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

There is a sports term called “armchair quarterback.”  The armchair quarterback sits in an area of safety and non risk and wears the “after the fact” glasses and comments on the actions of the person who actually played quarterback in the football game.  The armchair quarterback thinks that the quarterback has underperformed, made some bad plays or just did a horrible job.  Armchair quarterbacks feel that they can do a better job than the person that is actually doing the job.  I have had opportunities to visit rape crisis centers from California to Maine and have met a few Armchair Executive Directors.

Executive Directors have various skill sets, talents, management styles, leadership abilities etc.  Depending on what mechanism you use to measure their effectiveness or worth; some Executive Directors would rank higher than others on the scale of “How in the heck did she become an Executive Director” to “She was born to lead this organization.” 

Sometimes rationales for decision making by Executive Directors may not be necessarily clear to the Armchair Executive Director and may result in unfair and harsh critiques and criticisms.

Armchair Executive Director

“With budget cuts why can’t she just write more grants?”

Executive Director’s Action

Writing grants is one option.  Other options include creating a fund development plan that involves building a donor base, starting a capital giving campaign and building partnerships to secure foundation funding.  These activities take planning and time.

Armchair Executive Director

“Why has she not reprimanded that employee for his behavior?”

Executive Director’s Action

The handling of employee personnel issues are confidential and the specific actions cannot be discussed with staff at large.

 Armchair Executive Director

“She spends a lot of time in meetings and on the telephone, while I am dealing with multiple clients and crisis line calls.”

 Executive Director’s Action

One aspect of my job is to network in the community and build collaboratives to further the agency’s mission.

Most staff at crisis centers have one or maybe two supervisors; the Executive Director has as many supervisors as there are Board of Directors.  The Executive Director is the bridge between the Board of Directors and the staff and volunteers.  The Executive Director is expected to move forward the vision and mission as directed by the board and is also charged with motivating, directing and supporting staff.

To all the Executive Directors that are shaking up the status quo and not accepting things as “this is just the way things are.”  Keep on doing what you are doing and when you see that obstacle; go around it, go over it, or simply go through it.  To my Armchair Executive Directors – I hope you are taking notes; you may be called to duty next.

Pacifica, Calif.

For the students, presenters and staff who attended the A.S.C.E.N.D. Academy in Pacifica, Calif., this week was a time to look at oneself. Whether the discussion was about management styles, anti-oppression or financial stewardship, this week focused on deepening one’s awareness.

There were also opportunities for students to gain knowledge and skills that can benefit their agencies. Attendees left this training with more tools to use in their jobs, which will increase their value at their agencies and support their work in the field.

I’m new to this movement, so this was a huge learning experience for me. However, it occurred to me that because this work starts with the individual (the coordinator, the manager, the E.D.), this training is a learning experience for everyone — no matter how long you’ve been doing this work.

People who work in this movement must constantly ask the question: “What is the root of this problem?” And then: “How can I improve this?”

I realized that the answer for eliminating oppression — the root of sexual violence — is impossible if the focus starts on others. Sexual violence will continue … unless the leaders in the movement are willing to constantly look at oneself — What are my biases? Am I being an ally? Do I practice what I preach?

It takes an enormous amount of humbleness to be a lifelong learner. Examining one’s own judgments — racism, sexism, homophobia, classism — requires a willingness to suffer an injury to one’s self esteem. In order to create any kind of change in the world, let go of your own self-importance.

You can start this habit by asking yourself everyday: Am I a reflection of the community I want to live in?

Jacquie Marroquin & Melanie Berru discuss leadership styles at the A.S.C.E.N.D. Academy.

On the fourth day of the A.S.C.E.N.D. Academy, the trainees (myself included) are focusing on management styles. Jacquie Marroquin and Melanie Berru asked attendees to think about: their first inclinations when they receive a project; how they react under pressure; what feedback they’ve been given about themselves; and what direction seems to best describe you?

Jacquie & Melanie adopted an activity from the Leadership Compass: Deepening Perceptions to Self & Others. I think every organization should have its employees understand the Leadership Compass — I learned a lot about myself and my peers. The Leadership Compass divides leadership styles into four extremes: warrior, healer, visionary and teacher. Of course, individuals identify with components of each style; however, people generally default to a dominant style.

Trainees gathered with people who identified as the same dominant management style. Each group discussed their strengths and weaknesses based on the extreme characteristics of their dominant management style. Then trainees identified their second, third and least dominant management style. In small groups, attendees worked to create a $5,000 campaign — working from their least dominant management style.

Some of the feedback from the groups was that it was possible to work from your least dominant management style if one is open to it. Attendees also realized that they already possessed some of the skills within their least dominant style.

“The goal of today’s workshop — Understanding Your Leadership Style — is to create, nurture and develop consciousness for the students,” Berru said. “To be able to develop consiousness of the community and of self. To be able to look at their role in leadership and the context of anti-oppression. To be able to make sure that we learn to live by a different model.”

Download resources from this presentation:

• Understanding Your Leadership Style
  
• Being an Effective, Knowledgeable Supervisor
  

Some are presented with a multitude of opportunities.  For others the opportunities are few and far in between.  I believe one of the best ways to take advantage of an opportunity is to be prepared.  That preparation can come through work and life experiences or building your skill set through specific training seminars or formal education such as college courses and certified training programs.

At the age of 17 I began working at the local rape crisis center while attending college.   After completing the 40 hour crisis intervention/volunteer training class I believed that I could make a difference in the community.   On a regular basis I looked at the agency organizational chart to view where I wanted to transition next.  I would research what experience was needed, where I could get trained and learn from people that already held that position.  Sometimes the agency would pay for the training and sometimes I had to scrape together the money and take time off from work to attend.  Throughout my 14 years of working at one rape crisis center I held virtually every job at the agency:

• Receptionist
• Project Aide
• Prevention Educator
• Volunteer Advocate
• Group Counseling Coordinator
• SART Advocate
• Volunteer Coordinator
• Program Manager
• Prevention Coordinator
• Grants Manager
• Executive Director

Whatever you decide to do or however you decide to achieve your goals of leadership; I believe the CALCASA A.S.C.E.N.D. Academy is a great way to receive vital training around leadership principals and management skills for working at nonprofit agencies.  The A.S.C.E.N.D. Academy deadline has been extended to Tuesday, November 23, 2010.  To view more information on the A.S.C.E.N.D.  Academy click below

A.S.C.E.N.D. Academy Flyer

 A.S.C.E.N.D. Application

This week, CALCASA announced its newly appointed Executive Director Sandra Henriquez. She has a long history of involvement in this movement — more than 25 years at the local level. She has demonstrated leadership at the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women (now Peace Over Violence), as well as having served on CALCASA’s Board of Directors.

In this video, Sandra expresses her excitement to join the agency. She reaches out to CALCASA member agencies and stakeholders as she looks forward to strengthening relationships, developing leadership and building capacity.

During the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference which took place in Hollywood, California on September 1 -3, 2010, there were more than 80 workshops.  The Leadership Development Track featured Leadership Roundtable Discussions. 

The purpose of the Leadership Roundtable Discussions were to provide an opportunity for each participant affinity group to have an open, honest, and most of all safe space to discuss the issues of leadership from a personal community and organizational framework.  Each group was co-facilitated by a local sexual assault provider and / or a national technical assistance provider.

Leadership Roundtable: Latina /o Community

Co-facilitators: Luz Marquez – Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA) and Yesenia Curiel – Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center

During the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference which took place in Hollywood, California on September 1-3,2010, there were more than 80 workshops.  The Leadership Development Track  featured the following workshop:

Workshop Title: Leadership in Changing Time

Presenter:  Christi Hurt – National Resource Sharing Project

Description:  Leaders emerge during times of uncertainty.  This workshop supported emerging leaders at any level of the organization to identify the skill they can develop and bring forward to support the development and momentum inside their agencies.

During the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference which took place in Hollywood, California on September 1-3,2010, there were more than 80 workshops.  The Leadership Development Track  featured the following workshop:

Workshop Title: Choices that Matter: Making strategic decisions to strengthen  and sustain your organizations.

Presenter:  Christi Hurt – National Resource Sharing Project

Description:  Leaders, managers, and staff make decisions every day that impact the long term health and well being of their organization.  This workshop re-framed the daily decisions in terms of their long term impact and provided participants with a set of critical questions to ask when faced with an important decisions.

During the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference which took place in Hollywood, California on September 1 -3, 2010, there were more than 80 workshops.  The Leadership Development Track featured Leadership Roundtable Discussions. 

The purpose of the Leadership Roundtable Discussions were to provide an opportunity for each participant affinity group to have an open, honest, and most of all safe space to discuss the issues of leadership from a personal community and organizational framework.  Each group was co-facilitated by a local sexual assault provider and / or a national technical assistance provider.

Leadership Roundtable:  Maisie Tenorio – Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence and Debra Sue – Center for the Pacific Asian Family

During the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference which took place in Hollywood, California on September 1 -3, 2010, there were more than 80 workshops.  The Leadership Development Track featured Leadership Roundtable Discussions. 

The purpose of the Leadership Roundtable Discussions were to provide an opportunity for each participant affinity group to have an open, honest, and most of all safe space to discuss the issues of leadership from a personal community and organizational framework.  Each group was co-facilitated by a local sexual assault provider and / or a national technical assistance provider.

Leadership Roundtable: African American Communities

Co-facilitators: Luz Marquez – Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA) and Val Ferguson – Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA)

During the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference which took place in Hollywood, California on September 1 -3, 2010, there were more than 80 workshops.  The Leadership Development Track featured Leadership Roundtable Discussions. 

The purpose of the Leadership Roundtable Discussions were to provide an opportunity for each participant affinity group to have an open, honest, and most of all safe space to discuss the issues of leadership from a personal community and organizational framework.  Each group was co-facilitated by a local sexual assault provider and / or a national technical assistance provider.

Leadership Roundtable: Persons with Disabilities

Co-facilitators:  Charity Hope – Vera Institute, Jessie Towne Cardensas – Center for Communities Solution, and Cema Mastroleo – SafePlace

During the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference which took place in Hollywood, California on September 1 -3, 2010, there were more than 80 workshops.  The Leadership Development Track featured the following workshop:

Workshop Title: Planning for the Next Generation of Women of Color Leaders in the Movement

Presenters: Ellen Yin Wycoff – California Coalition Against Sexual Assault  an Yolanda Gotier – Alternative to Family Violence

Description:  This workshop provided women of color and allies the opportunity to discuss key strategies and steps to develop and promote leadership opportunities for women of color in the violence against women movement.

During the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference which took place in Hollywood, California on September 1-3,2010, there were more than 80 workshops.  The Leadership Development Track featured Leadership Roundtable Discussions.

The purpose of the Leadership Roundtable Discussions were to provide an opportunity for each participant affinity group to have an open, honest, and most of all safe space to discuss the issues of leadership from a personal community and organizational framework.  Each group was co-facilitated by a local sexual assault provider and / or a national technical assistance provider.

Leadership Roundtable: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Communities

Co-facilitators: Leona Smith – Peace Over Violence, Mercy Salazar – Anti-Violence Program of New York,  Janelle White – San Francisco Women Against Rape, and Alena Marie – Just Communities & CALCASA Dismantling Oppression Work Group (DOWG)

DOWG Members: Lita, Jacquie, Tiombe, Alena

When someone says “You really should have been there” or “You missed a wonderful event”.  This is truly accurate when referring to the 2010 CALCASA Statewide Pre-Conference.  On the first day, CALCASA was deliberate in having a plenary discussion that addressed inclusive leadership for the next generation.  This plenary was facilitated by the CALCASA Dismantling Oppression Work Group (DOWG).  DOWG’s intention at this statewide plenary was to seed conversation in preparing California rape crisis centers to develop inclusive leadership for the next generation of advocates and to provide tools to support participants in becoming strong allies committed to organizations, programs, and services. Participants in this plenary where actively involved in trying to achieve the following objectives:

• Learn and practice a common, social-justice language of equity and alliance.
• To deepen practical understanding of how inequity impacts leadership opportunities.
• To critically analyze current succession planning efforts.
• To use a transition framework to harness creative, inclusive leadership development.

