Child Abuse
1. I consider child abuse any physical or psychological act against a child that is intended to harm the child beyond a reasonable level a discipline. I believe discipline is that only acceptable goal of causing any type of harm to a child. The act should not be out of anger, but rather to impress that an action is unacceptable.
2. I don't consider spanking child abuse in it's most basic form. Again this is only if the spanking is intended to make the child understand what they have done is wrong. The spanking should immediately follow the wrongdoing and should not be an emotional (angry) situation. I think it is an acceptable form of punishment because there is no permanent damage done, yet it effectively conveys disapproval of wrongdoing.
2a. I feel that spanking should be allowed, though it is important that the parent does not go overboard. The parent should also only resort to spanking if the child does not respond well to verbal punishment.The spanking shouldn't be out of anger, and it shouldn't be carried out any time other than immediately after the child has done something wrong. Spanking is effective tool parents have in disciplining their children and I don't believe it is unacceptable when used within reason. Just the threat of spanking was enough to keep me in line as a child, so I feel it should remain acceptable.
3. Punishment should only become a public concern if a parent is going beyond what a reasonable person might deem appropriate. I don't think a parent needs to pull a child's pants down and spank them in public, for example. Nor should a child simply be beat without reason, or for very minor infractions. I do, however, believe a parent should be able to discipline their child in public without being chastised. There is nothing more irritating than a parent who has seemingly given up on correcting their problem-child, allowing them to disturb everyone else in the area unpunished.
3a. A spanking would possibly be an appropriate public punishment, again there is no need to disrobe the child for this. The "spanking" could even be a quick as a single smack to behind. In my upbringing, though I can't remember this actually happening, it was understood that one might even expect a swift smack to the head if they acted in a highly unacceptable fashion. Fortunately my siblings and I responded well to verbal discipline efforts.
3b. Unacceptable public punishment might be pulling a child's pants down to bend them over your knee and spank them. Exposing the child serves little purpose in discipline and may cause more long-term harm to the child psychologically. Discipline should also be swift and concise. It would not be right for a parents to lash out against their child for an act that had not just occurred. The effectiveness of discipline requires it to occur quickly so that the child can associate their bad behavior with the punishment. A parent should also not bruise, draw blood, or cause any other significant injury to a child (in public or otherwise). Discipline is achieved through negative association, not through causing damage.
Child Sexual Victimization
1. Missouri state legislation has a variety of crimes relating to child pornography: Sexual exploitation of a minor, promoting child pornography of the first and second degree, and furnishing pornographic material to minors. All of these crimes are felonies of varying degrees of severity, except furnishing pornographic materials to minors, which is a misdemeanor unless the offender has any other offenses against children, at which point it becomes a felony. Crimes relating to the promotion/creation of child pornography also have the possibility of preventing parole, probation, or conditional release if they are found or plead guilty to said crimes (Missouri Chapter 573).
2a. I found a website called mobilemediaguard.com that has some information on sexting law in Missouri, however, it does not cite sources or list specific statutes. The site claims that it is a Class A misdemeanor for a minor to possess or distribute sexually explicit images of a minor (even themselves). The punishment is up to a year in jail and fines. Second offenses are a Class D felony, punishable by up to 4 years in jail and fines. Minors do not need to register as sex offenders if convicted (MobileMediaGuard).
2b. Sexting is when explicit images are sent via text message.
2c. Adult to adult sexting and minor to minor sexting should not be punishable. I do believe sexting should be punishable if a minor is interacting with an adult. If this is the case, then the adult should be punished in a fashion similar to any other child pornography crimes, assuming that the adult is victimizing the child. If the child is initiating the exchange of images, it is the responsibility of the adult to see that it is immediately stopped, otherwise they should be punished.
News
Reading/writing about this type of victimization did affect me differently than the other types we have examined. I believe this is the case for most, if not all, of my fellow classmates as well. The reason for this is the helplessness of children. Children are much more easily victimized than adults. They are naive, ignorant, and easily intimidated. Crimes against children tend to draw more emotion and interest for this reason. Below is an article relating to this type of victimization.
