Today the Senate voted 68 to 31 to pass the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). To see how each Senator voted, click here. We are happy to report that both Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer voted in favor of this reauthorization of VAWA. The next step for this bill is moving on to the House of Representatives.

This iteration of the Violence Against Women Act is the ”first to include access to law enforcement and services for Native American women, better access for immigrant women who fear deportation if they report violence, and better access for LGBT victims” (Ms. Magazine). Senator Harry Reid released this statement about today’s historic vote:

“More than a third of women in this country have been victims of violence, sexual assault or stalking by a partner. Today’s strong bipartisan vote will give law enforcement agencies the tools they need to prosecute and convict the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, and will help victims get the protection and support they need.

I urge my colleagues in the House to quickly approve the Senate’s bipartisan bill… One case of abuse is one too many, and every day that law enforcement agencies lack all of the tools they need to combat domestic abuse is one day too many.”

We will continue to bring you updates as VAWA progresses in the House of Representatives!

Karen Cooper's husband & daughter accept the Visionary Voice Award, which was presented by Senator Jean Fuller & Assemblymember Connie Conway

In observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) highlights individuals throughout the country whose outstanding prevention work is making a significant impact in their communities. For the 2012 Visionary Voice Award, the NSVRC posthumously awarded Karen Cooper, Executive Director of Family Services of Tulare County, as the Californian recipient for this award.

Karen was nominated by the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault for her life’s work to foster a community of healthy people in supportive relationships and safe environments.

“Karen will be greatly missed,” said CALCASA’s Executive Director Sandra Henriquez. “Her dedication and influence reached rape crisis centers and by extension, rape victims throughout the state. Karen’s efforts will continue in Tulare County and across California as we carry on her legacy.”

Karen Cooper

Karen is recognized for her outstanding work in the sexual violence field for the following accomplishments:

• She had been with the Family Services of Tulare County for 21 years.
• Growing an agency that includes a domestic violence shelter and a transitional housing program; operates the Rape Crisis program for all of Tulare County; provides domestic violence awareness programs; offers services for those affected by HIV/AIDS; has adult and children’s counseling centers; and offers classes in anger management and parenting.
• Her leadership in the field led to an appointment by Gov. Schwarzenegger to the California Domestic Violence Advisory Council, and she also served as chair of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence.
• Her efforts have been rewarded with many awards over the years, including the Chamber’s Woman of the Year, Assembly District 34 Woman of the Year in 2008, the Ruiz Foods Danza Award in 2011, and the Soroptimist International Sierra Pacific Regional Women Helping Women Award.

Yesterday, CALCASA was pleased to be present this award to Karen’s family during its Denim Day event on April 25, 2012. We are grateful for Karen’s leadership in making changes across California and her community.

Yesterday, legislators from across the state joined sexual assault advocates in recognizing Denim Day California, an event in which participants wear denim to “break the dress code and speak out against sexual violence.” CALCASA hosted the annual Denim Day rally on the West steps of the state Capitol.

There were about 100 participants taking part in the rally, with more inside and outside of the capitol sporting denim to speak out against sexual violence. More than one dozen California Legislators and others from the California Emergency Management Agency and California rape crisis centers joined the rally. Speaking at the event were:

• Associate Director Ellen Yin-Wycoff, CALCASA
• Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian, California’s 33rd Assembly District
• Assemblymember Marty Block, California’s 78th Senate District
• Assemblymember Betsy Butler, California’s 50th Assembly District
• Assemblymember Connie Conway, California’s 34th Assembly District
• Senator Ellen Corbett, California 10th Senate District
• Assemblymember Roger Dickinson, California’s 9th Assembly District
• Senator Noreen Evans, California’s 2nd Senate District
• Assemblymember Paul Fong, California’s 22nd Assembly District
• Senator Jean Fuller, California’s 18th Senate District
• Senator Doug LaMalfa, California’s 4th Senate District
• Senator Mark Leno, California’s 3rd Senate District
• Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, California’s 54th Assembly District
• Assemblymember Fiona Ma, California’s 12th Assembly District
• Assemblymember Holly J. Mitchell, California’s 54th Assembly District
• Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, California’s 44th Assembly District
• Assemblymember Das Williams, California’s 35th Assembly District
• Senator Roderick D. Wright, California’s 25th Senate District
• Assemblymember Mariko Yamada, California’s 8th Assembly District
• Undersecretary Mike Dayton, California Emergency Management Agency

The event was sponsored in part by the California Legislative Women’s Caucus.

WHY DENIM?
In 1999, the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing tight jeans. The Judge argued, “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them,” concluding “it was no longer rape but consensual sex.” Wearing jeans is a symbol of protest against destructive attitudes about sexual assault.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and throughout the state, rape crisis centers are hosting activities to organize their communities to address rape and sexual assault.

Photos of the event can be found here.

Wear denim as a symbol of protest against destructive attitudes about sexual assault.

Today is Denim Day, an event across California and the nation in which participants wear denim to “speak out against sexual violence.” Today CALCASA will host the annual Denim Day rally at the California state Capitol. Legislators and victim advocates will have an opportunity to speak at the event and sign a pledge to work together to prevent and end sexual violence.

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Denim Day is a an opportunity for rape crisis centers and rape prevention programs across the state to engage their communities, public officials and stakeholders, and shine the light on the issue of sexual assault.

In the 13 years that it has existed, Denim Day has galvanized public and private business, students, legislature, funders and the public at-large. It has symbolically helped this movement to build awareness, momentum and to engage new allies in the work of eliminating sexual violence.

Denim day was born in 1999, when the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing tight jeans. The Judge argued, “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them,” concluding “it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”

Please join the CALCASA staff and rape crisis centers across California and the nation and those committed to eliminating sexual violence, by wearing jeans as a symbol of protest against destructive attitudes about sexual assault.

VAWA ACTION ALERT

Please share widely!

From our colleagues at the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women.

Urge Senator Reid to schedule a vote THIS WEEK! VAWA (S. 1925) has 61 sponsors –and Senate Majority Leader Reid has still not called the bill to the floor!  In the meantime, victims and survivors of violence are being ignored and those who oppose VAWA are developing alternative bills that would undercut VAWA.  Tell Senator Reid that victims and survivors do not have time to wait and he must call the bill to the floor this week.   Tell your Senators to support S. 1925, the real VAWA!

TAKE ACTION:
1. Urge Senator Reid to schedule VAWA for a vote THIS WEEK.
2. Write a letter to the editor to get the real VAWA to the Senate floor (sample below!).

Action 1: S. 1925 has enough sponsors to go to the Senate floor for a vote without a filibuster.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has the power to schedule VAWA for a vote.  Ask him to schedule a vote THIS WEEK. 

Suggested message: “Senator Reid, you have 61 co-sponsors. You can get a vote for cloture now. In the meantime, those who oppose VAWA are developing a bill that will undercut everything VAWA stands for.Please schedule a date in April so that S.1925, the real VAWA, will be heard on the Senate floor.”

If you are not from Nevada, call 202-224-3542 (D.C. office).
If you are from Nevada, call 775-686-5750 (Reno office).

Action 2: Write a letter to the editor to get VAWA to the Senate Floor!  Find suggested language below which you should feel free to edit and personalize.  Find media contacts in your area:http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/media

To The Editor:
The Violence Against Women Act, S. 1925,  is a strong, bipartisan, filibuster-proof bill that will reauthorize essential laws and programs for another five years and build on effective, existing programs to meet the changing needs of victims of domestic and sexual violence.  This legislation, introduced by Senator Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Crapo (R-ID), currently has 61 co-sponsors, including eight Republicans.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has yet to call the bill to the Senate floor for a vote that would demonstrate Congress’ commitment to end this violence.  Delaying this vote  threatens the progress our country has made toward ending domestic and sexual violence and building safer communities.

VAWA saves lives and money –  $12.6 billion in its first 6 years alone.  Approximately $400 million in annual funding supports local law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and victim services.  Since its passage in 1994, all states have strengthened rape laws and the number of individuals killed by an intimate partner has decreased by 34% for women and 57% for men.

Critics of the Leahy-Crapo bill fear that the bill will help “too many” victims.  Critics say S. 1925 gives immigrants a “new” way to enter the U.S., while in reality, provisions to protect abused immigrants have been in place since 1994.  They also claim S. 1925 would force all domestic violence and sexual assault programs to serve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) victims or be charged with discrimination.  In reality, S. 1925 has a provision that allows states to fund services specifically targeted to LGBT victims, who are often  turned away or denied services because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.  They say S. 1925 violates the Constitution by giving tribal courts the authority to punish non-Indians for committing domestic violence on tribal lands where 1 in 3 American Indian women will be raped in their lifetime.  In fact, S. 1925 requires  tribal courts  to provide the same  Constitutional protections afforded to defendants in state criminal courts.

Senate leadership must move quickly to bring S. 1925 to the floor.  A vote for the Leahy-Crapo bill says, unequivocally, to all victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, “We will help you wherever and whenever you need help.” The time has come for Senator Reid to call this bill to the floor and once again reauthorize this critical legislation.

Sincerely,
[Name, Title, Organization, Contact Info]

***

Thank you for all your great work!!

Photo from http://jezebel.com/5902031/military-may-be-gaslighting-sexual-assault-victims

Yesterday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the implementation of  new steps and sanctions to address sexual assault in the military. In recent weeks, attention has been drawn to increased rates of sexual violence in the military, especially at military academies:

The Defense Department’s “Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies” for academic year 2010-2011 found there were 65 reports of sexual assault involving cadets and midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy. That was up from 41 reports of sexual assaults in the prior academic year. – CBS News

Additionally, a recent CNN report exposed how the military has been inappropriately addressing victims who come forward, labeling them with “personality disorders”, leading to their immediate discharge from the military.

In the military’s eyes, a personality disorder diagnosis is a pre-existing condition and does not constitute a service-related disability. That means sexual assault victims with personality disorder discharges don’t receive benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs to help with their trauma. They can still apply for benefits, but it’s considered an uphill battle. – CNN

This is not the first time the military has been accused of inadequate responses to victims. In November 2011, MSNBC reported the 14 current and former members of the U.S. military bringing a lawsuit forward filed stating that the Pentagon turned a “blind eye” when they reported being sexually harassed, assaulted and raped by fellow service members.

Panetta’s latest comment on the re-energized effort to handle military sexual assault:

“This is a strong package. It is essential, we believe, to being able to prevent and respond to the crime of sexual assault,” Panetta said. “There’s no silver bullet when it comes to this issue. But what is required is that everyone, from the secretary to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs all the way down, every command level, be sensitive to this issue, be aware that they bear the responsibility to take action on these cases. The most important thing we can do is prosecute the offenders.” – CBS News

In addition to supporting victims, there seems to be a huge opportunity to do primary prevention and systems change work to create a culture shift within the military. There are some programs that have been implemented but are not frequently talked about, such as the I.AM.STRONG campaign and Hurts One. Affects All. 

What strategies have you used or seen on military bases to prevent sexual assault?

From L-R: Dr. Richard McCleary, CALCASA Executive Director Sandra Henriquez, and Asm. Das Williams

Today, AB 2441 (Williams) was heard on the floor of the Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee. During the hearing, CALCASA’s Executive Director Sandra Henriquez provided a testimony along with Assemblymember Williams. Williams provided an overview of the legislation and I gave information about sexual assault, and statistics for the state of California.

Two witnesses presented in support of AB 2441, including Dr. Richard McCleary who is a professor at the University of California, Irvine who studies the secondary impacts of sexually oriented businesses. His experience with adult entertainment businesses in California began in the late 1980s with a study that found neighborhood crime rates rose whenever an adult business opened. Furthermore, the study found that the effect was aggravated by proximity to a bar or tavern. He testified that AB 2441, which only affects live adult entertainment businesses that serve alcohol, assumes that the businesses’ activities play a causal role in the victimization risk and that the organizations’ activities can mitigate the risk.

Additionally, a survivor of sexual assault spoke during the committee hearing. She said that she will never forget the advocate who met her at the hospital and how valuable the services were that she received from her local rape crisis center.

In the legislation analysis of AB 2441 (available here), there are 116 listed supporters and three businesses in opposition.

The Committee did not vote on the issue today, moving to vote on the issue to Monday, April 23. We are hopeful that AB 2441 will pass through the Rev & Tax Committee, and continue to progress through the legislative process into the Appropriations Committee.

Again, thank you for your support thus far — we’ll continue to need letters, calls and efforts in the coming weeks! Please contact Alexis Marbach, Public Policy Advocate at alexis@calcasa.org to learn how to get more involved.

When I think of capacity building, I think of resources: number of staff, funding, office space, printed materials, etc. When I read the March 2012 Technical Assistance Memo from the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, I started to reframe my thinking about “capacity” not as physical stuff we need to provide prevention education to the community but as a systems change within our agency.

“Embracing Prevention as Social Change” defines organizational capacity for primary prevention as “the agency’s ability to support and implement domestic and sexual violence prevention efforts”. When the agency fully embraces primary prevention, the work becomes part of the organizational culture, existing in all departments, volunteers, board members, and administrators.

What is the benefit of creating an organizational culture that supports primary prevention? “Primary prevention work can be an energizing social change endeavor that rekindles a spark of hope in the movement to end domestic and sexual violence. By incorporating prevention into all aspects of an organization’s work, the daunting task of changing the world will become more realistic and attainable”.

Read the full text of the article here: Embracing Prevention as Social Change- How to Build Organizational Capacity for Prevention

“A Prospective Study of Sexual Assault and Alcohol Use Among First-Year College Women”, a study recently published in the journal Violence and Victims, examined the relationship between frequent binge drinking, frequent drinking, and sexual assault victimization. The authors hypothesized that: “a) frequency of alcohol use would predict sexual assaults, b) frequency of heavy episodic drinking would predict sexual assaults, and c) prior alcohol consumption would be a strong predictor of later alcohol consumption, whereas experiencing a sexual assault would be, at best, a week predictor.”

The study found that alcohol increased the perceived “suitability” of women as victims of sexual aggression :

 First, women who have been drinking are perceived as more vulnerable because of the cognitive and physiological effects of alcohol…Second, the consumption of alcohol has been theorized to result in a ‘focusing’ or ‘myopia’ effect (Steele & Josephs, 1990), such that alcohol consumption limits the individual’s ability to focus on all but the most salient cues in a given situation…Third, women who have been drinking are also perceived as more sexually uninhibited and available than sober women (pg 89-90).

As a prevention educator, I cannot ignore that there is some relationship between alcohol and sexual assault (as this study examined) but I wonder what the best way to talk about alcohol and its impact on sexual violence without traveling down the path of victim blaming. I worry about walking the fine line between delivering primary prevention and giving a “10 ways to prevent yourself from being sexual assaulted” talk.

For me the answer always comes back to culture change and social norms change. Is there a culture that promotes both frequent binge drinking and sexual assault perpetration and if so, how can we start our education there, at the root cause of the problems? What experiences have you had addressing this topic?

A Prospective Study of Sexual Assault and Alcohol Use Among First-Year College Women

Emily R. Mouilso, MS, Sarah Fischer, PhD, and Karen S. Calhoun, PhD. Violence and Victims, Volume 27, Number 1, 2012 , pp. 78-94(17)

Abstract:

This study prospectively examined the relation between alcohol use and sexual assault in a sample (N = 319) of first-year college women. Both frequency of drinking and frequency of binge drinking were measured. Over the course of their freshman year, 19.3% reported experiencing at least one sexual assault. Frequent binge drinking and frequent drinking predicted a subsequent sexual assault; however, experiencing a sexual assault did not predict changes in alcohol use. Frequent binge drinking demonstrated a stronger association with sexual assault than did frequent drinking. Findings help clarify the relation between alcohol use and sexual assault in college women and call for continued differentiation in assessment of alcohol use.

Guest post from Holly Kearl, the lead organizer of International Anti-Street Harassment Week.

Thousands of people worldwide collectively spoke out against street harassment during the first ever International Anti-Street Harassment Week in March. During the week, the Internet, the streets, and classrooms swelled with discussions, messages, stories, and reclamations of public spaces. It was powerful to see so many people talk about the issue at once, amplifying each other’s voices, and bringing global attention to the unwanted sexual harassment that occurs in public places between strangers.

1. Read the thank you and wrap-up blog post
2. See the list of events that took place
3. View nearly 300 photos from events worldwide
4. Watch videos of events and messages from participants
5. See the list of media coverage

12 of the Anti-Street Harassment Week Initiatives:

1. In Canada, Women in Cities International released a report called Tackling Gender Exclusion: Experiences from the Gender Inclusive Cities Programme.
2. In India, Breakthrough launched a bystander poster campaign against street harassment, and groups like Let’s Talk and Safe Delhi Campaign organized rallies and activities to advocate for safe public spaces.
3. In Belgium, women walked to areas where they’d been harassed and reclaimed the spaces with sidewalk chalk messages.
4. In Yemen, across three days there were a series of discussions and seminars on different aspects of the issue of street harassment.
5. Women and men in New York City, USA, created a short video about responses men can have to men who are street harassers. It was viewed 200,000 times in just one week.
6. In Germany, women addressed street harassment by handing out 2,000 “red cards” against sexism and “pink cards” against homophobia.
7. In Norway, B Safe created a translation of the Stop Street Harassment website in Norwegian
8. College students at a university called SZABIST in Karachi, Pakistan, created a video PSA about street harassment as part of a class project and then held a discussion on the topic during the week of activism.
9. Film screenings took place in Turkey, Croatia, Canada, and the USA

10. Rallies, marches, sidewalk chalking, art exhibits, mud art, and flyer-ing took place in many places across the USA, including Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Washington, DC

11. Lots of activism and campaigning happened online. For example, the Women’s Media Center made their Wednesday Twitter #SheParty discussion about street harassment.

12. Hollaback, which is based in the USA and has chapters all over the world, launched a bystander “I’ve got your back” campaign.

Next year will be even bigger! I hope you can join in.

Each month, our partners at vawnet.org put out a resource guide for a “TA Question of the Month”. This month, vawnet.org is providing tips on the relationship between healthy sexuality and sexual assault with their guide “How Can I Talk About Sexuality to Prevent Sexual Violence”:

The 2012 Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) Campaign centers on the theme of healthy sexuality, letting everyone know “It’s time…to talk about it.” Healthy sexuality means having the knowledge and power to express sexuality in ways that enrich our lives (NSVRC, 2012). It means more than sex. Healthy sexuality includes building safe relationships, developing skills to communicate, positive and respectful behaviors and interactions, awareness of media and cultural messages, and it is always free from violence and coercion (NSVRC, 2012).

Sexuality can be viewed as an ongoing journey, something that grows and changes throughout our lives (NSVRC, 2012). It is important that information and resources on developing healthy sexuality be available to all people, from children to people in later life. Healthy sexuality relates directly to our work to prevent and respond to sexual violence. The ongoing process of active and informed consent is a key part of healthy sexuality and safe sexual relationships. Educating communities about consent and providing models for negotiating consent in relationships can enrich our lives in many areas.

As we work toward the primary prevention of sexual violence, some of our efforts include changing social norms. Gender norms, the “rules” or ideas about how a person should act based on gender, contribute to a culture of violence. Social expectations related to a person’s gender influence behaviors and sexuality (NSVRC, 2012). For example, gender norms suggest that men should aggressively pursue sex. Healthy sexuality counters this idea by promoting equal power and balance in relationships. Less restrictive norms can lead to healthier sexual interactions for all people (NSVRC, 2012). Gender norms can also support discrimination against anyone who doesn’t fit within the norm. People who identify as LGBTQ often face discrimination and violence as a result. To learn more, consider reading The Gendered Dimensions of Harassment and Bullying.

A successful SAAM campaign will reach out to both new and existing partners in the community. To begin building these connections, consider who can assist you in your community. Educating parents and caregivers about how to talk to their children may help you reach youth outside of the school day. Healthcare providers communicate with people of all ages, and may be a good source for expanding knowledge about healthy sexuality. Healthy sexuality and sexual violence prevention and response are not single-gender issues. Consider some helpful tips on partnering with men’s organizations, like emphasizing positive ways men can be involved.

Many resources are available to help you expand your knowledge and craft a great campaign.Resource kits include guides on various topics and a glossary of terms related to healthy sexuality. Many resources are available in Spanish (recursos en Español). With so many links to our work, starting the conversation on healthy sexuality can be a positive and exciting new adventure.

What are you doing to promote healthy sexuality?

Today is the national SAAM Day of Action. Our partners at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center have 4 ideas for how to participate in the SAAM Day of Action!

1.       It’s time… to talk about it! Get the conversation started 

Start the conversation about healthy sexuality and sexual violence prevention with your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, classmates & others. By opening the lines of communication, we can raise awareness and help others learn about prevention!

There are resources to help you start the conversation here. Or get a little inspiration from how we talk about it in our SAAM video.

2.       It’s… time to connect! Raise awareness online

Change your profile picture to a photo of yourself holding a clock to represent “It’s time!”

Use tweets, posts and status updates to spread the word about SAAM 2012.

Post a SAAM or healthy sexuality-related video to the NSVRC YouTube channel.

Tweet about it Tuesdays! Join us on Twitter for an hour-long chats starting on the Day of Action and each Tuesday in April using #TweetAboutIt.

Add a teal ribbon graphic, banner or background to your profile, website, etc

3.       It’s time… to get involved! Get active for SAAM

Find and support a SAAM event in your area.

Connect with the organizations in your state, community and campus to participate in events, volunteer or donate.
Can’t find something in your region? Host your own SAAM event – gather friends over tea and teal cupcakes. Share SAAM with your book club, trivia night, yoga or zumba class, faith group, etc. There are so many ways to get the conversation started.

4.       It’s time.. to prevent! Be an advocate for prevention

Healthy sexuality skills and characteristics enrich our lives with relationships that are consensual, respectful & safe. Learn more about these skills!

Share information about healthy sexuality, sexual violence prevention and the importance of SAAM with you community!

Be an active bystander by engaging and responding when you hear comments or notice behaviors that are unhealthy and represent negative attitudes and stereotypes. Talking about it means standing up to injustice, educating others, and creating dialogue.

The National Alliance Against Sexual Violence has recently released updated fact sheets on key funding issues for sexual assault intervention and prevention work. These fact sheets include national facts and figures, including the FY 2012 appropriation made to the funding stream and the goal for the FY 2013 appropriation.

The fact sheets are an excellent resource when talking to your community and local media outlets about your funding needs during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. For more resources on how to connect with local media during SAAM, please visit the CALCASA SAAM Resources Page.

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund

Sexual Asault Services Program (SASP)

Sex Offense Set Aside in the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant

Rape Prevention Education Program (RPE)

Yesterday, President Barack Obama released a proclamation to “urge all Americans to support survivors of sexual assault and work together to prevent these crimes in their communities.”

The proclamation says that April is a time to rededicate ourselves to breaking the cycle of violence that threatens lives, erodes communities and weakens our country. It includes information about additional resources for service members and military families through www.SafeHelpline.org. The proclamation also lists the White House’s 1 is 2 Many website, which includes information about Vice President Biden’s efforts to end violence against women.

As we reflect on the progress we have made and the distance we have yet to go,” the proclamation reads, “let us recommit to empowering survivors and fighting for a safer future for every American.”

To read the full proclamation, visit WhiteHouse.gov.

CALCASA Staff at our 2011 Denim Day event

Although sexual assault happens all year long, this month is a time to educate people about sexual violence. It is a month that we, at CALCASA, not only promote sexual assault awareness, but also remember those who are survivors. We strive to support, promote and contribute to strengthening the resources, access and continual health services to survivors.

Throughout their lifetimes, survivors re-experience the trauma they endured. Whether the re-vicitmization happens through the judicial process, questions from family and friends, or exposure to pop culture, the public doesn’t see the invisibility of the trauma and a survivor’s emotional scars. Let’s expand support and provide stronger responses. No one should face trauma alone, and as families, friends and mentors, we can empower survivors to seek the assistance they need.

Together — rape crisis centers, coalitions, and groups and communities around the world — are observing April by hosting events and speaking out about:

• how to end sexual violence;
• how to raise awareness about sexual assault; and
• how to take to away the blanket of silence, shame and secrecy that are endured by the survivors.

Sexual assault happens every day, everywhere around the world and to every background. It happens to everyone — children, men and women. It happens in different communities, colleges campuses and among people with disabilities and those living in senior care homes. Nearly 1 in 2 women (44.6%) and 1 in 5 men (22.2%) experience sexual violence other than rape throughout their lifetime. There are more than 2 million people in the California who are survivors of rape. Most of these go unreported.

