Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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That’s Criminal!


I like to tawk…so I  do a segment on my radio show Crime Prevention 101 where I rant about things – crimewise – that tick me off.   I also like stuff and  I tell you that too.   Guest bloggers, interesting posts,  odds and ends that I think are criminal!  Find ‘em here…

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  • Guest Post: Why Your Home is a Target! By Naomi Broderick

    Checkmark - w-HouseHaving your home burglarized is not something that most people like to think about.   Losses in personal belongings and damages aren’t the only thing people experience when their home is broken into.  Just the thought that some stranger was walking around the home where your children sleep is enough to make your skin crawl and blood boil.  Some people never regain a sense of peace after such an event.

    If your home has ever been broken into, you have probably asked yourself why it was your home and not your neighbors.  While there is no single answer, there are some features that you may not even think of that make your home a more likely target for break-ins when compared to neighboring homes.

    **Obviously vacant at certain times of the day

    If you have a daily routine like most people, it can be pretty easy to peg down with some basic observations.  Leaving your home obviously vacant at consistent times in the day makes it easier for burglars to predict when you won’t be home.   Even if you are away from your house most of the time, try to give the impression that it is consistently occupied.  Leave blinds and curtains open during the day and leave your porch light on in the evening.

    **Not well lit

    A house that is not well lit on the outside allows potential burglars to cloak themselves in darkness making them more difficult to detect.  The same concept goes for a poorly kept landscape.  Not only does that give the impression that you are rarely home but overgrown foliage also provides cover for burglars.  Well-trimmed landscaping and ample lighting not only give the impression that the house is occupied on a regular basis but it provides less cover for burglars.

    **Hiding spare keys

    For whatever reason, so many people seem to think it’s a good idea to hide spare keys around their house be it in the mailbox or in one of those hidden rocks.  My personal favorite is when people decide to hide them under their welcome mat.  There’s a certain sense of irony when burglars use the key that’s kept under the welcome mat to break into someone’s house.  It’s basically just a way of welcoming thieves into your home.  Thieves may be criminals but that doesn’t mean that they are stupid.  If you can think of it, chances are that they will likely be able to think of it as well.

    **Thinking your dog is all the protection you need

    Your dog’s bark may ward off amateurs but more experienced burglars know that a dog may back off if they present a weapon and act aggressively towards it or that your dog may decide that the situation is ok if treats are made available.  Even if this isn’t the case, you don’t want to leave the protection of your home solely up to your K9 friend.

    **Not thinking about what you leave outside by your garbage.

    That flat screen TV cardboard box may be garbage to you, but to a potential thief, it is a sign that a potential break-in could be profitable.  It screams “Hey! We have nice stuff!”  Break down large boxes and put them in the trash can or dispose of them at other trash receptacles.

     

    Naomi Broderick is a professional writer who’s secure in her abilities and even more confident in her parenting.  When she’s not juggling her three children in the front yard she writes for ProtectYourHome.com, a leader in home security.   

    For more home security tips:  http://www.protectyourhome.com/home-security-tips


     

  • Guest Post: Are You a Victim of Medical Identity Theft? By Cherie Gorden

    Medical Identity Theft is a frightening and growing problem.  I did two informative radio shows on this topic that you can listen to below. I’ve given resources at the end of each segment if you’ve been victimized or know someone who has:

    http://www.fightsafe.com/shows/vashows_08_11/3-25-2010-Medical-Identity-Theft-&-Cane-Fu-Self-Defense-for-Seniors-and-the-Disabled.mp3

    http://www.fightsafe.com/shows/vashows_08_11/2-18-2010-Medical-Crimes-&-Crime-Novels.mp3

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    Cherie Gorden has worked for several investment companies throughout college and now does freelance and editing for financial blogs and forums.

    Like most people, you’re probably concerned about someone stealing your credit card account numbers but haven’t given much thought to the health insurance card you carry every day, which means you could be a target for medical identity theft.

    How to Protect Yourself

    You can’t prevent some types of theft such as hacking into records in medical offices. However, a few steps can help protect yourself in most other circumstances:

    Safeguard Insurance Cards: Keep your health insurance cards in a secure location. Never leave an insurance card laying out unattended.

    Record Information: Keep a copy of all the important information you carry in your wallet or purse; this includes account numbers and contact information for all credit cards. For your health insurance card, be sure to record both the policy and the group numbers in addition on how to contact the insurance carrier. You might opt to hire a service to monitor accounts for you.

    Read Insurance Mail Carefully: Open mail promptly and take a close look at the charges on every explanation of benefits. If they’re not yours, contact the insurance company immediately. This type of theft is on the rise. Understand what it is and take a few precautionary steps — don’t become another victim.