The DOWG was established in 2005 by a small group of activist from the CALCASA Council and membership organizations who perceived a critical need to address issues of oppression and equity within the movement to end sexual violence.  The DOWG consist of a five person panel: Lita Mercado, Jacquie Marroquin, Alena Marie, Tiombe Preston, and Allan Creighton.  The DOWG participated as or were primary trainers at the following events:

• CALCASA Social Justice and Inclusion
• CALCASA Executive Director Meeting
• 2010 CALCASA Statewide Pre-Conference
• 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference

To find out more information about DOWG and or CALCASA trainings, please contact Kavin Black at CALCASA – kavin@calcasa.org or (916)446-2520 ext 305.  Please provide comments in the box below regarding this article

By Paul Elias The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO – The California Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the constitutionality of a “Jessica’s Law” provision that allows indefinite confinement of sexually violent predators.

It’s the first of two decisions the court is expected to issue over the legality of the law that was passed as Proposition 82 in 2006.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule Monday on a separate legal challenge to a provision prohibiting released predators from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park.

On Thursday, the court dealt with whether sexually violent predators can be treated differently from other violent felons, who can be held only for defined terms in mental health facilities after prison.

We all make mistakes.  Some are more public than others.  When faced with admitting, and amending, an error you can either deny, obfuscate and hide — or you can do what the city of Grand Forks did when they realized there was a problem with their annual calendar.  The best moments in leadership are all about balancing honesty, accountability, humor, appropriate self-depreciating and pragmatism.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger with Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, left, and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg - Image from the Sacramento Bee

Earlier this morning, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gave his final State of the State speech.

Some of the topics he discussed included, education, prisons, as well as budget and health care reform.

Specifically, the Governor said he will not cut funding for education in his budget. He proposed “a constitutional guarantee that California will never spend more money on prisons than on higher education.”

For more information read: State of the State – Arnold Schwarzenegger vows to protect schools, rein in prison spending

You can also read the full state of the state address, by clicking here.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is entering his last year in office and will give his final State of the State speech tomorrow morning, at 10am.

Schwarzenegger will be setting “the stage for one more fight with the Legislature over a budget that will total $89 billion this year.”

The financial strains facing California show how local governments are still dealing with the recession that began in 2007 even as the national economy recovers from the worst slump since the 1930s. The latest struggle comes after legislators already erased $60 billion in gaps in the past two years by raising taxes, slashing school spending and borrowing, in a political battle that pushed the state close to insolvency.

For more information read:

• Schwarzenegger Girds for Deficit Fight as Borrowing Costs Soar
• Letter May Telegraph State-of-the-State and Budget Themes

Schwarzenegger sets the bar high for his last year in office

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made it sound easy to fix California when he first ran for governor, but his last six years have proved otherwise.

He took office in 2003 on a promise to “end the crazy deficit spending” and change state government as we knew it.

As Schwarzenegger enters his final year in office, however, California faces massive fiscal problems, while advocates of government reform say a constitutional convention, not an ambitious chief executive, is the best cure for the state’s woes.

California Legislature reconvenes

Both houses of the Legislature reconvene today, and hearings begin anew.

New peril in war zones

BAGHDAD – Capt. Margaret H. White began a relationship with a warrant officer while both were training to be deployed to Iraq. By the time they arrived this year at Camp Taji, north of here, she felt what she called “creepy vibes” and tried to break it off.

Perverting justice

Jessica’s Law prevents paroled sex offenders from residing near schools or parks. That means they can only live one place in S.F.: on the streets.

Assemblyman John Pérez, “an openly gay Latino Democrat from Los Angeles, made history Thursday when he was unanimously chosen by the Assembly’s Democratic Caucus to succeed Karen Bass as the lower house’s leader.”

Pérez is a freshman lawmaker. He will be formally voted in as the Assembly leader in January. Pérez is the Assembly’s “first openly gay leader. The Los Angeles-raised UC Berkeley graduate will inherit a mountain of challenges, in particular the state’s staggering projected $20.7 billion deficit through June 2011.”

Continue reading here.

Statement by Vice President Biden on the 10th Anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

“Violence against women is found in every culture around the world. It is one of our most pervasive global problems, yet it is preventable.  When gang rape is a weapon of war, when women are beaten behind closed doors, or when young girls are trafficked in brothels and fields – we all suffer. This violence robs women and girls of their full potential, causes untold human suffering, and has great social and economic costs.  On this 10th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, I urge all Americans to join with the international community in calling for an end to these abuses.”

Over 70 percent of SD sex offenders violate law

More than 70 percent of the registered sex offenders in San Diego County are violating a state law by living too close to schools or parks.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports Sunday that 1,266 out of 1,731 offenders’ addresses made public by the state are in violation of Jessica’s Law. The data was analyzed by the nonprofit group the Watchdog Institute. Jessica’s Law, which critics say is poorly worded, was approved by voters in 2006. It bars sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park.

Jessica’s Law too vague to enforce? — Watch Dog Institute

More than 70 percent of registered sex offenders in San Diego County are violating a state law by living too close to schools and parks.  Jessica’s Law, which was approved by California voters in November 2006, toughened sanctions against sex offenders and bars them from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park. In San Diego County, 1,266 of 1,731 offenders whose addresses are made public by the state live in those restricted zones, according to an analysis by the Watchdog Institute, a nonprofit investigative journalism unit based at San Diego State University.

Hard to track sex offenders as they harness tech gadgets

The pursuit of Lee Shelton began the moment the sex offender was released from prison.

It ended months later with a U.S. Marshals Service helicopter hovering near a D.C. junior high school as Shelton kissed a 14-year-old boy. In between, authorities used two global positioning system devices to track him, learned he was online at the library and seized a secret laptop with a power source in the trunk of his car. He is back in jail.

Sex offenders more difficult to monitor

It ended months later with a US Marshals Service helicopter hovering near a District of Columbia junior high school as Shelton kissed a 14-year-old boy. In between, authorities used two Global Positioning System devices to help track him, learned he was online at the library and seized a secret laptop with a power source in the trunk of his car. His parole was revoked, and he is back in jail.

Shelton, who was originally convicted of molesting boys at the National Air and Space Museum and on the grounds of the Washington Monument, is one of thousands of sex offenders accused of similar crimes after their release from prison or while on probation. His parole violation illustrates the challenges of monitoring hundreds of thousands of offenders.

CALCASA is proud to be hosting the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference in Los Angeles. To get announcements, registration information and other updates, CALCASA is proud to be hosting the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference in Los Angeles click here.

Legislation introduced by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) has cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee and is headed for the full Senate. The proposed legislation protects funds for programs that assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Crapo and Leahy sponsored the Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act to protect essential services to victims under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).

The VOCA law established a dedicated fund comprised of criminal fines and penalties collected that has become a key source of support for local violence and assault response programs. But Crapo noted those funds have come under fire almost every year as Congress redirects these “dedicated” funds from the intended recipients to other unrelated federal programs. The Crapo-Leahy bill would rededicate these funds back to victim support programs.

Continue reading the press release here.

Every organization will experience some amount of turnover with staff.  In 2008 Compdata Surveys indicated that non-profits had a 16.8% staff turnover rate.  Depending on the position, the staff’s experience and their connection to the community; the void they leave  can be difficult to fill.  This is especially evident when the personnel that departs is the Executive Director.  Regardless of if the Executive Director relinquishes their position on good terms or in a chaotic event; without a succession plan the board of directors, management and staff can be left with increased levels of stress and mounting questions of agency viability, all while trying to accomplish their basic daily duties.  This will be the first of a monthly series dedicated to topics related to board members titled Dear Board Member

One of the key characteristics that successful businesses have in common is their ability to plan for various situations.  They have a plan for a worst case scenario as well as a growth plan when things are going great.  Planning gives you the luxury of time to work on a protocol for an event before it actually occurs.  When an Executive Director leaves and you are forced to look at a critical situation very quickly; sometimes the solution you come up with is not the best solution.

As a board member you can use this as an opportunity to start a conversation with other board members regarding what you will need to do in order to have a succession plan in place at your organization.  You are probably aware of agencies who have had a successful succession plan and those who had no plan at all.  Organizations without a transition plan after an Executive Director has vacated their position are in danger of losing staff and volunteers and trust from constituents and the community.  Not having a succession plan can be very costly to your organization.

Whether transition in leadership is already a challenge for your organization or you are being proactive and have time to develop a plan, CALCASA can provide you with resources to be of assistance.  If you have experience or insight that can be beneficial to your peers regarding transition in leadership, please included the information in the comment box below.

Additional Resources

Leadership In Transition

Board Member Guide to Transition

Building Leaderful Organizations

Emergency Succession Planning

Succession Planning & Sustainability

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed SBX3 13 by Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose) to restore $16.3 million of state funding to support California domestic violence shelters.

“I want to congratulate the many groups that put victims first and came together to find this creative solution that will keep domestic violence shelters throughout the state open,” said Governor Schwarzenegger.

“I am proud to sign this bipartisan legislation that is good news for every Californian whose life is devastated by violence in the home and will help ensure domestic violence victims have a safe place to go. And, I encourage the legislature to continue looking for a permanent funding solution for this important program so domestic violence shelters aren’t faced with the same uncertainty next year.”

By failing to pass a balanced budget that fell $1 billion short of what legislative leaders had agreed to, the legislature forced the Governor to cut funding for programs he never had proposed cutting, including funding for domestic violence shelters. Since the budget was signed the Governor’s Administration has been working to restore funding to this important program and will continue to work for a permanent funding solution.

SBX3 13 provides for a one-time $16.3 million loan from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund to fund domestic violence shelters statewide for the 2009-10 fiscal year. The loan will be repaid with interest at the rate earned by the Pooled Money Investment Account by June 30, 2013.

Please click here to read the full press release.

from Rep Delahunt’s office

Last week, U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA) announced that the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight will hold a hearing on Wednesday October 21 to examine international violence against women. Delahunt said:

Violence against women is on the rise around the world. It is time to examine what the Congress, the Obama Administration and United Nations (UN) can do to stem this growing tide of violence.

The World Health Organization has found that violence against women is widespread and has far-reaching health consequences. A recent reported called on “governments to take concerted action and makes recommendations for the health, education and criminal justice sectors to take the problem seriously.”

At Wednesday’s hearing, the panel expects to hear from Actress Nicole Kidman, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Goodwill Ambassador, Breakthrough Founder and Executive Director, Mallika Dutt, U.S. State Department Ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer, and Co-chair of the Women’s Caucus, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).

CSG Justice Center Launches National Reentry Resource Center

From The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center

Earlier this week, The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center announced its launch of the National Reentry Resource Center—an unprecedented initiative to advance the safe and successful return of individuals from prisons and jails to their communities. Among those served by the resource center will be states, tribes, territories, local governments, service providers, nonprofit organizations and adult and juvenile corrections institutions.

House Votes to Expand Hate Crimes Definition
By CARL HULSE

The House voted Thursday to expand the definition of violent federal hate crimes to those committed because of a victim’s sexual orientation, a step that would extend new protection to lesbian, gay and transgender people.

…The new measure would broaden the definition to include those committed because of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It was approved by the House right before a weekend when gay rights will be a focus in Washington, with a march to the Capitol and a speech by President Obama to the Human Rights Campaign.

Franken Amendment Passes

Yesterday, the amendment offered by U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to stop funding defense contractors who deny assault victims their day in court passed the United States Senate by a vote of 68 – 30.

Last Thursday, Sen. Franken introduced an amendment (S.2588) to the FY2010 Defense Appropriations Bill that would restrict funding to defense contractors who commit employees to mandatory binding arbitration in the case of sexual assault. The legislation, endorsed by 61 women’s, labor and public interest groups, was inspired by the story of Jamie Leigh Jones, who watched the vote from the Senate gallery today.

Obama nominates N.H. judge to Justice post

from the Office on Violence Against Women

Last week, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Judge Susan B. Carbon to be the next Director of the Office on Violence Against Women.

Susan Carbon, first appointed to the bench in 1991, has been a Supervisory Judge of the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Family Division since 1996.  Judge Carbon has made many contributions to our collective work, including serving as faculty for the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence.

USA Today: DNA cited as reports of rape tumble

By Donna Leinwand

Reported rapes have fallen to the lowest level in 20 years at a time when DNA evidence helps lock up more rapists, and victims are more willing to work with police and prosecutors, victims advocates and crime experts say.

The FBI estimates 89,000 women reported being raped in 2008 — 29 women for every 100,000 people. That’s down from a high of 109,062 reported rapes in 1992 — 43 women for every 100,000 people. Data for 2009 are not yet available.

Christina Vasquez - CALCASA's WOC North Caucus Representative

CALCASA is excited to announce, and introduce, the new addition to CALCASA’s Leadership. Yesterday, Christina Vasquez from SafeQuest Solano, was elected onto CALCASA’s Council as the new Women of Color (WOC) North Caucus Representative.