We can help change insensitive attitudes and build stronger relationships when advocates come together to bring awareness to this very important issue. Encourage people to wear teal throughout the month of April. For more information and resources, visit CALCASA’s SAAM page.

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2012 – The Defense Department has refined new methods to aid sexual assault victims whether reporting a crime or seeking assistance as they transition from service, the director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office said here March 30.

“We have several new options for victims of sexual assault,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog. “First, if you’ve been a victim of sexual assault in the military you now have the option of requesting an expedited transfer. We signed that into effect in December.”

“If you find it untenable or unbearable in the organization that you’re at … you can request to be transferred,” she added.

Hertog said a service member’s local commander has 72 hours to respond to the request for transfer, and if denied there is an option to take it to the first flag or general officer in the chain of command who also has 72 hours to respond.

“We also have a new document retention initiative,” she said. “We heard loud and clear from our veterans that present themselves at the [Department of Veterans Affairs] years later that there was no documentation that they had ever been sexually assaulted [during] their military service.”

The issue arose, Hertog said, because varying standards of retention had existed among all of the services but has since been resolved.

“We now have one standard of retention so those individuals that file unrestricted reports will have their documents retained for 50 years,” she said.

“And those that file restricted reports will have their documents retained for five years,” Hertog said. “And of course our victims of sexual assault who file restricted reports have that option to convert over to unrestricted reports at any time and then we will retain their documents for that 50-year period.”

The director also discussed other innovations such as expanding legal assistance to encourage victims to participate in the military justice system “in order to hold that perpetrator accountable.”

And as of January, DOD civilians and contractors deployed abroad, and military dependents over 18 years old are now eligible to access sexual assault response services, Hertog said.

Hertog noted other changes implemented include new training for investigators of sexual assault crimes within the services.

“Some of our new training initiatives concern our investigators such as our [Naval Criminal Investigative Service] agents, Air Force [Office of Special Investigations], and Army [Criminal Investigation Division],” she said. “We think we have found the gold standard course … to send many of the agents to, to build a sexual assault subject expertise cadre of our agents to get them very familiar with these cases.”

Hertog said training frequency will increase, more seats will be offered and the training has expanded to include Judge Advocate Generals “because these are some of the toughest cases to investigate as well as prosecute.”

Perhaps the most useful option has been established for about a year, Hertog noted.

“You have the option of contacting our DOD Safe helpline,” she said. “We stood up a 24/7 crisis hotline — it’s operated by RAINN, the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network — who have been trained by us so they’re very familiar with military terminology.”

“If you don’t want to go through your chain of command you can contact them and they will tell you where your nearest rape crisis center is in your community outside your installation gates,” Hertog said.

Hertog said the hotline has been “extremely successful” with about 30,000 unique visits to the site and about 2,500 referrals for counseling services.

She emphasized the Defense Department’s commitment to “eradicating” sexual assault in the military “from the Secretary [of Defense] on down.

“We have to eliminate this problem from our ranks,” Hertog added. “The American public gives us what’s most dear to them and that’s their sons and daughters. And they trust us that we’re going to take care of them [which] is a commander’s job.”

On Wednesday, Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives about her personal experience with sexual violence and her support for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

We are excited to join domestic violence and sexual assault organizations from around the country in celebrating the launch of NOMORE.org. NO MORE is “the first unifying symbol to express support for ending domestic violence and sexual assault”, drawing attention to these two forms of violence and highlighting the ways in which we as service providers, advocates, and community members can unite to achieve a common goal.

NO MORE provides a single visual image and logo that can be used to promote awareness and generate conversation around sexual and domestic violence. The logo is designed for use by and integration with your logos. How can you get involved and utilize the NOMORE.org site?

kNOW the warning signs of domestic violence and sexual assault (link to: http://www.nomore.org/2012/03/recognize-the-signs-of-child-teen-and-relationship-abuse/)

Say NO MORE by signing on here (link to: http://www.nomore.org/take-action/)

Share NO MORE by using facebook, twitter, and other social media sites (link: http://www.nomore.org/2012/03/share-no-more/)

Join the We Say NO MORE Photo Gallery (link: http://www.nomore.org/2012/03/join-the-gallery/)

Last week a New York Times article “Online Sex Trade is Flourishing Despite Efforts to Curb It” brought renewed attention to the role that technology plays in human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, “sex trafficking” is the “recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act”. The article highlights the how technology has had both a deleterious and a positiv effect on attempts end sex trafficking:

The sites display ads for sex services, and they also serve as online communities where customers, pimps and prostitutes can arrange business deals, share police sightings and swap tips. Law enforcement officials said the online trade has, in some ways, made sex trafficking and solicitation easier, while giving the police new insight into a historically hidden, underground culture.

“It’s a great tool for us, to be honest,” said Detective Jeremy Martinez of the San Jose Police Human Trafficking Task Force. “I know there was a lot of applause when Craigslist’s erotic services got brought down, but for us it was a fishing pond we could go to.”

Casey Bates, who supervises the Alameda County district attorney’s human trafficking unit, said law enforcement officials have “a love-hate relationship” with online sex sites. “It’s despicable, what’s going on,” Mr. Bates said, “but they allow us to show a jury in very graphic terms what’s going on between provider and john.”

What are the trending ways in which technology is being used to promote sex trafficking? According to “Human Trafficking Online: The Role of Social Networking Sites and Online Classifieds”, published by the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism in 2011, certain patterns begin to emerge:

1) Online classified sites are used to post advertisements of victims
2) social networking sites are used in the recruitment of victims
3) investigations may begin with a picture of what appears to be an underage girl in an online classified ad, and
4) a number of victims have been identified as runaways

The Annenberg report also includes information on how companies like Microsoft and Facebook are joining the fight to identify victims through natural language processing, facial recognition, and mapping technologies and cooperate with law enforcement professionals to seek justice for victims.

What can you do to use technology to support victims? You can visit the California Attorney General’s Human Trafficking widget’s page, which hosts images that you can place on your website and social media sites. Here’s a sample:

What are other ways that you or your agency can use technology to support victims of trafficking and the prosecution of their traffickers?

Stacy F. Everson

CALCASA is pleased to announce a training opportunity through our Advocacy Caucus for Persons with Disabilities.  We are fortunate to have Stacy F. Everson, Executive Director of SEEDS Educational Services, Inc. on Serving People with Cognitive Disabilities.  This training will focus on increasing your knowledge about people with cognitive disabilities, their strengths, and the barriers they face in our community as well as helping to build your skills to effectively advocate for survivors with care and respect.

This training is scheduled on March 27^th from 2:00-4:00pm

Staff and volunteers of CALCASA member agencies can register using the following link: https://calcasa.ilinc.com/register/hptzvzv

Materials and Recording:

• Slides [PDF]

Some additional information about Stacy and SEEDS: 

SEEDS Educational Services, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1987 by Stacy F. Everson.  Our mission is to assist exceptional learners to build meaningful and safe relationships and to relate effectively with others in their community.  SEEDS staff and volunteers conduct classes in social skills and appropriate behavior, and host social events for people who have cognitive disabilities.

Stacy F. Everson is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelors Degree in Nursing and Public Health.  She has national certification in developmental disabilities and family life education.  She is the Founder & Executive Director of SEEDS Educational Services, Inc.  She specializes in social-sexual education,  speaking/trainings, work-shops & conferences,  coordinating and collaboration with other agencies in creating effective educational tools and opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.

Learn more about SEEDS at their website, http://www.seedseducation.org

CALCASA’s national project PreventConnect has been named the partner spotlight for March 2012 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on its VetoViolence Facebook page. PreventConnect is an online community dedicated to advance the primary prevention of sexual assault and domestic violence. CDC supports this project and is a valuable partner to strengthen our prevention efforts.

Please make sure you like PreventConnect and VetoViolence on Facebook (as well as CALCASA).

Last night, Sarah Harper of VoiceTool Productions organized a rally to celebrate Anti-Street Harassment at the 16th Street BART station in San Francisco, to raise awareness and offer people resources to fight street harassment in public spaces. Why BART? A recent New York Times article “Sex Crimes Pass Under the Radar on Public Transit” stated:

Bay Area public transit riders, especially women, said in interviews that they often face unwanted sexual advances

from strangers in the form of masturbating and groping on buses, on trains and in stations. Rider advocates and others who study such behavior on mass transit say the crimes are vastly underreported and so police statistics understate the problem.

Sarah made the following comments about the event:

Meet Us on the Street San Francisco met its goal:  to make it clear that street harassment exists, is a problem, and can and should be addressed.  Our crew of activists, students, and community members spoke with a variety of passersby at the 16th St. BART station on the issue of harassment.  We engaged many in dialogue about the effects of harassment as a reality in many women’s daily lives.  We also provided fliers for passersby (in English and Spanish) so that they may share the information with others.

The fliers included quick “how to’s” for dealing with harassment in-the-moment:  effective body posturing and phrases victims and witnesses may use to remain empowered while keeping themselves safe.  The fliers also detailed what constitutes harassment, so that potential harassers may begin to identify and change their harassing behavior.

This event was a seed-planting opportunity; we are already planning upcoming events to nourish that seed.  Follow our work and get involved!  Together, we can stop street harassment.

As we continue to celebrate Anti-Street Harassment week, we have more and more opportunities to explain the importance of sexual harassment and street harassment. As “Stop Street Harassment” states,

Street harassment is any action or comment between strangers in public places that is disrespectful, unwelcome, threatening and/or harassing and is motivated by gender. In countries like India and

Bangladesh, it’s termed “eve teasing,” and in countries like Egypt, it’s called “public sexual harassment.” Street harassment is a human rights issue because it limits women’s ability to be in public as often or as comfortably as most men. The mobility of  all members of the LGBQT community is often restricted as well because of harassment and hateful violence motivated by the person’s actual or perceived gender expression or sexual orientation.

Here are 3 Ideas for collective action that you along with your community can take to end street harassment:

1. Engage your community. Hold an awareness-raising event, march, or create street team activism (including organizing people to hand out fliers). Show a relevant documentary or hold a speak-out at the event to generate awareness and a discussion. [Idea Guide]

2. Evaluate your community. Conduct a survey, community safety audit, or create a mapping project to document where street harassment occurs. [Idea Guide]

3. Educate your community. Teachers/coaches/mentors/leaders talk to students about street harassment.

Please share your ideas for taking collective action!

Why should we care about street harassment? Thembi Ford at Clutch magazine writes: 

Whistles, arm-grabs, flashing, random sexual comments and insults, thrown objects, or even just what pretends to be an innocent “hollla” that turns into physical assault…the list of what young women (and

for that matter old women and some men) can face while simply walking down the street is endless. It’s happened to almost everyone, and anyone who’s experienced it knows that street harassment isn’t just “boys being boys.” These interactions leave victims feeling powerless, unwelcome, and wear at feelings of safety and self-esteem over time. And it happens everywhere, every day.

Here are 3 ideas for personal level participation:

1. Talk about street harassment with friends/family/coworkers/classmates/neighbors. Share your stories with them. Think about what a safe community would look and share that vision with them.

2. Raise awareness online.

* Change your Facebook profile picture to be the Anti-Street Harassment Week logo (see example on the right, or visit the tools page to access logos in 12 languages)

* Write and post a street harassment story on a blog, Tumblr, twitter, or Facebook.

* Tweet about street harassment using #NoSHWeek.

* Write an article, op-ed, or blog post about street harassment. [Idea Guide + special offer from the Op-Ed Project]

3. Raise awareness with the arts. Tackle the issue of street harassment in an entertaining, compelling way.  Post it online or offline, use it to generate discussions about street harassment and public safety. [Idea Guide]

How are you planning to fight street harassment?

Anti-Street Harassment Week is here! As I posted last week, CALCASA is joining multiple national, state, and local partners to celebrate March 18-24. In her article, “International Anti-Street Harassment Week: 10 Thing You Can Do To Stop Street Harassment”, Soraya Chemaly interviewed organizer Holly Kearl who states:

“Harassment restricts girls’ and women’s access to public places,” explains Holly Kearl, author of “Stop Street Harassment” and founder of the week long project. “This is not what we want for the next generation of girls. This is a time for people to raise awareness about the issue and create community-based solutions to make public places safer for everyone.”

Curious about ways to get involved?

One idea: Request a free DVD copy of the award-winning four-minute film “Walking Home” as well as a Discussion Guide, created by the filmmaker Nuala Cabral, who writes:

Screening WALKING HOME for young people in high schools, middle schools and community programs has led to some necessary dialogue about street harassment and the issues it brings up, such as self-esteem, gender, sexuality, violence and community.

Use both the 4 min video and the discussion guide to generate a conversation with the class. Ask students to create their own 1 minute video about their vision of a safe community and upload it to our YouTube Channel.

Request a free DVD (censored version) by emailing Lauren Domino at Media That Matters, lauren AT artsengine DOT net

To learn more about the video, visit Media That Matters.

Last Thursday, Senator Diane Feinstein joined her colleagues, Senators Klobuchar, Murray, Hagen, Murkowski, and Shaheen to show support for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

The bill is encountering some staunch resistance. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D.-Calif.) said she was “stunned” by the delay [in bringing reauthorization to a vote] during a Thursday speech on the Senate floor. “Never before had there been any controversy in all of more than a decade and a half, in all of this time about this bill,” she continued. “This act is the centerpiece of the federal government’s effort to combat domestic violence and sexual assault. -from International Business Times

To watch their remarks on CSPAN, click here. We at CALCASA are deeply appreciative of Senator Feinstein’s ongoing support for VAWA and for her work to move this important piece of legislation forward in Washington, at a time where attacking women’s health, reproductive rights, and safety seems to be the topic de’jour.

Both the New York Times and the Gothamist weighed in on the intensely partisan debate over reauthorization, with support and votes falling strictly along party lines. The latest Senate version of the bill does have five Republican co-sponsors (including co-author Michael D. Crapo of Idaho) but in the Judiciary Committee hearing last month, the bill failed to get a single republican vote.

What’s the hang up? A lot of the debate around reauthorization is centered around marginalized communities such as LGBT, male, and Native American survivors. The Huffington Post published a piece by Nancy K. Kaufman. In her article “The Struggle to End Violence Against Women Encounters a Road Block”, Kaufman writes:

LGBTQ people encounter domestic violence at the same rate as the general population, yet a survey by the New York City Anti-Violence Project reported that in 2010 nearly half were turned away from domestic violence shelters and more than half of LGBTQ survivors were denied orders of protection. Few victim services and law enforcement agencies reported specific services for LGBTQ victims. Perhaps it is no wonder that less than one in ten of all LGBTQ victims reported the violence committed against them to police.

Immigrant women without legal status are especially vulnerable to abuse, since going to the authorities carries with it the risk of deportation while the abuser may go free. Since 2000, VAWA has offered victims of domestic violence and sexual assault protection against deportation when they aid in the investigation and prosecution of crimes. Immigrant victims can apply for a special visa, but only if law enforcement certifies that they have been cooperative. This new version of VAWA seeks to renew this very successful program, at the request of law enforcement agencies and advocates across the country.

Finally, the bill would increase access to justice for Native women living on tribal lands. The numbers are stunning. Native women are 2.5 times more likely than other U.S. women to be battered or raped. One-third of Native women will be raped in their lifetimes. Two-fifths will experience the tragedy of domestic violence. And, their legal situation greatly complicates their access to justice. Currently, criminal authority is limited to federal law enforcement agencies that can only prosecute misdemeanor crimes by non-Indians against Indians on tribal land. Sadly, U.S. attorneys declined to prosecute 67 percent of sexual abuse and related matters that occurred in Indian country from 2005-2009. VAWA reauthorization would give tribes the authority to prosecute misdemeanor domestic violence-related crimes when the abuser lives or works in the jurisdiction of the tribe, or is the spouse or intimate partner of a tribe member. It is time to close the gaps in the law to ensure that rapists and abusers cannot commit crimes against Native women with impunity.

CALCASA is working with the Nation Alliance to End Sexual Violence and Senator Feinstein’s office on this vital piece of legislation. If you’d like to get involved, visit the National Alliance Toolkit to sign letters, get updated information, and express your support!

Yesterday’s Feministing blog covered the issue of sexual abuse and foreign exchange students:

On Wednesday night on Rock Center with Brian Williams, reporter Kate Snow covered the disturbing problem of foreign exchange host parents who sexually abuse the teenagers who come to stay with them.

The story was broken by Anna Schecter, the same woman who recently uncovered sexual assault and abuse cover-ups in the Peace Corps. Schecter discovered that the abuse of exchange students by their hosts is widespread, and has been consistently mishandled; one host father was not fired by the exchange organization he worked with, even when allegations of sexual abuse came to light.

Click here to see the whole video from Rock Center.

I recently came upon a healing medium for sexual trauma survivors called Project Unbreakable: The beginning of healing through art. Grace Brown, a photographer that uses her craft to help survivors heal from sexual trauma, photographs survivors holding up posters with quotes from their attackers. The pictures are shocking and so poignant that I’m compelled to provide a caveat for those that may click on the link provided because the power of these words may just “hurt” you.

When I was first learning the ropes of prevention work a colleague and dear friend of mine that I often shadowed during presentations would start off with discussing the power of words. She’d ask the group what they thought about the old nursery rhyme about stick and stones and words never hurting anyone. It was rare to have some one say words never hurt, in fact audience members would go on in great detail about the power of words and both the positive and negative effects they have on individuals.

It was during my clinical work with clients that I really discovered how powerful words can be for an individual. Those words of reassurance and validation I provided during sessions when they were at their lowest in their process. The little spoken words of epiphany they often experienced when as one client remarked, she was able to connect the dots of how it really wasn’t “her fault”. Yet there were still words that could halt the process of healing, stop a survivor in her/his proverbial tracks if you will, and send her/him spiraling back to that moment in time when another chose to harm them.

Those words were ones of rage, lust, and at the most heartbreakingly hurtful, ones of a perverted love. The, “Don’t worry you’ll like this”, “This is how we show love”, or “Sluts like you deserve this” words that haunted survivor’s each day to the next. As a clinician I could sit there and point out the fallacy of such statements until I was blue in the face but the words often still hung there between us, permeating the healing process until the survivor learned not necessarily how to make the words never hurt them, but to deconstruct the power they held over them. This type of deconstruction can have many facets and manifest itself in a variety of ways for survivors. Project Unbreakable happens to be one of the most visually compelling of them.

Grace will be coming to California, making stops in San Francisco and Sacramento. We will keep you posted as we learn more about her trip. To learn more, visit her website:

http://projectunbreakable.tumblr.com/

And her Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/projectunbreakable

There is a movement happening on twitter in the last two days – women throughout the world are posting their stories of sexual harassment and sexual assault and why they chose to not report. There are thousands of tweets from survivors as well as people who are dismayed to find that there are such a high number of survivors who have not reported. As a preventionist, my hope is that the high volume of survivors telling their stories on twitter generates conversation about the need for prevention and cultural change to generate a climate where survivors feel supported, valued, and heard.

You can follow the convo with the hashtag #ididnotreport or go to https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23ididnotreport to read responses in real time.

Here is a sample of what I’ve been seeing online:

cate cate ? @birdgehrl #ididnotreport the man who would not listen to me when I said no, even though I was drunk.

Vicky Kapoor ? @hrsyofgrmnghst #ididnotreport because I have no faith in our justice system where so few rapists are jailed + victims are treated like perpetrators

Nicole Sullivan ? @stubbornella #ididnotreport because I was too little to know I had any right to my own body… to say no.

aimee ? @moewytchdog #ididnotreport because he was a police officer.

Rae Leaver ? @raethepain So much respect for those contributing to the #ididnotreport tag. I can’t, because I *did* report it and the police told me I had no case.

RopesToInfinity ? @RopesToInfinity The #ididnotreport hashtag makes for some pretty sobering reading. We have a depressingly long way to go.

David Aaronovitch ? @DAaronovitch #ididnotreport is an extraordinary hashtag. Saddening. Enraging.

witch of Angmar @gwrthryfel If you want to understand why feminism and feminist movements are still vitally important–> #ididnotreport

John Allsopp ? @JAScarb #Ididnotreport the 3 people in my school class (35 yrs ago) who got girl unconscious at party & screwed her & denied when she vistd in morn

CALCASA is joining multiple national, state, and local partners to celebrate Anti-Street Harassment week this March 18-24.

We appreciate the hard work of “Meet Us On the Street” and the core team of activists lead by Holly Kearl. Here’s what they have to say about street harassment and the goal of this awareness building and action week:

What’s the Problem?
Catcalls, sexist comments, public masturbation, groping, stalking, and assault: gender-based street harassment makes public places unfriendly and even scary for many girls, women, and LGBQT folks.

What Will Happen? 
Meet Us On the Street: International Anti-Street Harassment Week is an opportunity to collectively raise awareness that street harassment happens and that it’s not okay.

There are 6 options for how people can participate.
We hope you will sign up and get involved!

Why a Week?
Amazing activists and ordinary individuals around the world work hard year-round to make public places safer…but there is strength in numbers. During the third week of March, everyone will join forces to collectively raise awareness that street harassment is a global problem and work toward solutions. March 24 will be the biggest day of activism.

What Happened to International Anti-Street Harassment Day?
On March 20, 2011, after only a month of planning, more than 2,000 people from at least 13 countries participated in International Anti-Street Harassment Day. Read an article by founder Holly Kearl about how it went. Due to feedback from participants, in 2012, the day of activism will be expanded to run a full week.

Why Hold it in March?
The third week of March is the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. While street harassment occurs year-round, spring is a time when there is an increase in the harassment because of the increased daylight hours and warmer weather that brings people outside. Street harassment is often seen as an inevitable part of the change in seasons, but it shouldn’t be. Spring is no excuse for street harassment.

How can you get involved?

This past week CALCASA members had the unique opportunity to bring their united voices to their elected officials during Legislative Action Day. Over 85 Executive Directors and staff of CALCASA member agencies participated in Legislative Action Day, visiting 80 Assembly Members and 40 State Senators on Tuesday, March 6. Over the course of their visits, members discussed three key pieces of CALCASA’s 2012 Legislative Agenda, focusing their discussion on the ways in which Assembly Members and Senators could support the needs of both rape crisis centers and sexual assault survivors across the state. These face-to-face meetings allowed members to connect with the elected officials who drive the policies that shape daily direct services throughout the state, impacting the scope and breadth of our work in ending sexual violence and supporting survivors. Members discussed the current funding climate, both within the state and on a national level, as well as two pieces of legislation that would increase a district attorney’s ability to prosecute rape cases and would protect sexually exploited minors from being charged as criminals, instead providing them with social services and resources.

This year we were pleased to honor Asm. Paul Fong with the CALCASA Leadership Award (pictured above with Leandra Peloquin, Director of the Rape Crisis Center at the YWCA of Silicon Valley). Asm Fong has long been a champion of CALCASA supported legislation, voting in favor of all three key legislative issues in 2011 and carrying the first ever Campus Safety Month Proclamation. Asm. Fong continues to support CALCASA legislation and sexual violence survivors throughout the state by, again in 2012, carrying the Campus Safety Month resolution, reinstating March as a month where we bring attention to and celebrate the successes of prevention and intervention efforts on college campuses throughout California.

We appreciate the efforts of all of our members who attended Legislative Action Day as well as those who work throughout the legislative session to write letters, make phone calls, and visit their representatives in their districts. All of these actions combined reflect the unified voice of California’s rape crisis centers, strengthening our individual and collective efforts to end sexual violence in California.

Alexis Marbach

Jessica Renee Napier

On Feb. 28, 2012, more than 40 people attended the CALCASA web conference “SAAM 2012 Media Campaign.”  In this web conference, CALCASA prepared members to talk to media about: how your center has been affected by budgetary cuts/constraints; legislation supported by rape crisis centers; and new data about sexual assault.

As momentum starts to build around Sexual Assault Awareness Month, CALCASA would like to use media opportunities to not only highlight the events and work at California Rape Crisis Centers, but also to make sexual assault a priority issue for the media and those who are watching — funders, policymakers and general public. CALCASA’s focus for SAAM 2012 is to capitalize on the coverage of SAAM by raising issues that rape crisis centers are currently facing.

Host/Presenter: Jessica Renee Napier & Alexis Marbach

Resources from this web conference:

• Web Conference Audio Recording
• Web Conference PowerPoint
• Handout: How to foster a relationship with your local media
• Handout: Have media cover your SAAM event
• Handout: Press Release Template
• Handout: Tips for talking to the media
• Handout: Developing talking points
• Video: CALCASA Interview Tips

For media support, email Jessica. For policy support, email Alexis.

On Friday February 24^th, the CALCASA Board hosted a web conference to unveil the proposed change to the existing structure. The issue has been slated for a vote at the upcoming Annual Meeting to be Held at the California District Attorneys Association’s conference room, 921 – 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 9814 on March 6, 2012 from 4:30 – 6:15 pm.