Fox News reported in February, 2012, than a Platte City, Missouri man was charged with promoting child pornography and invasion of privacy. These charges were the result of an FBI investigation proving that Raymond "Mike" Appling was involved in not only the possession of child porn, but also the production of it. The serial number was Raymond's camera was linked to various pornographic images of a 9-year-old girl. Text messages were also cited as evidence against him. If convicted, Appling faces up to 15 years in prison (Fox News).
Media
The Healing Years is a documentary comprised of female survivors healing and speaking out about their traumatic experiences as victims of child sexual abuse. Victims discuss what happened to them and how they've learned to heal the pain that the abuse inflicted. The film has been displayed at many film festivals and is endorsed by countless professionals and organizations. A short clip of the documentary can be seen below.
Another documentary on the topic of child victimization is Trafficking of Children in the United States. This film is available in its' entirety on YouTube and examines the disgusting act of the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the United States. The film spend a good amount of time in what appears to be a support group style format. Victims of this heinous crime speak out about their experiences in an effort to enhance public awareness. The film can be seen here.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Murder
Murder v. Homicide Defined
Homicide, by simple definition, is the killing of one human being by another. Murder is a form of criminal homicide. A person is guilty of criminal homicide if he/she purposely, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently causes the death of another human being. Other forms of criminal homicide are manslaughter and negligent homicide.
There are two sets of definitions when classifying varying categories of homicide. There are common law definitions, and model penal code definitions. Definitions under common law are first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter. Under the model penal code, there is murder, voluntary murder, manslaughter, and negligent homicide.
Missouri Murder News
In January of this year in Lampe, Missouri, an older couple was the victim of a possibly burglary-gone-wrong. Paul Brooks, 70, and his wife Margaret, 69, were both stabbed and bludgeoned to death in their home. The assailants were two teens who had recently ran away from a local Christian youth camp for at-risk teens. Chris Allen, 15, and his accomplice Anthony Zarro, 16, had broken into a vacant home near the Brooks' residence. After what appears to have been a few days of occupying the empty vacation home, the boys broke into the Brooks' home and attacked the elderly couple. The crime is understandably portrayed as a senseless act of violence against an innocent older couple. The article by mlive.com doesn't go into much detail, but there is clearly no sympathy for the young killers. The two boys are charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and felony burglary. The most interesting part of this case is how the teens were apprehended. a neighbor heard the commotion and was able to hold the two attackers at gunpoint until authorities arrived on scene. Had this not occurred, the crime may have gone unsolved. Video from Channel 5 KSDK can be seen below.
Media
The book Inside the Mind of a Teen Killer by author Phil Chalmers is an anti-violence project aimed at drawing attention the shocking crimes committed by teens. The book chronicles several teen killers and the despicable acts they carried out. Of particular interest in this book are the explanations why these killers did what they did.
Serial murder in particular is a very interesting topic and has been growing in popularity (if you can call it that) in recent decades. One of my favorite TV shows, Dexter, is definitely worth checking out if you haven't seen it. The show follows blood spatter analyst Dexter Morgan, a serial killer who targets other killers and unsavory types, as he leads a harrowing double life on both sides of the law. The show doesn't offer much in terms of realistic criminal investigations but the entertainment value is up there.
Murder v. Homicide Defined
Homicide, by simple definition, is the killing of one human being by another. Murder is a form of criminal homicide. A person is guilty of criminal homicide if he/she purposely, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently causes the death of another human being. Other forms of criminal homicide are manslaughter and negligent homicide.
There are two sets of definitions when classifying varying categories of homicide. There are common law definitions, and model penal code definitions. Definitions under common law are first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter. Under the model penal code, there is murder, voluntary murder, manslaughter, and negligent homicide.