Christina is the Volunteer Outreach and Training Coordinator at SafeQuest Solano, a Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center in Fairfield, CA.  She has been with SafeQuest since 1995 and has held various roles at the agency. She has instructed Self Defense classes and has provided direct advocacy to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, both as a volunteer and as a paid staff member.  In reference to applying for the WOC North Caucus Representative position, Christina shares:

I am committed and dedicated to the work of CALCASA, the work that you do to provide [member] agencies the tools and resources to continue the work to end sexual violence, advocating justice, providing leadership and technical support.

CALCASA is excited to welcome Christina to CALCASA’s Council and Leadership.  We look forward to working with her and know that she is a valuable asset to the movement. Please join us in Welcoming Christina to CALCASA as the newly elected WOC North Caucus Representative!

If you are a WOC advocate at a CALCASA Member Rape Crisis Center (North Region) and are interested in learning more about the WOC North Caucus, please feel free to email Christina Vasquez.

Information from Sen. Franken’s office

Yesterday, the amendment offered by U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to stop funding defense contractors who deny assault victims their day in court passed the United States Senate by a vote of 68 – 30.

Last Thursday, Sen. Franken introduced an amendment (S.2588) to the FY2010 Defense Appropriations Bill that would restrict funding to defense contractors who commit employees to mandatory binding arbitration in the case of sexual assault. The legislation, endorsed by 61 women’s, labor and public interest groups, was inspired by the story of Jamie Leigh Jones, who watched the vote from the Senate gallery today.Senator Franken said:

I’m proud of what we accomplished today. Victims of sexual assault deserve their day in court and no corporation should be able to deny them that right. Jamie’s courage in telling her story will help women all over this country and I’m honored to have been a part of that.

“I am highly honored that Senator Franken and his wife have created this amendment to ensure that others do not have to endure the suffering that I have,” said Jones. “This amendment makes all the hard times that I have gone through, when going public with such a personal tragedy, worth every tear shed from telling and retelling my horrific experience. I know this amendment will save so many in the future.”

Specifically, Sen. Franken’s amendment:

• Does not require contractors to change or modify existing employment contracts.  It only bars funds to contractors who continue to use these mandatory arbitration clauses in their employment contracts.
• Narrowly targets the most egregious violations and applies to defense contracts, many of which are administered abroad, where women are the most vulnerable and least likely to have support resources.  The amendment will apply to many contractors that have already demonstrated their incompetence in efficiently carrying out defense contracts, and have further demonstrated their unwillingness and their inability to protect women from sexual assault.
• Applies to claims arising out of sexual assault, like assault & battery (including rape), intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring, retention, and supervision, as well as Title VII civil rights claims, which were specifically designed to protect vulnerable groups in the workplace.

Last week, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) introduced an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Bill that would ban the practice of committing employees to arbitration in the case of assault. The legislation was inspired by the story of Jamie Leigh Jones and is currently pending in the Senate.

Jones was a 19-yr-old employee of defense contractor KBR stationed in Iraq who was gang raped by her co-workers and imprisoned in a shipping container when she tried to report the crime. Her father and congressman worked together to secure her safe return to the United States, but once she was home, she learned a fine-print clause in her KBR contract banned her from taking her case to court, instead forcing her into an “arbitration” process that would be run by KBR itself.

“Arbitration is conducted behind closed doors, doesn’t allow you a jury of your peers, and fails to establish precedent,” said Sen. Franken. “Many of our nation’s most cherished civil rights were established by individuals bringing claims in court. Arbitration has its place in our system, but handling claims of sexual assault and egregious violations of civil rights is not its place.”

The amendment seeks to narrowly target the most egregious violations and applies to defense contracts, many of which are administered abroad, where women are the most vulnerable and least likely to have support resources. The amendment will apply to many contractors that have already demonstrated their incompetence in efficiently carrying out defense contracts, and have further demonstrated their unwillingness and their inability to protect women from sexual assault.

Several organizations have endorsed Sen. Franken’s amendment, including Minnesota NOW, the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV), the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Sexual Violence Center, Legal Momentum, National Employment Lawyers Association, the Leadership Council on Civil Rights, the Consumers Union, the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and US PIRG.

“This amendment reflects a critically important step in safeguarding the rights of those who have experienced discrimination in the form of sexual violence, harassment and stalking,” said Donna Dunn, Executive Director of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault. “We know that justice for victims of violence often seems elusive. It is very important that each person have the right to assess and choose the options that they believe best fit their needs. This amendment is a giant step in that direction.”

“No survivor of sexual assault should be denied the ability to seek justice,” said Terri Poore, Policy Chair of NAESV. “Asking a victim to enter into arbitration with someone who raped her or a company that wouldn’t protect her is outrageous and sends a clear message that such violence is simply not taken seriously.”

(9:35 minutes) This presentations presents perspectives on the role of leadership in linking primary prevention principles with movement-building and violence against women prevention efforts, and the steps needed to move from conceptualization to actualization of core leadership principles within the movement.

These materials were created by Prevention Institute, a national non-profit organization working to put prevention at the center of community well-being.

This presentation was adapted from the “The Role of Leadership in Creating Momentum for Primary Prevention of Violence Against Women” web conferences given on May 5th and May 7th, 2009.Other related materials include: Poised for Prevention [Download at Website] Collaborative Leadership Assessment Scale [PDF] Amy Lehrner and Nicole E. Allen, Still a Movement After All These Years? Current Tensions in the Domestic Violence Movement, Violence Against Women, published on March 5, 2009 [View Abstract] Amy Lehrner and Nicole E. Allen, Social change movements and the struggle over meaning-making: a case study of domestic violence narratives, American Journal of Community Psychology. 2008 Dec; 42(3-4):220-34. [View Abstract] Critical Conversations: How to Talk to Young People About Dating Violence [PDF] from Domestic and Sexual Violence Services of Carbon County

Memphis, TN – September 22-23, 2009 marked two days of challenging and rewarding dialogue amongst women of color in the field to end violence against women in the U.S. Tracey Wright of the National Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project, Monika Johnson Hostler of the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and Luz Marquez from National Organization of Sisters of Colors Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA) facilitated challenging discussions on the shared experiences of women of color working to end sexual assault.  The Roundtable served as a wonderful opportunity for advocates to network with representatives from across the United States and the territories, including Guam.

Before the start of the conference, participants were encouraged to tour the National Civil Rights Museum a few minutes away from where the Roundtable discussion would ensue.  The National Civil Rights Museum was built around the Lorraine Motel where Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968.  The museum narrates the struggle of African Americans in the  United States fighting for civil rights and the intersection of oppression that connects people across identity markers such as race, gender, class, sexuality, age, persecution based on political or religious beliefs, language, and nationality.  Visiting the museum was a powerful beginning for the two-day Roundtable that brought advocates together.

The Best Question from the Last Two Weeks

The tragedy of the Jaycee Dugard case has (rightly) resulted in quite a bit of media attention and interest.  At this early stage, reliable facts are just starting to emerge – despite the volume of coverage and conversation.  The paucity of new information, however, hasn’t stopped more than a few media outlets from asking a whole host of questions that I suspect no one knows the answer to, such as

Why would someone do this?

I don’t think that the media poses these questions out of malice, or ill intent. I think that journalists are trying to respond to the intense public interest (and outrage) that a crime like this one could happen in one of our California communities. I also think that some of the relentlessness of the coverage is also the product of the 24-hour news cycle that demands new information on a constant basis.

Continue reading the article here.

California to Submit Population Management Plan that Prioritizes Public Safety and Relieves overcrowding

Last week, The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) announced it will “file a comprehensive plan with the federal three judge panel that reforms the prison system over several years and eventually could exceed the panel’s order to bring the operational capacity to 137.5 percent of combined design capacity of the state’s 33 prisons.”

California’s domestic violence shelters prepare for funding fight

By Sean Maher

California’s domestic violence shelters, hit with a huge budget loss when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cut all their state funding in July, pledged Tuesday to continue pressing for that money to be restored after a bill that would have done just that failed in the state Senate.

Six of the state’s 94 domestic violence shelters have closed since Schwarzenegger used a line-item veto July 28 to cut the $16.3 million California provided across the system, said Camille Hayes, a spokeswoman for The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence.

Opinion

What we can learn from the Dugard case

Sarah Tofte

…During the 18 years Jaycee was missing, in the aftermath of a series of horrendous crimes against children, California legislators and their counterparts across the nation addressed the problem of sexual violence primarily by establishing and expanding registration and community notification requirements for convicted sex offenders.

Courts, policymakers and the public operated on the assumption that sex-offender laws worked and were worth the money, even if they meant diverting resources from prevention efforts. Lawmakers have poured a tremendous amount of resources into these programs with strong public support.

by Michael Rushford

California has had no shortage of notorious criminals over the years. Often their crimes have exposed weaknesses in state and local law enforcement policy.

The Onion Field murder, which involved the 1963 kidnapping of two Los Angeles police officers and the killing of one, led to changes in police procedures during traffic stops. The slaughter of seven people in 1969 by followers of Charles Manson helped marshal public support for the death penalty and inspired reforms in legal procedures.

Today, as I was driving home from the office I heard a great radio  interview on American Public Media’s Marketplace with the founders of “Half the Sky” – here is how they describe their work:

Half the Sky lays out an agenda for the world’s women and three major abuses: sex trafficking and forced prostitution; gender-based violence including honor killings and mass rape; maternal mortality, which needlessly claims one woman a minute. We know there are many worthy causes competing for attention in the world. We focus on this one because this kind of oppression feels transcendent – and so does the opportunity. Outsiders can truly make a difference.

These days  when you read a newspaper or magazine article on business; it refers to how crucial it is to have good leadership and management of a organization or business during this time of economic uncertainty.

While this is true, it is an excellent protocol to have a solid and accurate understanding of the principles and practices of good management and leadership for all seasons.  When your organization has sound practices and principles regarding management and leadership, it will improve your chances to sustain and or prosper through what ever economic climate comes over the horizon.

Preparation, planning and implementation of good management and leadership principles can be beneficial to the organization’s Board of Directors, staff and volunteers; in addition to ultimately allowing the agency to better address the needs of their clients.

I have attached two documents regarding management and leadership concepts that were distributed during the Management Track at the CALCASA Statewide Leadership Conference “Ending Sexual Violence 2.0 – The Future is Connected”.  If you need additional resources or technical assistance on this topic, please contact Kavin Black, Organizational Services Coordinator at CALCASA.

Management Handbook

Leadership vs Management

This year’s CALCASA Leadership Conference included several awards, the most prestigious of which were given to the Adjutant General of the California National Guard and a State Senator. CALCASA’s Leadership Awards are givent to individuals who have shown leadership in the area of preventing and responding to sexual assault in our community.

Major General William Wade is the 44th Adjutant General of the California National Guard appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005. As the Adjutant General, he serves as Director of the State of California’s Military Department and leads the largest, most tasked National Guard force in the United States, with an authorized strength of 18,000 Army National Guard and 4,900 Air National Guard members serving in 35 countries.

Through his leadership he fostered a culture that has encouraged sexual assault survivors to come forth to seek help. His compassionate concern for his troops is well know throughout his command and their families. He holds his leaders to high standard in the California National Guard as evidenced by his pursuit of justice victims of sexual violence.

Senator Elaine Alquist is a lifetime champion of crime victims, and the first woman to chair the Senate Public Safety Committee. She authored ground breaking legislation that makes it easier to protect our children from sexual predators.

She has been fighting for several years now to repeal the Statute of Limitations for victims of sexual assault (SB 46). This bill was held in Senate Public Safety Committee, but Senator Alquist is working with leadership to get it passed later this year or in January. She has vowed to never give up on victims rights.

Both of these leaders have been a tremendous support to the work of sexual assault victim advocates, and CALCASA is proud to have honored them this year.

Recently, we had our first Anti-Oppression Institute in San Francisco, CA for Executive Directors and Key Managers at rape crisis centers. The Anti-Oppression Institute was facilitated by the Dismantling Oppressions Work Group (or the DOWG group), made up of some of CALCASA’s Leadership (i.e. Council and Board Members).

The DOWG group was born from a group of advocates in the movement who saw a need for more open dialogue about issues of anti-oppression and wanted to create safe spaces where rape crisis center staff could discuss and support each other’s work in the movement. The DOWG group began facilitating workshops during previous CALCASA Annual Leadership Conference where they experienced a high number of rape crisis center staff who were interested in being a part of these conversations. Due to its popularity, the DOWG group and CALCASA decided that these Institutes needed their own space, and a lot more time so the Anti-Oppression Institutes were born!