The Board has listened to the input received from the region and caucus representatives, and has conducted significant research with Coalitions around the nation, in order to present the best possible model for our state Coalition. The CALCASA Board is very much looking forward to presenting to the membership its proposal to strengthen the existing structure and ensure that the needs of the regions and caucuses, as well as the emerging needs of the board are met.

Please click here in order to access slides from the web conference. Regions and caucuses are encouraged to facilitate discussions and answer questions before the meeting if possible. Each of you should also have received the Annual Meeting packet that was sent out via email on February 24^th.

This month the Journal of Interpersonal Violence published “Predicting Perceptions of Date Rape: An Examination of Perpetrator Motivation, Relationship Length, and Gender Role Beliefs”, a study conducted by David Angelone, PhD, Damon Mitchell PhD, and Lauren Lucente, BA. As many of us who work in the field of sexual violence prevention and intervention know, rape victims are often scrutinized by their peers, families, friends, and the criminal justice system. This study carefully examined how knowledge of the perpetrator’s motivation and the previous relationship between the victim and the perpetrator would influence the way that male and female college student’s viewed both the victim and the perpetrator. The current study “suggests that knowledge of the offender motivation legitimized the victim as the aggrieved party rather than excusing the perpetrator’s behavior”. 

The study looked at both situational and observational variables. Situational variables refer to the personal characteristics of the victim and perpetrator and the environmental context in which the sexual assault occurred. The authors state, “In general, the closer the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator (e.g., marital vs. acquaintance vs. stranger) the more likely observers are to perceived the assault as consensual and the less likely they are to view the incident as a serious concern (Monson, Byrd, & Langhinrichesen-Rohling, 1996).” Observer variables are personal characteristics of the study participants, such as gender and gender role attitudes.

To learn more, visit the Journal of Intimate Partner Violence.

“Predicting Perceptions of Date Rape: An Examination of Perpetrator Motivation, Relationship Length, and Gender Role Beliefs”

David J. Angelone, PhD, Damon Mitchell, PhD, Lauren Lucente, BA

Published online before print, on February 10, 2012, doi:10.1177/0886260512436385

Abstract: The purpose of the current study is to examine the influence of multiple offender motivations (including no indication of a motivation), relationship length, and gender role beliefs on perceptions of a male-on-female date rape. A sample of 348 U.S. college students read a brief vignette depicting a date rape and completed a questionnaire regarding their attributions about the victim (culpability, credibility, trauma, pleasure) and perpetrator (culpability, guilt, sentencing recommendations). Results indicate that providing observers with information about the perpetrator’s motivation was associated with lower victim blame. Relationship length is not predictive of rape attributions. Egalitarian gender role attitudes are associated with lower levels of victim blame. Overall, gender role attitudes exert a more significant influence on rape attributions than participant gender. The findings suggest that knowledge of an offender’s motivation as well as observers’ gender role attitudes can influence attributions about the culpability of victims and perpetrators of date rape.

Today, George Huguely V was found guilty of second-degree murder for killing his former girlfriend Yeardly Love in 2010. Victim advocates believe that this verdict will support other sexual assault and domestic violence survivors in coming forward and reporting the crimes perpetrated against them.

“Anytime offenders are clearly and seriously held accountable, that sends a very strong message to the community and to victims that these are crimes our nation takes seriously,” said Terri Poore, policy chair of the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, a Washington advocacy group. “It will have a chilling effect on offenders and we think more victims will come forward.” Quoted in Business Week.

This case also brought the importance of bystander intervention to light. After Love’s death, peers and teammates stated that they had known that Huguely had problems with alcohol and violence but they never told a coach, a teacher, or a counselor to intervene. They didn’t him that they were concerned about his behavior or tell her that they were worried for her safety. There is a lot that we can do as bystanders, and we encourage everyone to learn more about curricula and programs that are available to support healthy and safe bystander behavior.

To learn more about the impact of this verdict and the case, you can visit Business Week’s article “UVA Murder Verdict Will Embolden Crime Victims to Come Forward”, The New York Times article “Former u.Va. Lacrosse Player Faces 26 years”, or the Huffington Post’s coverage and timeline.

When I am wrong, I admit it. I feel like most people I know do the same. Most others I know just never bring up the conversation / topic ever again, hoping that if we don’t talk about the controversial issue, at some point all will be forgotten. Not Liz Trotta.

I blogged about Trotta’s original comments about rape in the military  last week. Over the weekend, Trotta was given an opportunity to set the record straight, and explain her extraordinarily offensive comments regarding the issue of sexual assault perpetrated against female soldiers. Instead of backpedaling, Trotta doubled down.

 “Male troops are now encumbered with the realities of feminist biology…the environment of combat by definition sets up a situation where basic instincts rule. The niceties of male, female interaction fade in this arena and any scientist will tell you that testosterone rules.”

You can watch the video here. Protect Our Defenders, a group who seeks “to fix the military training, investigation and adjudication systems related to sexual violence” and reduce the re-victimization of survivors, has started a petition  that calls for Trotta to issue a formal apology to all women in the armed services. You can sign the petition here and join over 10,000 other people from around the country who recognize that there is no justification for rape.

This week we have a guest post from Della Duncan and Stacey Carlotta of the YWCA of Silicon Valley (both pictured at left)! They have been busy, getting their community excited about Green Dot and inspired to take action. Read on to hear about how they did it…

Green Dot YWCA Silicon Valley has officially launched! We had our big launch event on campus a few weeks ago when we attended De Anza Club Day. We spent the afternoon at De Anza talking to club leaders, students, faculty advisors, etc. getting the word out about Green Dot, networking, and identifying interested students. We also recently connected with the Department of Human Sexuality and had the opportunity to do two overview speeches to their classes. We currently have three more presentations in our calendar with other classes on February 21 and 22nd. We are collaborating with various club leaders to do overview speeches for Women’s History Month, the International Students Volunteer Club, and the Occupy De Anza Movement. Additionally, we are in contact with the faculty advisor of De Anza clubs to work out an opportunity to present a 3-5 min speech about Green Dot to all of the club leaders. Also part of our launch, we have connected with the newspaper at De Anza, La Voz to coordinate an interview. In the meanwhile, we are also still conducting research about De Anza and have just finalized a survey for students and alumni alike to continue to flesh out our understanding of De Anza and how to best implement Green Dot on their campus. These are exciting times as the movement to reduce violence in our community continues to spread. Stay tuned for more Green Dot updates to come!

PETA, you missed the mark — big time. Shock for the sake of attention isn’t a great strategy. If you have to explain why it’s funny, then it’s not.

The female character in the ad does not look as if she’s enjoying herself. The video captures pain and injury linked to sex — something that should be an enthusiastically consensual act. Lisa Lange, a senior vice president for PETA, told Yahoo News that the clip is meant to be humorous.

“The piece is tongue-in-cheek,” she said. “People who watch the ad all the way through see the woman has a mischievous smile. She’s happy to go back with him. It’s playful.”

I get it, you want viewers to associate vegetables with hot sex, but do you think that women are happy when sex ends in a neck brace? Try again.

I’m a carnivore who has not eaten meat for nearly one month as I was considering the switch. After watching this, I want to eat a huge steak — just to spite, you,  PETA, which means this ad created one more meat eater in the world. Bravo.

Fox news correspondent Liz Trotta has left me speechless. Literally. I have been sitting staring at this screen for 30 minutes, typing insightful introductions to this blog. For example: “AAAHHH!!”, “AARGGG…”, “REALLY?!?!?!”. Liz Trotta recently joined Fox news host Eric Shawn to discuss the recently released report addressing high rates of victimization perpetrated against women in the armed forces. Trotta seemed surprised by the interest in this report, saying, “Now, what did they expect? These people are in close contact…”. If that alone made you as upset as it made me, you might want to take a deep breath before reading the rest of her statement. [Click to continue reading Trotta's statement and our commentary].

TROTTA: But while all of this is going on, just a few weeks ago, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta commented on a new Pentagon report on sexual abuse in the military. I think they have actually discovered there is a difference between men and women. And the sexual abuse report says that there has been, since 2006, a 64% increase in violent sexual assaults. Now, what did they expect? These people are in close contact, the whole airing of this issue has never been done by Congress, it’s strictly been a question of pressure from the feminist.

And the feminists have also directed them, really, to spend a lot of money. They have sexual counselors all over the place, victims’ advocates, sexual response coordinators. … So, you have this whole bureaucracy upon bureaucracy being built up with all kinds of levels of people to support women in the military who are now being raped too much. [Text found here]

What did they expect? Most likely they expected that while they were working to protect their country, that the military would be working to protect them. They probably expected that being in close contact with people wouldn’t translate into increased opportunity for them to be sexually assaulted and raped. Can you imagine if we told that to someone who was raped on a busy subway car? “There were lots of people on that subway car, what did you expect”. I bet these victims also expected that their perpetrators would be held accountable, instead of given a free pass, like the one Trotta has offered.

I’m interested to know how many times someone needs to be raped to be raped too much. I think one time is too much. One time, for one person in a community. One person anywhere. Recently the Center for Disease Control released the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) which reported that there are over 2 million female victims of rape who live in California. Just rape victims, just in one state. I think that this is 2 million more than should ever occur.

Trotta also addresses all of these feminists who have encouraged the government to spend all of this money on sexual assault services. Two problems here. First, the government isn’t readily pouring money into this field. The President’s budget proposal completely removes the Public Health Block Grant, which would eliminate millions of dollars in funding for sexual assault prevention and intervention, commonly referred to as the Rape Set Aside. Rape Prevention Education (RPE) money has been in jeopardy, experiencing over 40%in cuts in the last year. In California, the state budget only allots $45,000 to all rape crisis centers in the state. 30,000 survivors accessed intervention services last year, which means the state only allocated $1.50 per victim served.

Second, she may be down on the feminists, and all of the work they are doing to bring this issue to the forefront and to get victims the help that they need. I, on the other hand, am proud to stand alongside my colleagues, peers, advocates, and CALCASA member agencies as we work to advance our valuable social justice work. Liz Trotta has only reminded me that we have more work to do, and that our voice in advocating for victims, enlisted and civilians, is more important than ever.

This morning, the New York Times published an insightful editorial titled, “Republicans Retreat on Domestic Violence” regarding the partisan support that the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization has received. VAWA reauthorization votes have been right along party lines, even though there are bi-partisan co-sponsors. Last week CALCASA blogged about its work with the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence Senator Feinstein’s office and the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing where not a single republican voted for reauthorization.

Previous VAWA reauthorizations were approved by unanimous consent. Why has it become such a partisan issue this year? Republicans have identified their opposition on certain pieces of the legislation that would serve to support LGBTQ and immigrant populations. Unfortunately, this philosophy targets underserved populations and loses sight of the overall goals of the Violence Against Women Act, and the extraordinary impact that this piece of legislation has had on survivors as well as the advocates and law enforcement that support them.

What has VAWA achieved since it first passed in 1994?

-Stats from 4vawa.org

Even if the lives, health, and wellbeing of survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence are not sufficient to change your vote on VAWA reauthorization, hopefully an analysis of fiscal impact will.

- Stats from 4vawa.org

Maybe it’s an issue of volume, how many survivors are living in the United States.

According to the recently released National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, nearly 1 in 2 women (44.6%) and 1 in 5 men (22.2%) experience sexual violence other than rape throughout their lifetime. This may include behaviors such as sexual coercion, unwanted sexual touch and non-contact forms of sexual violence. In contrast, rape represents times when the victim, herself or himself, was sexually penetrated or there was an attempt to do so. The survey results show that 1 in 5 women have been raped in their lifetime. Additionally, approximately 1.3 million women reported being raped in the 12 months prior to taking the survey.

Additionally, NISVS reported that 1 in 4 women have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner while 1 in 7 men experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner.

It’s time to set aside party affiliations and agendas and focus on protecting the rights of and services to survivors of sexual and domestic violence. When our legislators acknowledge that the victims of sexual and domestic violence are their mothers, sisters, brothers, children, employees, friends and partners, they are more likely to understand the need to provide bipartisan support to reenact VAWA.  Only when our republican or democratic leaders jointly embrace the notion that the responsibility to intervene in and prevent sexual and domestic violence lays with each of us, will we have a real chance at creating a society free from violence. 

To learn more about how support VAWA reauthorization, visit http://4vawa.org/,

as well as the mobilization page: http://4vawa.org/pages/mobilize-with-the-vawa-tool-kit-82885

To learn more about the National Intimate Partner Violence Survey, please visit:

http://calcasa.org/nisvs/ and http://preventconnect.org/2012/01/web-conference-findings-nisvs/

CALCASA loves this SAAM toolkit! For Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month (SAAPM), the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) has a national campaign that will employ both traditional and non-traditional methods through the use of social media, social marketing and social change.

Rose Luna writes on the agency blog,

The theme of TAASA’s 2012 SAAPM packet is “Get Social”. The intention behind this theme is to emphasize the connection between community, it’s stakeholders and our agency. It also represents the importance of collaboration and building of relationships in creating awareness and change.

The comprehensive 32-page packet includes information about social media; how it can be used at your agency; social media activities; how social marketing differs from social media; and ideas that rape crisis centers can use during April and the rest of the year to raise awareness about sexual violence. For agencies that are new to social media, this packet is a great starting place with plenty of supportive content.

CALCASA will be using parts of this great resource during our SAAM 2012 activities!

Download the “Get Social” SAAPM packet.

The Invisible War recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, drawing new attention to sexual assault in the military. The Invisible War “Focus[es] on the powerfully emotional stories of several young women, the film reveals the systemic cover up of the crimes against them and follows their struggles to rebuild their lives and fight for justice”.

Did you know:

• Military women are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier then killed by enemy fire?
• Only 8% if sexual assault cases are prosecuted in the military and only 2% of those result in convictions?

The California Coalition Against Sexual Assault Rape Crisis Capacity Building (RCCB) Series will be holding a webinar on survivors of military sexual trauma on Thursday, February 9, 2012 from 11 am – 1 pm PST. Participants will learn to develop and/or increase their skills related to advocacy, service-provision and organizational readiness for these underserved, high-risk populations.

Rape Crisis Capacity Building Series: “Understanding Military Sexual Trauma”

Date: Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Time: 11:00 AM-1:00 PM (PST)

Registration Link: https://calcasa.ilinc.com/register/krhhjsc

Presenter:

Lori Katz, PHD

Psychologist

Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator

VA Long Beach Health Care System

Working with Veteran Survivors requires advocates to understand the experiences of sexual violence many veterans encounter while enlisted.  Dr. Lori Katz, PhD is an expert in the area of Military Sexual Trauma and working with survivors.  In this web conference she will provide important information about how to work with survivors who have experienced sexual violence in the military and will discuss resources available for advocates whose agency may be serving veterans with MST.

***RCCB webinars are open to CalEMA funded CALCASA member programs only.  We do not have the capacity to accommodate non-member programs or individuals at this time.*

This morning the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, a major step forward in the process towards renewing a piece of legislation which has transformed the work of victim advocates as well as the lives of sexual and domestic violence survivors. First passed in 1994 (and later reauthorized in 2006), this ground breaking piece of legislation,

“…recognizes the insidious and pervasive nature of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and supports comprehensive, effective and cost saving responses to these crimes. VAWA programs, administered by the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, give law enforcement, prosecutors and judges the tools they need to hold offenders accountable and keep communities safe while supporting victims.” (Quote from the National Alliance to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women website)

The next step for this bill will be to move forward into a full Senate vote and then on to the House of Representatives. CALCASA has been working closely with the National Alliance to advance this legislation and would like to thank Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) for her support of sexual and domestic violence survivors and for co-sponsoring the bill. We will continue to provide updates as this piece of legislation moves through the Senate.

To learn more, please visit the National Alliance website by clicking here.

If you are interested in working more closely with CALCASA on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, please contact Alexis Marbach, CALCASA’s Public Policy Advocate at alexis.marbach@calcasa.org

Yesterday, Men Can Stop Rape launched their new bystander intervention campaign geared towards addressing sexual violence on college campuses. “Where Do You Stand?” uses a number of tools such as trainings, posters, and media materials to encourage young men to become active bystanders to end sexual violence.

According to Men Can Stop Rape’s press release, “Where Do You Stand? continues Men Can Stop Rape’s commitment to primary prevention by creating everyday solutions to prevent men’s violence against women and girls,” said Men Can Stop Rape Executive Director, Neil Irvin. “This campaign builds on young men’s ability, desire, and commitment to being strong without being violent.”

Continue reading to view the full text of the press release.

PRESS CONTACT: Amy Terpeluk
Tel: (212) 593-2792
Cell: (917) 826-2326
amy@finnpartners.com

COLLEGE MEN LAUNCH WHERE DO YOU STAND?, A NEW NATIONAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM TO STOP SEXUAL ASSAULT ON CAMPUSES

Leading men’s prevention organization, Men Can Stop Rape, collaborates with American Association of University Women to increase the number of men on campus who intervene to prevent dating violence and sexual assault

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 31, 2012 – Today, Men Can Stop Rape, a leading national organization mobilizing boys and young men to prevent violence against women, is launching a new nationwide intervention movement to empower college men to speak up and prevent violence on campus.

This new push to build safer college campuses is a direct result of the many recent incidents of rape, sexual assault and dating violence that have occurred on campuses. Sixty two percent of undergraduate students say they have encountered some type of sexual harassment⁽¹⁾, and a recent survey shows that nearly half (43 percent) of all dating college women report having ever experienced violent or abusive dating behaviors ⁽²⁾.

Men Can Stop Rape is taking an entirely new approach to preventing these incidents. For the first time, they are focusing on male bystanders who witness potentially violent situations and teaching them how to step in before situations escalate into actual physical or sexual violence.

This initiative involves several elements including the launch of an innovative public awareness campaign called Where Do You Stand?. This campaign uses a variety of media materials including billboards, posters and t-shirts, displaying provocative visuals and messages that illustrate how easy it can be for men to speak up and prevent violence.Where Do You Stand? also uses bystander intervention trainings and peer-education sessions that equip them with the necessary skills and tools to intervene.

“Where Do You Stand? continues Men Can Stop Rape’s commitment to primary prevention by creating everyday solutions to prevent men’s violence against women and girls,” said Men Can Stop Rape Executive Director, Neil Irvin. “This campaign builds on young men’s ability, desire, and commitment to being strong without being violent. We look forward to using Where Do You Stand? to deepen existing relationships and build new partnerships with college campuses across the country.”

The collaboration with the American Association of University Women’s 100,000 members nationwide, illustrates the spirit of teamwork that Men Can Stop Rape aims to incorporate onto every campus where this new campaign will take root. Men Can Stop Rape hopes to continue to build these powerful collaborations with women’s groups to help support existing rape and violence prevention programs on campuses and to increase these groups’ resources by bringing men and women together around these important issues.

“It’s crucial that both women and men address sexual harassment and violence on campus. This is not just a women’s issue,” said AAUW Program Manager, Holly Kearl. “By joining forces, we can work together to challenge the culture that fosters those dangerous behaviors, involve more men and give all students nationwide the tools they need to be part of the solution.”

The initiative will also seek to increase the presence of Men Can Stop Rape student leaders on college campuses by building more student-led chapters of their Campus Men Of Strength (MOST) Clubs. MOST Club members serve as activists for violence prevention on campus. They facilitate trainings, plan events and partner with other community and campus organizations to educate men about stereotypes that perpetuate violence, different ways to approach potentially dangerous situations and how to overcome men’s reluctance to confront their peers when they see unhealthy interactions they suspect could become dangerous.

Today, college men from Georgetown, American University and George Washington University, along with area high school students, will come together at Georgetown with collaborators from the American Association of University Women (AAUW), and the School and College Organization of Prevention Educators (SCOPE, www.wearescope.org) to launch this new violence intervention movement at a meeting of Men Can Stop Rape student leaders.

“Intervening in the presence of disrespect toward a woman can be easier said than done,” said Matt Scott, sophomore at George Washington University and Campus MOST Club member. “Everybody faces challenges in life where women, and men for that matter, are being degraded in front of them. It is tough to know how to handle it but Men Can Stop Rape makes it easier for men to challenge stereotypes and take a stand.”

Universities across the country have already requested the new Where Do You Stand?intervention materials and programs and are highly anticipating the opportunity to introduce this national campus movement to their students. Additionally, partners from the District of Columbia Office of Victim Services have joined with Men Can Stop Rape with the goal of distributing Where Do You Stand? materials to campuses city wide. The college men leading this movement are working to ensure every campus has violence and sexual assault prevention and intervention programs in place.

The Where Do You Stand? materials, trainings and programs and the Campus MOST Club programming are available to be activated on campuses nationwide. For more information about Men Can Stop Rape, visit www.mencanstoprape.org.

About Men Can Stop Rape
Men Can Stop Rape is the leading national organization mobilizing boys and men to prevent violence against women. The program has reached over 2 million boys and men in the past 10 years with a message of “strength without violence.” Men Can Stop Rape’s cutting-edge prevention programs are grounded in the social ecological model which recognizes that individual actions profoundly affect entire communities and ultimately all of society. Utilizing a proven curriculum, awareness campaigns, prevention and intervention trainings and programming, Men Can Stop Rape is engaging men and boys to build safer and healthier communities. For more information about Men Can Stop Rape, visit www.mencanstoprape.org.

¹ Harris Interactive® online survey conducted on behalf of the AAUW Educational Foundation, 2005

² Liz Claiborne Inc.’s Love Is Not Abuse 2011 College Dating Violence and Abuse Poll, 2011

April 2012 has been designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA) is excited to partner with public officials, college campuses, law enforcement, victim advocates and communities across California to raise awareness.

To view CALCASA’s SAAM 2012 webpage, click here.

As momentum starts to build around SAAM, CALCASA would like to use media opportunities to not only highlight the events and work at your agencies, but also to make sexual assault a priority issue for the media and those who are watching — funders, policymakers and general public.

CALCASA is providing materials that will support your media outreach, interviewing skills, relationships with press and community presence. CALCASA is asking you to get in touch with your local media, invite media to your events and advocate for the issues that are affecting your center and this movement. The hope is for all centers across the state to be communicating with media so that we can collectively bring the issue of sexual assault to the forefront.

SAAM is a month focused on raising awareness and informing the public about what individuals can do to change the culture and to join the movement to end sexual violence in this nation and around the world. Throughout April, advocates and volunteers will canvass neighborhoods, produce public service announcements, reach out to local media, and ask public officials to end violence at college campuses, on the streets and in homes. California’s rape crisis centers serve more than 30,000 survivors of sexual violence and trafficking. National studies suggest nearly 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men experience an act of sexual violence other than rape in their lifetime, many before the age of 18 and increasingly in elderly populations. From the streets of Los Angeles to the rolling hills of the Sierra Nevadas, every community has been affected by sexual violence.

During the month of April, CALCASA observes Denim Day California. This day protest an Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction. The Court decided the female plaintiff could not have possibly been raped because she was wearing tight jean pants, and the defendant could not have removed her pants without her assistance and thus consent. After the ruling, female Italian parliamentarians wore jeans in protest, and in solidarity, this protest was followed by California’s Senate and Assembly. Since the 1990s, Denim Day California has sent a message that there is never a reason or excuse to sexually assault someone. This year’s Denim Day CA event will take place on Wednesday April 25, 2012 on the West Steps of the State Capitol. (For information about the national Denim Day, please visit the Denim Day in USA website.)

According to government reports, sexual assaults are the lowest reported violent crime with only a small percentage of brave survivors stepping forward to report their assault and participate in the criminal justice process. Rape crisis centers, advocates and volunteers are asked to do more, during a time when the state and federal governments are assisting less. For these reasons, we ask Californians to stand unified with those individuals who step forward in the aftermath of violence.

To view CALCASA’s SAAM 2012 webpage, click here.

Last week, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women Lynn Rosenthal held a roundtable to address the issue of stalking in the United States and Stalking Awareness Month. You can read President Obama’s proclamation of Stalking Awareness Month here.  In her recent blog, Ms. Rosenthal, “discusses the fears, threats, and intimidation endured by victims of stalking, and steps the Obama Administration is taking to combat this often-invisable crime.”

Continue reading to see her entire blog post…

Raising Awareness About Stalking
Posted by Lynn Rosenthal on January 30, 2012 at 01:28 PM EST

January is Stalking Awareness Month, and it’s an important to highlight a crime that is often invisible. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 6 women and 1 in 19 men will be stalked in their lifetimes. Young women ages 18-19 experience the highest rates of stalking. The fears, threats and intimidation endured by victims is often felt by family members as well.

