Topeka's "Week Without Violence" Begins Today in the Only City in the Nation that 'Decriminalized Domestic Violence."

I am saddened.  The City Council continues to twist and mince words. The bottom line and  in simple English is - YES, THEY DECRIMINALIZED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE within the city of Topeka.


There is no mis- communication Karin Hiller voted to repeal the city ordinance banning domestic battery from city limits. The DA still does not have the funding to do more than review and or plea out DV cases. The County Comissoner has only agreed to look into the finaces of DA- DA will be laying off Staff effective Dec 23 to the tune of 350k-- same amount the Commission reduced his budget. In other words Domestic Violence cases -  being the lowest catagory of crimes even lower than simple assault will NOT get the attention they deserve. 


See some of the other posts on this site. They want to be called hero's? They are cowards. They think that they know what is best for domestic violence victims? They are wrong.

The YWCA begins its week with out violence in the First City in the Nation to decriminalize Domestic Violence. See event here: and please be sure to attend the March on Friday where all the State, City and County Gov. officials will be leading the March.
KEEP WRITING the city council  (express your outrage over their thoughtless and heartless repeal of Dv) and Write the city commissioners  we need the DA's office funded!  We need help!!

The Attorney General Derek Schmidt knows that  Domestic Violence Victims will suffer (MORE than they have already) from budget cuts and reduced staff in DA office.

As for all those on the City Council who voted to repeal ban-- You have not helped us- You have hurt us -even more.

Happy "Week with out Violence" in honor of "National Domestic Violence Awareness Month".

Topeka has become an 'abuser' to battered women as well as an already broken system and sympathy for abusers. Be ashamed, be very ashamed.

Topeka's Mayor, City Manager and City Council - The devastating impacts domestic violence has on children

So, You think you have the right to be safe? You think that the City Council really Cares? Think again.

Really-- How bad is it? Very.

Battered Mothers Custody Conference Interviews 

[WARNING VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED]

From Fox News:"I believe the decision by Topeka's mayor and city council would have been different if they knew the devastating impacts domestic violence has on children," Martin said. "Studies show that without help up to three-quarters of these children will grow up to repeat the cycle of abuse."



See the following full length Documentaries:
[This is What Domestic Violence Victims Women and their Children have to look forward to when the Seek Justice]

• PBS Documentary "Breaking The Silence; Children's Stories
• Family Law Documentary "Court Crisis - Our Children at Risk"
• Domestic Violence Continued for Battered Mothers-Child Custody, Judicial Abuse
• No Way Out But One
• Domestic Violence 20/20 with Diane Sawyer

So what happened?---  "WE The People" told the Topeka City council -- "Do Not Decriminalize Domestic Battery.!!" Against EVERYONE's requests (but their own self serving posturing) They LEGALIZE Domestic Violence.


Hows that "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" -  thingy working out for you?"
--  Are you aware? 
--  Aware that you really do not have any safe avenue, no Justice, no recourse. 
--  You can count only on your self. 


PLEASE do The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit for Those in Violent Relationships
 and see: TIME’S UP: A GUIDE ON HOW TO LEAVE AN ABUSIVE AND STALKING RELATIONSHIP 

So if you are killed,  then you become a 'high' case (worth prosecuting). This way, at least your killer will not walk away, doing as he said he would -- "I will kill you,  and I will get away it".   (as so many do)

As you can see, Domestic Violence -- its more than just a misdemeanor, Its a Humans Rights Issue.  See Evan Starks: Coercive Control 

Why abused women develop a profile of problems seen among no other group of assault victims, prisoner camps, the legal system failed to win them Justice, not a crime, but deprivation of Human Rights.

I can speak first hand about this,  I am the lead plaintiff at the Inter American Commission Human Rights  (Dombrowski et el v US) this is how Kansas and the rest of the Nation  takes cares of Domestic Violence Victims.  Look at how they treat those victims who do decide to leave. 


Nothing has changed, it has only gotten worst. The Court Room is the 2nd most dangerous place for  a Domestic Violence Victim/Survivor.

Zeus radio: Where Susan Murphy-Milano, Claudine Dombrowski on Intimate Partner Violence and Barry Goldstein  On "Protecting Battered Women in the Courtrooms. "Out of the frying pan and into the fire"

And also see: 

The Battered Mothers Custody Conference and the new legal research into What Batterers do when Victims decide to leave-- for more information

Simply put, Topeka Kansas, on a good day does NOT acknowledge Domestic Violence  as a crime.  No matter how the City 'says' "we just want to help Victims" the truth is- they simply do not give a crap! Not about Victims Not about the community and with their narrow mined tunnel vision 'hate' towards the DA, their egos have and continue to wreck havoc on women and children in Topeka, in Kansas and Nationally.


