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. 

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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

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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

Domestic Violence is Currently LEGAL in Topeka, Kansas

Please comment on the original article here,

 Topeka domestic abuse survivor trembling over DA's decision to pass down misdemeanors

We need outrage to stop this political game playing at the expense of women.

Right now in Topeka Kansas—Domestic violence is LEGAL.

Since last week’s decision of the County DA to stop prosecuting Domestic Violence in the city limits, there have been 35 Domestic Violence arrests that have walked with no charges. The City manager Dan Stanley is considering a repeal in the City Ordinances that Domestic Violence is not a crime within the city, so that the City Judges and Prosecutors do not have to charge, prosecute and try any Domestic Violence. The District Attorney’s Office is refusing to accept ant City Domestic Violence Crimes.

Why it would be worse for victims.

It is very dangerous for victims of DV to report the crime as the consequences from the ‘perp’ are even worse than the actual ‘incident’ being charged. BATTERER RETALIATION. So when a DV case is pursued, it’s got to be with heavy consequences to the perp, as she (the victim) is in even more danger than she was when the charge was filed.

How a victim is treated usually has little to do with the actual system, but has everything to do with the people who work in the system.

The issue is making sure the judges understand what they should be looking at for evidence in domestic violence cases. How the judge or victims’ rights advocates, police offices or city prosecutors or district attorneys or assistant district attorneys and their staff are educated, and implement those tools to aid victims and insure justice is much more important than which court should have jurisdiction.

Domestic Violence is defined as a “pattern of control’’

1. Domestic Violence tag law Effective July 1, 2011

2. DA has a DV task team that do all the DV cases.

3. It is extremely rare that a dv charge is ever held at dv usual they are reduced to ‘damage to personal property and disorderly conduct.’ Then it is still a misdemeanor, only after three such convictions does the 4^th time warrant even felony status.

Perhaps with the DV tag law, which will document all the ‘disorderly conducts, damage to personal property with a tag at the bottom showing was in relation to domestic violence—will show that pattern and perhaps then they can change the ‘misdemeanor dv conviction to felony sooner than with the NON attainable 3 DV misdemeanor convictions to the 4^th as a felony.

The County DA’s office needs to maintain the Domestic Violence cases—or person injury crimes. They need the money to maintain at minim mum what they have and been doing in the area DV. In fact they need more than even that . Its is the DA’s office—the people that bring the crimes to paper, to the system, of Charges, and begin the long process of getting it through the system and getting ‘justice’ and consequences for the crime.

The DA works closely with the Secretary of State’s e.g. address confidentiality program for victims of domestic violence, the Attorney general’s office who also has a DV task team, and the Governor’s Office that gives grant funding, specific to ensure and to continue the legal prosecution of offenders, the KCSDV that provides up to date education, and best practices of understanding, prosecuting, supporting the victims of Domestic Violence and Coercive Control. The DA’s office has made huge advancements in the past 30 years with this heinous crime.

To toss it to the city will be to throw all that to the wind, the dark ages of Domestic Violence if you will—is even darker now.

I have no problem with other misdemeanors-NON person Injury offences such as hot checks, small claims courts, Code enforcement and violations.

The Commissioners want to cut the budget, money, there are many County expenditures that are wasted. There are Court programs that can be cut without threat to public safety, Like parenting classes, Drug Classes, several of the so called CSO that do noting but ‘busy work’ that cannot be done by the City/municipal court. But of all the county cuts—the last one would be to cut the DA’s office—the only avenue to even begin to seek justice. For any crime, violent crimes, even violent crimes labeled as ‘just dv”.

Where city ordinance- codes are the main cases – to high grass, code compliance, housing buildings, traffic, parking meters.

However, of the two Judges (and only Judges at Municipal/city Court)

Lloyd C Swartz - A history to include usual district court ‘Case manager’ who blocks access to justice has a history of harming battered mothers. (I myself included)

Vic Miller – 28 findings of Fact- Court Admonishments for Violations of the Attorney Code of ethics. 1. Incompetence, injury, Mental.

