Don't come to me with problems: come to me with solutions!

I read a tough book [Moroney; Through The Glass (Autobiography, 2013)], which illustrates the complexity, the various departments involved, and stakeholders in sexual violences and domestic assault cases. We have made progress: less domestic violence now than in the past.  In 2010, the rate of intimate partner homicide committed against females increased by 19%, the third increase in four years.  Once a case goes to trial and someone is convicted, the government department and, therefore, responsibility changes. It is highly complicated by the Charter of Rights, the rights of victims and legal rights of perpetrators.

Parliament

I know it's a bee, but you get the message!

All parties and all levels of government are guilty of posturing and obfuscation, right down to community boards and regional councils, as well as school board trustees (Prime examples: OCDSB & Trillium Lakelands DSB trustees in the news). No one seems to be able to work together for a good cause. They should come to agreements in the best non-partisan interests of the public.

My MPP, Randy Hillier, presented a 15-minute monologue in parliament on Monday, March 7th, which he posted to Facebook: Watch Hillier's full speech here.  (You can read his back story below.)

"We've met with all the agencies, all the police enforcement, the Crown, to find ways to help my family ... not to live in fear. But if he's not out tomorrow, he'll be out soon from now," Hillier said. There are many failings in our system, Speaker; many, many failings. And this bill does little to address those failings.

The Premier stated she wouldn't take lessons from me, but is it in her DNA to take lessons from the experts at Interval House? Show your family and friends and join the discussion, is the Premier failing women and their families?" 

CWF stats

He claims it isn't money they need, but new laws. I disagree. it takes accountability, and communication between departments. It does take money to build and sustain women's shelters, to have decent staffing levels, and his party is all for cutting taxes, not paying for services. (Which is what many of his constituents are demanding! No one wants to pay for the services they feel they are entitled.)

After his speech, Premier Wynne's response: "I will not take lessons from this member on how to invest in and support the women of this province...It is a decades old issue."  (There is a history of ill-will between these politicians.)

Thing is, Hillier sat on the committee to work on this issue. Why didn't he use HIS expertise to "fix the system?!" I wish Hiller had spoken about solutions, not laid all the blame on the Premier! (That is, of course, politicking!)
Hillier is a member of the select committee on sexual violence and harassment, which presented its final report to the Legislature in December. He said he's anticipating working on the government's proposed Bill 132, the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act. 

What could be done –specifically– regarding domestic and sexual violence and the court system?

(My two cents worth!)

1. Corrections Office: Stop plea bargaining, or build in checks and balances. To agree to a placement in a facility, when we know there isn't a bed? Make details in court orders, with reports to the victims. 
2. Accounting for paroled individuals, including physical and social tracking by parole boards, with police involvement, reporting to all direct stakeholder. More staff to do so.
3.  Treatment: More treatment programs for violent offenders, including anger management treatments. More treatment programs for addicts. Random drug testing, with reports to the parole system.
4. More support for Victim Services programs and women's shelters.  (Although they are doing a great job with little.)
5. More enforcement to reduce access to alcohol and drugs. (Lanark County has a terrible time with drugs and drug abuse. Mother and brother charged in drug bust)
6. System Navigator for Victims. Someone to stand with and for the victims, with access to the prosecution, the judicial system, the parole office. 
7. Which would lead to: Better communication between departments: The legal system: judges, lawyers, and parole officers, as well as victims, well beyond victims impact statements.
8. Restorative Justice:  This program began in Lanark County in 1998.

New program brings restorative outreach 

to Lanark County schools, youth centres.

(Hillier was there at its launch.)

Alberta did a survey

CWF says that while domestic violence is lower, rates of intimate partner murders are up. Why is this?

This decline is partly due to increased social equality and financial freedom for women, which makes it easier for them to leave abusive relationships at earlier stages. It is also due to years of effort by groups who are working to end domestic violence. Their achievements include improved public awareness, more treatment programs for violent men, improved training for police officers and Crown attorneys, having the police lay charges rather than the victim, more co-ordination of community services, and the creation of domestic violence legislation in some areas of Canada.¹⁹

The background story

Debate on a motion for 3rd Reading of Bill 132,
although it was more like a lecture!

This story began in October 4th, 2015. Randy Hillier's family had a crisis when his daughter's ex-partner followed her to Hillier's farm, and engaged in some horrific, violent acts. He was throwing about diesel fuel, and was going at the doors and/or windows, in (we can infer) a drunken rage, as addictions counseling was part of the plea bargain. It isn't an unusual story, sadly. They went into hiding, as a family, for a week. He was arrested and a trial ensued in December, with 16 charges, 4 with max. charge of life in prison. The Crown agreed his year was best spent in a treatment facility. However, there was no room at the facilities. Instead, he was sent to another facility. The Crown expected treatment, and didn't know if there was room or not. There is no feedback from the Crown to the courts.
The Court asked them to give the court documents to the crown attorney. Probation won't do this, despite them being public documents.
The police are excluded from having influence in the plea bargaining. The judge should demand a pre-sentence report, before the bargain is made.
Hillier is upset that the court and corrections didn't talk to him about his victim impact statement and didn't ask for clarification on his statement.
Sentenced to a year, the offender came before the parole board last week. There is no information about its result.