We successfully completed our first, in two, Anti-Oppression Institutes on August 3-4, 2009. Did you miss out on this one? Well, no worries, you have one more opportunity to be a part of these Institutes on:

• September 16-17, 2009 in Los Angeles, CA.
• Limited $400 travel stipends are available to participants so register early!

To register, please click here.

CALCASA ED Joins Council of State Governments Justice Center

A group of state and local leaders from across the nation?including respected state lawmakers and gubernatorial appointees who direct large state agencies, state supreme court chief justices and other court officials, and law enforcement executives and prosecutors met in Burlington, Vt., this week to discuss critical criminal justice policies.

Huffington Post: “Despite Promises, Some Rape Victims Stuck Paying Exam Bills”

Earlier this week, the Huffington Post, posted a story about rape victims who have been required to pay for evidence collection.

Editorial: Faces behind the numbers

Earlier this week, the Ventura Country Star posted an editorial about the recent domestic violence program funding cuts.

CA Prisons Must Cut Inmate Population

Earlier today, “a panel of federal judges ordered the California prison system on Tuesday to reduce its inmate population of 150,000 by 40,000 — roughly 27 percent — within two years. The judges said that reducing prison crowding in California was the only way to change what they called an unconstitutional prison health care system that causes one unnecessary death a week.”

Bipartisan Leaders Discuss Cutting-Edge Criminal Justice Policies

A group of state and local leaders from across the nation including respected state lawmakers and gubernatorial appointees who direct large state agencies, state supreme court chief justices and other court officials, and law enforcement executives and prosecutors met in Burlington, Vt., this week to discuss critical criminal justice policies.

Among the leaders, was CALCASA’s Executive Director Suzanne Brown-McBride, who serves on the center’s board of directors. The group gathered to determine the best ways to advance the latest thinking and evidence-based practices on issues such as corrections spending, recidivism, services and supports for survivors of crime, response to children of incarcerated parents and other at-risk juveniles, and the intersection of the criminal justice and mental health systems.

“CALCASA has come to be known as for our support of data-driven policies to make a true impact on communities,” said Brown-McBride. “We want to invest in effective public safety solutions that have an evidence base.”

The board of directors charted the Justice Center’s course for the coming year. The group examined options for keeping pace with the demand for its technical assistance, research, and policy guidance in such areas as prisoner reentry, Project Safe Neighborhoods, justice reinvestment, and criminal justice/mental health collaborations.

The Council of State Governments Justice Center is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. It provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies—informed by available evidence—to increase public safety and strengthen communities.

CALCASA is a statewide organization in California working to end sexual violence. CALCASA’s membership is the eighty-five rape crisis programs throughout California, Campus-based rape prevention programs, and allied organizations and individuals sharing the mission to end sexual violence.

Earlier this week, the Huffington Post, posted a story about rape victims who have been required to pay for evidence collection.

When a woman is raped, police turn to scientific evidence-semen, blood and tissue samples-to identify her attacker. The evidence is collected through a medical exam of the victim, who is not supposed to pay for this crime-solving process.

But 15 years after Congress passed a law to ensure that rape victims would never see a bill, loopholes and bureaucratic tangles still leave some victims paying for hospital expenses and exams, which can cost up to $1,200.

Click here to read the full article.

Earlier this morning, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a package of budget bills. The Governor said the package “contained ‘the good, the bad and the ugly,’ including no new tax increases and deep cuts in education and health care.”

Additional cuts were made “in parks and child welfare services because lawmakers sent him a package that was $156 million in the red.”

Click here to continue reading.

For more budget related news read:

• Schwarzenegger cuts $500 million more as he signs budget
• Analysis: Governor appeared to relish role of government slasher
• Governor signs $84.5 billion spending plan

from The International Cruise Victims Association, Inc. (ICV)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Cruise Victims Association, Inc. (ICV), a non-profit corporation formed by victims and families of victims of cruise crimes, applauded Congressional action to move the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 through Committee and for Congressional consideration. The pending legislation passed the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously last week, S.B. 588, and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is expected to begin mark-up of H.R. 1485 in the coming weeks.

Volunteer members of the ICV have long lobbied for legislation to be put in place to protect cruise ship passengers. The legislation they have been instrumental in crafting will require that that all crimes that occur aboard cruise ships be reported to the Coast Guard and Federal Bureau of Investigations. Currently, cruise ships operating under foreign flags of convenience are not required under U.S. law to report crimes occurring outside of U.S. territorial waters.

“The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 is moving forward so quickly because of the tireless efforts of Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Senator John Kerry (D-MA), who each had constituents come to them for help,” said ICV President Ken Carver, whose own daughter went missing on a cruise ship in 2004. “Every day that goes by without these necessary protections in place, Americans are unknowingly putting themselves at risk – which is why it is absolutely imperative that The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 is signed-into law as quickly as possible.”

As this crucial legislation moves forward, it serves as a sign to many amongst the ICV’s community of followers that progress is being made towards ensuring the safety of Americans abroad. The measure approved by the Senate Commerce Committee is the first of its kind; a major victory in the fight for cruise passengers’ rights. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is expected to take up debate on the companion bill in the near future.

Carver expressed his hopeful outlook as the legislation moves forward and urged Congress to act swiftly: “Final passage of this bill would be proof to the world that our small group of volunteers with limited funds has been able to make a difference in the safety of Americans,” he said. “When the Cruise Safety bill is signed into law, it will serve to protect Americans across the nation during what ought to be relaxing vacations.”

“We learned during Congressional hearings that there has not been a conviction of an accused rape in recent history,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “With continued news coverage of recent rapes on cruise ships, it is clear that legislation is both urgent and necessary. I applaud Senator Kerry and the Senate Committee for making the safety of Americans a priority, and look forward to making significant progress moving this legislation forward in the coming weeks in the House of Representatives.”

“The term ‘duty free’ does not apply to the safety of passengers,” said Senator Kerry. “Murky lines of jurisdiction are no longer an excuse for risking the safety of millions of Americans who will board cruise ships this year. Security, safety, and accountability must all be strengthened to hold criminals accountable and end the cycle of serious crimes on these vessels. I thank Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) for giving this issue the timely attention it deserves and call on my colleagues to quickly move this legislation to the Senate floor.”

ICV will continue to work with Members of Congress in both chambers, on both sides of the aisle, to ensure that this legislation is passed in a timely fashion with the support it deserves.

For more information about the International Crime Victims Association, please visit The International Cruise Victims Association, Inc.

From the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence

The Senate Appropriations Committee past its FY 2010 appropriations bill for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, NASA, the National Science Foundation and several independent agencies. Overall, the bill totals $64.9 billion in discretionary spending for FY 2010, an increase of about $7.3 billion over last year and $200 million above the President’s budget request.

The Committee provides $435 million for the Office on Violence Against Women INCLUDING $15 million for the Sexual Assault Services Program. This is $2 million more than in the house bill.

Highlights of the FY 2010 CJS Appropriations bill passed by Appropriations Committee include:

• $15 million for SASP
• $200 million for STOP Grants
• $9.5 million for Campus Grants
• $41 million for Rural Grants
• $60 million for Grants to Encourage Arrest
• $45 million for Civil Legal Assistance;
• $3 million for Services for Children who Witness Violence
• $3.5 million for STARY (Advocates for Youth)
• $3 million for Engaging Men and Boys
• $1 million for Tribal Sex Offender Registry
• $1 million for Research on Violence Against Women
• $500,000 for National Resource Center on Workplace Response
• $4.25 million for Elder Abuse
• $6.75 million for Education and Training for Disabled Female Victims

In addition, the VOCA cap is $705 million.

This is GREAT news specifically related to SASP and we must now forge ahead to ensure that the higher number for the program is eventually agreed to in the final appropriations bill signed by the President!

You can view the Committee’s full statement by clicking here.

From NSVRC

WASHINGTON, DC – Award-winning actress and sexual assault survivor Gabrielle Union will testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the importance of the Violence Against Women Act. Union’s testimony will focus on her personal experiences as a sexual assault survivor and the need to provide funding to support services for victims. A rape crisis counselor played a critical role in her own recovery.

“Rape victims are not strangers. They are your mothers, sisters, daughters and your friends, said Union. “Justice shouldn’t be for a select few but for all. Sexual violence is a complex and traumatic experience for both the victim as well as their support system – family members, friends, and colleagues.”

Rape crisis services play a critical role in mitigating the trauma of sexual violence and helping survivors with the possible severe consequences on their well-being and stability. Around the country, however, rape crisis services are woefully underfunded at the state and federal levels.

The funding through the new Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP), which was authorized in the Violence Against Women Act of 2005, provides the first dedicated federal funding stream to local advocacy and direct service providers that are specifically designed to meet the individual needs of each survivor. The President’s FY 2010 budget includes $12 million the Sexual Assault Services Program.

“The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence applauds Gabrielle Union’s courage in testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee about her experience of sexual assault,” said Monika Johnson Hostler, President of NAESV. “As the Senate begins its work on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, we are pleased that senators are taking time to think about the needs of the 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men in our country who have experienced sexual assault.”

The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) works to end sexual violence and ensure services for victims. The NAESV Board of Directors consists of leaders of state sexual assault coalitions and national law, policy, and tribal experts who promote the organization’s mission to advance and strengthen public policy on behalf of state coalitions, individuals, and other entities working to end sexual violence. Most importantly, the NAESV advocates on behalf of the victim/survivors—women, children and men—who have needlessly suffered the serious trauma of sexual violence and envisions a world free from sexual violence. For more information, visit www.naesv.org.

On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. “applauded the Justice Department’s decision to give a one-year extension to states to comply with the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).”

The Act was signed into law in 2006 and was included as part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. The Act required states to comply with the provisions by July of this year.

But in March, “Leahy and other congressional leaders urged Attorney General Eric Holder to extend the deadline for compliance. Under the provisions of SORNA, states and other jurisdictions are required to comply with certain sex offender registry provisions within three years of the passage of the Adam Walsh Act. To date, no state or jurisdiction has met the requirements mandated in SORNA.”

Click here to read the full article.

Below is a small round-up of stories about yesterday’s Special Election:

California voters kill budget measures – California voters delivered a potent defeat Tuesday to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Capitol lawmakers, dismissing a slate of ballot measures championed as the best way to address the state’s latest deficit crisis. Eric Bailey in the Los Angeles Times — 5/20/09

California Voters Reject Measures to Keep State Solvent — The results dealt a severe setback to the state’s fragile fiscal structure and to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state legislators who cobbled together the measures as part of a last-minute budget deal passed in February. JENNIFER STEINHAUER in the New York Times — 5/20/09

California Voters Reject Budget Measures — Californians on Tuesday rejected a series of ballot initiatives to help fix the state’s massive budget shortfall, as authorities prepared deep spending cuts in anticipation of the measures’ defeat. JIM CARLTON and STU WOO in the Wall Street Journal — 5/20/09

Walters: Angry voters whack budget, politicians — Schwarzenegger’s 11th hour prediction of fiscal calamity failed to sway voters and an odd-bedfellows alliance of right- and left-wing opponents, although heavily outspent by the governor and his allies, dominated a low-turnout special election. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee — 5/20/09

California voters exercise their power — and that’s the problem — Residents relish their role in the lawmaking process, but they share the blame for the state’s severe dysfunction. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times — 5/20/09

by Laura Sullivan

On Sunday, NPR ran a follow-up segment about Laura Sullivan’s award-winning series on the “prevalence of rape on tribal lands and the difficulty in prosecuting sexual assault cases.”  Recently, the federal government announced it plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to improve medical clinics, buy more rape kits and bolster the police response to what authorities say is an epidemic of rapes on Indian land.”

The February stimulus bill injected $500 million into Indian Health Services, the agency that handles most medical needs for Native Americans, while the appropriations bill that passed in March is also adding funds. The March bill increases the budget for the Bureau of Indian Affairs by $85 million to provide additional law enforcement on reservations.

Meanwhile, Congress is attempting to strengthen the authority of tribal police with a new bill that would grant Native American tribes greater police powers.

Advocates say it would be a sea change for tribes, which are largely dependent on the federal government when it comes to law enforcement on their lands.

Click here to continue reading the article.

Robert Coombs, CALCASA’s Director of Public Affairs, had the opportunity to interview Michael Balaoing yesterday. Balaoing works for the Entertainment Industry Foundation and talked about what his organization is up to and what they are interested in seeing from grantees.