To mark this important month, this week we hosted the first ever White House stalking roundtable with survivors, law enforcement officers, victim advocates, and researchers. We learned from law enforcement experts that while many victims are stalked by ex-partners, others can be stalked by acquaintances and even strangers. Stalkers often track their victims’ daily lives and make themselves known in ways that are scary and unpredictable. Stalking can force victims to change everything about their lives in order to be safe.

I commend the bravery of two survivors who shared their stories. One woman was stalked by an ex-husband while another was stalked over a long period of time by someone she barely knew. Both were terrorized through cyber stalking and a range of strategies designed to keep them on constant edge and make them feel afraid every day. The stalking extended to family members and children, making it even more terrifying. Their stories put a human face on the statistics and helped us understand the true personal cost of stalking.

We are taking steps across the federal government to combat stalking as well as dating violence and sexual assault. The Apps Against Abuse challenge sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services resulted in two mobile apps that can help protect against dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. These Apps can be used to stay in touch with your friends and call for help if you need it. The next step is to improve research on stalking and learn more about what victims need to be safe. Most importantly, we need to raise awareness about this hidden crime.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the concept of bystander intervention. There are so many ways to intervene but when the time comes will I know which one to use? Will I need to go get another friend? Will it be so obvious that I am trying to intervene that it will actually make the problem worse?

This comic reminded me that bystander intervention can be a simple act that has a huge impact.

We first saw this comic through the awesome team at Hollaback! but the original can be found here.

What are some of the simple and easy ways you’ve practiced bystander intervention lately?

Attorney General Kamala Harris

On Wed., California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced the end to the rape kit backlog that had previously delayed the analysis of evidence collected through forensic examinations. AG Harris has made the issue of the rape kit backlog one of her priorities. In her statement, Harris stated that the California Department of Justice will now be able to analyze routine DNA evidence in 30 days, which is up to four times faster than before the backlog had been eliminated.

CALCASA would like to thank the Attorney General for her continued dedication to working to get justice for survivors of sexual assault, as well as everyone who worked to bring these important issues to the attention of state officials.

To read AG Harris’ press release, visit the Office of the Attorney General.

I love going on facebook. As much as I try to deny it, I love it. It is the way I connect with friends who I can’t see everyday, share important news pieces, learn about social events, it is the way that I feel connected to the world around me. But facebook and I have also had a few tense moments that have caused me to swallow the giant lump in my throat and think critically about my engagement on the site. One of those moments was when facebook suggested that I become friends my abusive ex-partner. I wanted to scream at facebook (yes, the computer, the site, the whole company), and just felt like they should have known better!! How could this happen?! Six years later, and I felt as though no time had passed, I was instantly just as hurt and just as angry. New York Times online Opinionator column addressed this very issue of social media and it’s power to reconnect to potentially triggering individuals in recent weeks.

On January 13, the New York Times published an opinion column written by Dorri Olds called “Defriending My Rapist”. Olds describes how a facebook connection with her rapist had lead her to confront him about the feelings that she still held on to about the situation.

In a private message directly to her rapist, Olds wrote:

“I hope that night has haunted you. I was naïve and a virgin. I see you have a teenage daughter now. Better keep her safe from guys like you.”

Olds continues by saying that:

 “I wanted to hate him and hurt him but realized that the only way to be free was to let it all go. When I defriended him I felt strong. The past was the past, and my mouth wasn’t covered anymore.”

In the age of social media and interconnected, often overlapping, social networks, I can’t help but wonder how to best negotiate new arenas to confront previous trauma. I do know that we, as prevention and intervention specialists and members of the sexual assault movement, have an opportunity to reach out to our communities and talk about this emerging topic. I still believe that social media is an overwhelmingly positive tool that allows us to reach out to members of our community through exciting new channels, encouraging a greater number of people to join our movement and engage in our work. The challenge for us may be in harnessing the power of sites like twitter and facebook to get out a positive message about prevention education, survivor support, and community resources while counterbalancing and addressing the potentially negative consequences of being connected online.

Please share your thoughts in the comments section about how you feel we, as a prevention and intervention community, can speak to our communities about social media and its power to connect survivors with resources and support. 

Recently published in the Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, “Exposure to Partner, Family, and Community Violence: Gang-Affiliated Latina Women and Risk of Unintended Pregnancy” examines the relationship “between gang involvement and reproductive health, and the pathways through which childhood, family, and relationship violence exposure may lead to unintended pregnancy”.

The authors studied 20 young females with known gang histories of gang-involvement, recruited through a gang-intervention program in Los Angeles, CA. The article provides detailed interview transcriptions that provide insight into the 20 young women’s exposure to violence, pregnancy experiences, access to knowledge about reproductive health, male partner pregnancy intentions and sexual coercion, male partner physical and sexual violence, exposure to interparental violence and child abuse, as well as gangs and sexual violence.

The authors suggest:

“…these stories offer some implications for practice and policy. These findings may guide targeted pregnancy prevention efforts among this highly vulnerable and hard-to-reach population of urban gang-affiliated Latinas as well as encourage the integration of sexual violence prevention and reproductive health promotion within gang violence intervention programs. The clustering of partner, family, and community violence with young women’s pregnancy suggests that programs that explicitly address the connections between violence exposure and pregnancy prevention are needed. Universal pregnancy prevention is unlikely to address the unique challenges facing youth in urban settings with high rates of gang violence” (Miller et al. 2011)

Click here for a link to the abstract and journal article.

Journal of Urban Health,  epublished December 13, 2011

Exposure to Partner, Family, and Community Violence: Gang-Affiliated Latina Women and Risk of Unintended Pregnancy.

Elizabeth Miller, Rebecca Levenson, Lili Herrera, Laura Kurek, Marney Stofflet, Leni Marin

Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, elizabeth.miller@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.

While teen pregnancy rates appear to be declining in the USA overall, the rate of decline among young Latinas has been less than other ethnic groups. Among the myriad factors associated with elevated pregnancy rates, for Latina girls living in the inner city, exposure to gang and community violence may be a critical context for increased pregnancy risk. This study explores the relationship between gang involvement and reproductive health, and the pathways through which childhood, family, and relationship violence exposure may lead to unintended pregnancy. Interviews of 20 young adult Latinas with known gang involvement in Los Angeles County were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded for key themes related to violence exposure and reproductive health. Limited access to reproductive health care compounded by male partner sexual and pregnancy coercion, as well as physical and sexual violence, emerged in the interviews. Exposures to interparental domestic violence, childhood physical and sexual abuse, and gang violence were prominent and closely associated with unhealthy and abusive intimate relationships. Adverse childhood experiences and exposure to partner, family, and community violence impact the reproductive lives and choices of young Latina women in gangs. These findings may guide targeted pregnancy prevention efforts among urban gang-affiliated Latinas as well as encourage the integration of sexual violence prevention and reproductive health promotion within gang violence intervention programs.

President Obama recently proclaimed January 2012 to be National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In Obama’s proclamation, he stated:

“Our Nation was founded on the enduring principles of equality and freedom for all.  As Americans, it is our solemn responsibility to honor and uphold this legacy.  Yet, around the world and even within the United States, victims of modern slavery are deprived of the most basic right of freedom.  During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we rededicate ourselves to preventing and ending human trafficking, and we recognize all who continue to fight this serious human rights violation.”

To learn more about Human Trafficking in the United States and abroad, visit the U.S. Department of State’s “Trafficking in Person’s 2010″ site. Please share human trafficking resources that you utilize in the comments section!

January is National Stalking Awareness Month and this year, the Stalking Resource Center of the National Center for Victims of Crime have created this website dedicated to providing resources and information to advocates and community members. The “Stalking: Know it. Name it. Stop it.” website provides sample status updates, PSA scripts, news releases, outreach materials, and resource guides to promote stalking prevention and intervention work in your local area. Visit the site to learn more about how to support the over 3.4 million men and women over 18 years of age who are stalked each year in the United States.

This past week, David Lee and I traveled to Atlanta to provide trainings for the Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault (GNESA) on primary prevention and bystander intervention. Laura Fidler of the New York City Alliance to End Sexual Assault joined us to provide training on community engagement and to share her experience working on Project Envision. After weeks of conversations about budget cuts and intense media coverage about child sexual abuse at Penn State among other institutions, the positive response we received from the participants of the two-day conference was inspiring and uplifting, reinvigorating my passion for sexual assault prevention work.

The 60 participants came from a wide range of backgrounds but shared a common goal: ending sexual violence in their communities. David started the conference by framing primary prevention, and exploring where our movement has been and the directions in which it is headed. One of the most valuable pieces of this workshop was the conversation about the way we, as prevention educators, can foster behavior change. Take home message? Focus on community level change efforts. Primary prevention is about changing social norms, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors in a community. Response from the crowd? Overwhelmingly positive — David’s message reaffirmed what they knew to be true from the work they are currently doing and wanted to focus on in their communities.

I took on the second half of day 1 by addressing bystander intervention and the way that bystander intervention curricula and concepts help to create community change. We, as educators, are able to engage the entire community as potential bystanders, instead of being potential perpetrators and potential victims. Bystander intervention also opens up the doors to engaging men and boys in new ways, creating a social movement and empowering community members with concrete action steps to address sexual violence. Bystander intervention also challenges us to confront our own tolerance of violence, as it calls on us to intervene each and every time we witness violence or the precursors to violence. What a heavy load to carry alone! My take home message: The more people who you can engage in bystander intervention work, the greater the number of people who will take on community safety as their responsibility. We can create a paradigm shift together, as a united community, intolerant of violence.

Laura followed on day 2 with concrete action steps for engaging your community in these efforts. Laura spoke about her work on Project Envision. In conjunction with 11 of the city’s rape crisis programs, in 2008 the Alliance initiated the second phase of Project ENVISION, a six-year sexual violence primary prevention demonstration project. In this phase, the Alliance trained community researchers in participatory action research methods to conduct needs assessments in three New York City communities: Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the South Bronx and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Participatory action research was utilized as a community mobilizing strategy. By emphasizing meaningful community involvement at all stages of the research and generating awareness about sexual violence prevention, this approach acts as a component of a primary prevention intervention. Laura conducted an exercise called asset mapping, where she invited participants to examine a map of the Lower East Side and determine how they would locate and identify a number of resources and assets (see picture below). She encouraged participants to reframe and rethink their community assessment methods to identify strategic partnerships, identify influential community members and organizations, and to create an ongoing dialogue with the neighborhood through interviews and focus groups. Take home message? Work with and alongside your community. Give them the power to voice concerns, opinions, goals, challenges and successes. Engaging your community in the process of creating solutions to end sexual violence is essential.

Stay tuned for our resource lists from the presentations to get more information on primary prevention, bystander intervention and community engagement!

Click here to be directed to CALCASA’s NISVS Page.

On Wednesday, Dec. 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS). This is an ongoing, nationally representative survey that assesses experiences of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence among adult women and men in the United States. This large-scale ongoing study confirms many realities that advocates and educators already know about sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking: These forms of violence continue to be pervasive and deserve more attention and funding. It also sheds new light on the scope and context of these forms of violence.

Click here to be directed to CALCASA’s NISVS Page.

Greetings again from the YWCA Silicon Valley Green Dot Team! After three successful Green Dot speeches, we gathered our first audience for a trial run of the Green Dot Training last Saturday, December 3^rd. Fourteen people who work or volunteer at the YWCA Silicon Valley gave up their Saturday to help us test our clickers and learn more about the Green Dot Strategy. The training ran relatively smoothly and everyone came away from the day feeling empowered and inspired to act. Not only did we get to run through the material, but we also got to use evaluative techniques to gauge what we can improve upon for future trainings. Here is some of the feedback that we received:

“My favorite part was the way the presenters communicated and integrated the audience into the presentation. They left me on the edge of my seat waiting to hear what we were about to hear next.”

“Hearing people’s personal stories really helped to connect the training to real life.”

“I really liked the entertaining videos, the inspiring personal stories, the interactive clicker activities, and the passionate trainers.”

Until next time fellow Green Dotters!

Guest post provided by Stacey Carlotta from the YWCA of Silicon Valley. For more information, please contact her at scarlotta@ywca-sv.org

Today, the Sacramento Bee featured an article about WEAVE’s work with violence prevention among young men. The article focused on the “Coaching Boys Into Men” program, a curriculum developed by Futures Without Violence. ”The Futures Without Violence, formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund, Coaching Boys into Men (CBIM) program invites men to utilize their influence to unique position to prevent domestic and sexual violence. First launched in 2001, in partnership with the Advertising Council, CBIM’s core goal is to inspire men to teach boys the importance of respecting women and that violence never equals strength.”

To read the article, visit the Sacbee.com.

Mona Eltahawy

During the 2011 National Sexual Assault Conference (NSAC) in Baltimore, keynote speaker Mona Eltahawy, a proud liberal Muslim who is working in the global movement for justice and equality for Muslim women, shared that one of the challenges in speaking about sexual assault is that she must also fight against the demonization of Arab and Muslim men.

After she was beaten and sexually assault last Wednesday in Cairo, she is continuing to leave culture and religion out of the conversation. As she said at NSAC, the men did not commit rape as Arab or Muslim men. They did it as men of power who were accountable to no one. During the last nine days, protests have resulted in at least 42 people dead and more than 3,000 wounded across the country.

“What happened to me is minuscule compared to that. I have a voice in the media — they don’t,” Eltahawy said in an interview with Democracy Now! “So I want to use that voice to get across to the world that our revolution continues.”

Eltahawy was covering the protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square when she was arrested and detained for 12 hours — without cause. Today Egypt held its first round of parliamentary elections to elect a new government in the wake of fierce clashes between protesters and police. Now back in the United States, Eltahawy told Democracy Now!:

I feel hopeful because the people who did this to me are not Egypt. The people who did this to me are the part of Egypt, or is the group that has occupied Egypt for so many decades now, that we are trying to get rid of. We are continuing our revolution. We will not allow them to hijack our revolution. And I’m optimistic because of the the Eygypt that signed my cast. …Women are fighting. We’re kicking and screaming and shouting. Women have been part of this revolution from the very beginning. And women are demanding thats whoever wins these elections, whoever gets the parliamentary majority, recognizes that women are integral to this process.

The YWCA of Silicon Valley knows exactly how funding cuts will impact the lives of the youth that they work with. How? Staff member Allison Stiller asked them to write letters to their House and Senate representatives to defend Rape Prevention Education (RPE) funding.

As many of you know, CALCASA has launched a massive letter writing campaign to let our representatives in the House and Senate know that we want RPE and Rape Set Aside funding restored and preserved (For more information and to participate, visit our blog).  Allison and the YWCA of Silicon Valley staff told the youth who are currently participating in their RPE programs about the current funding crisis and asked them to write about how they would feel if they couldn’t have their prevention education group sessions anymore.

Iris, age 14, wrote, “I can’t even believe this is actually happening in this world. We NEED to be educated on this or people will think it’s okay and it will happen more and more”.

Alana, age 14, wrote, “I am highly grateful for this and hope others can learn this to. I have 6 younger siblings and I don’t want any of these bad things to happen to them…It’s not fair that I get to learn this and they don’t.”

Nastasya, 14, summed up her sentiments by stating, “I don’t have the right to vote or drive, so can I at least have the right to know?”

Of all of the letters we received from the YWCA of Silicon Valley, I think Samir’s hit the nail on the head:

 We at CALCASA are grateful for the efforts of the young people who are currently engaged in RPE funded programs. These letters remind us of the value of our collective efforts to end sexual violence in our communities and the power of voicing our opinions to our elected officials.

If you are interested to learn more about the YWCA’s letter writing campaign or their efforts to restore RPE funding, please contact Leandra Peloquin:

Leandra Peloquin, MSW, ASW, PPSC

Director, Rape Crisis Center

YWCA of Silicon Valley

375 South Third Street

San Jose, CA 95112

lpeloquin@ywca-sv.org

(P) 408.295.4011 x208

(F) 408.295.4094

To learn more about CALCASA’s efforts to support RPE and Rape Set Aside funding, visit the calcasa.org blog or contact:

Alexis Marbach, Public Policy Advocate

alexis.marbach@calcasa.org

Jessica Napier, Media and Communications Specialist

Jessica@calcasa.org

On Saturday, the New York Times ran an op-ed called “Confusing Sex and Rape,” which breaks down the inaccuracy of media reports about rape, specifically citing examples and reactions from the Penn State case. Arthur Brisbane, the Times Public Editor writes,

It is common for newspapers to use terms like “sexual assault” and “sexual abuse” and “have sex” when reporting on sex crimes. Perhaps, though, it’s time that The Times and other news organizations take another look at the language they use. Victims’ advocates echo what the readers told me in their e-mails: language in news media reports — and, for that matter, in the court system itself — consistently underplays the brutality of sex crimes and misapplies terms that imply consent.

At the beginning of this year, CALCASA’s Livia Rojas wrote a blog post about the importance of how we use language, especially when referring to issues related to sexual violence.  She wrote that language is a shared understanding of relating to one another.

Being mindful of the language that we avoid as well as the language we use at meetings, in press releases, websites, and our daily face to face interactions, ultimately reflect our points of privilege and oppression.  Systems of oppression are interconnected…

The definitions for the terms rape, sexual abuse and sexual assault are varied — depending on where you are and who you ask. However, there is a reason the word rape isn’t feel-good: because it’s a horrifying crime. No matter the legal definition, people connote rape with something nasty and terrible. Still, it’s use in media is not consistent, perhaps partially due to the confusion and lack of clarity around the word.

This brings us back to the discussion of how to create lanuage and definitions for rape that are nationally — even universally — recognized and understood. Recently, an F.B.I. subcommittee made recommendations to create a new federal definition of rape, moving the agency a step closer to updating the way it counts sex crimes for the first time since 1927. Currently, the F.B.I. considers rape to be “the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will,” which excludes anal and oral rape, male rape and rape committed without physical force but also without consent.” Changes to the definition have been approved by a subcommittee of law enforcement officials and will next go to an advisory panel. If signed off, the definition will be sent to F.B.I. Director Robert Mueller for approval.

Still, even with a new F.B.I. definition, work must occur at the state-level, within local communities and among journalists to call rape rape. By calling rape something other than what it is, it sends a message to victims that if you don’t fit that very narrow definition — by your state, federal guidelines or your community — you weren’t a victim.

Two former Syracuse University ball boys have recently come forward, reporting that they were molested by Syracuse Associate Head Basketball coach Bernie Fine. They stated that Fine started to molest them in the late 1970s and continued to assault them through the 1990s.

I agree with the women at feministing.com when they write: “It appears that one positive thing to come from the Penn State case may be that is has empowered other survivors to speak out”.

 ESPN’s Outside the Lines has more details as well as a interview with one of the survivors:

The New York Times is also reporting on the story, including quotes from Fine’s colleague, Coach Jim Boeheim, who  finds it “suspicious” that these men are coming forward with allegations in the wake of the Penn State scandal.

Fine has been placed on administrative leave by Syracuse Chancellor Nancy Cantor while Syracuse City Police investigate these allegations, among others. Cantor has demonstrated her commitment to the investigation as well as the health and safety of Syracuse University students through her public statements and letter sent directly to all students. Cantor told students:

“As you know, this week, I affirmed Syracuse University’s steadfast belief that all of us have the responsibility, individually and collectively, to ensure that Syracuse University remains a safe place for every campus community member and everyone with whom we interact on a daily basis on campus or in the community as part of our learning, scholarship, or work. We do not tolerate abuse.”

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center has created talking points around Child Sexual Abuse in English and Spanish.

We at CALCASA encourage you to use these talking points, as well as the media tools created by Jessica Naiper, CALCASA’s Media and Communication Specialist, to talk to your community and colleagues about ways that we can prevent child abuse and support survivors.

Guest blog post from Rocio Fuentes-Diaz from Women’s Crisis Support – Defensa de Mujeres!!

The Occupy Wall Street Movement has swept across the nation and as hundreds flock to the tent cities in peaceful protest, many are thinking twice about their safety. As advocates, we are all aware of the astounding number of sexual assaults that occur in our normal (and tragic) day-to-day, but we are also aware of the risk factors that may increase the likelihood of an assault. Perhaps a tent city, which began without considering proper security procedures, might be a risk?

On Tuesday November 1, 2011, 26-year old Occupy Wall Street kitchen worker Tonye Iketubosis was arrested for allegedly groping an 18-year old Friday evening. In the midst of the arrest, another 18-year old came forward to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office stating that Iketubosis had allegedly raped her Saturday morning. Charges are still pending.

This is not the first time sexual assaults have been tied to the Occupy Movement. Far from Zuccotti Park, in Occupy Dallas, a registered sex offender has been charged with assault of a 14-year old runaway. Organizers have stated they “weren’t at the point where [they] were asking for ages, or any verification of that sort, and if anything [they]’ve learned from that.”

At Occupy Cleveland, a 19-year old student activist reported being raped. According to police reports, the survivor was instructed to share a tent with another activist known only as “Leland” due to a shortage of tents.

There have been opinions in the media about the survivor’s ability to report such incidents. Some have stated that the Occupy Movement has taken it upon themselves and their self-appointed security team to run the abuser out of the movement and discourage survivors from reporting the incident to law enforcement. Others have passionately defended the movement stating that survivors are encouraged, but that law enforcement has not given the survivor priority due to their participation in the protest. Whatever the case may be, regardless of personal political stances, advocates can agree that something must be done. We are trained to always believe and support the survivor, regardless of socio-economic, cultural, or political differences. With that being said, we have to see this specific issue with an advocate perspective.

As a movement against sexual assault, what are we doing to insure that the occupy spaces near our cities are safe for everyone?

Assault charges and opinions in the media have prompted the movement’s General Assembly to release a statement regarding this issue.  It seems the Assembly has acknowledged the need for additional precautions when it comes to safety at the tent cities- specifically for women. According to recent articles, Occupy Wall Street has taken the initiative to have a women-only tent. It is a 16 square foot metal framed tent which can fit up to 18 women. It is watched by female members of the movement. According to the women, it is all about safety in numbers. I would hope that other occupy spaces are taking the same precautions. In an effort to make a stand against assault in solidarity, OWS has released the following article, encouraging General Assemblies of all Occupy Spaces in every city  “to empower women and LGBTQ occupiers with the time, space, and resources necessary to ensure that every occupied space is a safe space.”

Without a doubt, any kind of support a survivor may receive is better than none, but as rape crisis agencies we are already prepared with the tools that are necessary to better support a survivor. Most of us even have a program specifically geared towards preventing sexual assault. Perhaps some outreach is needed to ensure that everyone is aware of the resources available to them should they need them. Whichever route is chosen, the sexual assault movement should actively engage in a dialogue around this issue. Whether we are pro, con, or indifferent to the occupy movement, it is rapidly spreading to every city, and we need to view occupy spaces as any other community who needs our support.

“We are Penn State. That’ll never change. … Understand this is really a call to duty.”

Last week, Penn State’s campus erupted. The Board of Trustees announced that beloved football Head Coach and collegiate athletics legend Joe Paterno was fired, effective immediately. Penn State football is its own culture, boarding on being a religion to students, alumni and Division I football fans.

Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno and President Graham Spanier were fired as a result of their failure to act after learning of numerous sexual assaults perpetrated by former Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky. Sandusky is currently being investigated by the Pennsylvania Attorney General for 40 counts related to child sexual abuse. Other coaching staff and campus administrators are also being charged as a result of being passive bystanders, choosing to not take any action that would protect or support the victims. University Athletic Director Timothy M. Curley and Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary C. Schultz are being charged with perjury and failure to report child sexual abuse allegations to the proper authorities.

Paterno is quoted as saying, “At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can. This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.”

As the complexity of the situation at Penn State unfolds, Paterno’s comment of “I wish I had done more” resonates with what advocates and prevention educators know to be true; there is more work to be done. Some of that work can be accomplished through these mechanisms:

1) Empower campus administrators, faculty, and staff to speak up and step in when they witness sexual harassment, sexual assault, or intimate partner violence.

• It is not enough that college campuses have a formal policy regarding reporting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or intimate partner violence. The crucial step is putting policy into practice. All administrators, faculty, and staff must be trained on how to report, what the formal mechanisms around reporting are, and the ramifications of failing to report.
• Administrators must place emphasis on and prioritize the well-being of the survivor, and encourage all employees of the campus to do the same.

2) Promote a campus culture that supports prevention efforts, not just intervention efforts.

• There are a number of campus programs that are geared towards promoting gender equity and safety for their entire campus population. These programs bring both administrators and students to the table, encouraging partnership and cooperation to create a community response to violence on campus. Some of the ones that have recently been discussed at CALCASA are:
• UNH Bringing in the Bystander 
• Green Dot
• Alert students to policies and procedures that exist on campus so that they know their role in preventing violence and intervening if or when they witness it. Let them know who they can speak with confidentially and who they can report to, where they can find these individuals, and what process they should follow to insure that their voices are heard.