Missouri Murder News
In January of this year in Lampe, Missouri, an older couple was the victim of a possibly burglary-gone-wrong. Paul Brooks, 70, and his wife Margaret, 69, were both stabbed and bludgeoned to death in their home. The assailants were two teens who had recently ran away from a local Christian youth camp for at-risk teens. Chris Allen, 15, and his accomplice Anthony Zarro, 16, had broken into a vacant home near the Brooks' residence. After what appears to have been a few days of occupying the empty vacation home, the boys broke into the Brooks' home and attacked the elderly couple. The crime is understandably portrayed as a senseless act of violence against an innocent older couple. The article by mlive.com doesn't go into much detail, but there is clearly no sympathy for the young killers. The two boys are charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and felony burglary. The most interesting part of this case is how the teens were apprehended. a neighbor heard the commotion and was able to hold the two attackers at gunpoint until authorities arrived on scene. Had this not occurred, the crime may have gone unsolved. Video from Channel 5 KSDK can be seen below.
Media
The book Inside the Mind of a Teen Killer by author Phil Chalmers is an anti-violence project aimed at drawing attention the shocking crimes committed by teens. The book chronicles several teen killers and the despicable acts they carried out. Of particular interest in this book are the explanations why these killers did what they did.
Serial murder in particular is a very interesting topic and has been growing in popularity (if you can call it that) in recent decades. One of my favorite TV shows, Dexter, is definitely worth checking out if you haven't seen it. The show follows blood spatter analyst Dexter Morgan, a serial killer who targets other killers and unsavory types, as he leads a harrowing double life on both sides of the law. The show doesn't offer much in terms of realistic criminal investigations but the entertainment value is up there.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Mob Violence
Defined
Mob violence occurs when a crowd is "set off," which causes them to spiral out of control toward a common goal; a goal achieved through aggression and violence. Two examples of mob violence are riots and lynchings.
Why?
Humans are emotional beings, and whether or not we acknowledge it, we are perceptive to the emotions of those around us. When people with a common mind set gather together, like fans at a sporting event, it is easy for anger to trigger spontaneous outbursts. These outbursts, when experienced within a like-minded group, can cause large groups of people to cope or react using mob violence.
Mob Violence in Missouri
Mob violence in the state of Missouri seems to be a relatively frequent occurrence, especially in the last 5 years. Unfortunately, many of these instances of mob violence go unpunished as victims are usually overpowered and unable to seek help for the offenders flee. I did find one particular case of mob violence that resulted in at least the apprehension of two suspects.
On April 2, 2012, KMOV.com reported that the St. Louis Metropolitan Police were investigating an attack on two men in a downtown park. Two men, ages 53 and 62, were assaulted by 15 teen boys and girls. The suspect even changed targets and stole an iPod from another teen who was present. Police were quoted saying the following: “We don’t believe that their intent necessarily was to commit crimes, but then it almost appears they started feeding off each other, each one encouraging the other one and saying, ‘hey we can do this’ and they started seeing some people they felt they could take advantage of.” 13 of the fifteen suspects were booked and released to their parents, one was taking into the juvenile justice system, and one 18-year-old was kept in custody. As the three victims only suffered minor injuries, no formal charges were filed at the time of this story. Video can be seen here.
Societal Conditions
The victims of this crime were minding their own business when the offenders, a group of bored teens, decided to launch an unprovoked attack.
Media Discussion
The offenders of mob violence in Missouri, not just in this instance, are overwhelmingly comprised of young adults ranging in ages from 11-18. The victims on the other hand come from a diverse variety of backgrounds. The one thing the victims have in common is that they are innocent and vulnerable.
Media
Public service announcements are a great way to make sure a message reaches are large population, especially when used on television. According to examiner.com, this is exactly what happened in 2011 when a local Fox network in Philadelphia began running PSAs in an effort to raise awareness about mob violence and encourage parents to keep track of their children.
Books, while becoming dated in their traditional form, are still extremely useful in conveying information of any kind to those who seek the knowledge. The book "White Girl Bleed A Lot" by author Colin Flaherty focuses on mob violence in America. The book looks specifically at black-on-white violence in over 75 American cities and how the media and local governments choose to ignore it.
Defined
Mob violence occurs when a crowd is "set off," which causes them to spiral out of control toward a common goal; a goal achieved through aggression and violence. Two examples of mob violence are riots and lynchings.
Why?
