Family Justice Center Gets $12,000 Gift
February 8, 2012

The Shasta Family Justice Center received a $12,000 donation from the Shasta Regional Medical Foundation to help victims of family violence in the community.

The funds will be used for the day-to-day operations of the center that works with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and elder abuse.

The money donated came from proceeds from the annual Shasta Regional Medical Center Turkey Trot race on Thanksgiving.

For more information about the Shasta Family Justice Center, contact Executive Director Michael Burke at 243-8868, or go to www.shastafjc.org.

FJC to Celebrate Major Milestone
February 8, 2012

Between 600,000 and 6 million women, and between 100,000 and 6 million men are victims of domestic violence each year (depending on the type of survey used to obtain the data.) More than three million child abuse reports and allegations were made in 2009, involving an estimated 6 million children. (These are statistics from the Domestic Violence Resource Center)

Everyone wants to live a safe life, in a safe world. Yet for victims of domestic violence, such safety is non-existent, as their lives are ruled by unpredictable and ever-present threats of mental or physical abuse. The only safe place is in their minds, within imaginary worlds of freedom and happiness.

The cycle of domestic abuse follows a predictable pattern. It begins with the deplorable torture of one human being by another, followed by untold apologies by the abuser and forgiveness always granted by the abused. It is a repetitive cruelty which once begun, becomes an ingrained way of life. That is why abuse victims struggle to stop or prevent the torture. It is life as they know it, in a pattern they have learned to accept and survive. The stark reality is that to change such abuse requires incredible personal strength and courage, along with a great deal of professional support.

The Family Justice Center, headquartered in downtown Buffalo, understands what it takes for victims of domestic violence to choose such change. They know that when a woman or a man first walks through their doors, odds are they will leave and return six times before finding the courage to change their abusive lives. That’s six times sharing the sordid details, showing the bruises and broken bones and displaying the mental instabilities that these victims have learned to accept as a way of life. Six times before the kindness of the FJC staff, the caring of their counselors and the support of their legal advisors can assure victims that a safe world does exist outside of their minds.

One year ago the FJC opened a satellite office in partnership with the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church. There was a time when the need for such community outreach seemed unimaginable in the affluent Southtowns village and neighboring towns. It was only the privately tortured life and death of Aasiya Zubair Hassan, suffered at the hands of her abusive husband that revealed the community’s secret need.

Since opening their doors last February on the anniversary of Hassan’s death, the FJC Orchard Park satellite has counseled and aided nearly 100 victims of domestic violence. That’s two people every week searching for a way to safely end the abuse and begin again. And as FJC continues to serve the Southtowns, officials are hopeful that more victims will find the courage to step forward and seek the safe life options that their satellite location provides.

On the FJC website, their stated purpose is to offer the choice of a new life where violence stops, where families heal and where hope is realized. And as any domestic violence survivor will tell you, to be able to live a safe life, in a safe world, as only imagined in their mind.

For information about the Family Justice Center call 558-SAFE 97233 or consult their website at www.fjcsafe.org.

South Dakota Senate Agrees on Bill Adding Strangulation to Aggravated Assault Law
February 7, 2012

PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota's Senate will move a bill to the House that adds a definition of strangulation to the state's aggravated assault law.

Prosecutors and domestic violence advocates say prosecuting cases of strangulation can be difficult because South Dakota's aggravated assault statute lacks a specific reference and definition for the act.

Under the proposed legislation, strangulation would fit the felony charge of aggravated assault in South Dakota and define it as causing bodily harm by reducing breathing through pressure on the neck and blocking the nose and mouth.

Rapid City Republican Sen. Craig Tieszen sponsored the legislation. He notes that there were 41 cases of strangulation in Pennington County last year.

Senators voted 34-0, and the House will vote next.

Artwork Installed at Family Justice Center in Memory of Cathryn Curley
February 4, 2012

Cathryn Curley, a pioneer in the field of working to stop domestic violence, was instrumental in the creation of the Family Justice Center. The center offers many services, all under one roof, for women who need to leave violent relationships. Some of these services include legal advice, police action, social work, housing information, childcare, and job training. After Curley died in October of 2010, many who worked with her at Safe Haven and through other services in the field of women and domestic violence said there was a big hole where Cathryn’s personality used to shine. On Jan. 27, glass artwork by Michael Tondrik was installed on the wall in the entrance to the center, which is located at 414 W. First Street (the old city gas building across from the Duluth City Hall). The center was packed with supporters and women Curley had helped throughout her lifetime.

Contact the Family Justice Center at:
414 W. 1st Street (across from City Hall)
218-623-1000
Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Rep. Massie's Lack of Concern for Victims is Troubling
February 7, 2012

On Feb. 2, the Iowa House of Representatives passed Senate File 93, a bill to increase penalty for strangulation in cases of domestic violence. S.F. 93 would make it an aggravated misdemeanor to strangle someone during an incident of domestic abuse.

Current law treats strangulation in domestic abuse as a simple misdemeanor. The bill also would make the act a Class D felony if there is bodily harm incurred on the victim. While the bill passed the Senate unanimously, there was one legislator who voted against it in the House, Warren County’s state Rep. Glen Massie.

I’m sorry to hear about that. While it seems ridiculous that strangulation in domestic abuse was treated as a minor act in current law, it is even more outrageous that our state representative voted against making strangulation a more serious crime than a misdemeanor.

I’m glad the rest of the Legislature had more sense, and more concern for strangled domestic abuse victims, than our own representative does.