3) Dismantle our connection between sports, masculinity, and power on campus.

• We can start this process by acknowledging that the real tragedy is not about football. It is not about who holds social and financial power on campus. It is not about asserting that sports culture and the dominant story of heterosexual masculinity that often times comes with sports culture reins supreme on a prominent state school campus. This is about a failure to uphold a legal and ethical obligation to protect a survivor of sexual assault.

4) Reach out

• There are national, state, and local partners who are trained to provide education and guidance around this topic. CALCASA staff members are able to provide referrals for campus programs, prevention education, intervention and advocacy services, and media response. Please contact:
• Denice Labertew: denice@calcasa.org (Advocacy and Campus)
• Leona Smith Di Faustino: leona.smith@calcasa.org (Prevention and Advocacy)
• Alexis Marbach: alexis.marbach@calcasa.org (Prevention and Policy)
• Jessica Renee Napier: jessica@calcasa.org (Media)

Blog post co-written by Leona Smith Di Faustino and Alexis Marbach.

Guest post from the Green Dot team at the YWCA of Silicon Valley!

Imagine you are walking down the hallway of the YWCA Silicon Valley and you notice a small green dot taped to the wall. You ask yourself, “What is this?” But as you do, you notice another dot ahead and then another, until you are taken to a wall covered in Green Dots. Happily these dots are not mold; instead they are the beginning of the Green Dot Strategy Launch in Silicon Valley. Looking closer you notice there is writing on each Green Dot. Upon further investigation, you realize each dot contains a vignette, a story recounting how someone exhibited a behavior, choice¸ word¸ or attitude that promoted safety for everyone and communicated an utter intolerance for violence in our community.  

            This is what you would have experienced if you walked down the hall of the YWCA Silicon Valley last week for the Week Without Violence. The initial Green Dot stories were written by the Green Dot team and their Rape Crisis Center co-workers, but as the week went on, more and more dots popped up, like the outbreaks of an epidemic just like in the film  “Contagion”. YWCA staff and clients were encouraged and motivated to post their own Green Dot stories both from the inspirational stories on the wall and a persuasive presentation given by one of the Green Dot team members.

The goal of this endeavor was not only to educate and involve YWCA staff and clients in the Green Dot movement but also to encourage advocacy for the Project so that the Green Dots could continue to flow both inside and outside of the YWCA, especially as the launch of the Green Dot Strategy at De Anza College in January approaches….

Stay tuned for more updates, but in the meantime-

Let your green dots flow!

For more information on Green Dot at the YWCA of Silicon Valley, please contact Stacey, Della, Leandra, or Joan from the YWCA!

Della: dduncan@ywca-sv.org

Stacey: scarlotta@ywca-sv.org

Leandra: lpeloquin@ywca-sv.org

Joan: jfriessnig@ywca-sv.org

David Lee was honored at the ICEHS Annual Dinner held during the American Public Health Association’s 139^th Annual Meeting. David received the award for Excellence in Public Service, which is given, “In recognition of outstanding dedication and leadership in injury practice and advocacy with contributions and achievements that have significant and long term impact on the field of injury control and emergency health services”. When presenting the award, Larry Cohen of the Prevention Institute stated that he was inspired by David’s, “energy, courage, thoughtfulness, and leadership” as well as David’s innovative approaches to violence prevention.

Congratulations David!

Hello Members!
I am excited to share new materials with all of you. Please feel free to take a moment to review the information of the materials (listed below).

I encourage all of you to take advantage in  helping me to update our library. You can do this by sharing with me the types of materials (DVD’s, curriculum, etc.) you use that has been helpful to you or your agency. What ideas would you like to share or find available in the library?

The goal is to update the library so that it can better serve as a place where you can share the tools or materials you’ve used or created to network with other members, find the information and the resources you are seeking. I welcome your ideas and look forward to working with all of you as we update the library.

Here are some examples I am looking for:

• Curriculum that was helpful for the training needs of your agency.
• Sharing materials you or your organization have created (electronic copies) that you’d like to see circulated in the library to others.
• Materials that you know will be helpful to develop new or existing skills within your staff or agency.
• Materials to learn the latest trends and techniques in doing the work within the movement.
• DVD updates, curriculum, etc.
• Bilingual materials

With deep appreciation of the all the work you do, I thank you in advance for your time. I look forward to hearing your comments.

Please contact me if you are interested in borrowing any of the materials the library. My email is villena@calcasa.org or call (916) 446.2520 ext. 320.

Thanks!
Villena

The Bro Code: How Contemporary Culture Creates Sexist Men
From the cover: The Filmmaker Thomas Keith takes aim at the forces in male culture that condition boys and men to dehumanize and disrespect women. Keith breaks down a range of contemporary media forms, zeroing in on movies and music videos that glamorize womanizing; pornography that trades in the brutalization of women; comedians who make fun of sexual assault; and a groundswell of men’s magazines and cable TV shows that revel in old-school myths of American manhood. The message Keith covers in virtually every corner of our entertainment culture is clear: It’s not only normal — but cool — for boys and men to control and humiliate women. In the end, The Bro Code challenges young people to question this dangerously sexist ideal of masculinity.

For more information:  http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=246#press-reviews

 Generation M: Misogyny in Media & Culture

From the cover: Despite the achievements of the women’s movement over the past four decades, misogyny remains a persistent force in American culture. In this important documentary, Thomas Keith, professor of philosophy at California State University-Long Beach, looks specifically at misogyny and sexism in mainstream American media, exploring how negative definitions of femininity and hateful attitudes toward women get constructed and perpetuated at the very heart of our popular culture.

The film tracks the destructive dynamics of misogyny across a broad and disturbing range of media phenomena including: the hyper-sexualization of commercial products aimed at girls, the explosion of violence in video games aimed at boys, the near-hysterical sexist rants of hip-hop artists and talk radio shock jocks, and the harsh, patronizing caricatures of femininity and feminism that reverberate throughout the mainstream of American popular culture.

Along the way, Generation M forces us to confront the dangerous real-life consequences of misogyny in all its forms — making a compelling case that when we devalue more than half the population based on gender, we harm boys and men as well as women and girls.

For more information:  http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=234

Asking For It: The Ethics & Erotics of Sexual Consent

From the cover: The line between sexual consent and sexual coercion is not always as clear as it seems — and according to Harry Brod, this is exactly why we should approach our sexual interactions with great care. Brod, a professor of philosophy and leader in the pro-feminist men’s movement, offers a unique take on the problem of sexual assault, one that complicates the issue even as it clarifies the bottom-line principle that consent must always be explicitly granted, never simply assumed. In a nonthreatening, non-hectoring discussion that ranges from the meanings of “yes” and “no” to the indeterminacy of silence to the way alcohol affects our ethical responsibilities, Brod challenges young people to envision a model of sexual interaction that is most erotic precisely when it is most thoughtful and empathetic. Ideal for classes in gender studies, communication and sociology, and especially useful for extra-curricular programs and workshops.

For more information:  http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=243

Understanding Hookup Culture: What’s Really Happening on College Campuses

From the cover: When it comes to intimacy and sex, young people today are apparently doing away with the old rules of romance and cutting straight to the chase. If recent reports are to be believed, the rise of hookup culture on college campuses is in the process of killing off dating and courtship, radically altering some of our most basic assumptions about heterosexual sex and gender. But for all the speculation, there’s been little beyond anecdotal evidence to back any of these claims up. This lecture by Stanford University’s Paula England, a leading researcher in the sociology of gender, aims to clarify what’s actually going on. England mobilizes a wealth of data to begin to chart whether the phenomenon of hooking up represents some kind of fundamental change, or whether we’re simply seeing age-old gender patterns dressed up in new social forms.

For more information:  http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=244

 Killing Us Softly 4: Advertising’s Image of Women

From the cover: In this new, highly anticipated update of her pioneering Killing Us Softly series, the first in more than a decade, Jean Kilbourne takes a fresh look at how advertising traffics in distorted and destructive ideals of femininity. The film marshals a range of new print and television advertisements to lay bare a stunning pattern of damaging gender stereotypes — images and messages that too often reinforce unrealistic, and unhealthy, perceptions of beauty, perfection, and sexuality. By bringing Kilbourne’s groundbreaking analysis up to date, Killing Us Softly 4 stands to challenge a new generation of students to take advertising seriously, and to think critically about popular culture and its relationship to sexism, eating disorders, and gender violence.

For more information:  http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=241

New Book & Curriculum

InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives [Hardcover]

Overview: Joe Ehrmann, the coach profiled in the national bestseller Season of Life, explains how coaches at every level, from Little League to high school to NCAA Division I and even the professional leagues, can use sports to transform lives. Coaches have a tremendous platform, says Joe Ehrmann, a former Syracuse University All-American and NFL star. Perhaps second only to parents, coaches can impact young people as no one else can. But most coaches fail to do the teaching, mentoring, even life-saving intervention that their platform provides. Too many are transactional coaches; they focus solely on winning and meeting their personal needs. They see sports as a simple exchange: the athlete performs to a coach’s demands and in return gets something, usually praise or a position in the starting lineup. Some coaches, however, use their platform. They teach the Xs and Os, but also teach the Ys of life. They help young people grow into responsible adults; they leave a lasting legacy. These are the transformational coaches. These coaches change lives, and they also change society by helping to develop healthy men and women.

Sports have become a secular religion, according to Ehrmann. Tens of millions of children play sports, and millions of coaches have the potential to influence the lives of these children — and through them to touch their parents’ lives as well. Children can be diminished and discouraged by their sports experiences, or they can be strengthened, uplifted, even in some cases redeemed. Sports can be a life-changing experience if coaches understand why they are coaching and redefine their measurement of success.

For more information: http://www.amazon.com/InSideOut-Coaching-Sports-Transform-Lives/dp/1439182981/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319505234&sr=1-1

Safe DATES: An Adolescent Dating Abuse Prevention Curriculum

 Description: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year, 1 in 4 adolescents experience verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse from a dating partner.

It is imperative to stop dating violence before it ever starts. Safe Dates, second edition, can help with that. This evidence-based program helps teens recognize the difference between caring, supportive relationships and controlling, manipulative, or abusive relationships. It is during the critical pre-teen and teen years that young people begin to learn the skills needed to create and foster positive relationships. With Safe Dates, young people are given the tools needed to build these skills.

Highly engaging and interactive, Safe Dates reflects the issues faced by today’s teens. The curriculum includes:

• Updated statistics and facts
• Information on dating abuse through technology
• All handouts and parent resources on CD-ROM
• New Families for Safe Dates program to get families talking about healthy dating relationships and dating abuse

Safe Dates has been designated as a Model Program by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and was selected for the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP), receiving high ratings on all criteria.

For more information: http://www.hazelden.org/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=38103&sitex=10020:22372:US

CALCASA is looking for consultants to conduct assessments to determine how CALCASA’s activities improve the capacity for prevention. Click below for one of two opportunities to respond to CALCASA’s requests for proposal:

• RFP: California Rape Prevention and Education Primary Prevention Assessment
• RFP: PreventConnect National Online Community of Practice Evaluation

Direct service providers can now benefit from a national technical assistance number for help when working with LGBTQ survivors of violence.

Direct service and community-based organizations in the anti-violence field have struggled to provide culturally relevant and accessible services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) survivors.  Yesterday, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) announced the National Training and Technical Assistance Center is now available to provide technical assistance on issues such as: language and terminology, creating an LGBTQ-inclusive organization, developing LGBTQ-inclusive policies and procedures, and more.  Technical assistance is free and available by phone, instant messaging, and email.  The warmline is available in English and accessible to people that are Deaf or Hard of hearing.  See below for more details:

Toll-free technical assistance warmline: 1-855-AVP-LGBT

Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST    (1-855-287-5428)

Deaf/Hard of hearing accessible instant messaging AIM: AVPlgbt

Prefer e-mail?  Join NCAVP’s national technical assistance list serve. To join contact: info@ncavp.org

Gov. Jerry Brown

In an effort to guarantee that victims of sexual assault are provided access to medical exams or treatment following an assault, Senate Bill 534 was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown. CALCASA sponsored the bill, which was carried by Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-San Leandro).

“This bill ensures that survivors of sexual violence will have access to forensic medical examinations without the requirement of participation in the criminal justice system,” said CALCASA’s Executive Director Sandra Henriquez. “Survivors will not be revictimized by denied authorization for medical examinations.”

Formerly, a survivor’s ability to receive a free medical exam was, at times, contingent upon participation with the criminal justice system. Law enforcement was tasked with authorizing medical services. If survivors did not cooperate with law enforcement — and were unable to pay for services — they may not receive a forensic exam. In 2010, federal funds to California were placed on hold as the state was found to be out of compliance with federal law, which stipulates that sexual assault victims receive free medical examinations.

California’s rape crisis centers serve more than 30,000 survivors of sexual assault and trafficking. SB 534 makes California eligible for more than $12 million in annual federal funding for the exams. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2012.

The following is a guest post from Steve LePore, Executive Director of 1in6:

We wanted to let you know about an important opportunity 1in6 had the honor of participating in. On Wednesday, September 28, NBC will air an impactful episode of “Law & Order: SVU.” The episode will explore the often hidden and taboo subject of male sexual abuse. It is estimated that 1 in 6 men (nearly 19 million men in the US) have experienced unwanted or abusive sexual experiences before the age of 16.

Basketball superstars Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony guest star with Mehcad Brooks (True Blood) and Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years) on this powerful episode, which tells the story of a basketball coach revered by many in the community as a trusted mentor and teacher to generations of young men who comes under suspicion as a sexual perpetrator.

While the episode deals with a painful issue, NBC, the writers of L&O: SVU, and Mariska Hargitay must be commended on their commitment to creating an episode that is, in the end, affirming and hopeful to those who have been affected by these experiences. The Joyful Heart Foundation, 1in6′s founding board member David Lisak and Executive Director, Steve LePore, consulted on the script and are proud of the completed episode.

To learn more about this episode visit http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/engaging-men-preview.htm. To get information and resources about unwanted or abusive sexual experiences visit 1in6 at www.1in6.org or follow us on Twitter @1in6org.

Additionally, follow @FINALLEVEL on Twitter before, during and after the episode to participate in a live tweeting event with SVU star Ice-T, who will be answering your questions and providing behind-the-scenes details of the episode.

It is our mission to reduce the stigma and raise awareness around this issue, please consider forwarding this message, retweeting our tweets or promoting this information on Facebook.

Warm regards,
Steve LePore
Executive Director

Today, the Office of the Vice President released the following message:

We thought you might be interested to know that Vice President Biden will be the special guest on “The View” this coming Tuesday, September 27 (11AM Eastern).  The Vice President will focus on the threat of dating violence and sexual assault among teens and young adults.

Last week, in a video message, Vice President Biden called on high school and college students to share their ideas for how to prevent dating violence and sexual assault at their schools and on their college campuses.  Young men and women are invited to join this important conversation by submitting their ideas via the new whitehouse.gov/1is2many page or by using the hashtag #1is2many on Twitter.

Visit the website to learn more about federal efforts on this important issue: http://www.whitehouse.gov/1is2many/about/federal-efforts

All the best,
The Office of the Vice President

To follow the conversation on Twitter, tweet #1is2many and #biden4life .

During Day 2 of the 2011 National Sexual Assault Conference, keynote speaker is Mona Eltahawy, proud liberal Muslim who is working in the global movement for justice and equality for Muslim women, said that, as activists, it is necessary to recognize people’s humanity in order to serve them.

She shared stories with participants about women in the Middle East and North Africa and the way in which they have resisted oppressive regimes in order to help fuel revolutions. She discussed cultural issues surrounding rape such as virginity tests, shame and police states.

“What changed across the Middle East & North Africa? Revolutions are decades in the making thanks to activists on the ground,” Eltahawy said. “Who are these activists?

Keynote speaker at the 2011 National Sexual Assault Conference

Human rights activists that have documented abuse for decades. Recently, young activists joined others by using social media to challenge authority of the regime by saying, ‘I count.’ The idea that we can’t change anything is antithetical to what we are seeing in the Middle East & Africa.”

She travels across the country and speaks about issues related to sexual assault, and she said that part of her challenge when she speaks is to fight against demonization of Arab and Muslim men. She acknowledged the strength of Lara Logan, a journalist who was attacked and raped in Egypt. And she emphasized that the men did not commit rape as Arab or Muslim men. They did it as men of power who were accountable to no one.

“Sexual assault is wrong no matter who commits it,” she said. “Let’s not bring religion and culture into it.”

Eltahawy shared social media clips and campaigns, such as the Adventures of Salwa and HarassMap, that have been created to stop sexual assault and street harassment in Middle East & North Africa communities. She said that one of the challenges is that women and men don’t feel safe approaching and reporting to police in various countries in the region.

The stories that she shared were beautiful and inspiring of women risking their lives for equality, freedom and dignity in the Middle East & North Africa regions.

Organizations respond differently to online hate speech both on and offline

Baltimore hosts this year’s National Sexual Assault Conference (NSAC), an annual gathering of practitioners, researchers and allies in the movement to end sexual assault.  This marks the third NSAC I attend, the first where I co-present with two wonderfully curious and thoughtful colleagues, Jessica Renee Napier and Chad Sniffen.  On the afternoon of Wednesday, September 14, Jessica, Chad and I will co-facilitate a discussion addressing “Online Hate Speech: A Community-Driven Response to Online Violence.”

Much of the work in which we engage as well as that of our colleagues serves to not only validate, ameliorate and give voice to the pain and trauma experienced by survivors through innovative and evidence-based interventions, but also to curb and ultimately end violence through community-based prevention efforts that seek to deconstruct and challenge social norms surrounding gender identity, sexuality and human rights.  While working with rape crisis centers across California and college/university campuses in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico, my colleagues and I noticed a glaring omission in our practice of response and prevention: organizations lack policies that help to deter hate speech in online communities.  Despite having online comment moderatio policies, many organizations and/or social media spaces fail to keep their users, members or constituencies accountable for their language.  The aim of our workshop is to foster an environment where participants will not only discuss online hate speech, but to also develop strategies of how agencies can improve their organizational response to online hate speech.

While researching online spaces and organizations in the anti-sexual violence field, I came across two creative sites.  The Microaggressions Project: Notes on Power, Privilege and Everyday Life “documents the ways in which power and privilege of social identities is exerted and enforced–often unknowingly–in everyday comments,” as co-founder David Zhou noted in a recent interview with Ms. blog.  What is a microaggression? Chester M. Pierce defined the term as “intentional or unintentional verbal, behavioral or environmental indignities that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative slights and insults.”

As an avid tumblr blogger (and follower), I felt a sense of relief and validation after stumbling upon the Microaggressions blog earlier this year.  The blog serves as an online space where people across identities can share their pain and signal to others how power and privilege impacts people in myriad, subtle ways.  As a social worker interested in language as a powerful means of communicating and exerting identity and power, I find the Microaggressions Project to be a fascinating collection of individuals articulating their shared experiences with systemic violence.  Similarly, the Microprogressions Project is a tumblr blog that encourages people to share experiences of affirmations surrounding social identities.

Both sites serve crucial roles in documenting experiences from a first-person narrative that attest to the systemic oppression of marginalized communities.  One question that arises after visiting these sites for some time: how do we translate our shared experiences into our offline expressions/identities seeking inclusive change?  How do we measure change – because we know it is happening in small increments?  Are you familiar with similar online efforts in other languages or conveyed using different approaches?  If so, we would like to know more!

A packed room during Day 1 of the 2011 National Sexual Assault Conference.

Today marks the first day of the 2011 National Sexual Assault Conference, hosted by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) in Baltimore, Maryland. The theme for this year’s conference is Changing Our Communities, Changing Our World. There are representatives at the conference from all 50 states, and more than 800 attendees present to connect, learn and re-ignite each others’ commitment to this movement.

Day 1 starts with an opening session from Pennsylvania Congressman Chaka Fattah and Linda Degutis, Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The remainder of the day is filled with workshops and a keynote address from speaker MESHELLE, the indie-mom of comedy.

PCAR has included a variety of topics and issues related to ending sexual assault. Workshops include topics such as, but not limited to:

• an LGBTQ Roundtable;
• bystander intervention as a prevention initiative;
• media and technology issues;
• secondary trauma and self care;
• counseling relationships;
• medical and legal issues; and
• human trafficking.

CALCASA is honored to be co-sponsoring this conference, and looks forward to learning and engaging with new faces and old friends!

During CALCASA’s 2011 Leadership Conference, in Sacramento, Calif., Millennials represented the endnote address. Hugo Rios and Ashleigh Klein, who were both born while the Rape Crisis Movement was already gaining momentum, talked about the future of this work and why they are a part of this movement.

During CALCASA’s 2011 Leadership Conference, Leah Aldridge, an activist who has been in the rape crisis movement for almost 25 years, gave the keynote presentation about the past, present and future of this work. This year’s conference theme, The Evolution and Revolution of Our Movement, celebrates the 40 years of how the California Rape Crisis movement was formed, how it has grown and evolved, not only as a grassroots movement, but as a profession. This field was founded in a revolutionary time; it has evolved and we are once again at a pivotal moment, one in which we must consider a new type of revolution. As we continue to lay the foundation for the future of our movement, we have much to reflect upon and consider. We must strive to successfully engage and embrace a new generation of advocates and leaders; to integrate new ideas and approches; to be receptive to adapting our existing efforts to intervene and prevent sexual violence. We must meld the youth, the founders and our new generation of emerging leaders, because only together can we transcent the many challenges that we face today.

Late last year, I joined representatives from several domestic violence and sexual assault organizations who had gathered about 1 ½ years ago, along with a small group of funders and private sector volunteers to work on an exciting new effort called The NO MORE Project. This Project is about creating a new, over-arching visual symbol to help raise public awareness about sexual violence and domestic violence. Like the AIDS ribbon or the peace sign, we hope this symbol will help augment and connect the efforts of domestic violence and sexual assault organizations large and small, supplementing rather than replacing our existing logos and brands. We also hope it will be widely adopted by members of the public to express their solidarity with us on these issues.

I have found this process to be a wonderful opportunity to create partnerships among anti-violence against advocates, foundation and government funders, marketing and Public Relations experts in the movement against sexual and domestic violence. The group has been able to evaluate both the unique distinctions between sexual violence and domestic violence, as well as identify some common undercurrents. I am optimistic about the increased visibility that this branding effort can bring to our efforts, and truly appreciate being a part of this process. Please join us for one of the national Web Conferences to preview The NO MORE Project!

Click here for the slides from the presentation and check out the No More Project on Facebook and YouTube. You can  view a recording of the web conference here.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011
1pm Eastern Time (10am Pacific, 11am Mountain, 12pm Central)
REPEATED AT 4pm Eastern Time (1pm Pacific, 2pm Mountain, 3pm Central)

Presenters will include:

• Sue Else, National Network to End Domestic Violence
• Monika Johnson Hostler, National Alliance to End Sexual Assault
• Judge Susan Carbon, Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice
• Rita Smith, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Delilah Rumberg, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape
• Jane Randel, Liz Claiborne

We’ve been fortunate to have the pro bono input of some of America’s leading creative thinkers, including the executive editor of PEOPLE magazine, the former president of Oprah Winfrey’s television network, the founder of Women & Co at CitiGroup, the former president of the (RED) campaign, and an ad executive who helped create the “Priceless” campaign for MasterCard. One of the nation’s leading branding agencies (Sterling Brands) stepped forward with pro bono creative. Together, we have developed a symbol, created a verbal communication plan, and conducted focus groups and quantitative research. We will be sharing all of the exciting findings at the Web conference!

We have broad representation from across the domestic violence and sexual assault fields. The Steering and Executive Committees for the project include (in alphabetical order): A Call to Men, Allstate Foundation, Avon Foundation, Blue Shield of California Foundation, Casa de Esperanza, California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence, Futures Without Violence, Joyful Heart Foundation, Liz Claiborne Foundation, Men Can Stop Rape, National Alliance to End Sexual Assault, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, Safe Horizon, Verizon Foundation, and the Office on Violence Against Women at the U.S. Department of Justice.

During CALCASA’s 2011 Leadership Conference at the Basics of Confidentiality workshop, a roomful of advocates came together to become more informed about the importance of protecting the privacy of survivors. A survivor’s story is very powerful and, ultimately, their own. Many times, in what seems like an environment of aid, our society tries to take that story and put it to use in other systems for other purposes. Law enforcement wants to use it to catch the bad guy; the courts want to use it to seek justice; the government wants to use it to provide aid to others; and the one person whose experience will forever be a part of their memory loses the right to control that story.