Humans are emotional beings, and whether or not we acknowledge it, we are perceptive to the emotions of those around us. When people with a common mind set gather together, like fans at a sporting event, it is easy for anger to trigger spontaneous outbursts. These outbursts, when experienced within a like-minded group, can cause large groups of people to cope or react using mob violence.
Mob Violence in Missouri
Mob violence in the state of Missouri seems to be a relatively frequent occurrence, especially in the last 5 years. Unfortunately, many of these instances of mob violence go unpunished as victims are usually overpowered and unable to seek help for the offenders flee. I did find one particular case of mob violence that resulted in at least the apprehension of two suspects.
On April 2, 2012, KMOV.com reported that the St. Louis Metropolitan Police were investigating an attack on two men in a downtown park. Two men, ages 53 and 62, were assaulted by 15 teen boys and girls. The suspect even changed targets and stole an iPod from another teen who was present. Police were quoted saying the following: “We don’t believe that their intent necessarily was to commit crimes, but then it almost appears they started feeding off each other, each one encouraging the other one and saying, ‘hey we can do this’ and they started seeing some people they felt they could take advantage of.” 13 of the fifteen suspects were booked and released to their parents, one was taking into the juvenile justice system, and one 18-year-old was kept in custody. As the three victims only suffered minor injuries, no formal charges were filed at the time of this story. Video can be seen here.
Societal Conditions
The victims of this crime were minding their own business when the offenders, a group of bored teens, decided to launch an unprovoked attack.
Media Discussion
The offenders of mob violence in Missouri, not just in this instance, are overwhelmingly comprised of young adults ranging in ages from 11-18. The victims on the other hand come from a diverse variety of backgrounds. The one thing the victims have in common is that they are innocent and vulnerable.
Media
Public service announcements are a great way to make sure a message reaches are large population, especially when used on television. According to examiner.com, this is exactly what happened in 2011 when a local Fox network in Philadelphia began running PSAs in an effort to raise awareness about mob violence and encourage parents to keep track of their children.
Books, while becoming dated in their traditional form, are still extremely useful in conveying information of any kind to those who seek the knowledge. The book "White Girl Bleed A Lot" by author Colin Flaherty focuses on mob violence in America. The book looks specifically at black-on-white violence in over 75 American cities and how the media and local governments choose to ignore it.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Sexual Assault / Rape in Missouri
The Numbers
Accorind to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports for 2011, out of a population of just over six million, Missouri reported 1,458 forcible rapes. This gives the state a rape rate of 24.3 per 100,000 people.
Defined
A person commits the crime of forcible rape if such person has sexual intercourse with another person by the use of forcible compulsion. Forcible compulsion includes the use of a substance administered without a victim's knowledge or consent which renders the victim physically or mentally impaired so as to be incapable of making an informed consent to sexual intercourse (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 566.030). A person commits the crime of statutory rape in the first degree if he has sexual intercourse with another person who is less than fourteen years old (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 566.032). A person commits the crime of sexual assault if he has sexual intercourse with another person knowing that he does so without that person's consent. Sexual assault is a Class C felony (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 566.040). A person commits the crime of forcible sodomy if such person has deviate sexual intercourse with another person by the use of forcible compulsion. Forcible compulsion includes the use of a substance administered without a victim's knowledge or consent which renders the victim physically or mentally impaired so as to be incapable of making an informed consent to sexual intercourse (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 566.060).
Time Limitations for Prosecution
According to Mo. Rev. Stat. § 556.036, there is no statute of limitation for forcible rape, attempted forcible rape, forcible sodomy, attempted forcible sodomy, or any Class A felony. If the victim of sexual assault is under 18 at the time of the offense, prosecution must be commenced with 30 years of the date when the victim turns 18. If one of the above mentioned crimes occured against a minor, there is also no statute of limitation (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 556.037).
News
In January of this year, Ramone Winters, 31, was convicted of repeatedly raping and sodomizing a 71-year-old woman in her home. The attack occured back in December of 2011 and Winters is finally behind bars. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole as he is considered a persistent sexual offender. Winters was convicted in 2007 for raping a 77-year-old woman. Below is a video about the story (Vaughn & Collins, 2013). Below is a video of the story.