All this hype and false sense of security--- Women, Mothers, Daughters, Sisters-- Men who care about the women in their lives Heed this warning. Do not trust in the system to help you. Certainly do not trust those who voted to legalize Domestic Violence in Topeka, KS.


Your case WILL NOT-- get prosecuted, unless you are near dead. That's just the way the system works, and as we all know, any victim of any crime, well --- JUSTICE is never for victims. Assault is a higher charge but alas its intimate partner violence-- so that automatically bumps your "plea' for help your cries for justice into  the 'x' file pile-- trash, dismissed non priority of the crimes.


 You can thank The City Council, City Mayor, City Manager Here for saying and for treating 1 in 4 women "That you do NOT matter." Those who Opposed and those who 'Decrimilized Domestic Violence" here:


Then take a look at the feed to the right-- this is not going away- this is not getting better and its time for a National wake up call--- ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Time's Up!!

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ABUSE, AND CHILD CUSTODY Legal Strategies and Policy Issues 

You might also like:

Domestic Violence Safe Courts Act

Who Does Society Blame for Domestic Violence?

Why Don’t We End Domestic Violence?

EXTREME CUSTODY DECISIONS THAT RISK LIVES

LinkWithin

It's no longer illegal to abuse a spouse if you're in Topeka, KS

Oct. 12: It's no longer illegal to abuse a spouse if you're in Topeka, Kan., at least under city law. The city council voted Tuesday night to repeal the city’s misdemeanor domestic battery law. NBC’s Stephanie Gosk has more.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Topeka, KS - Abusers Given the Green Light? FOX NEWS Sheppard Smith

The take on Topeka with Shepard Smith.....http://video.foxnews.com/v/1215012384001/abusers-given-the-green-light/
Topeka has been on every major media from left to right, New York Times, New York Daily, Washington Post, the drudge report, The pitch, Forbes, AP, ABC, NBC, MSNBC , CBS, Just to name a few---
Shame Topeka, You are a black eye on the nation. One of the most frequently used quotes”

“If you want to beat your wife move to Topeka”

Mr Dan Stanley should be awfully proud of himself; “City Manager is PLEASED’ he has effectively cut the throats of DV victims yet again. As he giddily dances up and down like the 5 year old mentality that he has.

Courtesy Topeka Capitol Journal

He so happily tells how proud he is of his decision and vote at the City Council Meeting last night to ‘decriminalize’ domestic violence in the city limits of Topeka KS, so that he and the city do not have to prosecute DV cases.
They instead can pay their City Judges 110K a year to open envelopes for money – from fines, parking tickets, building codes, dog at large. I mean come on already a 110k—no two (2) 110K Judges to open envelopes and put fines in to the city’s coffer.
A $ 9.00 an hour clerk can do both these judges job in one day.

Meanwhile,

Yes, The DA has to take the misdemeanor cases of DV, but---- only the top - almost dead ones. (so same- Felony only due to budget cuts and staff layoffs)

DA to lay off employees after $347K budget reduction

Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor said Wednesday that 17 percent of the work force in his office will be laid off as a result of the 10 percent reduction of his budget by the county commission.

You see he now has to lay off people in today’s press release as once again it is all about money - Money that the city manager has the County Commissioner has and well… not the DA  and not the victims.
Oh and keep in mind ---
this all happening During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month – even right here in Topeka where Domestic Violence is legal.

YWCA sets Week Without Violence events 10/12/11 - 5:24pm

Events designed to call attention to domestic violence have been scheduled for next week's Week Without Violence, part of the national Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Well it looks like we are back where we started from. Only worst as now it still remains ‘Legal in the city of Topeka, to beat your wife.”

"Time's Up!": Topeka Kansas: Successfully Votes Making "Domestic Violence Legal"
THE COLOR PURPLE

Topeka Voted tonight to Decriminalize Domestic Violence - A Move that Sets Back a 100 years of DV work

In a 7-3 Vote The Capital of Kansas -Topeka has sent a loud and Clear message-- Its ok to beat your spouse, we have decriminalized it.

From: The Topeka Capitol Journal 

City repeals ordinance banning domestic battery

ANTHONY S. BUSH/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL A group gathers outside the Shawnee County Court House in Topeka, Kan. Tuesday, Oct 11, 2011. The NOW Nantional Organization for Women rallied before the Topeka City Council work study session where they were going to talk about repealing a domestic violence ordinance. (AP Photo/The Topeka Capital-Journal, Anthony S. Bush

ANTHONY S. BUSH/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL Claudine Dombrowski a survivor advocate, left greats Amber Versola, the Lobbyist for Kansas NOW, National Organization for Women, right, on Tuesday, Oct 11, 2011, at a rally at the Shawnee County Court House in Topeka, Kan. The rally was before the Topeka City Council work study session on repealing a ban on domestic battery. (AP Photo/The Capital-Journal, Anthony S. Bush)

Yes, it is now legal within the City Limits, imagine in the Month of October, the 24th National Domestic Violence Awareness Month-- Topeka Legalizes Domestic Violence. All Survivors and Victims every where have been thrown back into the dark ages. Shame on Topeka for their 'slap in the face' to every victim nationwide. Topeka Kansas is now-- the abuser.

