May
29
Law professor will ask US Supreme Court to reverse decision that a woman can be fired for being stalked
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | 3 Comments
Prof. Martin with some of her students at Howard Law School, in 1998.
Dawn V. Martin was harassed by a serial stalker while at work at Howard University. After asking the university to implement its own security measures to bar the stalker from the law school, Ms. Martin’s contract was “not renewed;” in other words, she was fired. Ms. Martin took her case to court, but on March 31, 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in favor of Howard University.
Ms. Martin says, “The only hope for reversal now is to go to the United States Supreme Court. I am looking for groups that are willing to come together to file a joint Amicus Brief at the Supreme Court level.” Groups interested in providing support should e-mail Ms. Martin.
For more information or to listen to radio interviews and the case, visit Dawn V. Martin’s Law Office website.
May
29
Collateral Damage: Physical Injury, Mental Health and Lifetime Consequences of Sexual Assault Associated with the US Armed Forces
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | 1 Comment
The following is the executive summary of research conducted by The Miles Foundation concerning sexual assault in the US Armed Forces. The study expands knowledge relative to the extent of the trauma experienced by service members victimized by military sexual trauma. The study details the after effects for recently deployed veterans relative to physical health, psychiatric health and quality of life.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE: PHYSICAL INJURY, MENTAL HEALTH AND LIFETIME CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ASSOCIATED WITH THE US ARMED FORCES
Executive Summary
The study examines physical, psychiatric and quality of life functioning in a sample of female veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Participants were interviewed regarding civilian and military sexual assault histories and combat exposure. Data concerning health outcomes and quality of life were obtained through structured interviews, questionnaires and a focus group. Women with civilian sexual assault and/or military sexual trauma reported significantly poor physical, psychiatric and quality of life functioning. The women with military sexual trauma reported additional negative consequences beyond prior victimization, combat stress and other family issues.
The participants represented clients of a private, nonprofit organization providing services to victims and survivors of sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, child maltreatment and human trafficking associated with armed forces. The participants were recently deployed outside the continental United States into CENTCOM AOR. The Miles Foundation has furnished services to 976 survivors of sexual assault associated with CENTCOM AOR.
The 405 study participants reported a positive history for one of three types of sexual assault including military sexual trauma, civilian sexual assault and/or childhood sexual assault. The numbers exceed the sample due to the endorsement of multiple types of sexual assault by many of the participants. The study participants reported assaults by multiple assailants (43) and assailants with multiple victims (37). The study also identified an increasing number of cases of drug facilitated assaults in which the presence of alcohol contributed to an assault (57%). Read more
May
29
Sexual Assault News
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | Leave a Comment
Washington Post – by Colum Lynch
Report Details Child Abuse
U.N. peacekeepers and international aid workers from 23 organizations have engaged in sexual exploitation of children, including some as young as 6, in Haiti, Ivory Coast and South Sudan, according to a report by Save the Children, a British-based aid agency.
KVUE Austin – by Rudy Koski
Hays County teenagers surrender in sex abuse case
CBS 4- El Paso – by Cristina Rodda
Two Fort Bliss Soldiers Arrested on Child Sex Charges
My Fox Houston
Police Release Sketch of Sexual Assault Suspect
My Fox Houston
Detective: Teen, School Custodian Had Sexual Relationship
Abilene Reporter News – by Celinda Emison
Former sergeant takes plea deal
Taylor Daily Press – by Philip Jankowski
County offers strong support for assault victims
May
28
Addressing prison rape
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | Leave a Comment
Sex Crimes reports that NPR did a ten minute segment on addressing the harsh reality of rape in prison.
May
28
The Bandana Project
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | Leave a Comment
I learned about the Bandana Project, a new project of Esperanza: The Immigrant Women’s Legal Initiative, via the SAFER blog.
The Bandana Project is an awareness-raising initiative aimed at educating people about the sexual harassment and assault farmworker women face. Participants decorate bandanas for display, similar to the Clothesline Project. The project took its name from the fact that many farmworker women wear bandanas covering their faces and baggy clothes to disguise themeselves in an attempt to avoid unwanted sexual attention, harassment and rape.
Unfortunately, I didn’t hear about this project in time to promote it for SAAPM, but it’s sounds like a great awareness-raising activity that can be used year-round.
May
28
Sexual Assault News
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | Leave a Comment
KXAN- NBC Austin
FLDS: Court victory but no closer to home
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
No easy answers
No one disputes that removing more than 450 children from their parents in the Yearning For Zion ranch outside Eldorado had to be disruptive — even traumatizing — to those youngsters. The question is whether the children’s interests were better served by placing them in foster care than by leaving them with a sect in which girls are made to marry and have children while still children themselves.