Media
Rape is but one of the many topics relating to women's sexual rights that is getting more and more attention. The documentary "No!" by Aishah Shahidah Simmons was first released in February of 2006. The documentary features numerous testimonials from rape and incest survivors. A key message of this film is that women can defy victimization. They don't have to sit quietly and take this kind of abuse. Given the first-hand accounts of sexual assault and victimization, I'd say this is an accurate source of information on the subject. Below is a short trailer for the film.
RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, recently collaborated with the show Bones to increase sexual assault awareness. RAINN representatives worked with the writer of the new episode "The Friend in Need," in order to create an accurate representation of the aftermath wrought by sexual assault. This definitely lends credibility to the accuracy of the show. The episode aired February 18 and even had a sexual assault public service announcement during the show.
Sources
Accorind to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports for 2011, out of a population of just over six million, Missouri reported 1,458 forcible rapes. This gives the state a rape rate of 24.3 per 100,000 people.
Defined
A person commits the crime of forcible rape if such person has sexual intercourse with another person by the use of forcible compulsion. Forcible compulsion includes the use of a substance administered without a victim's knowledge or consent which renders the victim physically or mentally impaired so as to be incapable of making an informed consent to sexual intercourse (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 566.030). A person commits the crime of statutory rape in the first degree if he has sexual intercourse with another person who is less than fourteen years old (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 566.032). A person commits the crime of sexual assault if he has sexual intercourse with another person knowing that he does so without that person's consent. Sexual assault is a Class C felony (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 566.040). A person commits the crime of forcible sodomy if such person has deviate sexual intercourse with another person by the use of forcible compulsion. Forcible compulsion includes the use of a substance administered without a victim's knowledge or consent which renders the victim physically or mentally impaired so as to be incapable of making an informed consent to sexual intercourse (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 566.060).
Time Limitations for Prosecution
According to Mo. Rev. Stat. § 556.036, there is no statute of limitation for forcible rape, attempted forcible rape, forcible sodomy, attempted forcible sodomy, or any Class A felony. If the victim of sexual assault is under 18 at the time of the offense, prosecution must be commenced with 30 years of the date when the victim turns 18. If one of the above mentioned crimes occured against a minor, there is also no statute of limitation (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 556.037).
News
In January of this year, Ramone Winters, 31, was convicted of repeatedly raping and sodomizing a 71-year-old woman in her home. The attack occured back in December of 2011 and Winters is finally behind bars. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole as he is considered a persistent sexual offender. Winters was convicted in 2007 for raping a 77-year-old woman. Below is a video about the story (Vaughn & Collins, 2013). Below is a video of the story.
Media
Rape is but one of the many topics relating to women's sexual rights that is getting more and more attention. The documentary "No!" by Aishah Shahidah Simmons was first released in February of 2006. The documentary features numerous testimonials from rape and incest survivors. A key message of this film is that women can defy victimization. They don't have to sit quietly and take this kind of abuse. Given the first-hand accounts of sexual assault and victimization, I'd say this is an accurate source of information on the subject. Below is a short trailer for the film.
RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, recently collaborated with the show Bones to increase sexual assault awareness. RAINN representatives worked with the writer of the new episode "The Friend in Need," in order to create an accurate representation of the aftermath wrought by sexual assault. This definitely lends credibility to the accuracy of the show. The episode aired February 18 and even had a sexual assault public service announcement during the show.
Sources
Vaughn, J., & Collins, R. (2013, January 24). Kcmo man convicted of raping 71-year-old woman. Retrieved from http://fox4kc.com/2013/01/24/kcmo-man-convicted-of-raping-71-year-old-woman/
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Missouri Hate Crimes
Society is slowly becoming more accepting of different races, religions, gender identities, and sexual orientations. Part of the way we accomplish this is by showing examples of others who successfully stand up to discrimination. The PBS documentary Not In Our Town: Class Actions is a half-hour documentary that shows three stories of students and their communities attempting to stop hate and bullying. Below is the full length documentary for you to check out (O'Neil, 2012). Also, the Not In Our Town website niot.org also has other information about standing up the hate crimes.