The workshop on confidentiality helps advocates understand that there are many protections for survivors rights to privacy written into the law, including how that information must be protected through the court process, funding requests, data collection and even electronically. Privacy laws such as sexual assault counselor privilege, VAWA, HIPPA and CMIA were discussed and examples were given on how to keep that very personal story protected and the importance of working with survivors to empower them to make decisions about where that story goes. Leona Smith, CALCASA’s Training & Technical Assistance Coordinator,  and I shared examples from our work with survivors, and Linda Bowen, Chief of the Sexual Assault Section-Victim Services Branch of the California Emergency Management Agency, provided some understanding about how funders respond to a survivors right to privacy.

In a more in-depth three-hour institute, called Working with Survivors in Institutional Settings: Understanding the Rights of Survivors on University Campuses and in the Military, I discussed the function of systems that must be maneuvered by survivors. While some of the more traditional systems (law enforcement, courts) are already difficult to navigate, there are some systems that are currently uncharted territory, and as we work with survivors in all settings, this workshop helped advocates understand how to help protect survivors’ rights in two of them — on college campuses and in the military. Each of these institutions has its own set of values, regulations, goals and culture. Each of these institutions has its own set of characters that survivors come into contact with including their own law enforcement, adjudication systems and sexual assault response networks. Rape Crisis Advocates play a critical role in helping survivors understand how these systems work and in protecting survivors’ rights while in them.

We began with a discussion laying out the rights of survivors on campus. The discussion revolved around understanding how federal laws like Title IX and The Clery Act regulate how universities and colleges prevent and respond to sexual assault. We also looked at some ways that advocates can work with the survivor and the university to keep the survivor in school, if possible, and to ensure that the needs of the survivor are at the forefront of the process. Many RCCs from around the state shared their experiences working with their universities and provided an opportunity to discuss how some of this applies to their work.

The second half of the institute focused on the experience of sexual assault survivors in the military and veterans. Advocates were provided with a framework for the Department of Defense’s protocols and response to sexual assault, and how the military system worked as it responded to sexual assault. We also looked at how the Department of Veteran’s Affairs addresses Military Sexual Trauma and the criteria it uses to assess benefits for veteran survivors. A few CALCASA member centers had a great deal of experience with survivors who were somehow involved in the military and brought their experience and expertise to the discussion. We closed with a discussion about the commonalities of the experiences of survivors in these institutions and some ways that advocates can help.

CALCASA will continue to develop programs and support around the areas of confidentiality and survivor rights. In the coming months, CALCASA will provide additional training  and technical assistance in this area; assess the need from the field about what further it needs; prepare current written materials to share with centers; and facilitate discussion surrounding needs and practices at regional and caucus meetings.

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Management for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Developing Your Staff Through an Effective Performance Review.

Performance reviews — you either tolerate them or dread them. As a manager who may supervise other staff members, conducting a performance review can be anxiety-provoking experience. However, learn how to turn this process into an empowering experience for yourself and staff. Utilize this opportunity to provide feedback and encouragement so that your staff may become effective and engaged employees at your agency. Attendees will have the opportunity to practice and role play a performance review.

Presenters: Matt Huckabay

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint
Activity
Developmental Feedback Preparation
Developmental Feedback
Observation or Evaluation
Outlining Your Own Real Scenario
Questions to Use in Creating Accountability
Suggested Reading

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Special Focus Areas for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is How Intergenerational Differences Impact and Inform Our Work.

For the first time in history, there are four distinct generations in the workforce: Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials — all with their own perspectives, styles, and expectations. With this comes the risk of conflicting expectations, difficulties in communication, differential use of technology, and diverse approaches to problem solving and innovation. How does this current trend impact and inform our work as sexual assault and rape crisis staff members and volunteers? This three-hour institute will provide information about the qualities of each generation, the gaps between them and how to turn generational differences into opportunities.

Presenters: Leah Aldridge, Jessica Napier & Harkmore Lee

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Prevention for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Community Mobilization to Prevent Sexual Violence Part 1 & 2.

Sexual violence is supported by societal and community norms. Eliminating it requires fundamental change on many levels. One of those levels is the community level. Communities are a powerful force in shaping the behaviors of their members. One effective tool in creating social change is community mobilization.  This workshop will provide an overview of two community mobilization frameworks and showcase the work of one California rape crisis center to mobilize members of its community to prevent sexual violence. Additionally this workshop will provide participants an opportunity to evaluate and discuss community mobilization strategies in relation to their own violence against women work.

Presenters: Lydia Guy Ortiz & Evelyn Garcia

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint
Community Development Handout
Peer2Peer Project

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Intervention/Advocacy for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is From Local to Global: Working With Human Trafficking Survivors.

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others.  Often, Sexual Assault Programs and Rape Crisis Centers become a point of first contact for trafficking survivors, because of the sexual exploitation of victims.  This institute will focus on helping participants understand how to respond to trafficking survivors and will highlight some of the innovative work that CALCASA members are doing to in this field.  This panel format will allow institute participants to get a broad understanding of the best practices in response and allow an opportunity to engage with agencies who are doing this work.

Presenters: Perla Flores, Kirsten Kleymann & Patrick Mims

Download Workshop Materials:
A Collaborative Response to Human Trafficking PowerPoint
Improving Outcome for Youth Who Are Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation PowerPoint
Legal Assistance for Human Trafficking Survivors PowerPoint

Bette Davis accepts an award on behalf of the Bay Area Women Against Rape for 40 years in the rape crisis movement.

The first week of August was CALCASA’s 2011 Leadership Conference, which began with a reflection about the evolution and revolution of the rape crisis movement. The morning plenary began by honoring two rape crisis centers in California that have been working to end sexual violence for 40 years. Bette Davis from Bay Area Women Against Rape and Patti Giggans from Peace Over Violence(formerly the L.A. Commission on Assaults Against Women) accepted awards, as both of their agencies were founded in 1971.

In the audience was Linda Bowen, Chief of the Sexual Assault Section-Victim Services Branch of the California Emergency Management Agency, who has been working in the rape crisis movement for 36 years. CALCASA commemorated Linda with a video slideshow to highlight her passion and dedication to ending violence against women.

Leah Aldridge, an advocate who has been in the violence against women movement for more than 20 years, was the keynote speaker who talked about where this movement started and what we need to do as we go forward. She talked about the importance of understanding our roots while at the same time being open and receptive to change.

Leah Aldridge, keynote speaker

During the remainder of the day, attendees participated in sessions about confidentiality, social media, male survivors and management. Tomorrow, the conference will continue with more discussion about intergenerational leadership and how this movement can continue to improve its services and capacity.

Click to view photos on Flickr.

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Management for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Making the Career Jump from Direct Service to Management.

Are you an advocate ready to take the next step in your career? Do you want to become a manager at your agency but lack the knowledge and skills? If you answer “yes” to these questions, then this institute will identify and equip aspiring advocates and newly appointed coordinators and managers with some basic core competencies, skills and resources that will address program development, budgeting, grant management and mentorship.

Presenters: Harkmore Lee & Ellen Yin-Wycoff

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Special Focus Areas for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Responding to Sexual Assault Survivors in Institutional Settings.

The criminal justice system has been a key partner for rape crisis advocates throughout the evolution of the movement. A key responsibility for advocates has been to assist survivors in understanding and maneuvering the criminal justice system and ensuring the survivors understand their rights during the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases. However, survivors are often forced to maneuver other systems, which can be confusing and seem overwhelming. In this workshop we will discuss survivors’ rights in two systems, the educational system and in the military, and identify ways for programs to respond using best practices.

Presenters: Denice Labertew

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Prevention for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Prevention In Action: California Primary Prevention Practice.

California is on the cutting edge of promising primary prevention of sexual violence activities. The session will begin with a summary of current trends in sexual violence prevention. This workshop will also feature California Rape Crisis Centers highlighting their prevention efforts including examples of MyStrength, prevention with girls and young women, and Green Dot.

Presenters: David Lee, Hugo Rios, Tarah Fisher, Cynthia Patterson & Niko Johnson

Download Workshop Materials:
Resources CDPH 2011
The MyLife Club PowerPoint

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Special Focus Areas for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Lasting Effects of Childhood Sexual Experiences in Men’s Lives.

This workshop for advocates and other professionals, who work with men, provides an overview of the particular ways men respond to childhood sexual abuse. The workshop covers:

• Common misunderstandings about men and sexual abuse
• Special barriers men face in disclosing childhood abuse
• How cultural norms may inhibit men from seeking treatment
• Discussion of existing resources and the challenge of finding therapists specifically trained to work with male survivors of sexual abuse
• Guidance on the critical need to remain neutral when raising the issue of sexual abuse or responding to a disclosure

This training is most useful for those with basic knowledge and understanding of sexual abuse dynamics.

Presenters: Steve LePore

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint
2011 Trainings from 1in6

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Prevention for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Social Media to Advance Prevention of Sexual Violence.

How can emerging social media technologies help rape crisis centers to frame discussions around sexual violence? What is the value of these technologies for prevention, education and intervention programs? How can social media help us to tell a good story? Participants in this workshop will learn about a range of social medial tools and their common usage. The workshop will address some of the factors to consider when thinking about the role social media can play in achieving an agency’s communication goals, and provide examples of internal policies that can help agencies to manage the way social media strategies are implemented.

Presenters: Chad Sniffen & Jessica Napier

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint
CALCASA Social Media Policies
Social Media Policy Framework

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Management for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Mentorship vs. Supervision: How You Can Be the Best for Your Staff.

For many managers and directors, the role as supervisor can be a rewarding and challenging experience. Developing a mentoring approach toward managing employees is an effective management tool, which helps foster ethical communication with staff, as well as support their professional development. It helps develop the strategic direction and continuing growth of the organization. We will focus on how to develop a mentoring approach.

Presenters: Harkmore Lee

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint
Effective Skills for Team Building PowerPoint

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Intervention/Advocacy for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is The Basics of Confidentiality.

Protection of confidential communications is key to the empowerment of survivors.  Since the beginning of the Rape Crisis Movement the law and policy on protecting these communications has evolved.  This workshop will review the basics of confidentiality,  and the outline the importance of maintaining privilege for advocates.  In addition, there will be opportunities to discuss the development of confidentiality policies, and address practical scenarios for application of confidentiality laws.

Presenters: Denice Labertew & Leona Smith

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint

2010 marked the second highest reported number of hate crimes against LGBTQH communities

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Program (NCAVP) released its report Hate Violence Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Communities in the United States in 2010.  The report sheds light on how people of color and transgender individuals are disproportionately more likely to experience violence in light of the attempts and successes of extending civil rights across the United States and garnering public support at the international level.  The  NCAVP is comprised of 17 anti-violence programs in 15 states across the country including: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin.

The report provides recommendations to address the severe increase in violence against LGBTH communities (NCAVP, 2011):

• “Fund critically needed research and data collection on hate violence against LGBTQ and HIV affected communities, their access to services, and violence prevention initiatives.
• Gather data about sexual orientation and gender identity in all federal, state and local government forms.
• Create public and private funding streams and target the use of existing funds to increase access to anti-violence services for LGBTQ and HIV-affected individuals, particularly for transgender people and people of color who are disproportionately affected by hate violence.
• Create programs and campaigns to reduce anti-LGBTQ hate violence.
• Prioritize the leadership of those most impacted by severe hate violence within these programs.
• Stop the culture of hate through policymakers and public figures denouncing anti-LGBTQ violence.”

What are you doing in your community to end violence targeting individuals that self-identify or are perceived to be LGBTQ and HIV-affected people?

Week of July 4, 2011

Below is a summary of actions filed on legislation that CALCASA is currently tracking as of July 4th. The list includes bills that CALCASA is supporting and opposing. We included links to each bill, so that you can read the text. Help CALCASA push our legislative agenda by signing up and Taking Action!

AB 12 (Swanson D)   Abolition of Child Commerce, Exploitation, and Sexual Slavery Act of 2011.
Status: 7/7/2011-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 12:15 p.m.
Location: 7/7/2011-A. ENROLLED
Summary:
Would enact the Abolition of Child Commerce, Exploitation, and Sexual Slavery Act of 2011, and would require that a person who is convicted of seeking to procure or procuring the sexual services of a prostitute, if the prostitute is under 18 years of age, be ordered to pay an additional fine not to exceed $25,000 to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature to fund programs and services for commercially sexually exploited minors in the counties where the underlying offenses are committed.

AB 44 (Logue R)   Inmates: release: notification.
Status: 7/6/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 5). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 7/6/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Current law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, when releasing prisoners on parole who have been convicted of a violent felony, as defined, or certain other felonies, as specified, to notify the law enforcement agency and the district attorney having jurisdiction over the community in which the person was convicted and also the law enforcement agency and district attorney having jurisdiction over the community in which the person is scheduled to be released. This bill would require that notification be sent 60 days prior to the scheduled release date of an inmate . The bill would conform the timeline for local comments to the longer notification period, as specified. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 90 (Swanson D)   Human trafficking: minors.
Status: 7/5/2011-Do pass as amended, and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations.
Location: 7/5/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Current law, the California Control of Profits of Organized Crime Act, provides the procedure for the forfeiture of property and proceeds acquired through a pattern of criminal profiteering activity, as specified, and requires the prosecution to file a petition for forfeiture in conjunction with certain criminal charges. Under current law, criminal profiteering activity is defined to include specified crimes, including human trafficking. This bill would include within the definition of criminal profiteering activity any crime in which the perpetrator induces, encourages, or persuades, or causes through force, fear, coercion, deceit, violence, duress, menace, or threat of unlawful injury to the victim or to another person, a person under 18 years of age to engage in a commercial sex act. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 116 (Committee on Budget)   Criminal justice realignment.
Status: 7/7/2011-In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after July 9 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.
Location: 7/7/2011-A. CONCURRENCE
Summary:
Current law creates the California Council on Criminal Justice with certain powers and duties. SB 92 of the 2011-12 Regular Session would eliminate the California Council on Criminal Justice and assign its powers and duties to the Board of State and Community Corrections. This bill would restore the California Council on Criminal Justice and delay the elimination and assignment of its powers and duties to the Board of State and Community Corrections until July 1, 2012. The bill would also make other specified provisions amended by SB 92 related to the Gang Violence Suppression Program within the Board of State and Community Corrections operative on July 1, 2012. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 220 (Solorio D)   Interstate Compact for Juveniles.
Status: 7/6/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 5). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 7/6/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
The Interstate Compact for Juveniles, among other things, provides for the establishment of rules and procedures for the tracking and supervision or return of juveniles and juvenile offender among compacting states. Current law makes the Interstate Compact for Juveniles operative in this state, and designates the executive director of the Correction Standards Authority as the compact administrator, until January 1, 2014. This bill would extend the operation of those provisions in this state until January 1, 2014.

AB 308 (Ammiano D)   Criminal investigations: eyewitness identification: lineups.
Status: 7/6/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (July 5). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 7/6/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Current law does not regulate how law enforcement officials prepare or conduct eyewitness photo or live lineup identifications. This bill would declare the legislative intent that law enforcement officials study and consider adopting the policies and procedures regulating eyewitness lineup identifications that are recommended by the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice in order to ensure that eyewitness identification procedures in California minimize the chance of misidentification of a suspect. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 322 (Portantino D)   Forensic evidence: rape kits.
Status: 7/6/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 5). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 7/6/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Would require local law enforcement agencies responsible for taking or collecting rape kit evidence to annually report to the Department of Justice statistical information pertaining to the testing and submission for DNA analysis of rape kits, as specified. The initial report would be due by July 1, 2013. The reports received by the department would be subject to inspection under the California Public Records Act. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 364 (Bonilla D)   Restitution: asset seizures: fraud and embezzlement.
Status: 7/6/2011-Ordered to special consent calendar.
Location: 7/6/2011-S. CONSENT CALENDAR
Summary:
Current law provides for enhanced penalties in the case of a person who commits 2 or more related felonies, a material element of which is fraud or embezzlement, which involve a pattern of related felony conduct, and the pattern of related felony conduct involves the taking or loss of more than $100,000, and further provides that assets or property may be preserved by the court, as specified, in order to pay restitution and fines imposed in connection with those enhanced penalties. This bill would, in addition, provide for the preservation of assets and property by the court in order to pay all restitution and fines, and would apply those preservation of assets provisions in the case of a person who commits a single felony, a material element of which is fraud or embezzlement, if that conduct involves the taking or loss of more than $100,000. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 434 (Logue R)   County penalties: forensic laboratories.
Status: 7/7/2011-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Location: 7/7/2011-S. THIRD READING
Summary:
Would provide that, if authorized by a resolution of the board of supervisors, a local sheriff or police department, or the district attorney’s office, may use funds remaining in the county’s DNA Identification Fund , either independently or in combination with remaining funds from another county, to provide supplemental funding to a qualif ied local or regional state forensic laboratory , as defined, for expenditures and administrative costs made or incurred in connection with the processing, analysis, and comparison of DNA crime scene samples and forensic identification samples, and testimony related to that analysis, as specified. The bill would declare that its provisions further the initiative act, and are consistent with its purposes.

AB 446 (Carter D)   Juveniles: restorative justice program.
Status: 7/6/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 3.) (July 5). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 7/6/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Would authorize a county to adopt a restorative justice program to address the needs of minors, victims, and the community. The bill would require the restorative justice program to be implemented through a restorative justice protocol developed by the juvenile court in conjunction with the prosecutor, public defender, and other interested groups. The bill would prohibit the use of General Fund moneys to fund the program. The bill would include related findings and declarations.

AB 454 (Silva R)   Protective orders: early termination.
Status: 7/1/2011-Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 62. Noes 0.).
Location: 7/1/2011-A. ENROLLMENT
Summary:
Would require, if an action is filed for the purpose of terminating or modifying specified protective orders prior to their expiration by a party other than the protected party, that the party who is protected by the order be given notice, as specified, of the proceeding to hear that action prior to the hearing, as specified. The bill would require a court to deny the motion to modify or terminate the order without prejudice or continue the hearing if the party cannot be notified prior to the hearing, provided that upon a showing of good cause, the bill would authorize a court to specify another method for service of process that is reasonably designed to afford actual notice to the protected party. The bill would permit the protected person to waive his or right to notice under specified circumstances.

AB 520 (Ammiano D)   Vehicles: reckless driving: suspension of licenses.
Status: 7/6/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 5). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 7/6/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Would terminate a driver’s license suspension, and make the person eligible for a restricted driver’s license, for a person convicted of reckless driving in satisfaction of, or substitute for, an original charge of driving-under-the-influence, if certain conditions are met, including that the person complete a 90-day suspension period and install an ignition interlock device. The bill would require the department to advise the person of the above conditions. The bill would require that the restricted driver’s license privilege be subject to certain restrictions, including that the privilege be limited to the hours necessary for driving from the person’s place of employment.

AB 588 (V. Manuel Pérez D)   Tenancy: victims of domestic violence.
Status: 7/7/2011-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 12:15 p.m.
Location: 7/7/2011-A. ENROLLED
Summary:
Current law authorizes a tenant to notify the landlord in writing that he or she or a household member, as defined, was a victim of an act of domestic violence and intends to terminate the tenancy, and requires that the tenant attach a copy of a temporary restraining order, emergency protective order, or a report by a peace officer to the notice. Current law permits the tenant to quit the premises after notification and limits the tenant’s obligation for payment of rent, as specified. Current law requires the notice to terminate the tenancy to be given within 60 days of the date the order was issued or the report was made, or as specified. This bill instead would require that the notice to terminate the tenancy be given within 180 days of the date the order was issued or the report was made, or as specified. The bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical corrections.

AB 648 (Block D)   Clemency.
Status: 7/6/2011-From committee chair, with author’s amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 7/6/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Would require that, at least 10 days before the Governor acts upon any application for a commutation, the application signed by the person applying be served upon the district attorney of the county where the conviction was had. The bill would authorize the district attorney to submit a written recommendation to the Governor for or against commutation of sentence. The bill would further require the district attorney to make reasonable efforts to notify the victim or victims of the crime or crimes related to the application for commutation of sentence and those persons’ family members, and allow those persons to submit a recommendation to the Governor for or against commutation of sentence. By imposing additional duties on the district attorney, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 764 (Swanson D)   Personal income taxes: voluntary contributions: Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fund.
Status: 7/5/2011-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 7/5/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Current law relating to the administration of personal income taxes authorizes individual taxpayers to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability for the support of specified funds or accounts. This bill would allow an individual taxpayer to designate on the tax return, that a specified amount in excess of the tax liability be transferred to the Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fund established in the State Treasury. This bill contains other related provisions.

AB 799 (Swanson D)   Commercially sexually exploited minors.
Status: 7/5/2011-Chaptered by the Secretary of State, Chapter Number 51, Statutes of 2011
Location: 7/5/2011-A. CHAPTERED
Summary:
Current law, until January 1, 2012, authorizes the District Attorney of Alameda County to create a pilot project, contingent upon local funding, for the purposes of developing a comprehensive, replicative, multidisciplinary model to address the needs and effective treatment of commercially sexually exploited minors, as specified. This bill would extend the repeal date of these provisions to January 1, 2017. This bill would also require the district attorney to submit, on or before April 1, 2016, a prescribed report to the Legislature, contingent upon specified events.

AB 886 (Cook R)   Victim’s rights: victim impact statement.
Status: 7/7/2011-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 12:15 p.m.
Location: 7/7/2011-A. ENROLLED
Summary:
Current law establishes the rights of crime victims, witnesses, and other specified persons to appear, reasonably express his or her views, and to have the court consider his or her statements. This bill would prohibit the court from releasing the statements to the public prior to being heard in court.

AB 898 (Alejo D)   Crime victims: restitution: fine.
Status: 6/28/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Would make the minimum restitution fine not less than $300 , if the person is convicted of a felony, and not less than $150 , if the person is convicted of a misdemeanor, and make other conforming changes. By increasing the amounts deposited into the Restitution Fund, this bill would make an appropriation.

SB 26 (Padilla D)   Prisons: wireless communication devices.
Status: 7/5/2011-Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Location: 7/5/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Would provide, with exceptions, that a person who possesses with the intent to deliver, or delivers, to an inmate or ward in the custody of the department any cellular telephone or other wireless communication device or any component thereof, including, but not limited to, a subscriber identity module or memory storage device, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 6 months, a fine not to exceed $5,000 for each device, or both that fine and imprisonment. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 57 (Runner R)   Sex offenders: social networking and online address notification requirement.
Status: 7/5/2011-Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Location: 7/5/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Would, commencing January 1, 2013, require a person who is required to register as a sex offender to provide to the law enforcement agency with which he or she last registered all of his or her online names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and instant messaging user names for all of his or her accounts on social networking Internet Web sites, as defined, at the time of original registration or any subsequent registration and within 30 days of establishing a new online name, address , or account, as specified, and would make it a misdemeanor to fail to do so. This bill would permit information received pursuant to these provisions to be shared with other local law enforcement agencies, upon request. By creating a new crime , this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 92 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review)   Budget Act of 2011.
Status: 6/30/2011-Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 36, Statutes of 2011.
Location: 7/1/2011-S. CHAPTERED
Summary:
Current law creates the California Emergency Council consisting of certain members and assigned certain powers and duties. This bill would, effective January 1, 2012, eliminate the California Emergency Council and would empower the California Emergency Management Agency to serve as the state disaster council for purposes of the California Disaster and Civil Defense Master Mutual Aid Agreement. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 139 (Alquist D)   Corrections: Inspector General.
Status: 7/7/2011-Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
Location: 7/7/2011-A. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
Summary:
Would authorize the Inspector General, or its successor, to oversee, and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to oversee and conduct, periodic and random searches of employees and vendors entering the secure perimeter of a state prison under the jurisdiction of the department for contraband, and require the department to report to the Inspector General and the Legislature quarterly regarding those searches, as specified.

