Regular JJ readers know this blog takes a very aggressive stance against domestic violence and laws that make it easy for those committing domestic violence to escape justice. The Clarion-Ledger interviewed Anna Walker Crump, Executive Director of the Mississippi Coalition against Domestic Violence, about the fight against domestic violence in Mississippi.
Ms. Crump missed a golden opportunity in the state's largest newspaper to drive home some points on how the laws could be changed to help domestic violence victims in what can only be described as sincere disappointment in her omission. http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080302/OPINION/803020320/1046/OPINION03
When asked "what could be done to help stem domestic violence?", the Executive Director replied: "Systemic change is needed to address the needs of the victim as soon as she seeks help. This requires a coordinated public awareness effort by domestic violence shelters, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, faith-based organizations, civic groups, schools, etc. Community entities can work together for the enforcement of domestic violence laws and better access to care for the victim. Serving as a catalyst for education, prevention, and intervention to make this happen is part of the Coalition's ongoing efforts."
This sounded like an Obama campaign promise: long on talk about change and short on actual specifics. Ms. Crump blew it as she could have outlined what laws and policies need to be changed. As I made several suggestions for fighting this battle in an earlier post, http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2007/12/how-long-must-we-read-news-every-day.html,I will offer them again (click on the link above for the discussion of each point):
1. Change the loophole in the law that allows a judge to suspend a sentence in exchange for "counseling".
2. MAKE POLICE REPORTS PUBLIC!!! She failed to mention the two bills in the legislature that would make it easier for women to find out if they are involved with someone who has committed acts of domestic violence.
3. Set up as part of the continuing education for judges visits to battered women's shelters (not in their jurisdictions) so that they can better see how serious a crime domestic violence really is.
4. Upgrade Simple Domestic Assault from a misdemeanor to a felony.
It is hard to imagine why Ms. Crump let both the law and the criminal justice system off of the hook. She could have lobbied for the police report bills currently being considered in the legislature or discussed how judges have abused the loophole for counseling. Instead she talks in psycho-babble terms about raising awareness and other mushy concepts that sound nice but are not concrete proposals. Mississippi victims of domestic violence face enough obstacles from law enforcement and the legal system. Instead of talking about raising awareness, Ms. Crump should attack the enablers whenever given the opportunity. Battered women in Mississippi deserve no less.
Note: It was pointed out to me that this was probably an email interview. If such was the case, shame on The Clarion-Ledger. I'm sure Ms. Crumb would have come down to the newspaper offices for the interview since it gave her such a large audience for her cause. Ms. Crump may have made the points raised above but there is this little thing called editing that at times tends to cut out very important quotes. This is where the CL does not get it where the internet is concerned. The CL could have published a longer, more in-depth version on the website with more complete answers instead of conforming to the old print model which limits a story on space and length. The Butterknife raised some very good points. However, I do stand by what I wrote about improving domestic violence laws and training.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Fighting Domestic Violence in Mississippi
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7 comments:
Fish-Easy trigger.
This is one of the problems.
How about you attack David Hampton for doing an obvious email interview which was typed out and then sent in...and THEN also attack them for the editing they did of the article for the space. If you read it carefully you can tell that NO ONE speaks (except maybe YOU) the way the answers were formulated. People WRITE in that way.
I've done an email interview for the CL. By the time it ran, about two thirds of what I wrote was gone...including some important policy things I noted regarding helping inner city youth.
Technically, you don't know if this one addressed policy changes that needed to be made. This woman does great things for the community...how about you hold the CL to the same standards?
The same goes for your post down below. Instead of pulling apart Ladd's response to Salter...How about YOU write a "better" response to Salter.
Until you do that, you really are just typing into the wind.
Give me credit. At least I'm not trying to sound like Buckley. ;-)
Good points made.
As for my post below, I really didn't like the way she attacked Salter. There was no need for it. She was also plain wrong on nuclear power and I was pointing it out as Europe is moving towards more nuclear power after Putin cut off the pipeline.
Yeah, Fish, I get that. But, we've talked about this.
This is YOUR blog. Not YOUR blog in response to the JFP. Cultivate some ownership. Be proud of YOUR ideas.
Pep talk for the day over.
I must now go pep talk some foster children.
There is all kinds of domestic violence going on all around at any given time. I’ve personally seen a mans wife hit him in the mouth and knock out his tooth while beating him all up side his head so its not just a one way street. You have many people in government taking advantage of and beating up inmates and mental health patients and there are laws there but the institutions have supervisors and lawyers that protect the abusers. If one can’t stop the abuses at the top how does one expect to do much good at the shit end of the stick? There seem to be a lot of people wanting to do this or that about various human traits yet they team up with those who do it to others. It’s a vicious circle and society is even more vicious today than it was in years past and getting worse as time goes on. Getting more laws passed is not the answer and may in fact be a lot of the problem whereas instead of a person going off and killing one person they now go off and kill entire groups of people and then off themselves so as to beat the hangman so go figure?
Pep talk? Are you depressed King? You're not proud of your own ideas?
I guess you could blog about pissin' the floor and poppin' anti-anxiety drugs. That would be f'ing cool.
I guess you could blog about pissin' the floor and poppin' anti-anxiety drugs. That would be f'ing cool
Oh. My. God. That's the best idea ever!! How did you think of that?
I totally know what I'm doing next Saturday. Fish, you should definitely come over next Saturday night. It'll be just like last Saturday...only with less tequila and pinatas and more peeing.
But, with that being said, I would like to clarify that while Fish is such an ITTY BITTY guy who could certainly use any amount of manly protection you wish to offer him ;)...I actually do KNOW him as a person. And, while he and I disagree on many things, I would like to think we have a mututal respect for what the other wants/wishes to do with their respective lives and writing.
And, I actually enjoy my anxiety. It usually lets me know when I'm being an ass. Seems like you could do with a little more of it.
Do you buy those marshmallows in bulk? Ass? Is that the best you can do? Sorry, not impressed. Now I know why you relate so well with a butterknife.
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