Techsoup hosted an online seminar yesterday called, “Beginners: Getting Started with Social Media Tools.” If you are interested in learning more about social media, listen to this seminar:

So you’ve heard about Facebook, Twitter, and other online social networking sites. You know your organization should use social media, but you’re not sure where to start. If this sounds familiar, you won’t want to miss TechSoup’s free online event and webinar.

Join hosts, John Haydon, social media coach for nonprofits, and blogger and Internet marketing consultant, Chris Garrett, as they demonstrate how to get started with social media and the value this can bring your organization. They’ll explain the best first steps for getting started and help beginners understand how these emerging technologies can help libraries and nonprofits conduct outreach, raise funds, create community, and share ideas.

Click here to learn more.

from ECPAT-USA

Brooklyn, NY (31 March 2009) –The widespread problem of children being sexually exploited by people traveling away from home is starting to be acknowledged by the travel industry.  Corporate responsibility for preventing child sex tourism will be the subject of an education session at the upcoming conference of The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), in partnership with ECPAT-USA (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes).

The Global Education Conference in Washington, D.C., 5-7 April will address the issue of child sexual exploitation, its impact on business, and the measures each company can take to comply with global standards.

The session, Beyond Green: Are Your CSR Efforts Going Far Enough? will feature Carol Smolenski, Executive Director, ECPAT-USA, and Amy O’Neill Richard, Senior Advisor to the Director, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, U.S. Department of State.  The session will take place on Monday, 6 April, from 10:15-11:15.

“As the leading educator for the global business travel industry, ACTE has a responsibility to inform and educate travel management professionals about issues such as the sexual exploitation of children,” Susan Gurley, ACTE Executive Director, said. “Partnering with organizations like ECPAT allows us to offer conference attendees valuable information about what their companies and travellers can do to ensure they are not unknowingly contributing to this pernicious problem.”

“We are delighted to have this opportunity to partner with ACTE,” noted Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA. “We have a difficult subject to talk about, but we know that a lot of companies, like Carlson Companies and Accor, are taking the lead in preventing the sexual exploitation of children.  Our job is to provide support and technical assistance and we’re happy to work with ACTE on spreading the word.”

ECPAT International is a global network of organizations and individuals working together for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. It seeks to encourage the world community to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights free and secure from all forms of commercial sexual exploitation.

During the hour-long session, speakers will demonstrate the business impact of the issue of child sexual exploitation on organizations, and introduce participants to the “Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism,” which identifies those measures companies can take to protect this vulnerable segment of the population.

“Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not just about reducing carbon emissions,” noted Gurley. “ACTE is partnering with ECPAT to raise awareness of this issue and to offer solutions on how to promote and increase more responsible practices.”

Registration is limited for the ECPAT session and is on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested in attending, please contact Amber Kelleher, Director, Global Programs, at akelleher@acte.org.

About ECPAT-USA:
ECPAT-USA is the U.S. branch of an international organization represented in more than 70 countries around the world.  ECPAT stands for End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes.  ECPAT-USA undertakes research, training, advocacy and awareness- raising to ensure that children enjoy their right to grow up free from sexual exploitation, both in the U.S. and abroad. See: www.ecpatusa.org.

By Joel Rubin

Dozens of police departments throughout Los Angeles County routinely have not tested DNA evidence collected in rape and sexual assault cases, and are unable to accurately account for thousands of pieces of evidence that could potentially help solve crimes, according to a report to be released today.

The county’s two behemoth law enforcement agencies — the Los Angeles Police Department and the Sheriff’s Department — have come under harsh criticism in recent months for not testing about 10,000 samples of semen, saliva and other genetic material gathered from victims’ bodies after alleged attacks and for letting legal time limits pass on hundreds of cases. The report, produced by the independent group Human Rights Watch, found that the other 47 police agencies in the county are struggling with the same problems.

Rape victims “have a right to expect police to do all they can to thoroughly investigate their case, but in L.A. [County] they often feel betrayed to learn that their rape kits are never even tested,” said Sarah Tofte, the report’s author. “And in some cases, failure to test means that a rapist who could have been arrested will remain free.”

Click here to continue reading.

Peace Over Violence, one of the CALCASA’s member agencies, has been in the news discussing teen dating violence.

For nearly “two weeks after the alleged Feb. 8 assault involving R&B singer Chris Brown and his girlfriend, the singer Rihanna, teen fans of the couple searched for ways to minimize the episode or justify what sounded like a caffeinated lovers’ quarrel between two very young, very beautiful people.” Patti Giggans, executive director of Peace Over Violence, said this is a “teachable moment;” an opportunity to talk about teen dating violence, domestic violence and its prevalence within the youth community today.

“A lot of kids were saying, ‘I thought maybe he just slapped her. I thought he just pushed her,’ ” says Patti Giggans.

If there’s any silver lining to the bleak story, counselors and parents say, it’s that young people can take lessons from relationship violence playing out so vividly — and so brutally — in people so young: She’s 21, he’s 19.

The case, as ugly as it is, is doing more than any in recent memory, she and others say, to “bust the misconception that it can’t happen with kids, with young people.”

Research shows that violence shows up in about one in four teen relationships, a figure that hasn’t changed much in the past 30 years, says Lenore Walker, a psychology professor at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, and the author of 15 books, most of them about violence against women and children.

Click here to continue reading the USA Today article. Peace Over Violence was also in the LA Times earlier this week.

The Contra Costa Times reported earlier this week that “the state will stop paying long-term motel and apartment rents for thousands of sex offenders across California under an order Monday from a top corrections official, who acknowledged the move likely will add to the rolls of sex offenders who become homeless to avoid the living restrictions under Jessica’s Law.”

MSNBC reported earlier this week that “the number of untested rape kits in Los Angeles Police Department’s evidence lockers is far fewer than previously calculated.” On Monday officials said that the backlog could be cleared by summer 2010 and that “the total of untested kits now stands at 4,423, opposed to the previous figure of nearly 7,000.”

Deputy Chief Charlie Beck said the pledge to eliminate the backlog is based on the assumption that staffing and funding levels remain unchanged.

Click here to continue reading.

As economic conditions worsen, victims are left with fewer resources and the demand for lifesaving services increases. Recognizing the great need for additional funding for essential domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking programs, on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an economic stimulus bill entitled the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (S.1).

This bill provides the following funding for critical victim services: $300 million for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), specifically for Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecution (STOP)  state formula grants; out of which, $50  million will be allocated to the VAWA Transitional Housing program; and $100 million for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).

As exciting as this news is, it is only the first step in the process. It is critical that these Senate provisions are protected as the bill moves toward becoming law.  Make sure that your Senators hear how important the Senate bill provisions are to victims of violence!

Urge your Senators to support $300 million for the VAWA STOP program, $50 million for the VAWA Transitional Housing program, and for $100 million for the Victims of Crime Act.

Click here and send your message.

Government Technology reported earlier this week on GPS monitoring and pointed out that this type of monitoring is embraced “as a simple technological solution for tracking the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders — is proving to be something less than a silver bullet for state and local public safety agencies.”

Convinced that GPS monitoring was the answer to the sex offender problem, judges and lawmakers began mandating the technology for high-profile parolees. Beginning in 2005, the technology was widely deployed as means to ensure that offenders complied with the terms of their release, such as staying a safe distance from schools or a victim’s home.

Click here to continue reading the article.

Last week on Friday, the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) sent letters “to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the members of the California Legislature expressing its firm opposition to the proposed elimination of prosecution grant programs.” The CDAA said some of the prosecution grant programs that may be cut include “child abuse, gang violence, the proliferation of methamphetamine, crimes against our vital agricultural industry, and the escalating use of the Internet and technology to exploit children and the elderly.”

In one of the letters to Schwarzenegger, prosecutors were highly critical of the “Governor’s plan to eliminate parole supervision for all non-serious, non-violent, and non-sex offenders.” A portion of the letter said:

“Parole is an essential law enforcement tool enabling peace officers to search the persons, vehicles, and residences of parolees. Parole searches have saved innocent lives and prevented countless violent crimes. To unilaterally eliminate parole for thousands of prison inmates would constitute a public safety disaster.”

Another letter to state legislators talked about the “magnitude of the unprecedented budget shortfall facing our state and the sacrifices necessary to put California’s fiscal house in order.” But the CDAA believes “that many of the proposals contained in the Governor’s budget disproportionately impact prosecutors, irrevocably damage public safety in California, and serve only to exacerbate our economic problems.”

Click here to continue reading the article.

Michael Rothfeld, a journalist with the LA Times, reported this morning that “a state panel is urging the governor and legislators to change ‘Jessica’s Law,’ saying its restrictions on where sex offenders can live are counterproductive and calling the nearly $25 million a year spent to house them a poor use of taxpayers’ money.”

The residency restrictions, “passed by voters more than two years ago in Proposition 83, have never been shown to prevent new crimes and may reduce public safety, the panel says.”

Click here to continue reading the article.

The Detroit Free Press recently did a special report about sexual violence in Michigan women’s prisons and highlighted Toni Bunton’s story.

Bunton was convicted for her role in a 1991 drug shooting and during her time in prison she was subjected to sexual assaults at Scott Correctional Facility in Plymouth. Bunton said: “People don’t know what goes on inside prison. I want people to know this is going on in your backyard, and you might not care because it might not affect you, but you should care. This is not really about sexual harassment. This is about civil rights, basic fundamental rights of human beings.”

For years, rights groups warned that male guards were sexually assaulting female inmates in Michigan prisons. For years, those warnings went unheeded. Now, state taxpayers may pay a price too. More than 500 women are suing. They stand to collect $50 million so far, with more trials to come. This is their story:

• Part 1: Sexual assaults on female inmates went unheeded
• Part 2: Stakes were high as prisoners’ rape trial finally began
• Part 3: Female inmate described rapes in lawsuit against state
• Part 4: Jury awarded $15.4 million to inmates
• Part 5: After 16 years, Toni Bunton’s sentence is commuted

Week of Dec 22nd and Dec 29th

Department of Justice Reports Increase of Rape, Sexual Assault, and Domestic Violence in US

The Feminist Daily News Wire reported this morning about a recently released report by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The report said that the “rates of rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence in the United States have soared over the past two years.”

Click here to continue reading.

Decreased Reporting of Sexual Assaults in Military Academies

The Feminist Daily News reported earlier today that, “sexual assault reporting rates within national military academies are low and have significantly dropped, according to the Department of Defense (DOD). The DOD released results from the Academic Program Year 2007-2008 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey in December. The survey indicates that at military academies, approximately 90 percent of sexual assaults are unreported.”

Click here to continue reading.

Bay Area Women Against Rape looks for ways to raise money as cuts loom

OAKLAND — Bay Area Women Against Rape, held a fundraiser to raise money for programs and services that could be lost in the upcoming year. “The group raised $2,050 for direct client services, which includes about 4,000 calls for rape crisis services annually and the education of another 11,000 people annually through its programs…”

…BAWAR officials said they also raised awareness about restorative justice programs conducted inside state prisons — some of the “most compelling rape prevention work that the agency has done since its inception in 1971,” said Marcia Blackstock, BAWAR executive director.

“People often ask us to teach them how to prevent rape, and we have to say that we can’t,” Blackstock said. “It is impossible to prevent something you are not doing.” Blackstock said her agency can teach people how to lessen their risks, but “the only way rape will end is when rapists stop raping, hence our work with prisoners.”

At California State Prison Solano, BAWAR runs the Victims/Offenders Reconciliation Program, a group of violent offenders who acknowledge culpability and responsibility for their crimes and then work to understand the long-term emotional and psychological trauma the crimes have caused victims and their families.

Click here to continue reading.

Women’s Caucus Puts Health at Top of Its ’09 List

By Rich Daly, WeNews correspondent

The Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues is lining up a solid bipartisan roster for the next session: female heart disease, human trafficking, sexual and domestic violence, women in the military, a backlog of DNA evidence in rape cases.

Click here to continue reading.

Laws to Track Sex Offenders Encouraging Homelessness

By Karl Vick

LOS ANGELES — Upon release from state custody, Ross Wollschlager began an intensive search for a home, one that abided by the restrictions imposed on convicted sex offenders in California — and, in various versions, by about 30 other states. Obliged by law to return to Ventura County, the convicted rapist was forbidden to sleep within 2,000 feet of a school or a park.

Strict new laws aimed at keeping track of sex offenders after they leave prison appear to be having the opposite effect, encouraging homelessness in a population believed more likely to re-offend if cast into the streets without structure or family support, say prosecutors, police, parole officials and experts on managing sex offenders.