SB 179 (Pavley D)   Sex offenders: parole.
Status: 7/5/2011-Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Location: 7/5/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Would provide that for any person subject to a sexually violent predator proceeding, as specified, an order issued by a judge pursuant to specified provisions, finding that the petition supports a finding of probable cause to believe that the person is likely to engage in sexually violent criminal behavior upon his or her release, shall toll the period of parole of that person, from the date that person is released until a specified court order is entered. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 233 (Pavley D)   Emergency services and care.
Status: 7/7/2011-From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (July 5).
Location: 7/7/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Would recast the definition of emergency services and care to include other appropriate licensed persons acting within their scope of licensure under the supervision of a physician and surgeon. This bill would expand the definition of consultation to also mean the rendering of a decision regarding hospitalization or transfer and would provide that consultation includes review of the patient’s medical record, examination, and treatment of the patient in person by a consulting physician and surgeon when determined to be medically necessary jointly by the treating physician and surgeon and the consulting physician and surgeon, or by other appropriate personnel acting within their scope of practice or licensure under the supervision of a physician and surgeon. The bill would authorize the treating physician and surgeon to request to communicate directly with the consulting physician and surgeon, and would require the consulting physician and surgeon to examine and treat the patient in person when it is determined to be medically necessary, as specified. This bill would expand the definition of when stabilization of a patient has occurred to include the opinion of other appropriate licensed persons acting within their scope of licensure under the supervision of a physician and surgeon. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 285 (Correa D)   Massage therapy instruction: fraud: criminal prosecutions.
Status: 7/7/2011-Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
Location: 7/7/2011-A. CONSENT CALENDAR
Summary:
Would provide that a person who provides a certificate, transcript, diploma, or other document, or otherwise affirms that a person has received instruction in massage therapy knowing that the person has not received instruction in massage therapy or knowing that the person has not received massage therapy instruction consistent with that document or affirmation is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to specified penalties. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 428 (Strickland R)   Lester’s Law of 2011.
Status: 7/7/2011-Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
Location: 7/7/2011-A. CONSENT CALENDAR
Summary:
Current law generally regulates governmental access to financial records. Current law provides that the dissemination of records pursuant to specified provisions shall not be prohibited. This bill would include within that category of records which the dissemination of shall not be prohibited, the dissemination of financial information and records pursuant to an order by a judge under specified authority relating to mortgage fraud. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 490 (Hancock D)   Death penalty.
Status: 7/7/2011-Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Location: 7/7/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Would abolish the death penalty, and provide instead for imprisonment in the state prison for life without the possibility of parole. The bill would halt executions unless the voters fail to approve this bill and would provide that where a defendant or inmate was sentenced to death prior to the date of the enactment of the bill, upon voter approval of this bill, the defendant’s or inmate’s sentence would automatically be converted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The bill would state findings and declarations of the Legislature regarding the death penalty. The bill would provide that it would only become effective if certain of its provisions are submitted to and approved by the electors at the next statewide general election.

SB 557 (Kehoe D)   Family justice centers.
Status: 7/7/2011-Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
Location: 7/7/2011-A. SECOND READING
Summary:
Would authorize the Cities of San Diego and Anaheim, and the Counties of Alameda and Sonoma, until January 1, 2014, to establish a multiagency, multidisciplinary family justice center to assist victims of domestic violence, officer-involved domestic violence, sexual assault, elder or dependent adult abuse, stalking, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and human trafficking, to ensure that victims of abuse are able to access all needed services in one location and to enhance victim safety, increase offender accountability, and improve access to services for victims of crime, as provided. The bill would permit the family justice centers to be staffed by law enforcement, medical, social service, and child welfare personnel, among others. This bill would require each family justice center to consult with community-based crime victim agencies, survivors of violence and abuse, and their advocates in the operation of the family justice center and to develop a procedure for input, feedback, and evaluation of the family justice center. This bill contains other related provisions.

SB 576 (Calderon D)   Sentencing.
Status: 7/7/2011-Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
Location: 7/7/2011-A. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
Summary:
Current law provides that most felonies are punishable by a triad of terms of incarceration in the state prison, comprised of low, middle, and upper terms. Previous law that required the court to impose the middle term, unless there were circumstances in aggravation or mitigation of the crime, was amended to provide that the choice of the appropriate term rests within the sound discretion of the court. Current provisions related to sentence enhancements involving criminal street gang activity, firearms, and sentencing, operative until January 1, 2012, generally specify that the appropriate term rests within the sound discretion of the court. Current law, operative on and after January 1, 2012, instead requires the court to impose the middle term, unless there are circumstances in mitigation or aggravation of the crime. This bill would extend to January 1, 2014 , the provisions of law that provide that the court shall, in its discretion, impose the term or enhancement that best serves the interests of justice. The bill would also make conforming changes. This bill contains other related provisions.

SB 601 (Hancock D)   Corrections: prisons: accountability report.
Status: 7/5/2011-Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Location: 7/5/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Would require the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to develop a Corrections Accountability Report containing specified information regarding each institution, including, among other information, the total budget, including actual expenditures, staff vacancies, overtime, sick leave; and the number of authorized staff positions, and the average length of lockdowns , on January 10, March 15, and a fiscal year-end report, and to post those reports on the department’s Internet Web site , as provided .

SB 622 (Corbett D)   Sex offenders: registration.
Status: 7/5/2011-Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Location: 7/5/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Current law, the Sex Offender Registration Act, requires persons who have been convicted of specified crimes to register as sex offenders, including persons who have been convicted in any other court, including any state, federal, or military court, of any offense that, if committed or attempted in this state, would have been punishable as one or more specified sex crimes. This bill would instead require registration for any person who has been convicted in any other court, including any state, federal, or military court, of any offense that, based on the elements of the convicted offense or proven or stipulated facts in the record of conviction, as specified, would have been punishable as one or more of the above-referenced specified sex crimes. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 756 (Price D)   Sex offender registration.
Status: 7/7/2011-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 7/7/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Current law requires persons who are subject to the Sex Offender Registration Act to, upon release from incarceration, placement, commitment, or release on probation, register or reregister with the chief of police of the city in which he or she is residing, or in which he or she is present if a transient, or the sheriff of the county if he or she is residing or is present in an unincorporated area or city that has no police department, as specified. A violation of the registration requirement is an offense that may be punished as a misdemeanor, or as a felony if additional circumstances exist. The bill would provide that if a person fails to so register after release, the district attorney in the jurisdiction where the person was to be paroled or to be on probation, or the district attorney in another specified jurisdiction if the person was not released on parole or probation, may request that a warrant be issued for the person’s arrest and shall have authority to prosecute that person as specified.

SB 852 (Harman R)   Corrections: victim notification.
Status: 7/5/2011-Do pass, and re-refer to Committee on Appropriations with recommendation: To Consent Calendar.
Location: 7/5/2011-A. CONSENT CALENDAR
Summary:
Current law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, county sheriff, and director of the local department of corrections, upon request, to give notice, as specified, prior to the release from state prison or county jail, of any person convicted of specified offenses, or of any change in parole status or relevant change in parole location, or if the person absconds from supervision while on parole, to a victim of the offense and others, as specified. Current law provides for this notice by telephone and certified mail, and requires those persons requesting notice to provide current address and telephone numbers, as specified. This bill would authorize providing that notice by telephone, certified mail, or electronic mail, as selected by the requesting party, if that method is available. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 861 (Corbett D)   Public contracts: contract eligibility: conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Status: 7/6/2011-Action From J., E.D. & E.: Do pass.To APPR..
Location: 7/7/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Current law authorizes contracting between state agencies and private contractors and sets forth requirements for the procurement of goods and services by state agencies and the various responsibilities of state agencies and the Department of General Services in implementing state contracting procedures and policies. This bill would prohibit a scrutinized company, as defined, from entering into a contract with a state agency for goods or services, as provided. This bill contains other related provisions.

Week of June 27, 2011

Below is a summary of actions filed on legislation that CALCASA is currently tracking as of June 27th. The list includes bills that CALCASA is supporting and opposing. We included links to each bill, so that you can read the text. Help CALCASA push our legislative agenda by signing up and Taking Action!

AB 12 (Swanson D)   Abolition of Child Commerce, Exploitation, and Sexual Slavery Act of 2011.
Status: 6/27/2011-In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
Location: 6/27/2011-A. ENROLLMENT
Summary:
Would enact the Abolition of Child Commerce, Exploitation, and Sexual Slavery Act of 2011, and would require that a person who is convicted of seeking to procure or procuring the sexual services of a prostitute, if the prostitute is under 18 years of age, be ordered to pay an additional fine not to exceed $25,000 to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature to fund programs and services for commercially sexually exploited minors in the counties where the underlying offenses are committed.

AB 13 (Knight R)   Public school volunteers.
Status: 6/29/2011-In committee: Set second hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.
Location: 6/29/2011-S. ED.
Summary:
Would specify that each of these provisions applies to charter schools. The bill would also authorize a school district, county office of education, or charter school to request a local law enforcement agency to conduct an automated records check of a prospective nonteaching volunteer aide in order to ascertain whether that person has been convicted of a felony controlled substance offense that involves a minor or a violent or serious felony, as specified. The bill would additionally prohibit persons who have been convicted of violent or serious felonies, specified sex offenses, or felony controlled substance offenses, as specified, from serving as nonteaching volunteer aides , but would provide that a person would not be prohibited from serving as a nonteaching volunteer aide solely because of a conviction of a controlled substance offense that involves a minor or a violent or serious felony 5 years after the date of that conviction . This bill contains other current laws.

AB 90 (Swanson D)   Human trafficking: minors.
Status: 6/27/2011-From committee chair, with author’s amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/27/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Current law, the California Control of Profits of Organized Crime Act, provides the procedure for the forfeiture of property and proceeds acquired through a pattern of criminal profiteering activity, as specified, and requires the prosecution to file a petition for forfeiture in conjunction with certain criminal charges. Under current law, criminal profiteering activity is defined to include specified crimes, including human trafficking. This bill would include within the definition of criminal profiteering activity any crime in which the perpetrator induces, encourages, or persuades, or causes through force, fear, coercion, deceit, violence, duress, menace, or threat of unlawful injury to the victim or to another person, a person under 18 years of age to engage in a commercial sex act. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 116 (Committee on Budget)   Public safety.
Status: 6/29/2011-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Location: 6/29/2011-S. THIRD READING
Summary:
Current law creates the California Emergency Council consisting of certain members and assigned certain powers and duties. This bill would , effective January 1, 2012, eliminate the California Emergency Council and would empower the California Emergency Management Agency to serve as the state disaster council for purposes of the California Disaster and Civil Defense Master Mutual Aid Agreement. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 178 (Gorell R)   County jail: release pursuant to federal court order.
Status: 6/28/2011-In committee: Set, first hearing. Testimony taken. Further hearing to be set.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would require a defendant who is being released prior to sentencing by county jail personnel, pursuant to a court order or policy mandating the release of inmates, to sign a release agreement with the same requirements as those pertaining to a defendant who is released under his or her own recognizance, including the defendant’s promise to appear at the time and place he or she is given in writing by the jail personnel at the time of release. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 239 (Ammiano D)   Crime laboratories: oversight.
Status: 6/28/2011-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Would require the Crime Laboratory Review Task Force force to be reconvened and to submit to the Legislature a supplemental report, on or before July 1, 2013, that includes a proposal regarding the composition of a statewide oversight body to perform tasks relating to crime laboratories, including overseeing investigations into acts of misconduct or negligence committed by any employee or contractor of a crime laboratory, as specified. The bill would include a statement of legislative findings and declarations.

AB 288 (Fong D)   Public postsecondary education: community colleges: expulsion hearing.
Status: 6/27/2011-In committee: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
Location: 6/27/2011-S. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
Summary:
Current law establishes community college districts, administered by a governing board, throughout the state, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction to students at the community college campuses maintained by the districts. This bill would authorize the governing board of a district to either deny enrollment, permit enrollment, or permit conditional enrollment to any individual who has been expelled from a community college within the preceding 5 years, or who is, at the time of the application, undergoing expulsion procedures, for certain offenses, as provided, if the board determines that the person continues to pose a risk to the safety of others. This bill would require the board or a delegate to hold a hearing, before taking action to deny enrollment or permit conditional enrollment, before making the determination as to whether the person continues to pose a risk. The bill would authorize a governing board of a district to delegate its authority under these provisions to the superintendent or president of the district, or to his or her designee. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 322 (Portantino D)   Forensic evidence: rape kits.
Status: 6/28/2011-From committee chair, with author’s amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would require local law enforcement agencies responsible for taking or collecting rape kit evidence to annually report to the Department of Justice statistical information pertaining to the testing and submission for DNA analysis of rape kits, as specified. The initial report would be due by July 1, 2013. The reports received by the department would be subject to inspection under the California Public Records Act. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 364 (Bonilla D)   Restitution: asset seizures: fraud and embezzlement.
Status: 6/28/2011-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. THIRD READING
Summary:
Current law provides for enhanced penalties in the case of a person who commits 2 or more related felonies, a material element of which is fraud or embezzlement, which involve a pattern of related felony conduct, and the pattern of related felony conduct involves the taking or loss of more than $100,000, and further provides that assets or property may be preserved by the court, as specified, in order to pay restitution and fines imposed in connection with those enhanced penalties. This bill would, in addition, provide for the preservation of assets and property by the court in order to pay all restitution and fines, and would apply those preservation of assets provisions in the case of a person who commits a single felony, a material element of which is fraud or embezzlement, if that conduct involves the taking or loss of more than $100,000. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 446 (Carter D)   Juveniles: restorative justice program.
Status: 6/28/2011-In committee: Set first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would authorize a county to adopt a restorative justice program to address the needs of minors, victims, and the community. The bill would require the restorative justice program to be implemented through a restorative justice protocol developed by the juvenile court in conjunction with the prosecutor, public defender, and other interested groups. The bill would prohibit the use of General Fund moneys to fund the program. The bill would include related findings and declarations.

AB 454 (Silva R)   Protective orders: early termination.
Status: 6/27/2011-In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after June 29 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.
Location: 6/27/2011-A. CONCURRENCE
Summary:
Would require, if an action is filed for the purpose of terminating or modifying specified protective orders prior to their expiration by a party other than the protected party, that the party who is protected by the order be given notice , as specified, of the proceeding to hear that action prior to the hearing, as specified. The bill would require a court to deny the motion to modify or terminate the order without prejudice or continue the hearing if the party cannot be notified prior to the hearing, provided that upon a showing of good cause, the bill would authorize a court to specify another method for service of process that is reasonably designed to afford actual notice to the protected party. The bill would permit the protected person to waive his or right to notice under specified circumstances.

AB 520 (Ammiano D)   Vehicles: reckless driving: suspension of licenses.
Status: 6/28/2011-From committee chair, with author’s amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would terminate a driver’s license suspension, and make the person eligible for a restricted driver’s license, for a person convicted of reckless driving in satisfaction of, or substitute for, an original charge of driving-under-the-influence, if certain conditions are met, including that the person complete a 90-day suspension period and install an ignition interlock device. The bill would require the department to advise the person of the above conditions. The bill would require that the restricted driver’s license privilege be subject to certain restrictions, including that the privilege be limited to the hours necessary for driving from the person’s place of employment.

AB 545 (John A. Pérez D)   Domestic violence: corporal injury.
Status: 6/28/2011-In committee: Set, first hearing. Testimony taken. Further hearing to be set.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Under current law, any person who willfully inflicts corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition upon a person who is his or her spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or the mother or father of his or her child, is guilty of a felony, punishable as specified. This bill would make those provisions apply to the infliction of that type of injury on the fiancé or fiancée of that person or on someone with whom the person has, or previously had, a dating or engagement relationship. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 588 (V. Manuel Pérez D)   Tenancy: victims of domestic violence.
Status: 6/27/2011-In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
Location: 6/27/2011-A. ENROLLMENT
Summary:
Current law authorizes a tenant to notify the landlord in writing that he or she or a household member, as defined, was a victim of an act of domestic violence and intends to terminate the tenancy, and requires that the tenant attach a copy of a temporary restraining order, emergency protective order, or a report by a peace officer to the notice. Current law permits the tenant to quit the premises after notification and limits the tenant’s obligation for payment of rent, as specified. Current law requires the notice to terminate the tenancy to be given within 60 days of the date the order was issued or the report was made, or as specified. This bill instead would require that the notice to terminate the tenancy be given within 180 days of the date the order was issued or the report was made, or as specified. The bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical corrections.

AB 648 (Block D)   Clemency.
Status: 6/28/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 27). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Would require that, at least 10 days before the Governor acts upon any application for a commutation, the application signed by the person applying be served upon the district attorney of the county where the conviction was had. The bill would authorize the district attorney to submit a written recommendation to the Governor for or against commutation of sentence. The bill would further require the district attorney to notify the victim or victims of the crime or crimes related to the application for commutation of sentence and those persons’ family members, and allow those persons to submit a recommendation to the Governor for or against commutation of sentence. By imposing additional duties on the district attorney, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 764 (Swanson D)   Personal income taxes: voluntary contributions: Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fund.
Status: 6/29/2011-Do pass as amended, and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations.
Location: 6/29/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Current law relating to the administration of personal income taxes authorizes individual taxpayers to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability for the support of specified funds or accounts. This bill would allow an individual taxpayer to designate on the tax return, that a specified amount in excess of the tax liability be transferred to the Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fund established in the State Treasury . This bill contains other related provisions.

AB 765 (Achadjian R)   Crimes: rape.
Status: 6/28/2011-In committee: Set, first hearing. Testimony taken. Further hearing to be set.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Current law provides various circumstances that constitute rape including an act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a person who is not the spouse of the perpetrator where the person submits under the belief that the person committing the act is the victim’s spouse, and this belief is induced by artifice, pretense, or concealment practiced by the accused, with the intent to induce the belief. This bill would additionally provide that this type of rape occurs where the person submits under the belief that the person committing the act is the victim’s cohabitant, as provided. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 813 (Fletcher R)   Sex offenders: punishment: parole.
Status: 6/28/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: to consent calendar. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (June 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Current law creates the Sex Offender Management Board, within the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, empowered to address any issues, concerns, and problems related to the community management of adult sex offenders, including the main objective of the board to achieve safer communities by reducing victimization. The board is required, on or before July 1, 2011, to develop and update standards for certification of sex offender management professionals. This bill would give board members immunity from liability for their good faith conduct. The bill would provide that any person who knowingly provides false information in connection with an application for certification as a sex offender management professional would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,500, in addition to any other remed y available to the board, and would allow any public prosecutor to bring an action for a civil penalty in the name of the people of the State of California . This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 886 (Cook R)   Victim’s rights: victim impact statement.
Status: 6/27/2011-In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
Location: 6/27/2011-A. ENROLLMENT
Summary:
Current law establishes the rights of crime victims, witnesses, and other specified persons to appear, reasonably express his or her views, and to have the court consider his or her statements. This bill would prohibit the court from releasing the statements to the public prior to being heard in court.

AB 898 (Alejo D)   Crime victims: restitution: fine.
Status: 6/28/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 27). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 6/28/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Would make the minimum restitution fine not less than $300 , if the person is convicted of a felony, and not less than $150 , if the person is convicted of a misdemeanor, and make other conforming changes. By increasing the amounts deposited into the Restitution Fund, this bill would make an appropriation.

SB 92 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review)   Budget Act of 2011.
Status: 7/1/2011-Signed by the Governor
Location: 7/1/2011-S. CHAPTERED
Summary:
Current law creates the California Emergency Council consisting of certain members and assigned certain powers and duties. This bill would, effective January 1, 2012, eliminate the California Emergency Council and would empower the California Emergency Management Agency to serve as the state disaster council for purposes of the California Disaster and Civil Defense Master Mutual Aid Agreement. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 119 (Lowenthal D)   Emergency youth shelter facilities.
Status: 6/30/2011-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 6/30/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Would include with the definition of a community care facility an emergency youth shelter facility, as defined, for specified youth at least 12 years of age and under 18 years of age, except as specified, who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations for these facilities by January 1, 2013, as specified . Until the adoption of the regulations, the bill would require the department to grant facilities that satisfy the definition of an emergency youth shelter a waiver for current licensing standards, under certain circumstances. This bill would allow an emergency youth shelter that is operating under a group home license to apply for an immediate transfer to an emergency youth shelter license, upon adoption of the regulations required under the bill. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 233 (Pavley D)   Emergency services and care.
Status: 6/28/2011-From committee with author’s amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
Location: 6/28/2011-A. HEALTH
Summary:
Would recast the definition of emergency services and care to include other appropriate licensed persons acting within their scope of licensure under the supervision of a physician and surgeon. This bill would expand the definition of consultation to also mean the rendering of a decision regarding hospitalization or transfer and would provide that consultation includes review of the patient’s medical record, examination, and treatment of the patient in person by a consulting physician and surgeon when determined to be medically necessary jointly by the treating physician and surgeon and the consulting physician and surgeon, or by other appropriate personnel acting within their scope of practice or licensure under the supervision of a physician and surgeon. The bill would authorize the treating physician and surgeon to request to communicate directly with the consulting physician and surgeon, and would require the consulting physician and surgeon to examine and treat the patient in person when it is determined to be medically necessary, as specified. This bill would expand the definition of when stabilization of a patient has occurred to include the opinion of other appropriate licensed persons acting within their scope of licensure under the supervision of a physician and surgeon. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 428 (Strickland R)   Lester’s Law of 2011.
Status: 6/27/2011-From committee with author’s amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 6/27/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Current law generally regulates governmental access to financial records. Current law provides that the dissemination of records pursuant to specified provisions shall not be prohibited. This bill would include within that category of records which the dissemination of shall not be prohibited, the dissemination of financial information and records pursuant to an order by a judge under specified authority relating to mortgage fraud. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 490 (Hancock D)   Death penalty.
Status: 6/28/2011-From committee with author’s amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/28/2011-A. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would abolish the death penalty, and provide instead for imprisonment in the state prison for life without the possibility of parole. The bill would halt executions unless the voters fail to approve this bill and would provide that where a defendant or inmate was sentenced to death prior to the date of the enactment of the bill, upon voter approval of this bill, the defendant’s or inmate’s sentence would automatically be converted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The bill would state findings and declarations of the Legislature regarding the death penalty. The bill would provide that it would only become effective if certain of its provisions are submitted to and approved by the electors at the next statewide general election.

SB 534 (Corbett D)   Victims of sexual assault.
Status: 6/28/2011-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 6/28/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
(1) Current law provides that no costs incurred by a qualified health care professional, hospital, or other emergency medical facility for the examination of the victim of a sexual assault for the purposes of gathering evidence for possible prosecution shall be charged directly or indirectly to the victim of the assault. Current law provides that the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which the alleged sexual assault was committed which requests the examination has the option of determining whether or not the examination will be performed in the office of a physician and surgeon, and bills fo r those costs shall be submitted to that local jurisdiction and the local jurisdiction shall bear those costs. This bill would delete the provision requiring that the costs be treated as local costs and charged to the local government agency in whose jurisdiction the alleged offense was committed, and the provision that the bills for the costs shall be submitted to the local law enforcement agency. This bill would delete the provision giving the local law enforcement agency the option of whether or not the examination will be performed in the office of a physician and surgeon. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 557 (Kehoe D)   Family justice centers.
Status: 6/28/2011-Do pass, as amended, to Consent Calendar.
Location: 6/28/2011-A. CONSENT CALENDAR
Summary:
Would authorize the Cities of San Diego and Anaheim, and the Counties of Alameda and Sonoma, until January 1, 2014, to establish a multiagency, multidisciplinary family justice center to assist victims of domestic violence, officer-involved domestic violence, sexual assault, elder or dependent adult abuse, stalking, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and human trafficking, to ensure that victims of abuse are able to access all needed services in one location and to enhance victim safety, increase offender accountability, and improve access to services for victims of crime, as provided. The bill would permit the family justice centers to be staffed by law enforcement, medical, social service, and child welfare personnel, among others. This bill contains other related provisions.

SB 576 (Calderon D)   Sentencing.
Status: 6/28/2011-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 6/28/2011-A. APPR.
Summary:
Current law provides that most felonies are punishable by a triad of terms of incarceration in the state prison, comprised of low, middle, and upper terms. Previous law that required the court to impose the middle term, unless there were circumstances in aggravation or mitigation of the crime, was amended to provide that the choice of the appropriate term rests within the sound discretion of the court. Current provisions related to sentence enhancements involving criminal street gang activity, firearms, and sentencing, operative until January 1, 2012, generally specify that the appropriate term rests within the sound discretion of the court. Current law, operative on and after January 1, 2012, instead requires the court to impose the middle term, unless there are circumstances in mitigation or aggravation of the crime. This bill would extend to January 1, 2014 , the provisions of law that provide that the court shall, in its discretion, impose the term or enhancement that best serves the interests of justice. The bill would also make conforming changes. This bill contains other related provisions.

SB 601 (Hancock D)   Corrections: prisons: accountability report.
Status: 6/28/2011-From committee with author’s amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/28/2011-A. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would require the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to develop a Corrections Accountability Report containing specified information regarding each institution, including, among other information, the total budget, including actual expenditures, staff vacancies, overtime, sick leave; and the number of authorized staff positions, and the average length of lockdowns , on January 10, March 15, and a fiscal year-end report, and to post those reports on the department’s Internet Web site , as provided .

