as she is meant to be here.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/mom-with-cancer-loses-child-custody-battle-13544447
Linda Marie Sacks files on Mothers Day Weekend - A HISTORIC US SUPREME COURT CASE – On behalf of Battered Mothers Nationally
May 5, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONFERENCE May 6th, 2011 at 12 Noon
Location:
US Supreme Court
One First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20543
Sidewalk in front of the US Supreme Court
HISTORIC US SUPREME COURT CASE
Child Advocates and Legal Scholars are anxiously awaiting the filing of a Petition for Writ of Certiorari on May 6, 2011 at 12 noon at the US Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. in the Sacks v. Sacks case.
This truly will be an Historic Day at the US Supreme Court, for America’s children and their “Protective Parents”, as this landmark case is being hand delivered by a Florida Mother and exposes a national crisis all over the US.
The Sacks v. Sacks case is the perfect opportunity for the US Supreme Court to thoroughly explore and address the issue of Battered Mothers and child abuse, and their documented evidence of “protective parents” losing custody and the failure of family courts and Child Protective Services to thoroughly investigate and handle Domestic Violence, child sexual/and or child physical abuse cases properly, therefore resulting in a verdict, contrary to the “bests interests of the child(ren)”.
Kathleen Russell, from the Center for Judicial Excellence, in the California Progress Report, on 10/19/09 “When Family Courts Get It Wrong”, says “When a parent harms his or her own child, family courts are supposed to step in and safeguard the victim. Can you imagine what a tragedy it would be if courts awarded custody to the wrong parent Actually according to one conservative estimate, more than 58, 000 children a year are court ordered by family courts into unsupervised visitation contact with physically or sexually abusive parents following a divorce in the U.S. The fact that this type of scandal is taking place in the American justice system defies the imagination. Not since the Roman Catholic Church pedophile scandal has the US seen this type of institutional harm inflicted on innocent children.” (www.centerforjudicalexcelllence.org)
The National Organization for Women, NOW and the NOW Ad Hoc Law Committee are addressing this issue and in their Spring 2011, “and explore what can happen to a protective mother and her children when she does nothing more than to protect her children”, as quoted on page 36 of the Petition for Certiorari.
The Petitioner, in the US Supreme Court case, Linda Marie Sacks, has been chosen as the “Poster Mother” of the Family Court Crisis, is interviewed for the article.(www.now.org) Click on the Family Law Spring Newsletter.
On April 21, 2011, in the BMCCVI Digest Number 2011, reports that Eileen King representing Justice for Children participated in the Office of Violence Against Women Roundtable Discussion that took place at George Washington University Law School. The Roundtable was organized by Rita Smith, the Director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Prof. Joan Meier, Director of the Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project (DVLEAP) at GWU Law School. OVW will post a report about the Roundtable on their website in the near future. (www.justiceforchildren.org) and (www.dvleap.org)
As noted by Barry Goldstein, Esq. The Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) is part of the US Justice Department that provides grants for programs to reduce and prevent domestic violence. They recently sponsored a forum for their staff and other professionals in various parts of the government to learn about the crisis in the custody court system.
“It was a discussion based upon current scientific research and actual experiences that courts are routinely making catastrophic mistakes in failing to protect children and domestic violence survivors.
Linda Marie Sacks, a Florida Mother, truly the “All American Mom”, has only seen her children at the Family Tree House Visitation Center for 82 hours in the last 4 years and 2 months, is challenging the “Best Interests of The Children” Statute 61.13, as Domestic Violence, child sexual and physical abuse must be considered in a judge’s decision determining the “Best Interests of the Children”. In the Pro se Cert Petition, Sacks raises the constitutional implications of a fit parent to the care, custody, of her children, and without a finding of unfitness by clear and convincing evidence, established by the US Supreme Court ruling in Santosky v. Kramer, U.S. 745, 769-770 (1982).
Her daughters said in April 2007, “Mommy fight for us and do something every day to get us back and don’t ever stop”. Their Mother not only kept her promise to them, but now is a national spokesperson on the child custody crisis, and is speaking up for her children, and all of America’s children affected by the failure of our justice system to protect our most innocent children from sexual and physical abuse. She is a formidable legal opponent, as she has been self taught, going to “Internet Law School” to continue her legal challenge after spending $140,000 to undo an unjust custody decision. The Fifth District Court of Appeals REVERSED and REMANDED the issue of child custody back to the lower court for a violation of the Petitioners constitutional rights to due process, in 08/08. This rare reversal provided no relief as the lower court of Judge Shawn L. Briese refused to abide by the Appeals court and refused to protect the children and said one child lied about being sexually abused.