Wynne's been an MPP since 2003, premier since 2013. Hillier has been an MPP since 2007.
For the most part, MPP Hillier spends his time and energy ranting against government involvement. He wants lower (or no) taxes. He is against protecting Lanark County, such as the Tay Valley legislation intended to protect the land from exploiting landowners.

 Hillier's Facebook account is full of acidic remarks and pejorative claims, the free throwing knives of blame, anger and hostile comments. He has a history of civil disobedience, disrespect for fellow politicians, and those who disagree with him (including me), beginning with illegal protests and flaunting the laws of the land. [His son went overseas to fight Da'esh (ISIS) as a solo volunteer.]

BTW

I am blocked from reading and following Randy Hillier's tweets. THAT system is broken! He is my legal, publicly-paid MPP ($ six digits) and he won't tolerate my queries. Heaven forbid we disagree with politicians!

• Like all violent crime in Canada, rates of domestic violence have fallen in recent years.¹⁸  This decline is partly due to increased social equality and financial freedom for women, which makes it easier for them to leave abusive relationships at earlier stages. It is also due to years of effort by groups who are working to end domestic violence. Their achievements include improved public awareness, more treatment programs for violent men, improved training for police officers and Crown attorneys, having the police lay charges rather than the victim, more co-ordination of community services, and the creation of domestic violence legislation in some areas of Canada.¹⁹

Addictions Research

Alcoholics Anonymous has a terrible success rate, addiction ...

In a new book, Dr. Lance Dodes concludes that the success rate for Alcoholics Anonymous is between 5 and 10 per cent, which he calls one of the worst in all of medicine.
“The model has been so popular, so widely disseminated, that people believe it should be something that works,” says Dr. Bernard LeFoll, head of Alcohol Research and Treatment Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. But at this point, he says, we have neither definitive data supporting that it works nor studies about whom it most benefits.

Rehab centres need an accreditation fix

CARLY WEEKS The Globe and Mail

Many centres boast a 90% cure rate.

As many individuals and families have learned the hard way, addiction treatment programs are not created equal. There are no mandatory regulations or provincial standards that facilities or their employees must adhere to; it is a buyer beware environment. 

Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide

Thirteen-point guide:

Use a multi-faceted approach (biopsychosocially-based treatments); treat the family; treat the addictions, as well as mental and physical issues, consult physicians; monitor as lapses occur; rule out infectious diseases.

Approximately, 40 - 60% relapse.

Mother and brother of missing woman charged in drug bust

Police said Thursday’s bust was centred on a 28-year-old man they allege was supplying cocaine to street-level dealers in Lanark County. 

Investigators searched Matthew Fillipoff’s 2009 Mercedes after a pursuit by tactical officers in Lanark Highlands along with four houses... They seized nearly a kilogram of cocaine, Fentanyl patches, more than 500 grams of MDMA, marijuana and hashish. Also charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking are six other Perth residents ages 19 to 59, charged with possession of cocaine. All were released pending court appearances.

Domestic violence turned awry

I spent some time as a Victim Services Volunteer. 'Vickers' many call it. We were trained in handling emergency situations of many types. Called to support victims of crime, threats, trauma, accidents, suicide, we support the professionals by being a supportive person. Some of the work I did involved attending to a woman whose neighbour committed suicide. In another situation, I drove a woman to make a complaint at the detachment about a violent ex-boyfriend.

Playing happily with mommy

We were taught about the various services offered to victims of threats, domestic abuse or violence. Many agencies offer counselling, and practical advice for protecting themselves from those who show signs of escalating violent behaviour. Our provincial law enforcement agency (OPP) take the time to support those who are victimized. There is much research on this issue, and many participate in local and regional conferences to understand the impact of violence on the victims, as well as the children involved. We know that more women were murdered by former partners (500) than all those killed in Afghanistan (101) between 2000 and 2006. (Read this post for more information).

Turns out, one woman ('Jennifer') who was getting help from police in her domestic abuse situation, has now had her children taken away from her by the Children's Aid Society (CAS).

In the past there were 40 cases per year of 'alienation of affection'. These cases, CBC News tells us, have jumped to 120 cases. I understand that some families choose this method of payback, but it isn't the norm. Two years ago Jennifer pressed assault charges against her husband. He has counteracted the charges by going to the CAS and charging her with alienation of affection. CAS has taken custody from the mother, and sent the daughter to a supervised custody arrangement with the abusive father.

Children deserve to feel safe

What are they thinking? Do they not talk to the OPP? Of course a mother is going to protect her child from an abusive father. Whether the child is abused or not, they are susceptible to PTSD from witnessing the abuse. Naturally a child will be afraid of an abusive man, father or no, and a mother will do anything to protect her child. Women at risk are being given training in creating a Safety Plan, and an Escape Plan, for themselves and their children.

I am so shocked. Jennifer has gone to the media to state her case. She regrets calling in the justice system in the first place. Yet, her child, traumatized by a violent father, is now traumatized by CAS by being removed from her protective mother's care.