SB 861 (Corbett D)   Public contracts: contract eligibility: conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Status: 6/28/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on J., E.D. & E. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 28). Re-referred to Com. on J., E.D. & E.
Location: 6/28/2011-A. J., E.D. & E.
Summary:
Current law authorizes contracting between state agencies and private contractors and sets forth requirements for the procurement of goods and services by state agencies and the various responsibilities of state agencies and the Department of General Services in implementing state contracting procedures and policies. This bill would prohibit a scrutinized company, as defined, from entering into a contract with a state agency for goods or services, as provided. This bill contains other related provisions.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for the CALCASA Annual Meeting and Statewide Leadership Conference on August 2 to 4.

We are excited to once again host this year’s conference and bring together rape crisis centers, rape prevention programs and allied members from across California. This year’s theme is “The Evolution and Revolution of Our Movement.” After hosting last year’s National Sexual Assault Conference in Los Angeles, it became clear to us that the rape and sexual assault movement has significantly evolved since its birth 40 years ago. Additionally, our movement is now experiencing major demographic and cultural shifts that could potentially revolutionize how services are delivered to survivors from numerous communities, as well as how advocates and future leaders in our field are trained and empowered. This year’s conference theme and program reflects this unique point and opportunity in our field’s herstory/history to further advance the work each of us are doing to serve more survivors and to help end sexual violence in our state.

To register visit: http://tinyurl.com/calcasa2011

When: Tuesday, August 2 – Thursday, August 4
Where: DoubleTree Hotel, Sacramento, CA
Scholarships: 2 per agency per Cal EMA grant. (Application details will be forthcoming.)

General Agenda:
Tues, 8/2 – Morning: Position Specific Forums; Afternoon: Annual Membership Meeting and Vote for New Slate of Board Officers
Wed, 8/3 – Morning: Opening Plenary and Keynote + workshops; Afternoon: Half-day Institute
Thur, 8/4 – Morning: Half day institutes; Afternoon: workshops

The University of California Schools recently released a new website focusing on efforts UC campuses are doing to build a coordinated community response and develop comprehensive educational programs which address sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking on campus. Students can get information on where they can seek help, view university policies and procedures and prevention efforts, to name a few.

During the past few days, there has been discussion, speeches and documentaries displayed at the Allied Media Conference in Detroit, Mich., that highlight how media — of all types — is creating social justice around the world. In every single media session that I attended, the issue of sexual assault was raised, especially child sexual abuse.

The conference was in no way directly related to ending sexual violence, but across the board, this issue was voiced and given attention. Sessions included:

• media tools for healing;
• media justice;
• delivering justice through birthing rights;
• a documentary about the child welfare system;
• graphic campaigns for social movements;
• duologue on media, movement building and economic justice;
• recording and interviewing; and
• collaborating between groups of Spanish-speaking collectives.

The fact that everyone, including people who were not working in this movement, was addressing the multifaceted problem of sexual violence, is an indication that the general public is hearing the messages. This is a global endemic,  and there was a consensus that a world without such violence would be favorable. However, I think there is a disproportionate amount of time dedicated to discussing media problems and wrong-doings (and I acknowledge that they exist) rather than spending resources and energy to discuss solutions, changes and best practices.

As we unite around social justice issues — not only at this conference, but in all spaces that discuss change and transformation — there is a need to address media in a way that provides activists with hands-on, pragmatic tools for opportunities to organize, collaborate and build the movement.

MyStrength.org

Every year, hundreds of young men in high school are impacted by the work of MyStrength facilitators across California. As these young men graduate and grow into the next phase of their lives, their experiences in MyStrength help them to develop into emotionally healthy, respectful, compassionate agents of change among their peers and in their communities.

The address below was given by Takeo Rivera – Artists, Scholar, and Assault Prevention & Intervention Specialist for the YWCA Silicon Valley Rape Crisis Center - to his 2011 graduating MyStrength Club members.

To Dylan, Eddie, Alex, Alex, Vincent, Brandon, Brandon, Brian, Juan, Luis, Victor, Alejandro, Semaj, and Michael: I want to thank you. Thank you for the deep conversations, the laughs, the willingness to be vulnerable, the inspiration. Today is for you, to celebrate you, for me to convey my gratitude for you always being there for each other, for me, and for this crazy world we live in.

As I’ve told you all before, my job as a rape crisis advocate is not an easy one. Every day, I work with victims of sexual assault and their loved ones. Rape is a crime that can destroy lives and torture souls, and 97-99% of perpetrators are men. It is easy to get depressed in this line of work, to give up, to get cynical. Believe me, I’ve had my moments; some days you’d see me maybe totally exhausted or with bags under my eyes. But every time I’ve had MyStrength with you all, you’ve always hardened my resolve, given me the courage to keep going. You all show me that not all men are like those perpetrators, that change is possible, and that high school students can be more righteous and true than many adults I know.

Our motto in MyStrength has been “My Strength is not for hurting,” but because of all of you, I now know what my strength is for. MyStrength is for honesty. MyStrength is for trust. MyStrength is for redefining who we are as men and as human beings. MyStrength is for envisioning a just society, an equitable society, where women are free from fear and oppression, and men are free from being the wielders of violence. MyStrength is for peace. MyStrength is for empathy. MyStrength is for the courage to shed tears, to tell our stories, to do what’s right so we can look ourselves in the mirror without shame. MyStrength is for leadership. MyStrength is for critical thought. MyStrength is for family.

You have been my family this past year; for some of you, two years. We’ve had some excellent times together. I remember riding up to Stanford for our field trip, with Dylan, Mario, Tai, Alex, Ruben, and Nick representing in a very big way that night (and eating In-N-Out afterwards). The incredible gender symposium we had that Sunday evening for the video, not to mention Tai, Alex, and Juan doing an amazing presentation to the students at Davis Intermediate afterward. Filming Alejandro, Brian, and Kaelum was a blast, too – I loved how many times Brian and Kaelum kept stopping themselves and restarting. The craziness that was Flag Day this year – and I wanna point out Oak Grove for being particularly excited to hang out with HerStrength afterwards. And then Walk-A-Mile in Her Shoes: Alejandro, Alex, Nick, and Ruben put on some amazing polka-dot heels to raise awareness in downtown San Jose, chanting our MyStrength

slogans and marching at the front of the procession, because you all were the face of what it means to be a male ally. You all made me so proud this year, and I hope you are just as proud of yourselves.

As you all know, this is my last year doing MyStrength, so just as you all are graduating from the program, so am I. When I think about leaving my job, MyStrength is the hardest part for me to let go of. Because of all of you and your incredible work, I will forever look back on MyStrength as a proud point of my career and of my life. And while I am leaving MyStrength and the YWCA, am not leaving this movement against violence that we all have worked so hard to help build. I will continue to devote myself towards the fight against oppression and inequality to the best of my abilities, and I hope – no, I know – that you all will do the same. It will not be easy, because fighting for justice rarely is. But it will be worth it, because fighting for justice always is. We probably will not see the end of rape, of sexism, of oppression, anytime in our lifetime; but our moral responsibility is to change what we can and to empower those around us to do the same, and it WILL matter, no matter how small that change is.

It has been a joy, an honor, to work with you fine young men. Thank you for letting me into your lives, and thank you for being such an integral part of mine. MyStrength is not for hurting.It is for you. Be you, and be the best you that you can be, because the world needs you. Now more than ever.

-Takeo Rivera

Last week, Sandra Henriquez, CALCASA’s Executive Director, and I had the honor of participating at the national Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA)’s institute in Henderson, Nevada, along with 70 women of color advocates from across the nation and US territories.  This institute titled, “Reclaiming Our Movement,” was focused on providing over 25 intensive workshops and forums on prevention, intervention/advocacy, wellness, and professional development.

We had the opportunity to share resources from our respective communities and agencies (such as Green Dot, PreventConnect, Support for Survivors, caucus work, etc.) along with our personal stories and journeys in this movement to end sexual violence.  As women of color, we are often faced with many obstacles and challenges in this movement to serve ALL communities (e.g, communities of color, LGBTQ, Native American, faith, rural,persons with disabilities,  etc.) but struggle  with limited resources to provide these services in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way.   Especially now, with such economic challenges, it even more critical for all of us to evaluate on how we can provide “equal” and quality access to our services for our communities that is inclusive of everyone.

Week of June 6, 2011

Below is a summary of actions filed on legislation that CALCASA is currently tracking as of June 6th. The list includes bills that CALCASA is supporting and opposing. We included links to each bill, so that you can read the text. Help CALCASA push our legislative agenda by signing up and Taking Action!

AB 13 (Knight R)   Public school volunteers.
Status: 6/8/2011-Referred to Coms. on ED. and PUB. S.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. ED.
Summary:
Would specify that each of these provisions applies to charter schools. The bill would also authorize a school district, county office of education, or charter school to request a local law enforcement agency to conduct an automated records check of a prospective nonteaching volunteer aide in order to ascertain whether that person has been convicted of a felony controlled substance offense that involves a minor or a violent or serious felony, as specified. The bill would additionally prohibit persons who have been convicted of violent or serious felonies, specified sex offenses, or felony controlled substance offenses, as specified, from serving as nonteaching volunteer aides , but would provide that a person would not be prohibited from serving as a nonteaching volunteer aide solely because of a conviction of a controlled substance offense that involves a minor or a violent or serious felony 5 years after the date of that conviction . This bill contains other current laws.

AB 90 (Swanson D)   Human trafficking: minors.
Status: 6/8/2011-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would provide that a person who deprives or violates another person’s liberty with the intent to effect or maintain the felony of making available to another person a person under 16 years of age for the purpose of any lewd or lascivious act, or the felony of the procurement of minors in the preparation of material depicting sexual conduct by a minor, is guilty of human trafficking. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 142 (Fuentes D)   Criminal procedure: pleas.
Status: 6/8/2011-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. THIRD READING
Summary:
Current law requires the court, prior to the acceptance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, to advise the defendant that if he or she is not a citizen, conviction of the crime charged may result in deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of naturalization. This bill would additionally require the court to advise the defendant that, if he or she is deported from the United States and returns illegally, he or she could be charged with a separate federal offense. The bill would make other conforming changes.

AB 178 (Gorell R)   County jail: release pursuant to federal court order.
Status: 6/8/2011-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would require a defendant who is being released prior to sentencing by county jail personnel, pursuant to a court order or policy mandating the release of inmates, to sign a release agreement with the same requirements as those pertaining to a defendant who is released under his or her own recognizance, including the defendant’s promise to appear at the time and place he or she is given in writing by the jail personnel at the time of release. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 239 (Ammiano D)   Crime laboratories: oversight.
Status: 6/8/2011-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would require the Crime Laboratory Review Task Force force to be reconvened and to submit to the Legislature a supplemental report, on or before July 1, 2013, that includes a proposal regarding the composition of a statewide oversight body to perform tasks relating to crime laboratories, including overseeing investigations into acts of misconduct or negligence committed by any employee or contractor of a crime laboratory, as specified . The bill would include a statement of legislative findings and declarations .

AB 288 (Fong D)   Public postsecondary education: community colleges: expulsion hearing.
Status: 6/8/2011-Do pass as amended, and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Would authorize the governing board of a district to either deny enrollment, permit enrollment, or permit conditional enrollment to any individual who has been expelled from a community college within the preceding 5 years, or who is, at the time of the application, undergoing expulsion procedures, for certain offenses, as provided, if the board determines that the person continues to pose a risk to the safety of others. This bill would require the board or a delegate to hold a hearing , before taking action to deny enrollment or permit conditional enrollment, before making the determination as to whether the person continues to pose a risk. The bill would authorize a governing board of a district to delegate its authority under these provisions to the superintendent or president of the district, or to his or her designee. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 321 (Hernández, Roger D)   Juvenile offenders: obscene material.
Status: 6/3/2011-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(8). (Last location was APPR. on 5/27/2011)
Location: 6/3/2011-A. 2 YEAR
Summary:
Current law requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, and for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to offer courses in specified areas of study. This bill would authorize a school district to provide instruction regarding the potential risks and consequences of creating and sharing sexually suggestive or sexually explicit materials through cellular telephones, social networking Internet Web sites, computer networks, or other digital media. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 322 (Portantino D)   Forensic evidence: rape kits.
Status: 6/8/2011-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would require local law enforcement agencies responsible for taking or collecting rape kit evidence to annually report to the Department of Justice statistical information pertaining to the testing and submission for DNA analysis of rape kits, as specified. The initial report would be due by July 1, 2013. The reports received by the department would be subject to inspection under the California Public Records Act. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 364 (Bonilla D)   Restitution: asset seizures: fraud and embezzlement.
Status: 6/7/2011-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 6/7/2011-S. APPR.
Summary:
Current law provides for enhanced penalties in the case of a person who commits 2 or more related felonies, a material element of which is fraud or embezzlement, which involve a pattern of related felony conduct, and the pattern of related felony conduct involves the taking or loss of more than $100,000, and further provides that assets or property may be preserved by the court, as specified, in order to pay restitution and fines imposed in connection with those enhanced penalties. This bill would, in addition, provide for the preservation of assets and property by the court in order to pay all restitution and fines, and would apply those preservation of assets provisions in the case of a person who commits a single felony, a material element of which is fraud or embezzlement, if that conduct involves the taking or loss of more than $100,000. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 446 (Carter D)   Juveniles: restorative justice program.
Status: 6/7/2011-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. (Refers to 6/7/2011 hearing)
Location: 5/26/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would authorize a county to adopt a restorative justice program to address the needs of minors, victims, and the community. The bill would require the restorative justice program to be implemented through a restorative justice protocol developed by the juvenile court in conjunction with the prosecutor, public defender, and other interested groups. The bill would prohibit the use of General Fund moneys to fund the program. The bill would include related findings and declarations.

AB 454 (Silva R)   Protective orders: early termination.
Status: 6/8/2011-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. THIRD READING
Summary:
Would require, if an action is filed for the purpose of terminating or modifying specified protective orders prior to their expiration by a party other than the protected party, that the party who is protected by the order be given notice , as specified, of the proceeding to hear that action prior to the hearing, as specified. The bill would require a court to deny the motion to modify or terminate the order without prejudice or continue the hearing if the party cannot be notified prior to the hearing, provided that upon a showing of good cause, the bill would authorize a court to specify another method for service of process that is reasonably designed to afford actual notice to the protected party. The bill would permit the protected person to waive his or right to notice under specified circumstances.

AB 545 (John A. Pérez D)   Domestic violence: corporal injury.
Status: 6/8/2011-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Under current law, any person who willfully inflicts corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition upon a person who is his or her spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or the mother or father of his or her child, is guilty of a felony, punishable as specified. This bill would make those provisions apply to the infliction of that type of injury on the fiancé or fiancée of that person or on someone with whom the person has, or previously had, a dating or engagement relationship. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 593 (Ma D)   Domestic violence: battering: writ of habeas corpus.
Status: 6/3/2011-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(8). (Last location was PUB. S. on 4/26/2011)
Location: 6/3/2011-A. 2 YEAR
Summary:
Current law, operative until January 1, 2020, establishes circumstances under which a writ of habeas corpus may be prosecuted for certain violent felonies on the basis of expert testimony regarding intimate partner battering that was not received in evidence at trial and may be sufficient to undermine confidence in the conviction, as specified. This bill would delete the repeal clause for those provisions and thus extend the operation of those provisions indefinitely.

AB 625 (Ammiano D)   Sex offender registration.
Status: 6/3/2011-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(8). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 6/2/2011)
Location: 6/3/2011-A. 2 YEAR
Summary:
Would establish 3 tiers of registration based on specified criteria, for periods of 10 years, 20 years, and life, respectively, as specified. The bill would require that by January 1, 2017, as specified, a tier level be assigned to every person registered as a sex offender, except a person who has not registered after January 1, 1996, unless that person registers again.

AB 630 (Hueso D)   Pupil safety: bullying.
Status: 6/3/2011-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(8). (Last location was ED. on 4/27/2011)
Location: 6/3/2011-A. 2 YEAR
Summary:
Would express the intent of the Legislature to encourage school districts , at their discretion, to establish programs, to be integrated into the regular curriculum during National Bullying Prevention Month and throughout the year , to reduce bullying through training with appropriate activities and best practice methodologies involving collaboration among pupils and school staff. This bill contains other related provisions.

AB 648 (Block D)   Clemency.
Status: 6/8/2011-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would require that, at least 30 days before the Governor acts upon any application for a commutation, the application signed by the person applying be served upon the district attorney of the county where the conviction was had. The bill would authorize the district attorney to submit a written recommendation to the Governor for or against commutation of sentence. The bill would further require the district attorney to notify the victim or victims of the crime or crimes related to the application for commutation of sentence and those persons’ family members, and allow those persons to submit a recommendation to the Governor for or against commutation of sentence. By imposing additional duties on the district attorney, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 764 (Swanson D)   Personal income taxes: voluntary contributions: Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fund.
Status: 6/8/2011-Referred to Com. on GOV. & F.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. G. & F.
Summary:
Current law relating to the administration of personal income taxes authorizes individual taxpayers to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability for the support of specified funds or accounts. This bill would allow an individual taxpayer to designate on the tax return, that a specified amount in excess of the tax liability be transferred to the Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fund established in the State Treasury . This bill contains other related provisions.

AB 799 (Swanson D)   Commercially sexually exploited minors.
Status: 6/8/2011-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. THIRD READING
Summary:
Current law, until January 1, 2012, authorizes the District Attorney of Alameda County to create a pilot project, contingent upon local funding, for the purposes of developing a comprehensive, replicative, multidisciplinary model to address the needs and effective treatment of commercially sexually exploited minors, as specified. This bill would extend the repeal date of these provisions to January 1, 2017. This bill would also require the district attorney to submit, on or before April 1, 2016, a prescribed report to the Legislature, contingent upon specified events.

AB 898 (Alejo D)   Crime victims: restitution: fine.
Status: 6/8/2011-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would make the minimum restitution fine not less than $300 , if the person is convicted of a felony, and not less than $150 , if the person is convicted of a misdemeanor, and make other conforming changes. By increasing the amounts deposited into the Restitution Fund, this bill would make an appropriation.

AB 1060 (Hernández, Roger D)   Crimes of violence: crimes at sea.
Status: 6/8/2011-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/8/2011-S. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would establish special maritime jurisdiction for crimes against persons on board a ship outside of the state under specified circumstances , including when there is a suspect on board a ship who is a citizen or resident of this state or a state which consents to the jurisdiction of this state, when the master of the ship or an official of the flag state, as defined, commits a suspect on board the ship to the custody of a law enforcement officer acting under the authority of this state, when the state where the crime occurred requests the exercise of jurisdiction by this state, when the crime occurs during a voyage on which over 1/2 of the revenue passengers on board the ship originally embarked and plan to finally disembark in this state, or where the victim is a California law enforcement officer on board the ship in connection with his or her official duties. The bill would provide that a crime against the person or property of another that is punishable by law when committed in this state shall be punishable in the same manner when committed within the special maritime criminal jurisdiction of this state, as specified. Because this bill would expand the application of crimes to a new category of people, it would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

AB 1165 (Achadjian R)   Domestic violence: probation: terms.
Status: 6/3/2011-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(8). (Last location was PUB. S. on 4/4/2011)
Location: 6/3/2011-A. 2 YEAR
Summary:
Current law requires that for a person granted probation for a conviction of domestic violence, the terms of the probation are required to include, among other things, a minimum period of probation of 36 months, notice to the victim of the disposition of the case, and successful completion of a batterer’s program, as defined, or, if such a program is not available, another appropriate counseling program designated by the court, for a period not less than one year. This bill would provide that the probation department shall be immune from liability for good faith conduct taken under these provisions. This bill contains other current laws.

SB 233 (Pavley D)   Emergency services and care.
Status: 6/9/2011-Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
Location: 6/9/2011-A. HEALTH
Summary:
Would recast the definition of emergency services and care to include other appropriate licensed persons acting within their scope of licensure under the supervision of a physician and surgeon. This bill would expand the definition of consultation to also mean the rendering of a decision regarding hospitalization or transfer and would provide that consultation includes review of the patient’s medical record, examination, and treatment of the patient in person by a specialty physician and surgeon when determined to be medically necessary jointly by the treating physician and surgeon and the consulting physician and surgeon, or by other appropriate licensed persons acting within their scope of licensure under the supervision of a physician and surgeon. This bill would expand the definition of when stabilization of a patient has occurred to include the opinion of other appropriate licensed persons acting within their scope of licensure under the supervision of a physician and surgeon. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 242 (Corbett D)   Social networking Internet Web sites: privacy: minors.
Status: 6/3/2011-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(8). (Last location was THIRD READING on 6/2/2011)
Location: 6/3/2011-S. 2 YEAR
Summary:
Would prohibit a social networking Internet Web site, as defined, from displaying to the public or other registered users any information about a registered user of that Internet Web site, other than the user’s name and city of residence, without the express agreement of the user. The bill would require a social networking Internet Web site to establish a process for new users to set their privacy settings as part of the registration process that explains privacy options in plain language, and to make privacy settings available in an easy-to-use format. The bill would require a social networking Internet Web site to remove the personal identifying information, as defined, of any registered user, and would require removal of that information regarding a user under 18 years of age upon request by the user’s parent, within 96 hours upon his or her request. This bill would impose a civil penalty, not to exceed $10,000, for each willful and knowing violation of these provisions.

SB 285 (Correa D)   Massage therapy instruction: fraud: criminal prosecutions.
Status: 6/9/2011-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/9/2011-A. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would provide that a person who provides a certificate, transcript, diploma, or other document, or otherwise affirms that a person has received instruction in massage therapy knowing that the person has not received instruction in massage therapy or knowing that the person has not received massage therapy instruction consistent with that document or affirmation is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to specified penalties. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 453 (Correa D)   Pupil rights: bullying: school safety plans: suspension and expulsion.
Status: 6/3/2011-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(8). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/24/2011)
Location: 6/3/2011-S. 2 YEAR
Summary:
Would encourage, as comprehensive school safety plans are reviewed and updated, all plans, to the extent that resources are available, to include policies and procedures to ensure that appropriate strategies, resources, training, and other prevention or intervention efforts are in place to deal with the remediation and termination of bullying, as specified. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.

SB 557 (Kehoe D)   Family justice centers.
Status: 6/9/2011-Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and JUD.
Location: 6/9/2011-A. PUB. S.
Summary:
Would authorize the cities of San Diego and Anaheim, and the counties of Alameda and Sonoma, until January 1, 2014, to establish a multiagency, multidisciplinary family justice center to assist victims of domestic violence, officer-involved domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, stalking, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and human trafficking, to ensure that victims of abuse are able to access all needed services in one location and to enhance victim safety, increase offender accountability, and improve access to services for victims of crime, as provided. The bill would permit the family justice centers to be staffed by law enforcement, medical, social service, and child welfare personnel, among others. This bill contains other related provisions.

SB 576 (Calderon D)   Sentencing.
Status: 6/9/2011-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Location: 6/9/2011-A. PUB. S.
Summary:
Current law provides that most felonies are punishable by a triad of terms of incarceration in the state prison, comprised of low, middle, and upper terms. This bill would extend to January 1, 2016, the provisions of law that provide that the court shall, in its discretion, impose the term or enhancement that best serves the interests of justice. The bill would also make conforming changes. This bill contains other related provisions.

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A newly released National Institute of Justice sponsored-study from San Diego State University attempts to shine light on the ongoing issue of international sex trafficking. The study focuses on the major border crossing between California and Tijuana, Mexico. The author chose this location because it’s considered a “major tourism and weekend destination for Southern Californians…It’s red light district draws a large number of visitors from both sides of the border…[and] there is no shortage of demand for fringe services.”

This study included “interviews with 220 women from Tijuana’s sex industry, 92 pimps and sex trade facilitators, 30 government and law enforcement officials, and 20 community based-service providers.”

[Access the study]

The inclusion of community based-service providers and victim advocacy organizations in this study demonstrates how important rape crisis centers and other non-profits have been in providing services to those in need and exposing and disrupting trafficking markets. Victim advocacy organizations should continue to partner with their local officials and law enforcement to find innovative and effective ways at raising public awareness about the growing problem of sex trafficking. From the study:

“…among the most effective ways to reduce sex trafficking is perhaps through a public awareness campaign…The idea is to create and maintain a hostile socio-legal environment for sex traffickers and increase victims awareness of available services.”

The report offers several other suggestions on how non-profits, victim advocates, and public officials can do to further prevent the growth of trafficking. You can download the report by visiting this link, Sex Trafficking in a Border Community: A Field Study of Sex Trafficking in Tijuana, Mexico.

Let us know how you’re fighting to end sex trafficking in your community!