The issue is starkest in California, where the number of sex crime parolees registering as transient has jumped more than 800 percent since Proposition 83 was passed in November 2006. The “Jessica’s Law” initiative imposed strict residency rules and called for all offenders to wear Global Positioning System bracelets for the rest of their lives.

Click here to continue reading.

States wrestle with how to fund federal sex offender law

By DIANE JENNINGS / The Dallas Morning News

An effort to create uniform nationwide standards for how to keep track of sex offenders has stalled largely because states being asked to comply with the new federal guidelines can’t or won’t pay the costs.

After Texas legislators convene in January, they’ll have to decide whether to comply with a new federal law that came without funding, or to stick with existing state statutes.

Yesterday, Democrats put forth an $18 billion budget plan and today state lawmakers are expected to vote on the plan. The proposal contains more than “$9 billion in added revenue and requires only a simple majority vote of the Legislature to be approved.”

The move boxes in Republicans, who have just enough votes to block lawmakers from approving tax and budget bills that require a two-thirds majority in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger does not support the plan, which is designed to help close a $40 billion budget deficit expected through mid-2010, his spokesman said.

For more on the budget, see:

• Dems’ new budget plan adds $9 billion revenue
• California Democrats claim budget solution; governor unconvinced
• California Democrats devise plan to hike taxes
• State lawmakers poised to vote on Democrats’ bill to fix budget
• Dems try end-run around GOP to close budget hole

The San Francisco Chronicle reported this morning that Republican lawmakers released their plan to resolve the “state’s budget crisis – a $22 billion plan that would avoid raising taxes, cut deeply into education spending and dip into voter-approved funds intended to pay for mental health services and children’s health care.”

For more information, read:

• GOP budget plan: Slash $10 billion from schools
• GOP seeks deep cuts
• GOP offers budget plan that relies on deep cuts

The Feminist Daily News reported this morning that late Wednesday night, the Senate passed the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Act. The House passed the act earlier in the day.

The Act, H.R. 7311, authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2008 through 2011 and enhances measures to combat trafficking in persons. The Act includes provisions making it easier for victims to remain in the U.S, provides $7.5 million for victim assistance and an increased focus on combating trafficking in children.

Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation said,
“In addition to providing assistance to trafficking victims, this Act further puts the weight of the federal government behind efforts to combat trafficking for labor, sexual exploitation and child labor.”

Click here to read the full article.

During the next few weeks, key members of Congress and the Senate will be working on a series of appropriations bills for the 2009 fiscal year. Currently, the government is operating under a continuing resolution, commensurate with their current spending levels. Congressional leadership would like to increase spending and rework some of their priorities for the rest of 2009.

One area of particular interest to CALCASA and its members will be funding for Sexual Assault Service Programs (SASP). As you know, SASP supports vital services such as advocacy, prevention services and campus based services.

Please join us in telling Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jerry Lewis about how important sexual assault victims services are for the State of California. Click “Take Action“ to visit CALCASA’s Grassroots Action Center to send your message to Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Lewis.

Information from The Justice Policy Institute

The Justice Policy Institute (JPI) recently announced the publication of a new report, Registering Harm: How sex offense registries fail youth and communities. The report pointed out that during the next year, “states throughout the country will determine whether to comply with the Adam Walsh Act.” The Adam Walsh Act is a federal law that “requires mandatory public registration for youth over the age of fourteen who are convicted of certain sex offenses. Congress passed this law in an attempt to protect our children from sexual violence.”

JPI emphasized, in the report, that “the Adam Walsh Act won’t keep our children safe. Instead this law will needlessly target children and families, undermine the very purpose of the juvenile justice system, and consume law enforcement resources.” It is important to note that states do have the option to opt out of the law.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported today that the Fourth Court of Appeal in Santa Ana issued a ruling on Proposition 83, Jessica’s Law. The ruling is a first “by a California court to find that the residency restrictions in Proposition 83, a November 2006 initiative, are not just public safety measures but also would punish ex-offenders by forcing them out of their homes.” In addition, the court said Jessica’s Law imposes “traditional banishment under another name.”

The court’s ruling will leave the law in effect, but “could limit its application. The U.S. Constitution forbids laws that retroactively impose criminal penalties or increase punishment for past offenses.”

Jessica’s Law, is a “voter-approved law prohibiting sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or a park amounts to additional punishment for the offenders’ original crimes, a state appeals court has ruled in a case that could affect thousands of parolees.”

Click here to read the full article.

CALCASA hosted a meeting Wednesday with representatives from several state agencies and statewide victim groups. Many of the groups, having collaborated before on a number of issues, agreed to participate in ongoing meetings over the course of the legislative session. Says Robert Coombs of CALCASA: “Victim services are often overlooked in the legislature, they aren’t as salient to politicians as ‘tough on crime’ bills. But if we have any vision of public safety, California has to acknowledge that a core responsibility is to the victims of crime. This is a particularly challenging year to highlight that, so we are pleased to be able to connect with our partners around the state to help bring the focus back around to victim services.”

Updates from the meeting ranged from leadership transitions to merging state agencies and the implications for those changes. Attendees included:

• Susan Fisher–Governor’s Crime Victim Advocate
• Ellie Jones–Office of Emergency Services
• Kay Buck and Shannon Smith-Crowley–Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST)
• JoAnna Davis–California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV)
• Rod Gillespie–Victim/Witness Assistance Center
• Julie Nauman, Tom O’Conner, Joan Boodwin–Victims Compensation and Government Claims Board
• Harriet Solarno and Dawn Sanders Koepke–Crime Victims United
• Sandi Menefee–California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
• Deborah Bain and Renee Adame–Victim Services, Attorney General
• Christine Ward–Crime Victims Action Alliance

Rocklin Today, reported over the weekend that the “UC Davis Children’s Hospital Child and Adolescent Abuse Resources and Evaluation Diagnostic and Treatment (CAARE) Center has won a prestigious FREDDIE international health care media award for its video Compassionate Care: An Overview of the Sexual Assault Clinical Forensic Medical Exam.”

“Compassionate Care” presents a complete overview of the forensic medical evidentiary examination for a sexual assault victim, conducted according to the State of California protocol. In the hour-long video, the viewer follows a young woman, portrayed by actress Hope Wells, from the time of her assault and report to law enforcement to her referral to a sexual assault forensic examiner.

The forensic examiner in the film is UC Davis Medical Center nurse practitioner Leslie Schmidt, who has conducted over 1,000 forensic medical exams as a member of the UC Davis sexual assault forensic examiner team. Schmidt takes the victim and the viewer through each step of the exam, beginning with the patient/victim’s consent, and continuing through the forensic interview, evidence collection and packaging, the cervical examination, documentation of findings and pregnancy prophylaxis.

Click here to continue reading the article.

The California Commission on the Status of Women is recruiting for two (2) appointments to the State Advisory Committee on Sexual Assault Victim Services Program, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The term will begin immediately upon appointment, no earlier than January 2009, and extends until January 2012.

The committee is responsible for advising and developing training courses for sex crime prosecution units throughout the state. The committee is also responsible for developing criteria for funding grants to rape crisis centers, child sexual exploitation programs, and child sexual abuse counseling centers. All applicants must have broad knowledge of, and/or experience in, working with sexual assault and child sexual abuse prevention programs, sex crime assistance, or victim counseling.
Applicants with a specific expertise in the work of rape crisis centers are encouraged to apply (e.g. former staff or former board member, etc.).

NOTE: Current Employees and Board Members of rape crisis centers are not eligible to apply due to conflict of interest, but are encouraged to pass on the announcement to eligible colleagues. Applicants must be able to travel throughout the state for no less than four meetings per year. The committee meets quarterly. All actual expenses for attending the meetings will be reimbursed.

TO APPLY: Submit a letter of interest, supported by a resume of related experience and at least three letters of recommendation. Applications must be received no later than 4 PM on Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Applicants will be notified of appointment selection by February 2009.

Please submit to:
Mary Wiberg, Executive Director
California Commission on the Status of Women
Attention: SAC Appointment
1303 J Street, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95814-2900
916-445-3173 916-322-9466 (fax)
info@women.ca.gov

LA city officials announced on Tuesday a “plan to help the Los Angeles Police Department’s crime lab reduce its massive backlog of unexamined DNA evidence from violent crimes, but they acknowledged that the funding for the proposal was less than certain.”

The LA Times also pointed out that under the “terms of the plan, which the City Council is expected to vote on today, the LAPD would allocate $700,000 to hire 16 more DNA analysts and support staff — a boost of about 33% over current staffing. The city would also increase by $250,000 the funds earmarked to pay private laboratories that the LAPD hires to help with the daunting workload.”

Click here to continue reading the article.

The LA Time reported this morning that the California Legislature voted “Friday to send Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger the final measures needed to resolve the budget deadlock that had dragged on a record 81 days past the start of the fiscal year.”

The budget provides funding to “education and social services than last year, but not enough to avoid cutbacks in schools, healthcare facilities and payments to the disabled, elderly and blind.”

But, the budget does not include any new taxes. The “Republicans rejected assertions from Democrats and Schwarzenegger that the state needs to raise more revenue to ensure long-term fiscal stability.”

Click here to continue reading LA Times article.

Other articles of interest include:

• Legislature approves record-late budget
• State budget’s done, but no one is thrilled about it
• Legislature approves new budget
• State budget battle over

Fred Strebeigh wrote a statement on Senator Joseph Biden and the history of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), earlier this week.

Strebeigh piece provides an interesting perspective on the VAWA and Senator Biden’s role in authoring the legislation.

VAWA is a federal act that provides funding to rape crisis centers throughout the country for prevention and response to sexual violence and “Biden has proclaimed it the ‘most important legislative accomplishment’ of his Senate career.”

The piece appeared in The New Republic: A Journal of Politics and the Arts.

The Monterey County Weekly ran a profile of Boyhood Shadows, yesterday.

The documentary was produced locally and it “illuminates just how common and commonly hidden from view its painful subject is: male childhood sexual abuse.”

The premiere begins at 7:00 p.m. on September 22nd. The proceeds will benefit the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center’s Child Abuse Prevention Education Program which reaches over 5,000 public school children each year. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Click here to read the full article.

Stop Prisoner Rape has changed its name to Just Detention International (JDI). While the name is new, JDI’s mission remains the same: to stop sexual abuse in all forms of detention.

JDI’s mailing address and phone number have not changed, but the website is now: www.justdetention.org

By Jordan Rau and Evan Halper, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced this afternoon that he will veto the state budget passed by the Legislature early this morning, setting the stage for an unprecedented confrontation in California’s Capitol.

“When they send me the budget, I will veto it,” Schwarzenegger said at a Capitol news conference. “If my veto is overriden,” he said, ” … hundreds of bills will be vetoed.”

Schwarzenegger had warned lawmakers in a letter last night that he would veto their spending plan — 78 days late today — if it did not include three provisions to ensure the state a reliable rainy day fund for times of fiscal trouble. This year, California has developed a $15.2-billion budget gap.

Click here to read the full article.

Today RH Reality Check posted an interesting OpEd called, “A Culture of Violence Against Women: More Than Rape Kits.”

Americans have recently learned that during the 1990s, Wasilla, Alaska, then under the mayoralty of Sarah Palin, charged victims of sexual assault for the rape kits used for evidence collection.

Attacks from progressives have been swift and harsh. There is good reason to hunt down the facts about the rape kits. But the larger issue – of rape, sexual assault and how we deal with violence against women in this country – has been overlooked.

First the facts:

Last week new evidence arose revealing that under Palin’s administration, Wasilla cut funds that paid for the rape kits and shifted the burden onto the victims themselves  or their insurance companies (kits generally cost between $500-$1200).

Continue reading by clicking here.

Jim Sanders a reporter with the Sacramento Bee, indicated California lawmakers approved a budget deal early this morning. The budget is likely to be vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and it “borrows billions from taxpayers and fails to prevent future financial trouble.”

A key element of the deal would increase by 10 percent the amount of income taxes withheld from workers, and from taxpayers who earn income from investments.

Much of the $15.2 billion budget shortfall would be bridged by advancing revenues to be collected in future years, shifting or borrowing money from other state funds and employing accounting maneuvers. The plan would generate immediate revenue but leave gaping holes in future budgets.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter to the four legislative leaders that he could support the spending plan — but only if his three “rainy day” fund demands were met.