    What Is It?

    Medical identity theft occurs when an individual uses personal and identifiable medical information to get care or drugs. The thief typically uses a health insurance card or a social security number. It’s a problem that affects nearly 2 million Americans, costs $41 billion a year and is increasing despite the availability of identity protection plans and services.

    The loss isn’t measured solely in dollars and is much harder to resolve than theft linked to credit cards, which can sometimes by derailed by a telephone call. The process is so cumbersome that many victims are dropped by their medical insurance carriers and just pay the fake bills, which sometimes exceed $100,000, according to Bloomberg’s tech blog.

    Why It’s Happening

    Two of the biggest reasons are a shaky economy and job loss. If health insurance is available, it might not be affordable. When uninsured, some get care by using another person’s identity. Another reason is the need to fuel a drug habit. A recent study revealed that half of the 757 victims interviewed knew the person who lifted their identity for medical purposes. Some had allowed this person to use an insurance card for services, products or prescription drugs, and nearly half the respondents went ahead and paid for the services erroneously charged to them.

    The Consequences

    The consequences of this type of theft goes beyond bills sent to the wrong person. If you have an allergy to certain drugs, but the thief doesn’t, you could find yourself being treated during an emergency based on his profile and unable to provide your own information. It can also have criminal repercussions.

    In one case, a woman who gave birth to a drug-addicted baby used the health insurance card in a wallet she found. After abandoning the child, police officers knocked on the door of the card holder to find out why she had left the baby. Authorities took the children into protective care until she could prove she wasn’t the birth mother.

    FOR MORE RESOURCES AND SAFETY TIPS, CHECK OUT CRIMEPREVENTION101.COM


     

     

     

  • DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association Rescues Domestic Worker from Modern Slavery

    In NYC, a local branch of the DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association, formed to help Filipino immigrants, especially domestic workers who are virtually held prisoners in the homes of their employers (particularly diplomats) escape from their servitude.

    If you know anyone who needs such help in NYC, contact DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association, 406 West 40th Street, 3rd Floor, New York City, NY 10018, 212-564-6057

    National resource:  http://damayanmigrants.org/

  • 7-Yr old Successfully Resists Abduction!
    Another example of how training kids to resist abduction proves successful! Go Britteny…
     http://bit.ly/ChildResists
    Parents: Best program out there is my buddies at Kidpower (www.kidpower.org). Lots of free info on website too.
  • Don’t Wait Til It’s Too Late; Call the Police!

     Todd Thompson is a writer and project consultant for 2M CCTV  in Grand Prairie, Texas.

     

    Knowing their duty to report suspicious behavior, good citizens want to do the right thing and notify authorities; however, when it comes to the question of whether to report something to the police or not, there are a multitude of issues that go through their minds.  As a result there are many citizens who do not take that extra step of calling police because of their ambivalence.

    Suspicion is sometimes based on factors that do not cast a good light on the complainant himself.  For example, in a neighborhood of very plush homes and expensive cars, if a person drives down a street several times over a period of days in an old noisy car that does not fit the norm of the neighborhood, and does not appear to be stopping at a particular home, many citizens from the neighborhood may watch the activity for days without reporting it because they are guarding their own reputations against accusations of prejudice.  This is completely understandable in today’s enlightened culture with regard to negative profiling of people on the basis of class, race, religion, and other factors.

    The problem is that sometimes activity really is suspicious, and a complainant’s prejudice has nothing to do with it.  A car passing down the same streets in a neighborhood for several days without stopping at a particular home, regardless of the condition of the automobile, is suspicious.  However, it may go unnoticed if it matches the quality and conditions of the cars owned by residents in the neighborhood.  Only if it catches attention will it raise the eyebrows of many people.

    It is hard to distinguish between one’s suspicion and his prejudice.  Police officers have to face this at all times, guarding against racial profiling, for instance, and judging by a suspect’s behaviors and the surrounding environmental and economic characteristics.  The line of differentiation between prejudice and suspicion is something for which a police officer receives extensive training.  Public citizens however do not.

     Many citizens refuse to act because they do not want to put themselves in the judgment seat, and yet, crime prevention is highly dependent on the critical judgments of citizens.  Law enforcement relies on citizens, their information, their eyewitness accounts, and what they deem as unusual behavior.