In an article by John Weiss, from Post-Bulletin, Rochester, MN , “Do children lie about sexual abuse? Not Usually.” Children do lie, but seldom about being abused. “All human beings can and do lie, but it’s hard for kids to do it about sex”, said Victor Vieth, the director of the national Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University. “They can’t lie about something they have no knowledge of” he said, and children don’t learn about oral sex from Sesame Street.
Dr. Deborah Day of Psychological Affiliates, the court ordered custody evaluator said the minor child at 8 years old had pediatric bipolar and that negates any child sexual abuse, and then thwarted the DCF investigation. The court record clearly showed that the child DID NOT have bipolar, but the trial court still refused to protect the children, which is typical from cases all over the US.
One day justice will prevail for America’s children. Could it be in the Sacks v. Sacks case?
National Advocacy groups and Mothers will be attending events to shed light on this crisis in America’s Courts.
Mothers Day, May 8th, 2011 in Washington DC will also have the Mothers of Lost Children from 6-9:30 PM at the White House.
AMERICAN MOTHERS POLITICAL PARTY contact
6:00-9:30 p.m.
6:00 pm speak out
7:00 pm march
7:45 Candlelight vigil
Information will be available on Sunday night about activities on Monday.
And another group will be having the:
Million Mom March Mother’s Day 2011 in Washington DC
Feb 152011
CONTACT:
http://americanmotherspoliticalparty.org/
The Sacks v. Sacks is an historic case.
Linda Marie Sacks
386-453-3017
For more information and press
Please contact:
Kathleen Russell
Executive Director
Center for Judicial Excellence
495 Miller Avenue, Suite 304
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Main 415.388.9600 Fax 415.388.4610
www.CenterforJudicialExcellence.org
IMPORTANT: CJE DOES NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE. The information in this e-mail is not intended to serve as legal advice or as a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of any particular legal matter. If you have a legal problem, seek professional legal counsel.
This is an OUTRAGE!! Free Melinda Stratton now!!!
Melinda Stratton: Another Mother 'Hunted' Down
Daddy ‘Ken Thompson’ is an alleged ABUSER who ‘hunts’ his victims down.
American Mothers Political Party
Join with Australian Mothers Political Party
in support of Melinda Stratton and HER son Andrew
There is much going on around the www about Melinda STRATTONand HER son Andrew (not Melinda Thomas -her Male oppressors’ Name and slave master) as AngieMedia a Fathers Rights site (with a woman’s name)–again wrongly reports.
READ MORE HERE: Melinda Stratton: Another Mother 'Hunted' Down http://bit.ly/h5SIUO
No mother is a criminal for raising her own child. Parental Alienation a bogus label to falsely stigmatize women & children who want to be free. Similar to the false mental disorder of Drapetomania given to slaves who wanted to be free from their masters. Anyone who tries to take a child from their mother is a MONSTER. Nature made mothers the natural guardian, patriarchy enslaves women & treats children as property.
MOTHER COMMITTED TO STAND TRIAL
A 49-year-old mother has told a Sydney magistrate she fled Australia to protect her son and did not intend to remain living illegally in Europe for so long.
Melinda Margaret Thompson was on Wednesday committed to stand trial in the NSW District Court on charges relating to taking her child out of Australia without permission.
At her last appearance, she had elected to waive committal proceedings, meaning the matter would go straight to trial.
In Central Local Court on Wednesday, the wife of former NSW deputy fire chief Ken Thompson told Magistrate Leigh Gilmour she was pleading not guilty because leaving the country "was an act of defence".
During the hearing, Thompson made her own submissions to Ms Gilmour for a second bail application on the grounds of new information.
"I did flee Australia in order to protect my son and I have pleaded not guilty as my act of leaving Australia was an act of defence," she said, via video link from Silverwater women's jail.
"It was never my intention to remain living illegally in Europe for so long."
She said she had been advised she would only receive a sentence of up to one year and had already spent eight months in maximum security.
"I would like to contest I should be expecting a long jail term," she said.
Ms Gilmour said the previous magistrate had already considered the issues Thompson raised, which precluded her from hearing the bail application.
At Thompson's last hearing, the crown had opposed bail.