For more information on the budget, read:

• Calif. lawmakers end record-setting budget impasse
• Despite governor’s threat, state lawmakers pass budget
• Budget approved despite governor’s threatened veto

On Sunday, California state legislative leaders announced a “breakthrough in California’s record budget impasse, potentially ending a stalemate that set a new standard for dysfunction in a Capitol with a long history of blown budget deadlines.”

The Associated Press reported that it is not clear “whether the tentative deal would be accepted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has said he would not sign a budget that failed to include long-term reform.”

The tentative budget deal would include $9 billion in spending cuts, closing tax loopholes and collecting some “one-time revenues in this fiscal year rather than the next.”

Click here to continue reading the article.

Week of Aug 11

LA Times: “Jessica’s Law may not be hospitalizing more post-prison sex offenders”

The Los Angeles Times reported last week that ” Jessica’s Law may be failing to deliver on its promise — and in some respects producing the opposite of its intended effects.”

The Times investigation indicated, that “the law has led far more sexual offenders to be evaluated and recommended for indefinite hospitalization after their prison terms end. But the number of commitments has barely budged.”

Click here to continue reading.

Ex-CHP officer gets probation for molesting girls

The Associated Press reported last week, that an “ex-California Highway Patrol officer has been placed on three years’ probation for molesting 13- and 14-year-old girls in his Salinas home.”

Editorials:

Broken Justice in Indian Country
By N. BRUCE DUTHU

One in three American Indian women will be raped in their lifetimes, statistics gathered by the United States Department of Justice show. But the odds of the crimes against them ever being prosecuted are low, largely because of the complex jurisdictional rules that operate on Indian lands. Approximately 275 Indian tribes have their own court systems, but federal law forbids them to prosecute non-Indians. Cases involving non-Indian offenders must be referred to federal or state prosecutors, who often lack the time and resources to pursue them.

Click here to continue reading the editorial.

Editorial: Jessica’s Law is an expensive failure

By now, it should be apparent that California voters made a serious mistake when they passed Proposition 83, the 2006 ballot initiative popularly known as Jessica’s Law.

The law requires lifetime monitoring of sex offenders – not only those charged with child sexual abuse and rapists whose victims were adults, but also those convicted of consensual sex with a teenager and even misdemeanor indecent exposure. It bars offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park.

Click here to continue reading the article.

On Wednesday Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he will “veto any bill that comes to his desk until lawmakers pass a state budget.”

The Governor indicated there are 13 bills awaiting his signature. But, “he will allow the authors of those bills to pull them back, thus avoiding a veto.”

Click here to learn more about the bills.

Week of July 28th

LA Times: “State legislators meet but make no progress on budget”

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders “convened Sunday night in hopes of ending a budget stalemate that is entering its sixth week, but they made no progress and dispersed after less than two hours, according to several participants.”

Oversight Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military

Last week, the House held a hearing on sexual assault in the military.

Rep. Louise Slaughter reintroduced the Military Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Act. The act would “establish an Office of Victims Advocate (OVA) within DoD, bring the Family Advocacy Program under OVA, and create a Director of OVA to oversee and coordinate efforts to prevent and respond to cases of family violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking within the military and among military families.”

For more on the hearing, see:

• Sexual assault in military ‘jaw-dropping,’ lawmaker says
• House hears testimony on military sexual assault
• Congress Hears Voices of Sexual Assault Survivors in Military

Bill would require paid sick days for most

As many as 5.4 million working Californians don’t get any paid sick days – and they tend to be both sicker and poorer than employees who do receive sick leave, according to a report released Wednesday.

Officials monitor transient sex offenders

The Contra Costa Times reported last week that, “Voters said paroled sex offenders cannot live near a school or park, so more are saying they don’t live anywhere while bouncing from place to place to avoid the tight living restrictions of Jessica’s Law.”

The state is planning on barring “those ‘transient’ sex offenders from staying at any address for more than a few hours, while allowing them to settle in homeless camps, under bridges or at bus stops, including those near schools or parks.”

Yesterday, MSNBC featured a story about sexual assault in the military. The story focuses on the prevalence of sexual assault in the military and the Pentagon’s response to the problem, which includes a new trauma ward and prevention strategy.

Click here to read the full story.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported today that democrats “in the Legislature proposed billions of dollars in new taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals this week to help erase the state’s huge budget deficit, setting the stage for a contentious debate with Republicans and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.”

Gov. Schwarzenegger told reporters on Wednesday that he “opposes new taxes but is willing to talk about anything that comes up in budget discussions.” The California budget deficit is $17.2 billion.

Click here to continue reading the article.

Below are additional articles, relating to the California budget:

Budget standoff: That’s it for cuts, Dems say

The day after unveiling $8.2 billion in proposed tax increases mostly on high-income earners and corporations, legislative Democrats on Wednesday said they have done all they can to trim the state budget without harming education and health care.

Democrats present plan to tax California’s wealthy

SACRAMENTO — Democratic lawmakers presented a plan late Tuesday night to impose $9.7 billion in new taxes on the wealthy and corporations to avoid the cuts to government services in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget plan.

Dan Walters: It’s time for budget cage-fight

If nothing else, the state’s budget imbroglio has brought the Capitol’s stark ideological conflict – very liberal Democrats vs. very conservative Republicans and no more than a handful of even semi-moderates – into razor-sharp focus.

Week of June 30th

Domestic violence victims won’t have to testify under new law

July 1st was a landmark day for California’s domestic violence victims and their families: Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 1356 (Yee) into law. Under current law, a domestic violence victim can be held in contempt of court and be incarcerated by a judge for refusing to testify against her batterer.

SB 1356 “will prevent judges from jailing domestic violence victims who refuse to testify against their abuser, giving those victims a protection similar to that already afforded to victims of sexual assault.”

The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, sponsored SB 1356. Nearly, 1/3 of CALCASA’s member agencies provide domestic violence services and CALCASA strongly supports this incredibly important legislation on behalf of our sister coalition and members.

Click here for more details.

NY considers help to victims of child prostitution

ALBANY, N.Y. – Tiffany was 12 when her mother died. That was the same year she ran away from her sister’s house, lived on the streets for six weeks and met the man who two days later became her pimp.

Under New York state law, girls like Tiffany could be prosecuted for breaking the law. But a new bill Gov. David Paterson is reviewing would help child prostitutes avoid harsh prosecution. They would be treated as victims and get services to help escape exploitation in the sex trade.

“As a young girl, when you’re under the age of 17, you cannot consent to sex, and you’re forced to have sex with someone for money – I feel like that’s statutory rape,” said Tiffany, who asked that her last name not be used because she was a victim of sexual violence.

Tracking registered sex offenders

In his off time, San Jose police officer Bill Hoyt enjoys hiking, mountain biking and hunting for ex-con sex offenders.

Hoyt’s biweekly “hunting” trips are part of a unique national program that pays off-duty cops to do house checks on registered sex offenders. Specially trained patrol officers are paid through a $250,000 federal grant to work extra shifts making sure offenders are indeed living where they are registered to live under Megan’s Law.

The program, HALO (Heightening Awareness Locating Offenders), is being watched closely by law enforcement agencies all over the country struggling to keep tabs on the hundreds of thousands of pedophiles and rapists who have served their time and now live among us.

Lost promise for rape victims

I spent a recent morning at the Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, where women (and men and children) get emergency medical care and counseling immediately after they have been raped. I was researching how the center’s nurse practitioners collect evidence for a “rape kit.”

The Supreme Court overturned “a ruling by the Louisiana Supreme Court, which had held that child rape is unique in the harm it inflicts not just upon the victim but on society and that, short of first-degree murder, no crime is more deserving of the death penalty.”

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote, “The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child.” Justice Kennedy  was joined by Justices John Paul Stevens, David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer.

Justice Kennedy, while in no way minimizing the heinous nature of child rape, wrote that executing someone for that crime, assuming that the victim was not killed, violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment, which draws it meaning from “the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.”

Click here to continue reading the article.

Below are a few blog posts related to the decision:

• Kennedy v. Louisiana – The Majority Opinion
• Kennedy v. Louisiana – Alito’s Dissent
• Kennedy v. Louisiana – An Assessment of the Opinions

SB 129 (Kuehl re: harassment by cellular and other devices) passed the Assembly Appropriations committee on consent today, with CALCASA support.

Under current law, telephone calls or electronic contacts that are threatening or obscene are a misdemeanor punishable by 6 months in county jail or $1000 fine or both, no matter where they are received. Repeated calls or electronic contacts made with intent to annoy is a misdemeanor punishable by 6 months in county jail or $1000 fine or both, only if made to a home or workplace. Contact made to cellular phones, by text message and by e-mail (including mobile e-mail messages) cannot be prosecuted under current law.

SB 129 brings California’s statute up to date by extending current law to include such calls or contacts, regardless of where they are received.

Last, Tuesday was a busy day for CALCASA-supported legislation in both the Senate and Assembly Public Safety Committees as well as the Senate Judiciary Committee. With CALCASA support, four bills passed committee last week.

Below is a brief summary of the bills:

SB 1356 (Yee) seeks to prevent the incarceration of domestic violence victims who refuse to testify in court on the grounds of protecting their safety. Under current law, a domestic violence victim can be held in contempt of court and be incarcerated by a judge for refusing to testify against her batterer. The final vote count was 5 ayes and 1 no.

AB 2960 (La Malfa – Custody orders: evidence of sexual abuse) would automatically deny ex parte custody changes when requester is alleged to have sexually abused the child.

SB 129 (Kuehl – Criminal communications) updates current harassment statutes to include technologies such as cellular communications.

Finally, AB 996 (Spitzer) seeks to amend privacy statues for DMV records.

Week of June 2nd

Jackson Katz: Violence Against Women Is a Men’s Issue

Jackson Katz, an internationally recognized educator on gender violence prevention among men and boys, argues society must first transform how it thinks about violence against women if it wants to prevent these acts from reoccurring. “As a culture, Americans first must take the step in acknowledging that violence against women is not a women’s issue, but a men’s issue,” Katz said.

Oakland’s new approach to prostitution treats teenagers as victims

As the sun set on a recent day, police arrested a teenage prostitute strutting down International Boulevard in a short black dress and gold heels – “Daddy” tattooed on her neck – before pulling over her pimp in a car.

Minutes later, they arrested another pimp with two more teenagers and, a few blocks away, yet another teenager whom they tried to coax into identifying her pimp.

In this city, which Assemblyman Sandré Swanson, D-Alameda, calls the epicenter of prostitution in Northern California, authorities are taking a new approach to combat the world’s oldest trade.

Elizabeth Smart shares ideas about safety

Six years after her abduction, Elizabeth Smart came to American Fork to teach parents and children how to avoid her experiences. Ryan Sannar, an Eagle Scout candidate, invited her as part of a “Stranger Danger” seminar he presented for his service project. Parents and children attended three stations Saturday morning at the Fitness Center to hear from Smart and ask her questions, make fingerprint and identification kits, and get a practical application of stranger avoidance. The Scouts passed out 125 kits that morning.

Leno wins big in low-turnout Senate primary

SAN FRANCISCO — It was the sort of day when you might run into Cindy Sheehan twice. The true believers were out in force in San Francisco, with petitions to legalize pot and prostitution available on many street-corners. But the biggest political coup in recent state legislative history came in the 3rd Senate District, and ironically, rival campaign workers there said most residents didn’t even know there was an election.

Advocates push judge to take over youth prisons

It’s been 3 1/2 years since an Alameda County judge ordered California to overhaul the institutions that house the state’s most serious juvenile offenders. He set a timeline for sweeping reforms that would transform the youth prisons into treatment centers.

But the dates have come and gone with little significant change, while the price tag has grown astonishingly. The annual per-inmate cost for each juvenile offender in state custody is projected to be $252,312 next year – more than six times the cost of a year at Stanford University.

Police chief’s arrest is a major jolt to sleepy Northern California community of Blue Lake

The head of the tiny force, accused of drugging and sexually assaulting his wife, collected enough guns at headquarters to arm a small platoon. He also allegedly kept unregistered guns at home.

Sex Offender Ordinance Expected To Pass

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Kern County Supervisors are set to approve an ordinance limiting where sex offenders can live. The ordinance, which is expected to be enacted, will strengthen a state law prohibiting sex offenders from living 2000 feet from schools.

Op-Ed

Victim Blaming: Cover Up, Walk In Groups and Other “Friendly Advice”
Lynda Waddington

It’s the little things. Not just one by one, like the single instance I’m going to describe here, but all the little things put together. They add up. They creep up on us and take root in our thoughts. They fester and make us doubt ourselves. They are the thin and small voices that remind us not to show too much skin at the beach or to put on “sensible shoes” before walking in unfamiliar areas. These little things, often described as “friendly advice,” lay the groundwork for self-blame.