    On the Dallas Police Department’s website there is an excellent list called, “Possible Indicators of “Suspicious and Terrorist Activities.”  Here is an abbreviated version of the list:

    • Unusual requests for information, particularly about security or procedures
    • May carry and use large amounts of cash
    • Multiple sightings of the same suspicious person, vehicle, or activity
    • Individuals sitting in a parked car for an extended period of time
    • Individuals who do not fit into the surrounding environment because they are wearing improper attire for the location or season
    • Individuals drawing pictures, taking photos, or taking notes of an area that normally does not attract tourists
    • Testing security by breaching restricted areas to determine response

    From  DallasPolice.Net

    In the interest of a person’s own safety and that of his community, suspicious activity is something that is often instinctive and subjective.  Police departments are trained to determine the degree of threat a suspicious behavior poses.  Citizens should remain alert to behaviors that threaten their safety and property and not be hesitant to call it as they see it.  Prevention requires attention!

  • Human Trafficking Resources

    From the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault – If you think someone is being “trafficked” (or you are yourself), here are some places to get help:

    http://www.taasa.org/trafficking/resources.php

     

  • Consent, Not Foreplay Fibs, Should Define Rape

    By Wendy Murphy, WeNews contributing editor (womensenews.org)Monday, August 23, 2010

    (WOMENSENEWS)–A Palestinian man was recently convicted of rape by an Israeli court after he had sex with a Jewish woman who believed he was also Jewish. 

    The court said in its ruling that the man committed “rape by deception” because the woman would never have consented to sex had she known he was Muslim.

    Read more:  http://www.womensenews.org/story/rape/100820/consent-not-foreplay-fibs-should-define-rape

    I think this article makes an excellent point.

  • Guest Followup: Erin Merryn recently on Oprah

    Erin reports:

    From the words of Oprah today during commercial break “Now that Erin has me and all of you balling I need my makeup team out here.  Doing this for 25 years … hearing Erin and what she is doing is such an inspiration!”

    I did a wonderful show with Erin back in April re her efforts to get Erin’s Law on child abuse education passed in OH. Check it out.

    http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=45599

  • Stopping Crime Before It Starts

    red check-markFrom PI Newswire 8/22/10:    Interesting article about ways to stop crime.  I was struck the most by the role of strawberry pop tarts in this article, however.  In a crisis all I ever reach for is chocolate but I guess everyone is different.

    Read more:  http://www.pinewswire.net/2010/08/stopping-crime-before-it-starts/

    Check out PI Newswire @ http://www.pimall.com/nais/pib.09.10.2010.html

  • Stupid People Post on FB – then get arrested

    red check mark 2You gotta check this out – boy are ppl dumb about what they post on Facebook (and other social media).  Hey, the cops regularly check out these sites.

    http://www.tvkim.com/watch/422/kim-on-komand-stupid-people-on-facebook?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=tvkim&utm_content=2010-08-29-article&utm_campaign=screen-shot-b

  • Human Trafficking Update

    checkmark GreenBack in May, I interviewed Sandra Fiorini, a flight attendant with American Airlines who is fighting Human Trafficking by raising  awareness with her fellow flight attendants, along with Deborah Sigmund, founder of Innocents at Risk.  Sandra just emailed me the following update: 

    In July I testified at Congress on my work with Innocents At  Risk and the airlines.  My employer American Airlines was invited to attend this session.  After the briefing American  agreed to lead the fight by being the first airline to include e this training at our yearly recurrent training. 

    They has also  printed a bulletin for our safety manuals.  They are writing an article for the American Way magazine stating that American has zero tolerance for Human Trafficking and will report people involved with this on our flights. 

    I’m going to have them back on the show soon to talk about the wonderful progress they’re making.  Meantime, check out the show here: 

    http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=46423

    and support the work Innocents at Risk is doing:  www.innocentsatrisk.org

  • PSA from PEACE of Mind (the Parent Education And Child Empowerment group)

    Here‘s a PSA from PEACE of Mind (the Parent Education And Child Empowerment group).  The founder, Kim Estes, was a guest on my Crime Prevention 101 radio show a while back; important message:

    As you get your child ready for back to school, make sure you fill their backpacks with more than supplies. Be sure to take time to talk about personal safety with your child. Small conversations about safety build a foundation that lasts their lifetime. Review your family safety rules and let your child know they have the right to be safe. For more safety tips and conversation starters visit pomwa.org
     

    And don’t forget to check out the great interview they did for me:

    http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=43594

  • Woman gives Homeless Man Her American Express Card instead of Cash

    Blue CheckmarkI heard a story this morning about a woman in my hometown of NYC who, when approached by a homeless man and didn’t have any cash, gave him her American Express Platinum card to buy cigarettes and vitamin water.  He took the card into a store, bought the items and then brought the card back to her. 