Dallas Morning News – by Robert T. Garrett and Emily Ramshaw
Child Protective Services appeals to Texas Supreme Court to keep polygamist sect’s children
Beaumont Enterprise – by Sarah Moore
Pimps troll Beaumont to recruit underage sex workers
Fort Bend Herald – by Bob Dunn
Detectives Ask For Help Finding Man Who Tried To Rape Girl In Katy-area Park
Weatherford Democrat – by Danie M. Huffman
Man serves sentence for sexual assault
News West 9 Midland – by Camaron Abundes
Bueno Found Not Guilty
Thefacts.com – by John Tompkins
2 indicted on child porn charges
Marshall News Messenger - by Sandra Cason
Man to face sexual assault of a child charges
Washington Post – by David A. Farenthold
Court Rejects Seizure Of Tex. Sect’s Children
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – by Alex Branch
3 suspects in prostitution inquiry will be tried as juveniles
May
22
Sexual Assault News
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | Leave a Comment
Washington Post – by Brian Witte
Court martial not advised in midshipman rape case
CBS 10 Amarillo
Jane Doe Rape Kits Aim to Ease Victim Reluctance
Times Recorder News
Our opinion: When she’s ready
A new federal requirement would remove the biggest obstacle to prosecuting rape cases, reported the Associated Press, rape victims too scared or ashamed immediately after the assault to undergo an emergency-room rape exam./ Now the evidence can be gathered through a “Jane Doe rape kit,” anonymous kits with only a numerical distinction, the evidence kept in a sealed envelope in case the victim does decide to press charges. The envelope will only be opened by the police if the victim decides to press charges.
Tyler Morning Telegraph – by Kenneth Dean
Man Charged In Abduction, Sexual Assault of 63-Year-Old
The Monitor – by Jeremy Roebuck
Former chief to fight sexual assault charges
Waco Tribune – by Tommy Witherspoon
Alleged escapee, 17, indicted on felonies
KXAN- NBC Austin
Attorney withdraws from Williamson County teen sex case
CBS 42 Austin – by Annalisa Petralia
Former Georgetown cop pleads guilty to sex charge
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal – by Logan Carver
Lubbock man convicted of sexual assault on kids
Bandera Bulletin – by Jessica Hawley-Jerome
Mother accused of abuse loses children
May
20
Sexual Assault News
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | Leave a Comment
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – by Deanna Boyd
Former Mrs Baird’s supervisor avoids rape indictment
A Tarrant County grand jury has declined to indict a former Mrs Baird’s plant supervisor on accusations that he raped a 48-year-old woman whom he had helped get a job.
Waco Tribune – by Tommy Witherspoon
Judge reaffirms guilt of man in sexual assault
Austin American Statesman – by Shelton Green
Austin State School employee investigated for sexual assault
Dallas Morning News – by Robert T. Garrett and Emily Ramshaw
Polygamist sect cases set for status hearings Monday
May
19
Sexual Assault News
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | Leave a Comment
Washington Post – by Kristen Wyatt
Anonymous rape tests are going nationwide
WOAI San Antonio – by Brian Collister
Human Rights Groups Plan Visit To Pearsall Immigration Facility
Washington Post – by Michael Kunzelman
Court sides with MySpace in suit over sex assault
Newspaper Tree – by Kent Paterson
World-Wide Attention, But on the Ground, Femicides Continue
New York Times – by Norimitsu Onishi
Marine Given 4 Years in Sex Case
Dallas Morning News – by the Associated Press
Houston police release sketch of ‘Lover’s Lane’ suspect
thefacts.com – by John Tompkins
Alvin man gets probation for sex assaults
ABC 13 Houston – by Andy Cerota
Teen’s story of gang rape is not true
Abilene Reporter News – by Celinda Emison
Foster mother charged with sexual assault
May
16
Sexual Assault News
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | Leave a Comment
El Paso Times – by Michael Casey
UN: Most schools ravaged in Myanmar’s cyclone zone
UNICEF warned that those children could be at risk of human trafficking and even sexual abuse in chaotic refugee camps.
We are really concerned about the risk of exploitation and sexual abuse, said Anne-Claire Dufay, chief of UNICEF’s child protection section in Myanmar. “If they don’t have private sleeping spaces, it could be an issue.”
Dallas Morning News – by Robert T. Garrett
Change your ways or lose your children, Texas to tell mothers in polygamist sect
Dallas Voice – by David Webb
Police say rape suspect likely to strike again
ABC 13 Houston – by Katishia Cosley
Family wants help after teen’s rape
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – by the Associated Press
Air Force colonel to face trial on rape charge
El Paso Times – by Erica Molina Johnson and Stephanie Sanchez
Priest found not guilty in sexual assault case