At one point they were going to ‘disbar’ him, until he hired lawyer john ambrosia as defense. This hardly ever happens, I have seen attorneys make death threats, physically attack patrons in the court house, accepting bribes and shown evident biased and lack of neutrality—those actions have failed to be admonished by the Disciplinary board let alone make it to actual supreme court public admonishment.

Even Stanley the acting City manager- KNOWS how dangerous this is.

See More Here:

• The Lights Went Out in Topeka for Victims of Domestic Violence: Claudine Dombrowski Speaks Out
• Topeka domestic abuse survivor trembling over DA's decision to pass down misdemeanors
• 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

A Kansas Introduction-- The Address Confidentiality Program

{ my 1^st post on this site—please enjoy as most of the posts coming will be hard to digest as I specialize in Battered MOTHERS who have lost custody of their Children to the ABUSERS via the Court System that was SUPPOSED to PROTECT—but in fact has miserably failed thousands of Victims of Violence—Coercive Control- a human rights issue--the mothers, the children- many have not survived and the genocide only continues—to all the countless survivors/victims I am with you—and you are not alone—I and countless others are with you—all my love—Claudine} and  Please visit www.AmericanMothersPoliticalParty.org

For today---

The Address Confidentiality Program- While picking up RX Drug

This afternoon I went to pick up my meds —you know that 2.50 generic program—I’m on social security disability 100% and anyways  it covers nothing- My Dr. told me about  the basic generic programs via pharmacies such as Walgreen Wal-Mart  and others for-- e.g.  Antibiotics -anti-inflammatory (the list of approved generic price drugs (check with your pharmacists about this they will give you a list) for the $2.50 drugs covered. Here is one I pulled for Wal-Mart—but all pharmacies offer a list. ASK THEM or your DR. they will help you.

Anyways;

When I was there picking up my RX for antibiotic related to degenerative bone disease—the little cashier so polite asks my name—confirms date of birth— confirms phone number—you know the usual stuff that goes into computers--then confirms my address. Huh? (she gives an address on file)  Nope that is not my address,  I say ‘never heard of it’—so she wants my address—I give her my dl has a p.o box on it—as you see I am on the Safe at Home-- address safe confidentiality program— this is my address—I live in a box. I explained to this pretty young lady (not much older than my daughter I think to mysef). 

Kansas is K.S.A  74-451 just one of Several states that utilize this program. Nationwide directory here.

Well--- I am used to people saying ‘Federal Law Mandates we have a physical address” blah blah-- I am also used to saying ‘This is my address’—I hear the next common reply—“but we will keep it safe” I follow with my norm—‘this is my address’ I am on the Sah, ACP Program through the secretary of state administered by the Kansas Attorney General  spew ( I know by heart.).

Never give your physical address to any one ladies not any one not the cops not any one—once enrolled in the program your physical address is the attorney generals address at least here in Kansas. Stay OFF THE GRID or you will be found.

Then, after the pharmacist says ‘ok’—use her address on her DL’--cool --and as this sweet young lady is ringing me up—she bursts into tears—

“How do I get on it?-Can anyone get on it?”—(ah man I think)—and I know that the state coalition and even worst the old battered women’s task force (now the empowerment center)-sued by men so it changed its name-- sigh) is about worthless—so I direct her to the state its self and the director of KCSDV and the AG

The SaH ACP is in most states another question this young lady asked me—“does my credit card bills etc go there?”-- she asks?  She is not married no children so she has a good chance of surviving— and plans to leave the state. {I and many more have children who are held captive—and will be the main content of this blog- although all that I post will be helpful to any one in out or ongoing a stalking or coercive control situation}

The thing that I want to emphasize is that The States ACP program guarantee only one thing—Your Address—that’s it—they do not have any other resources no homes to get in via the acp—no creative ideas for address no further instructions—its up to you the survivor—this only gives you.. your address is confidential. {There is a whole array of new issues to deal with that. A whole other post.}

Another and perhaps easier way is to get a federal express address or a UPS address   Your New Home address is a street—not a box J--- Kewl huh???—They give a name like 1234 park avenue lane so it’s not a box—which in my case as I am a PO BOX—(and causes so many red flags Like above)—But I am old  and have been off grid since 2000. Only in 2007 did Kansas make Law the SaH ACP program and I was simply  ‘grandfathered in’.