This will set a bad precedence through the nation. One that will have deadly ripple effects. Myself and other advocates and the three Councilpersons who voted against repealing and legalizing Domestic Violence engaged in a tense hour and half with dialogue with the rest of the Council and especially Dan Stanley Interim City Manger. 

 I tip my hat to these three Council members who were 'bullied' by the rest of the council's self serving needs on the 'backs of Domestic Violence Victims

Those who opposed in the final vote were: (please lend to them your support and thanks)

• Denise Everhart
• Richard Harmon
• Larry Wolgast

The City Council members who sold out Victims of Violence: (and need to be voted out)

Dan Stanley- Interim City Manager

Mayor Bill Bunton

• Karen Hiller
• John Alcala,Deputy Mayor
• Sylvia Ortiz 
• Chad Manspeaker
• Bob Archer
• Andrew Gray

The Councils email address and contact numbers are here: http://www.topeka.org/cityofficials/ 

I witnessed the Council that supported the the 'Decriminalization of Domestic Violence with in the City Limits of Topeka - berate speakers, who were survivors and victims, with their temper tantrum and finger pointing.  No one in the City wanted this to pass except Dan Stanley and his "six" along with the Mayor as the majority vote. I simply am appalled as is the rest of the Nation who watched it live streaming.

• The New York Times: Topeka Moves to Decriminalize Domestic Violence
• The AP: Kan.'s capital city repeals domestic violence law
• The Topeka Capitol Journal : City repeals ordinance banning domestic battery

In the following days there will be more National Media, Talk Shows as the the 'First City in the Nation,' The Capitol City of Kansas, Topeka has just repealed the City Ordinance 'Decriminalizing Domestic Violence'

October 10^th, 2011

City Hall

Re: Repeal of Domestic Battery

Comments by Claudine Dombrowski

Council members,

Roll the dice!!! Maybe if you repeal and decriminalize Domestic Violence there may be charges filed by the DA

Roll the Dice!  Maybe not as he still does not have the funding to prosecute.

This is what the City Council, the County Commissioners and the DA are doing! Gambling with the safety and lives of women. This is UNACCPTABLE!

These Laws were NOT written with the ink of pens but with the blood of those who have died. They are not to be gambled or toyed with.  

If you do not think ‘messages’ are important like the message you send with repealing the ban on dv—think again. That message alone will break the spirits of all hope, all validation of all victims/survivors—by further demeaning, degrading and devaluing once again the horror victims must endure.

According to data from the Governor’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, more than 20 women are killed each year in Kansas as a result of domestic violence. Nationally, domestic violence is one of the leading causes of injury to women. Data from the U.S. Department of Justice says that on average, three women are killed by their current or former partners each day.

There are several options with even more yet available, Take the deal Taylor offered you and get rid of municipal court, or have the commission reinstate the budget cut, to the DA, or cut 350k from the public library. Or 250K for another roundabout, or another 200k for golf course irrigation, dead women have no use for libraries, golf course or roundabouts.

Roll the dice! Game over -  Victims loose.

What a way to honor victims and survivors in the 24^th year of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Topeka, KS: “Outraged” KS-NOW Spearheads Protest at City Hall and DA’s Office – Over Domestic Violence Debacle. Tuesday October 11, 2011 4PM

For more information on whats happening  Google search any combination of  "Topeka Kansas Decriminalize Domestic Violence" 

Spearheaded by KS-NOW: Kansas National Organization for Women

Topeka’s Plan to decimalize Domestic Violence – In Domestic Violence Awareness Month –no less. shame.

Several National Media Articles – under Google search  in News “Topeka Domestic Violence”

Time   Tuesday, October 11 · 4:00pm – 7:00pm

Location  200 SE 7th St. Topeka, Ks. 66603

Kansas National Organization for Women

More Info

Come protest the District Attorney Chad Taylor’s office from 4 pm- 5:30 pm. We must stand up against the decisions being made regarding women and their families’ lives due to budget cuts right here in Kansas.

Bring your signs!

Following the protest there will be a city council meeting in the same building starting at 6 pm.