Those seeking more information about hate crimes can also refer to a multitude of books on the subject. one such book is Hate Crime: Impact, Causes, and Responses by authors Neil Chakraborti and Jon Garland. This book offers an introduction to the subject of hate crime, its' causes, and the various responses it illicits.
Statistics
According to FBI hate crime statistics for 2011, a total of 117 incidents of hate crime were reported for a population of 6,001,775 people in the state of Missouri.
Laws
The state law of Missouri criminalizes vandalism or damage to places used for religious worship or other religious purpose, schools, community centers, and any personal property contained therein (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 574.085). Institutional vandalism in Missouri is a class A misdemeanor unless damages exceed one thousand dollars where it becomes a class D felony. Damages in excess of five thousand are reclassified as a class C felony.
Missouri law also provides enhanced penalties for crimes that the state believes to be knowingly motivated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or disability of the victim or victims (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 557.035). A violation under this statute is a class D felony.
News
The Southeast Missourian wrote a story in August, 2012 about a hate crime in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. A Lesbian woman, Jeana Terry, was pulled from her home by 16-year-old Mercedes Ayers. Ayers knocked on Terry's door and pulled her out onto her own porch and began to beat her. Ayers' 11-year-old brother and 13-year-old sister soon joined in the beating. Ayers and her siblings yelled derogatory names at Terry as they beat her. Terms like "dykes" and "yags" were used. Terry turned 17 shortly after the crime and was charged as an adult. Ayers was charged with a class B felony for first-degree burglary which could lead to five to 15 years in prison. She was also charged with assault. Because the assault was characterized as a hate crime, the penalty is enhanced to a class D felony with the possibility of one to four years in prison. Mercedes' siblings were too young by state law to be charged as adults (Moyers, 2012).
Media
Society is slowly becoming more accepting of different races, religions, gender identities, and sexual orientations. Part of the way we accomplish this is by showing examples of others who successfully stand up to discrimination. The PBS documentary Not In Our Town: Class Actions is a half-hour documentary that shows three stories of students and their communities attempting to stop hate and bullying. Below is the full length documentary for you to check out (O'Neil, 2012). Also, the Not In Our Town website niot.org also has other information about standing up the hate crimes.
Watch Class Actions - Full Episode on PBS. See more from Not In Our Town.
Those seeking more information about hate crimes can also refer to a multitude of books on the subject. one such book is Hate Crime: Impact, Causes, and Responses by authors Neil Chakraborti and Jon Garland. This book offers an introduction to the subject of hate crime, its' causes, and the various responses it illicits.
Sources
Moyers, S. (2012, August 15). 17-year-old certified as adult, charged with hate crime against gay cape girardeau woman. Southeast Missourian. Retrieved from http://www.semissourian.com/story/1881484.html
O'Neil, P. (Director) (2012). Not in our town: Class actions[Web]. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/programs/not-in-our-town/
O'Neil, P. (Director) (2012). Not in our town: Class actions[Web]. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/programs/not-in-our-town/
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Domestic Assault / Domestic Violence in Missouri
Defined
In Missouri, domestic assault is defined as assault, battery, coercion, harassment, sexual assault, stalking, or false imprisonment against a family or household member, including any child who is a member of the family or household (Koster, 2009). Domestic assault is considered a felony and ranges in seriousness from first to third degree. The varying levels of domestic assault and their specific requirements are detailed in Missouri statutes 565.072-074. The domestic violence laws in Missiouri protect a broad range of victims, so long as they are considered a household or family member. The full statutes can be located on the Missouri General Assembly website.
Help
Unlike in the past, victims of domestic violence today have a variety of resources at their disposal to help deal with their situation. The state of Missouri in particular offers an "Address Confidentiality Program" to victims of DV (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 589.663). This program allows victims of domestic violence to set up a secret alternate mailing address for their important documents to be sent to. The victims public and important mail will be initially sent to the office of the secretary of state, who will then confidentially forward the mail to the victims alternate address. This program aims to prevent victims from being located by their attackers. Another legal action victims can take is to have a protective order taken out against their attacker. There are two types of protective order issued by the state of Missouri: a quickly processed and temporary ex parte order, and a more permanent full order.