The California Commission on the Status of Women is hosting three public hearings throughout California, to learn what issues women and girls are facing and what role the state can play in addressing them, including legislation, state budget, administrative action, or studies.

For more information on the hearings, click here.

Week of May 27th

Boston Puts the Squeeze on Subway Gropers

Transit officials in Boston recently launched an aggressive campaign aimed at cracking down on people who take advantage of the tight squeeze on crowded trains. Over the past month, officials say the program has led to a record number of arrests for subway sex assaults.

Priesthood evolves in response to crisis

In the quiet morning light, Mike Quinn and Jerry Murphy hold their Bibles close to their hearts and do the sign of the cross…The priesthood has evolved and much of it has to do with the years of child abuse and rape that have plagued Catholic churches across the nation.

These new priests have passed a tough round of background checks, a battery of psychological testing, and training to prevent sexual abuse.

Peacekeepers ‘abusing children’

Children as young as six are being sexually abused by peacekeepers and aid workers, says a leading UK charity.


Study: Girls in Sexist Societies Worse at Math

For decades, researchers and educators have debated why boys tend to perform better than girls in math. Are men naturally more logical creatures and thus better at scientific endeavors? Are girls not encouraged by their families, their friends or society at large to pursue scientific careers?

Rape in Santa Cruz

Somewhere in the United States, a woman is raped every two minutes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Though sexual assault, and specifically rape, has been on the decline in the past decade, there is still a high amount of rape nationwide — including in Santa Cruz. From 2003 to 2007, Santa Cruz has had 224 reported rapes, according to the Uniform Crime report. The city was ranked the fourth highest out of 448 California cities for rates of reported rape in 2006.

Relationships questioned in Dateline sting

A slew of lawyers representing clients who were arrested in Mantoloking as part of Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” series went before Superior Court Judge Barbara Ann Villano seeking information on any agreements between Dateline NBC, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and other law-enforcement agencies involved in the sting, and the California-based nonprofit organization Perverted Justice.

Dublin doctor accused of rape is arrested

A Dublin doctor accused of sexually battering two men at his home and taking hundreds of photographs of 19 patients who were unconscious and undressed at his medical clinic was arrested Thursday, authorities said.

Political opponents criticize D.A. Steve Cooley for deal on sex offender sanctions

In the final week of campaigning before Tuesday’s election, Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley drew fire Friday over a deal he made with judges and defense attorneys two years ago to postpone seeking tougher sanctions against some serious sex offenders who had already served their prison sentences.

Op-Ed’s

As a community, we can do more for victims of violence
By Rosario Marin

When violent crime enters our lives it never leaves without a permanent mark. We celebrate our survivors and honor our dead, but mental or physical, the scars that victims, advocates and families of crime victims carry with them stay for life.

Valley lawmakers pushing their bills through the hoops

Like most people, state legislators move more quickly when there’s a deadline looming. It’s been a busy week in Sacramento because today is the deadline for bills to move out of their “house of origin.”

Singer R. Kelly Reinforces Racial and Sexual Stereotypes
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Here’s a bet. Accused child pornographer and sexual panderer, R. Kelly has three albums in the can ready for release. If Kelly is convicted of the multiple counts slapped against him in his trial, the albums will fly out the can fast and even faster off the store racks.

The California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO) named two recipients of their Fay Honey Knopp Awards today. Both CALCASA and Executive Director Suzanne Brown-McBride were awarded for leadership and policy work in the field of sexual assault victim services and sex offender management.

The first award, given to CALCASA was given in “Appreciation for Supporting Sound Public Policy Regarding Sex Offender Management.” The second, given to Suzanne Brown-McBride, was in honor of her “Exemplary Leadership in Victim Advocacy and Sex Offender Management.”

Both awards are named after the late Fay Honey Knopp, who founded the Prison Research Education Action Program in 1976 and who spent more than 40 years advocating for effective sex offender management.

Says Brown-McBride of the awards: “I am deeply moved that CCOSO considers our work to be worthy of this. We strive to honor victims and survivors of sexual violence through the best, most effective and evidence based sex offender management strategies available, and we are proud of that work.”

The Women’s Policy Institute (WPI) is now accepting applications for its sixth class of fellows. The only program of its kind in the nation, the vision for the Institute is to increase the number of community-based women leaders in California who are actively involved in shaping and implementing policies that affect the health and well-being of women and girls. The program provides intensive advocacy and leadership training each year for a diverse group of up to 30 California women who are leading non-profit organizations and seek to act as a bridge between the needs of communities and policymakers.

In its first five years, the WPI has trained over 130 women, and fellows have helped to pass nine new laws that positively impact women’s lives throughout California. Areas of focus for the 2008-2009 program are: economic justice, environmental health & justice, criminal justice, reproductive health & justice, and elder women’s issues. The Women’s Policy Institute is a program of the Women’s Foundation of California.

For more information on the Women’s Policy Institute and to download an application, please visit: http://www.womensfoundca.org/wpiapply

The deadline for applications is June 11, 2008.

You can also contact, Amanda Cassel, for more information:

Amanda Cassel
Program Officer
The Women’s Foundation of California
340 Pine Street, Suite 302
San Francisco, CA 94104
Ph: (415) 837-1113, ext. 323
Fax: (415) 837-1144
amandac@womensfoundca.org

from ABC News

A Houston woman who says she was gang-raped by co-workers at a Halliburton/KBR camp in Baghdad won a major court battle last week when a Texas judge ordered that she can bring her case to court instead of forcing her into secretive arbitration proceedings with Halliburton and KBR.

“We are ecstatic that [District Judge Keith Ellison] had the courage to uphold justice in this case,” Jamie Leigh Jones’ attorney Todd Kelly said after the decision.

KBR said late Monday that they may appeal the judge’s decision. “KBR will review the judge’s opinion and will continue to vigorously defend itself which may include an appeal,” the company said in a statement to ABCNews.com.

Jones says that after she was raped by multiple men at a KBR camp in the Green Zone, the company put her under guard in a shipping container with a bed and warned her that if she left Iraq for medical treatment, she’d be out of a job.

Jones told ABCNews.com that she hopes other sexual abuse claims will also now be able to go before a jury rather than into arbitration. “I am hopeful that the judge’s decision will open the door for other victims to seek justice against military contractors who fail to protect their employees from sexual abuse,” Jones told ABCNews.com.

Jones returned from Iraq following her alleged rape in 2005. She was the subject of an exclusive ABC News report in December, which led to congressional hearings.

After months of waiting for criminal charges to be filed, Jones decided to file suit against Halliburton and KBR.

KBR had moved for Jones’ claim to be heard in private arbitration, instead of a public courtroom, as provided under the terms of her original employment contract.

Ellison, however, wrote in his order Friday that Jones’ claims of sexual assault, battery, rape, false imprisonment and others fall beyond the scope of her employment contract.

“The Court does not believe that Plaintiff’s bedroom should be considered the workplace, even though her housing was provided by her employer,” Ellison wrote.

Ellison did, however, rule that a sexual harassment claim that Jones included in her case against her supervisor in Texas would have to be decided in arbitration.

Halliburton, which has since divested itself of KBR, has said it is improperly named in the suit and has referred calls to KBR.

In arbitration, there is no public record nor transcript of the proceedings and Jones’ claims would not have been heard before a judge and jury.

Last week on Denim Day, more than 900 students at The School of Social Justice, Miguel Contreras Learning Complex (MCLC) participated in the Day of Silence.

The event included a public commendation that was extended to students, faculty and organizational leaders. The commendation recognized not only the “school’s efforts around the national Day of Silence, but their year-round commitment to the protection of all LGBTQ students and families.”

Filmmakers of the new major motion picture, TRU LOVED, were at the event along with “Grey’s Anatomy” star T.R. Knight.

CALCASA has worked with the TRU LOVED filmmakers and support the work they are doing.

Click here to continue reading.

NAESV’s E-Lobby Week has arrived!

Over 325 letters have already been sent to Congresspeople from across the country. This is your last chance to join advocates Nationally and have your voice heard in Washington, DC!

The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) E-Lobby Week is going on now (4/21/08 – 4/25/08). April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the NAESV E-Lobby week is a chance to spread the word all the way to Congress. To participate, there are two components:

1. Be virtually present in Washington, DC:

With a click of a button, participants will send a letter to their Members of Congress explaining how important funding for sexual assault services is in your state. After signup, this step takes as little as 45 seconds from start to finish!

2. District Visits:

It is what you do at home in your Congressional district that really brings this virtual lobby week together. Making a visit to your Member of Congress’ district office is an important means of getting your voice heard and in building relationships with staff.

How to participate:

Click here to register. Once you’ve registered, you will be “carried” through the process electronically during the E-Lobby Week.

Click here to log in and send your message:

Two days and counting until CA lawmakers join the CALCASA and the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, for Denim Day at the Capitol!

In conjunction with this exciting event, the Denim Day Senate Concurrent Resolution has been introduced by Senators Romero, Alquist, Ducheny, Kehoe, Kuehl, Migden, Negrete McLeod, Oropeza, and Wiggins. You can review the SCR 106 by clicking here.

SCR 106 was heard in the Senate last week (SEN. FLOOR Vote – Y:36 N:0 A:4) and will be taken up in the Assembly this week.

Members who have signed on include:

SENATE:

• Alquist
• Ducheny
• Kehoe
• Kuehl
• Migden
• Negrete McLeod
• Oropeza
• Romero
• Wiggins

ASSEMBLY:

• Bass
• Berg
• Brownley
• Carter
• Caballero
• Evans
• Fuller
• Garcia
• Hancock
• Karnette
• Parra
• Runner
• Saldaña
• Soto
• Strickland
• Wolk

Beginning April 21st, CALCASA will be unveiling a week-long E-Lobbying effort along with the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) urging Congress to fully fund the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and to raise the cap on the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). The NAESV has chosen to partner CALCASA in an effort to create a National grassroots effort, raising critical awareness amongst members of Congress regarding just how vital these funds are to Rape Crisis Centers.

In California, the state budget deficit of $16 billion has limited effects on rape crisis centers because in the entire state, only $50k from State General Fund goes to rape crisis centers. That relative safety is not present when considering the Federal funds that rape crisis centers receive. Nearly $20 million each year comes directly from VAWA and VOCA to rape crisis centers, and current estimates range from 5-10% possible rescissions in those funds. After several years of such rescissions, California’s rape crisis centers, like those across the country have seen the need for mounting a National campaign.

From April 21st-25th, CALCASA’s Online Grassroots Advocacy Center will allow people to send letters to all of their Congressional representatives with the click of a button. For most people the process takes less than a minute from start-to-finish, and their voice will be heard in Washington D.C.

In order to participate in the campaign, please register here.

After registering, you will receive an email as soon as the campaign begins directing you to the website to send your letter. Participation is free, and an important way to let Congress know just how important Federal funding is for California’s rape crisis centers.

Earlier this week, United States Senator Dick Durbin chaired a hearing “examining the widespread use of rape as a weapon of war, legal options for holding perpetrators accountable and the role the United States plays in preventing and prosecuting this horrific crime.”

The Feminist Majority Foundation reported that, Senator Durbin convened the hearing by stating his disappointment with the U.S. failure to take action on the issue. He said:

“I’m sorry to say that if a foreign warlord who is engaged in mass rape found his way to the US today, he’d likely be beyond the reach of our laws. That is shameful. If we fail to close these loopholes, we will allow these crimes to continue with impunity.”

Karin Wachter, with the International Rescue Committee, urged lawmakers to support the International Violence Against Women Act and to strengthen U.S. laws to give more protections to victims of sex crimes.

Senator Durbin vowed to work with his congressional colleagues to ensure that U.S. laws hold accountable those who use rape as a weapon of war.

Click here, and here to learn more about the hearing.

Judge Scott Jenkins ruled last week that Texas may not collect a $5-per-patron strip club fee. The fee was expected to raise $40 million per year and pay for sexual assault prevention programs and health insurance for low-income Texans.

Judge Jenkins wrote in an option that, “while furthering laudable goals, violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and is therefore invalid.”

Karen Amacker, a spokeswoman for the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, said her group is disappointed in the ruling and that the fee “is an appropriate long-term, sustainable funding source for programs addressing sexual violence…This is not the end of the adult entertainment fee or of our goal of providing comprehensive sexual assault-related services to Texans.”

Read more about the issue here.