We need people to come in masses and please call the Shawnee County Courthouse if you would like to speak at the meeting in order to get your name on the docket before 5 pm on Tuesday. Please send the word out and your presence is needed in this time of lost priorities. We will hand out purple ribbons at the protest.
*If you do wish to speak (and call to put your name on the list), they request that you limit your time to 4 minutes MAX.

Topeka KS - Two Domestic Violence Survivors Speak Out Failure to Prosecute and City's plan to 'Decriminalize' Domestic Violence

Council discusses domestic battery prosecution

Two domestic violence survivors addressed the Topeka City Council on Tuesday evening after it heard the first reading of a proposal targeted at forcing Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor to resume prosecuting domestic batteries committed in Topeka. “I just ask that somehow there has to be a resolution,” Joe Cheray told the council. 

###

October 4th, 2011

City Hall, Public Hearing

Re: Repealing Ban on Domestic Battery

Submitted by Claudine Dombrowski

Council members,

I stand before you to speak about the issue known as REPEALING THE BAN on DOMESTIC BATTERY within the City Limits that the vast majority of Topekans, and now AMERICANS, recognize as a measure to ‘DECRIMINALIZE DOMESTIC BATTERY’ within the city limits of TOPEKA.

EVERYONE understands that budgetary shortfalls are a catalyst behind this recent decision. While neighboring communities in Kansas and around the country, face similar economic challenges, many of these communities are for example, limiting services, like reducing government office hours, foregoing park maintenance, or taking longer to patch potholes.

Yet in Topeka, it has been decided that we can solve a budget problem, by foregoing the protection of those most vulnerable. Don't we all know that any type of criminal activity will undoubtedly increase when the consequence is removed? Am I the only one who understands this logic? Has anyone with responsibility considered all of the costs?

MOST of us also understand that the other catalyst is yet another bungled, politicized process. The LEGALIZATION of DOMESTIC BATTERY is not a natural disaster, it's a manmade disaster, one within our control to manage and solve properly. Although will someone please explain to how an elected / appointed group of individuals arrived at a decision to DECRIMINALIZE Domestic Violence. And, how did they possibly not understand how opposition to their collective actions would not gain an explosive level of traction.

This political gamesmanship will no doubt directly contribute to the physical and emotional harm of those left even less protected, and further exposed to DV.


My mother always said “two wrongs do not make a right” by repealing the ban on DV within the city is 2nd wrong, to the 1st wrong of the DA’s failure to prosecute, and thereby protect.

In OCTOBER 2011, and for the 24th consecutive year, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS Month is being recognized around the USA; its main purpose is to MOURN those who have died due to domestic violence, CELEBRATE those who have survived, and CONNECT those who continue to work in the endeavor, to inform and promote National and Community Awareness and Action to end Violence against women.


Council members, when you ‘repeal’ the ban on Domestic battery, for political reasons, you will be known not only to your daughters and granddaughters but to every DV victim/survivor-- as the city who did not care, locally and nationally. ... YES, the for the 24th CONSECUTIVE year we have a DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS Month, while in Topeka it sounds and feels NOT like 2011, but MORE like 1961 . I ask that on behalf of victims and survivors everywhere, that you honor our struggle and not further degrade us.

Thank you for your time.

Claudine Dombrowski

###
Related:

• 10-7-2011 KCSDV Statement 
• 10-7-2011 NY Daily News: Domestic Abuse Cases Ignored in Topeka as City Council & County Fight over Who Should Handle Prosecution 
• 10-6-2011 Domestic battery: KS-NOW leader voices 'outrage'
• 10-6-2011 Mother Jones: Topeka to Legalize Domestic Violence?
• 10-5-2011  Feministing: Topeka, Kansas considers decriminalizing domestic violence to avoid prosecuting cases
• 9-29-2011 Advocates Furious After Topeka, County DA Refuse to Prosecute Domestic Violence Cases 
• 9-23-2011 Topeka Kansas: Failure to Protect Violates Statutes
• 9-22-2011 Zeus Radio: Claudine Dombrowski on Intimate Partner Violence and Barry Goldstein protecting Battered Women in the Courtrooms, Topeka DA Chad Taylor Refusing to Prosecute DV Cases
• 9-15-2011 A Hard Hit to DV Victims by The Criminal Justice System in Kansas
• 9-15-2011 The Lights Went Out in Topeka for Victims of Domestic Violence: Claudine Dombrowski Speaks Out
• 9-14-2011 Topeka domestic abuse survivor trembling over DA's decision to pass down misdemeanors

More here:
Chad Taylor, Domestic Battery, Topeka City Interim City Manager Dan Stanley
and here:

• D.A. sheds misdemeanor prosecutions in Topeka
• DA rejects 30 domestic violence cases
• Taylor, Stanley spar over misdemeanor prosecution
• D.A.'s office sends 30 domestic violence cases back to TPD