Resources

• Children Exposed to Domestic Violence Handbook for Early Childhood ...(PDF)
• Centre for children and families in the justice system, London, Ontario 'We are known especially for our grounded approach to understanding and helping children exposed to domestic violence.' 
• Domestic violence: the criminal justice response Eva Schlesinger Buzawa, Carl G. Buzawa - 2003 The new Third Edition of Domestic Violence: The Criminal Justice Response offers a thorough and major revision of one of the top books in the field of domestic...  
• Violence Against Women Confidential, anonymous, 154 languages. AWHL.org - 24/7 Helpline for Ontario
• Shelter from the Storm  No one should have to live with Abuse. Ever.  www.shelterfromthestorm.ca 
• Are you a crime victim? The Government of Canada has information for you. VictimsMatter.gc.ca 
• Family Violence Providing Homeless Youth with Hope & Opportunity. www.covenanthouse.ca
• Sexual Assault & Partner Abuse Care Program - The Ottawa Hospital ...30 Apr 2010 ... Any person who has experienced a sexual assault or partner abuse (domestic violence) should come to the Emergency Department 

The May/Iles Inquest 1998, was one that laid down the rules for identification of protocol, mandatory charge policies, specialized courses for OPP, and other improvements to this system:

• • Victim Services Programs
  • Domestic Abuse Resources, Hotlines
  • Victim Witness Assistance Programs (VWAP)
  • Mandatory charge policy (2000) - if reasonable grounds
  • Domestic Violence Handbook: PDF -  (2001) - OPP College
  • Increased cooperation with justice sector partners; service providers.
  Getting Out - from VioletNet.org
  
  

  • What to do when leaving an abusive relationship
  • Escape Plan
  • Safety Plan
  • Key Resources

violence against women II

In some hopeful news for a Bracebridge, Muskoka, family, it was reported by Brock News that Opposition Leader, Bob Runciman, is calling for an inquest into Natalia Novak's 2006 death. Editorials (e.g., Let her killer rot!) have been strong in light sentences of these killers who continue to abuse women while out on bail.

The Novak family, it is reported in the press, were horrified with the sentence: the possibility of parole after 10 years, having violated previous bail conditions. In a terribly difficult trial, with reports of the victim being beaten, bruised, cut, stalked, and terrorized, with the perpetrator telling various stories, it is fodder for a Jodi Picoult novel. These perps will continue to commit these offenses until something changes.

One apparent difficulty with domestic assaults is keeping the perpetrator away from the victim, and convincing the victim she is at risk well before it escalates. This article states that it was an "on again-off again" relationship. Despite restraining orders women are assaulted and murdered by those who would seek to harm them. Perpetrators of domestic assault, primarily scorned former partners, repeatedly violate court orders to keep away from those they seek to harm. For a young lady, 20 years old, moving from cottage country to the inner city, life must have changed starkly. She was attending Ryerson, my alma mater, in the heart of the city. I grew up in downtown Toronto, and I can attest to the difficulties in changing cultures so profoundly having done the reverse: moved from a city to cottage country.

In a May 15, 2006, article, from The Star, more of Novak's story is explained. How difficult it is for parents to try to protect their daughter living in Toronto. How difficult it is for women who had a relationship with someone to understand the seriousness of this issue before it gets out of control. I know that when my daughter attended Waterloo University, concerns about date rape and assaults translated into wonderful policies and practices whereby women having to walk home late at night had the choice of an official escort. It was comforting.

The May/Iles Inquest 1998, paved the way for official police protocols, but more needs to be done. (This is a must read for family and friends of victims.) Young women who are the victims of stalking or with court orders against men, have the option of having the police, or sexual assault experts, help them create safety plans that can protect them.

It seems to me that with the high rate of women going back to the men who have assaulted them, we must convince them that they are at a huge risk. We have to stop the grooming that occurs. Grooming is done by clever perps who prey on vulnerable victims: women or children directly or on-line. It is more common than we think. Lisa Marie Presley was groomed by Michael Jackson - as reported in an Oprah show, as well as by AP.

It was this 32-year old man who can convince a young woman that she is special and precious, until she begins to depend upon him. Those who groom younger women, children and boys, convince the victim that they are the only ones that understand them and that the victim cannot live without them. Once his real character comes through, it is too late. One valuable Oprah show talks about a 13-year old who is groomed in this way, sucked into being kidnapped by an older man who seduces her. It is up to family and friends to take these threats seriously, protect them, and be their small voice to help them understand the seriousness of this potentially violent relationships. These real-life horror stories but there are places to go for help.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Domestic Violence and Abuse: Help, Treatment, Intervention

Phenomenal Women Of The Web Against Domestic Violence Webring – An online support group for women who are victims of domestic abuse. ...
www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_help_treatment_prevention.htm

Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs, Home of the Duluth Model

Probation Practices that Enhance Victim Safety in Domestic Assault Cases can partner with domestic violence agencies and support services for women
www.theduluthmodel.org/trainingschedule.php

Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA)

Escalation: assaults more violent; recent assault increases perceived risk? Sexual/Domestic Assault Centre Study.
www.mhcp-research.com/odara07.pps