Magistrate Gilmour set the matter over to the Downing Centre District Court for May 13.
Mr Thompson, 66, in 2010 launched an international search for his son who went missing in 2008.
His search through Europe by bicycle ended when the then six-year-old was found last year in The Netherlands.
Male caregivers scrutinized in violent deaths of children
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/05/02/child-abuse-neglect-study/
Male caregivers scrutinized in violent deaths of children
by Sasha Aslanian, Minnesota Public RadioMay 2, 2011
LISTEN
St. Paul, Minn. — A state-mandated study into child deaths and near-fatal injuries found men to blame two-thirds of the time.
The Child Mortality Review Board examined more than 200 preventable deaths of Minnesota children between 2005 and 2009.
Most of the cases chosen for review were homicides, or near-fatal inflicted injuries of children due to child maltreatment. But the board also reviewed accidents, such as drownings, unexplained infant deaths, and suicides.
In many cases, infants and toddlers were being cared for by unemployed fathers, stepfathers or boyfriends of the mothers. As a result, the study could prompt new scrutiny of men from child protection workers.
The board examined 71 cases involving fatal or near-fatal inflicted injuries. Three-quarters of the deaths involved children under age four.
FEMALES ASSOCIATED WITH NEGLECT, MALES WITH ABUSE
Female caregivers were most often the offenders in cases that involved neglect. But males were often the offenders in abuse cases, said Erin Sullivan Sutton, assistant commissioner for children and family services for the state Department of Human Services.
According to the report, 51 percent of the offenders who lived in the same household as the child were unemployed. Often they abused alcohol or drugs.
Half the incidents involved children under one year old. The most common cause of death was abusive head trauma or shaken baby syndrome.
Authorities and health officials have done a lot to educate the public about shaken baby syndrome. State law requires new parents to watch a video about how vulnerable infant brains are to shaking or blunt force before leaving the hospital, and health care providers bring it up at every well-baby visit until a child is three years old. Child care providers receive training.
But Sullivan Sutton said many potential caregivers don't receive that kind of training, so it falls to mothers to make sure they are leaving their children in safe hands.
"If mom knows that a caregiver or potential care giver has a potential for violence, has hit her or hit somebody else then she shouldn't leave the baby with that individual," she said. "If the person doesn't have experience caring for infants, that's not a good situation.
The report describes adults frustrated and angry by a child's crying, feeding, sleeping or toileting problems.
"We see kids are crying because they're hungry, kids are crying because they have soiled diapers and that crying is what triggers the violence," Sullivan Sutton said.
PARENTING EDUCATION VITAL
Becky Dale, interim director of Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota said the report it speaks to a need to educate the whole community about what it takes to care for children.
"It's a really fast learning curve when you become a parent," Dale said. "And one thing I noticed about the report was there wasn't any reference to education about child development before people become parents."
Dale suggests parenting education could start much earlier. Junior high students could learn how to comfort a crying baby, or about safe sleeping arrangements that won't smother a baby.
Given how often a child is killed by woman's boyfriend or unprepared father while the mother is at work, there are opportunities to improve children's lives, said Marcie Jeffrys, director of policy development for the Children's Defense Fund.
"I think we really need to look at our child care policies if we want to address those kids who are being left alone maybe with an adult who just isn't equipped emotionally to take care of them," she said.
Jeffrys said cuts in child care assistance mean fewer families have good options for safe places to leave their children, particularly those that have low-wage jobs. She notes that between 2003 and 2009, annual state spending for child care assistance decreased by one-fifth, and 4,000 families are currently on the waiting list.
Better child care could probably help, but it likely won't eliminate the danger these children are in, Jeffrys said.
Later this year, child protection workers will add some new questions to their risk assessments. They'll ask if a male is alone in caring for a child under three and if he's employed.
After two years of gathering data, the Department of Human Services will decide whether those factors should be weighed in determining the risk the child is in.
Court to weigh pedophile parental visits- Fathers Rights over Child/Human Rights
Court to weigh pedophile parental visits
Court of Appeals expected to decide if teacher imprisoned for molesting boys can see his child
By ROBERT GAVIN Staff writer
Times Union photo by STEVE JACOBS, 1/22/08, Ballston Spa,NY-- CULVER SENTENCE -- Christopher Culver, ex-Shenedehowa schools teacher convicted of molesting students is escorted by Saratoga County Sheriffs outside the Saratoga County Courthouse en route to his sentencing, Tuesday morning, Janaury 222,2008 ( FOR SARTU STORY ) 1 of 2 photos
Printable Version
Email This
FontALBANY -- Convicted pedophile Christopher Culver is serving 12 years in state prison for sexually molesting eight young boys in a Clifton Park classroom.