    IMO, as a Crime Prevention Specialist, this isn’t a safe thing to do for several reasons.  The most obvious, of course, the guy could take the card and run.  Then she’d have to go through the hassle of canceling the card and getting a new one…hopefully before too much damage was done. 

    Less obvious, many homeless are former criminals, and might be sophisticated enough to make save the credit card numbers and sell it to those who can make use of it; later on, that woman could become a victim of ID theft.

    Another risk is that the homeless ran the risk of arrested for stealing the credit card.  In this case, it was a woman’s name on the card and if the store clerk had been alert and spotted it (and that’s what should’ve happened), questions should’ve been asked and the police might have been called.  Most of the homeless I see on the streets don’t look like they have American Express Platinum cards!

     In this situation, it all worked out fine, but is this really the smartest way to be kind and generous?  It would’ve been better for her to go into the store with him and buy the items he wanted (and maybe a sandwich or two). 

    Question:  what do you think about this and would you have done it this way?

    Read more:  http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=7607189

  • Who Does Society Blame for Domestic Violence?

    Tuesday, July 27, 2010

    By Barry Goldstein, nationally recognized domestic violence expert, speaker, writer and consultant. He is the co-editor with Mo Therese Hannah of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ABUSE and CHILD CUSTODY. 

    For many years I have enjoyed the privilege of teaching classes in a New York Model Batterer Program. We are taught that sexism causes domestic violence and sexism is rooted in history. With that in mind it is useful to look at the history of domestic violence from the point of view of whom society has blamed for men’s abuse of women over the years….

    Read more:  http://timesupblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/who-does-society-blame-for-domestic.html

  • 5 Stupid, Unfair and Sexist Things Expected of Men
    Blue CheckmarkFrom:  AlterNet by Greta Christina, 7/24/10
    We know the many ways sexism hurts women. But we don’t talk as much about how sexism hurts men.
  • Denim Day & Sexual Assault Awareness Month

    According to the NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault:  Denim Day was started 11 years ago by Peace Over Violence, the lead organization for Start Strong Los Angeles. This day was coined after a 1992 Italian court case, in which the Chief Judge argued, “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”

    This verdict enraged female members of Italy’s Parliament, who wore jeans in protest, and Denim Day was born.

  • Answering the Door During the Holidays

    By , About.com Guide

    More from my favorite crime writer:

    Criminals take advantage of the holiday season to prey on those who are unsuspecting and generous. Be careful when someone you do not know comes to your door during the holiday season.

    Read more:  http://crime.about.com/od/prevent/qt/tip_door.htm?nl=1

  • Holiday Home Safety

    By , About.com Guide

    My favorite crime reporter has these tips for you:

    Don’t let the rush and excitement of the holiday season make you careless in protecting your home from potential criminals.The holiday season is a time when busy people can become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime. The following tips from the Los Angeles Police Department Crime Prevention Section can help you be more careful, prepared and aware during the holiday season.

    Read more:  http://crime.about.com/od/prevent/qt/tip_home.htm?nl=1

  • www.crimeprevention 101: Does Your Child Know How to Call 9-1-1?

    Crime Victim’s Best Friend :  9-1-1
    Technology is Catching Up with the Bad Boys
    By , About.com Guide

    One of the biggest tools in the fight against crime has been the development of the three-digit 9-1-1 emergency telephone reporting system and its related evolving technology, which makes life more difficult for would-be criminals.

    Read more:  http://crime.about.com/od/prevent/a/911_history.htm

    Make sure your children know how to use 9-1-1 properly.  Very important tool.

  • www.crimeprevention101.com: Teen Charged as Adult in Elizabeth Olten Case

    By Charles Montaldo, About.com Guide to Crime / Punishment
    Thursday November 19, 2009

    A 15-year-old Missouri girl has been indicted and will be tried as an adult in the murder of a 9-year-old neighbor. Alyssa Bustamante faces first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges for the death of Elizabeth Olten.Bustamante has been held in juvenile detention since her arrest on Oct. 23.

    Read more:  http://crime.about.com/b/2009/11/19/teen-charged-as-adult-in-elizabeth-olten-case.htm?nl=1

    I’m doing a panel discussion show in December on Crime Prevention 101 radio show on the sentencing of juveniles as adults for horrible crimes like this one.  It will be a very informative show.

  • High Court to Look at Life in Prison for Juveniles
    By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Published: November 8, 2009
    Filed at 8:05 a.m. ET
     

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Sullivan was sent away for life for raping an elderly woman and judged incorrigible though he was only 13 at the time of the attack.

