Custody & Abuse News
News Article
Plot for Child Custody Ends in Murder
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 19, 2009
Kimberly Smith was murdered in her Oconomowoc home Oct. 1 as part of a plot for her ex-boyfriend to get custody of their 4-year-old son, authorities said Thursday in announcing the arrests of the ex-boyfriend and two other men on homicide charges. Smith was entangled in a long running custody dispute with the boy's father.
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News Article
High Costs Of Family Court
San Diego News 10, October 29, 2009
The I-Team found one example out of Northern California in which an 11-year-old boy, Coby, was the center of a custody dispute. His mother was ordered to pay $2,200 upfront to a custody evaluator. In the ruling, the judge wrote, "If mother does not pay the fees ... primary custody shall be changed." More
News Article
CA Law: Right to Attorney for Civil Litigation
Los Angeles Times, October 17, 2009
Governor Schwarzenegger signed a new law, the first in the nation, to recognize a right to representation in key civil cases and provide it for people fighting eviction, loss of child custody, domestic abuse or neglect of the elderly or disabled. More
News Article
Mother Sought help from Family Court; Now She's Dead
The Arizona Republic, October 20, 2009
Two weeks before she was killed, Dawn Axsom pleaded with Judge Jose Padilla of Maricopa County Superior Court to let her leave Arizona with her son because she feared Gabriel Schwartz, the toddler's father, would harm her or their boy. More
News Article
Child abuse: when family courts get it wrong
Christian Science Monitor, October 14, 2009
Even when physical or sexual abuse of children is alleged during a divorce, American family courts routinely award custody to the parent with an established record of domestic violence restraining orders, child abuse, neglect, alcoholism, addiction, dangerous mental illness, while the protective parent is labeled an alienator for bringing the abuse to the court's attention. More
News Article
HI: Residents protest family court
The Garden Island, September 14, 2009
A protest against Family Court attracted attention of well-wishers who honked their horns at sign-holders most of Thursday morning. The purpose of the rallies is to inform the community that the Kaua‘i Family Court and its court-appointed experts are not doing enough to protect children from abuse and domestic violence More
News Article
Mom who fled Iowa, ex-spouse, risks jail on return
Des Moines Register, September 24, 2009
A Decatur County woman who said she fled the state fearing for her life and that of her 7-year-old son is being required to return or risk being arrested. Ringgold County Attorney Clint Spurrier has thus far rejected pleas from advocates of domestic-violence victims to drop a criminal complaint against Hannah Newberry for violating the visitatio... More
News Article
Family of Man Who Killed Wife, Self, Gets Custody
Centre Daily, June 11, 2009
Williamsport Judge Richard A. Gray has decided to give primary physical custody of the child who lost both parents in the Easter 2007 murder- suicide to the father's family in Williamsport. Ben Barone shot and killed his wife Jodi Barone during a planned custody exchange of their daughter April 8, 2007. Jodi's mother had been fighting for custody. More
News Article
Man kills wife, now wants to control custody of children from jail
The Valley Independent (Pittsburgh, PA), August 12, 2009
A Fayette County man accused of running over over his wife with his car and killing her wants his parents to have legal custody of two of his children. In addition, he wants the cousins of a third adopted child to have custody of that youngster. More
News Article
Man Accused of Shooting and Killing Wife Asks for Children to be Moved to Safer Home
KSBY 6 News, August 19, 2009
A family torn apart after a fatal shooting is now in a heated fight over where to place the victim's children.On July 9, 24-year-old Tasha Norris was fatally shot. Her husband, John Norris, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. Despite that, his wishes for who will have custody of his children are being considered by child services. More
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Action Alert
MA: Sexual Assault Services Slashed
November 16, 2009
Earlier this month Governor Deval Patrick cut $1 million (one third of the budget) from the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program. This cut will mean the near elimination of a crucial system of coordinated care for survivors of sexual violence. Take Action Now!
Report
Shattered Hearts: Sexual Trafficking of American Indian Women and Girls in Minnesota
Minnesota American Indian Women's Resource Center, August 1, 2009
Police reports from Duluth showed that Native girls were being lured off reservations, taken onto ships in port, beaten, and gang-raped. Native girls were being trafficked into prostitution, pornography, and strip shows over state lines and to Mexico. This is the first report of commercial sexual exploitation of American Indian women and girls. More
Publication
Parental Alienation: A Rational Approach
NY State Office for Prevention of Domestic Violence Newsletter, June 1, 2009
The fact that divorcing parents often badmouth each other to the children can not justify the damage done to abused and endangered children by PAS and PA accusations. A more rational and fair approach to the claim of PA is presented. More