But the disgraced ex-teacher did not think that's any reason to keep his young daughter from visiting him in the jailhouse -- and a state appeals court agreed with him.
So now, the Court of Appeals will be expected to decide whether Culver, 36, who admitted to a 49-count felony sex crime indictment in January 2008, will be allowed to visit the 5-year-old daughter he has not seen since she was 18 months old.
The 3-2 decision from the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court in March upheld a lower court ruling from Saratoga County Family Court Judge Courtenay Hall.
The judge not only allowed the visits, but ruled that Culver's ex-wife, Kristi Van Patten Culver, should pay for the child's counseling before each visit -- as well as telephone conversations between her daughter and the inmate.
The appellate court ruling said the father should bear those costs, but still stunned national advocates for women and children, who were well aware of the ex-teacher's crimes at the Okte Elementary School in the Shenendehowa School District.
Culver was found to have fondled first-grade boys over a five-month period in 2006 and 2007, at times in a hidden portion of his classroom set aside for tutoring.
Authorities suspect he planned to flee to South America rather than face trial when a judge signed an order to seize his passport.
"This is a travesty of justice -- and it's inexcusable," said Randy Burton, a former chief prosecutor of sex crimes in Houston who founded Justice for Children, an advocacy organization. "A child should not be forced by court order to have contact with or visit a parent who is a convicted child molester ... This child cannot be expected to form a healthy emotional bond with a father who sexually abused his students."
Marcia Pappas, president of the National Organization for Women for New York State, has noted that a mother in Brooklyn was jailed for 50 days because she refused to allow her 9-year-old son to comply with a court order to visit his father -- a serial rapist.
And on Long Island, she added, a Suffolk County Family Court judge permitted overnight visitation of children to a father convicted of raping a minor and possessing child pornography.
Pappas said she plans to set up an appointment with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office and key state lawmakers to pass a law banning such visits between children and sex-offending parents.
"The thing that really is disturbing about this is in our society, I think we all agree that sex offenders not have access to children," Pappas told the Times Union, noting bans on sex offenders in places such as playgrounds and school areas. "Yet we have judges who are saying, 'well, if you are the sperm donor, if you're the father, that doesn't matter ... it is such a contradiction in terms of how we look at protecting children."
The Culvers, whose child was born in 2005, separated without a custody agreement in March 2007.
In November 2008 -- after Christopher Culver was convicted and the couple were divorced -- the convicted sex offender filed a petition requesting regular visitation with the child, who lives three hours from his cell at Clinton Correctional Facility.
After Hall, the Saratoga County Family Court judge, allowed the visits, Culver's ex-wife appealed to the Appellate Division. She argued that while her daughter and Culver had a "decent father-daughter relationship," she did not know him.
The mother opposed any visitation.
The appellate decision, issued March 3, noted a child psychologist, Jerold Grodin, had testified the visits would be "healthful and safe" and in the best interests of the daughter.
Another mental health specialist, Steven Wood, testified the visits could be traumatic for the girl -- but the majority of the court still allowed them.
"While the father's prison term is long and the offenses for which he is incarcerated are undeniably disturbing -- and visitation will likely not be easy -- we cannot say that Family Court's discretionary conclusion is unsound," stated the ruling, written by Associate Justice Edward Spain and supported by Associate Justices Leslie Stein and Bernard "Bud" Malone.
Dissenting were Associate Justices John Egan and Karen Peters, who downplayed the significance of the prior life between father and daughter.
"During the time this 'relationship' was forming, the father was sexually abusing young boys in his classroom," the dissent stated. "A 'relationship' may have existed, but one cannot conclude that it was a healthy parent-child relationship. Moreover, at the time of the fact-finding hearing, the father had not engaged in sex offender treatment. Strikingly, in testifying at the hearing, he refused to acknowledge his criminal conduct and declined any need for sex offender treatment, instead asserting that he had been 'railroaded.'"
In January 2010, Culver lost his criminal appeal on convictions of first-degree sexual abuse and course of sexual abuse against a child.
Reach Robert Gavin at 434-2403 or rgavin@timesunion.com.