In addition to these legal options, every county in Missouri has a state appointed victim advocate available to assist victims of domestic violence. Private organizations like the Missouri Coaltion Against Domestic and Sexual Violence also help victims find help in their area.
Media
Domestic violence has been a topic of increasing awareness over the past several years. This
resulting interest in the topic has generated a wide variety of media related to this type of violence. There are even books that shed light on the lesser known same sex intimate partner violence. The book Intimate Betrayal: Domestic Violence in Lesbian Relationships by author Ellyn Kaschak is just one example. In addition to print resources, there are also many documantaries about domestic violence. One such documentary is Telling Amy's Story. This documentary focuses on the story of a victim of domestic violence homicide. A brief trailer for the film can be seen below.
News
I found a news article posted in December, 2012 that talks about a huge number of domestic violence victims being turned away from shelters in Missouri due to overcrowding and lack of funding. The article goes on to highlight that some 19,000 victims were turned away from Missouri shelters in 2011 alone (Hanchard, 2012). In addition to the article, there is a brief television segment which can be seen here.
Sources
In Missouri, domestic assault is defined as assault, battery, coercion, harassment, sexual assault, stalking, or false imprisonment against a family or household member, including any child who is a member of the family or household (Koster, 2009). Domestic assault is considered a felony and ranges in seriousness from first to third degree. The varying levels of domestic assault and their specific requirements are detailed in Missouri statutes 565.072-074. The domestic violence laws in Missiouri protect a broad range of victims, so long as they are considered a household or family member. The full statutes can be located on the Missouri General Assembly website.
Help
Unlike in the past, victims of domestic violence today have a variety of resources at their disposal to help deal with their situation. The state of Missouri in particular offers an "Address Confidentiality Program" to victims of DV (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 589.663). This program allows victims of domestic violence to set up a secret alternate mailing address for their important documents to be sent to. The victims public and important mail will be initially sent to the office of the secretary of state, who will then confidentially forward the mail to the victims alternate address. This program aims to prevent victims from being located by their attackers. Another legal action victims can take is to have a protective order taken out against their attacker. There are two types of protective order issued by the state of Missouri: a quickly processed and temporary ex parte order, and a more permanent full order.
In addition to these legal options, every county in Missouri has a state appointed victim advocate available to assist victims of domestic violence. Private organizations like the Missouri Coaltion Against Domestic and Sexual Violence also help victims find help in their area.
Media
Domestic violence has been a topic of increasing awareness over the past several years. This
resulting interest in the topic has generated a wide variety of media related to this type of violence. There are even books that shed light on the lesser known same sex intimate partner violence. The book Intimate Betrayal: Domestic Violence in Lesbian Relationships by author Ellyn Kaschak is just one example. In addition to print resources, there are also many documantaries about domestic violence. One such documentary is Telling Amy's Story. This documentary focuses on the story of a victim of domestic violence homicide. A brief trailer for the film can be seen below.
(Myers, Cooper, Faussette & Nelson, 2010)
News
I found a news article posted in December, 2012 that talks about a huge number of domestic violence victims being turned away from shelters in Missouri due to overcrowding and lack of funding. The article goes on to highlight that some 19,000 victims were turned away from Missouri shelters in 2011 alone (Hanchard, 2012). In addition to the article, there is a brief television segment which can be seen here.
Sources
Hanchard, J. (2012, December 13). Domestic violence shelters face overcrowding, turning away thousands of victims. Retrieved from http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/crime/overcrowding-forces-shelters-to-turn-away-thousands-of-victims
Koster, C. Office of Attorney General, (2009). Protecting victims of domestic violence. Retrieved from Office of Attorney General website: http://ago.mo.gov/publications/domesticviolence.pdf
Myers, J. (Director), Cooper, M. (Producer), Faussette, L. (Producer), & Nelson, S. (Artist) (2010). Telling am'ys story [DVD]. Available from http://telling.psu.edu/index.html
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