To take it further I highly recommend getting the Times Up book it is available on this site for immediate electronic download.

To the Young Lady I met this afternoon—you have my number—and God Speed baby. And Please Visit Susan Murphy Milano for more info and Times UP! How to STAY SAFE honey!!

Insanity? Nope. Family Court in Kansas

Imagine that your home was broken into, vandalized and burglarized one night. You were roughed up and tied up while he ransacked your home. Fortunately, he left you shaken and hurt, but not seriously injured such as to require hospitalization. You were successfully able to identify him and his vehicle as he sped away.

Upon your call to the police, the offender is apprehended with the goods in his possession and brought to court to stand trial for his crimes against you.

You arrive in court and the first thing the judge asks you is if you are willing to go to mediation with the burglar. When you refuse, the judge labels you ‘uncooperative’ and ‘hostile’ to the burglar's continued relationship with you. Even though the burglar was caught red-handed with your goods, and you were an eye witness to the crime, the judge now decides that he can't possibly decide the case without first appointing a social worker termed a "burglary evaluator" to assess yours and the burglar's relationship.

When the social worker/evaluator can not determine what is best for your relationship or your stolen goods, they ask the judge to have both you and the burglar psychologically evaluated, because you seem "anxious", "angry" and "uncooperative" with the burglar. The court-appointed psychologist, who has no experience in being the victim of violent crime and has not studied the

effects of such trauma, also determines that you are uncooperative, hostile, anxious, and you

have a negative opinion of the burglar that can't be healthy. After all, the burglar had nothing but good things to say about you, your home and your belongings during his evaluation.

The psychologist recommends that you be restricted from access to your belongings until you can accept the burglar's rightful relationship to continued access to your home and personal effects. He further recommends you attend weekly conjoint therapy with the burglar to work on being more cooperative with him in the future.

All at your expense of course.

The judge decides to wait a year or so to see how you work through your relationship with the burglar before he can decide upon the burglary conviction. He chastises you that you had better really work at the relationship or he may just grant the burglar's request to maintain sole ownership of your property. None of these "experts" can be sued civilly for their negligence and incompetence because they have judicial or quasi-judicial immunity.

Insanity? Nope. Family court in Kansas.

Domestic violence victims walk into family court to ask a judge to protect their children from a known abuser. Instead, they face the above-described nightmare that can span years and put them into financial ruin, mental and emotional exhaustion, not to mention directly back into the path of the abuser. Judges pressure them to mediate, assign a custody evaluator who pressures them to accept 50/50 joint physical and legal custody with theirs and their children's abuser.

They and their children are put through psychological evaluations by persons with little to no training in domestic violence, and some judges force co-parenting therapy and reunification therapy upon mother and child with their perpetrators. If they can not fit into the mold of cooperative "co-parenting" and the children continue to be reluctant to visit with the man that abused them, they face losing custody to him.

We have spent millions of dollars printing brochures and making public service announcements to victims of domestic violence encouraging them to leave violent relationships and telling them of the harmful effects on their children.

But when they do get the courage to leave, the same system tells them they are wrong to try to protect their children once they have divorced their abuser, and that they should now fully and freely support unsupervised visitation with the same dangerous person. Contrary to popular belief, children of batterers can be at just as much risk psychologically, sexually, and even physically after the couple splits up as they were when the family was still together. In fact, many children experience the most damaging victimization from the abuser at this point.

Most people assume that a fit mother never loses custody. If only that were true. The American Judges Association reports that "Studies show that batterers have been able to convince authorities that the victim is unfit or undeserving of sole custody in approximately 70% of challenged cases." Unfortunately, the state of Kansas’s current laws also says that none of these people can be held accountable, either.

And so we go on, handing down family violence from one generation to the next...

KMFCJ-founded by Claudine Dombrowski,a Protective Parent and survivor of Domestic Violence and systemic abuse. The goals of KMFCJ is to publish informed news releases, links and commentaries relating to protective parents and their children who continue to be victimized by the abuser and or the court system.

www.AngelFury.org  [a special thanks to Paige Hodson-Alaska Mothers For Custodial Justice]