    Terrance Graham, implicated in armed robberies when he was 16 and 17, was given a life sentence by a judge who told the teenager he threw his life away.

    They didn’t kill anyone, but they effectively were sentenced to die in prison.

    Read more http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/08/us/politics/AP-US-Supreme-Court-Juvenile-Sentences.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=bryan%20stevenson&st=cse

    It sure seems harsh to me.  On the other hand, when children as young as 13 are committing grave crimes, how likely is rehabilitation in prision?  Would you really want to meet this person on the street after he’s had a substantial prison time and some parole board says he’s rehabilitated?

    Whaddayathink?

  • www.crimeprevention101.com: We Can Change the Culture of Rape

    By Patrick McGann and Neil Irvin, Men Can Stop Rape (www.mencanstoprape.org) in response to the horrific gang rape of a young high school girl that recently occurred at  Richmond High School in the Bay area of California: 

    Everyone would agree that the gang rape outside Richmond High School was horrific. While this criminal act is particularly troubling because of the large number of perpetrators and witnesses, the incident should not be viewed in isolation. According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), a sexual assault occurs every two minutes in the United States. In Men Can Stop Rape’s (MCSR) view, rape happens because we as a country have not committed to creating cultures of prevention focused on sexual and dating violence in our schools and communities.

    Read more:  http://www.pta.org/3675.htm

    I did a great radio show with the folks from Men Can Stop Rape.  Check it out.

    http://susanbartelstone.com/shows/3-28-09.html

  • www.crimeprevention101.com: Study says women with male names do better in legal careers

    Reuters, India:  Mon,  Nov 2, 2009 11:59am IST

    SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) – What’s in a name? A lot if you’re seeking a legal career, with a U.S. study finding that women with male names are more successful lawyers and judges than those with more traditional, feminine names.

    Read more http://in.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idINIndia-43603220091102

  • www.crimeprevention101.com: At the UN, Criminalizing Rape as a Weapon

    By Bia Assevero
    November 3, 2009

    In the last week of October, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made headlines and sparked anger in travels to Israel and Pakistan. Her role some weeks earlier was less controversial yet critically important, as she led UN diplomats forward in an action that could ease the suffering of countless women and girls living in conflict zones around the world.

    Last year, the United Nations classified the deliberate use of rape as a tactic of war and a major threat to international security. On September 30, 2009, the Security Council went one step further.

    Secretary Clinton at the UN

    Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chaired the session as the Security Council unanimously adopted a U.S. sponsored resolution (S/Res/1888) that called for the appointment of a special envoy charged with coordinating the efforts to combat the use of rape as a weapon of war and assist governments in ending impunity for the perpetrators. Having met with women who survived rape and violence in her recent visit to the Congo, Clinton said in remarks to the council, “The dehumanizing nature of sexual violence doesn’t just harm a single individual or a single family or even a single village or a single group. It shreds the fabric that weaves us together as human beings.”

    Read more http://womensmediacenter.com/ex/110309.html

  • Weekly Crime Poll: Naked Man in His Home Arrested

    Charles’ Crime / Punishment Blog

    By Charles Montaldo, About.com Guide to Crime / Punishment

    Friday October 23, 2009
    A Virginia man, Eric Williamson, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure for being nude in his home.  According to Williamson, he was in was in his home, packing and going back and forth to his kitchen at 5:30 a.m., in the nude. During that time a woman with her son cut through his lawn and spotted him in the house.
    Cast your vote: Should the police drop the charges:  http://crime.about.com/b/2009/10/23/naked-man-arrested.htm
  • Bad Personal Safety Advice: Wasp Spray instead of Pepper Spray

    A chain email is circulating the ‘Net from someone claiming she was advised by her local police that wasp spray was a better alternative than pepper spray for personal safety.  See http://www.snopes.com/crime/prevent/waspspray.asp

    I often recommend any kind of caustic substance (like hair spray, perfume, deodorant or wasp spray) if you need to find a “weapon of opportunity” in your environment to fend off an attack. 

    I DON’T recommend any of these substances instead of pepper spray.    Pepper spray is an extremely effective personal safety weapon.  I did a great radio show on the topic of pepper spray – check it out!

    http://susanbartelstone.com/shows/5-09-09.html

  • Scam Alert: New Wrinkle on Mystery Shopper Scam

    From ISCPP E-News 10/25/09: 

    Another sign of the economic challenges we are facing is a modification to the mystery shopper scam.   The victim is contacted by email stating that they have been selected to be a mystery shopper to evaluate customer service at Western Union.  They receive a check for $4000 and are asked to send a check for $3000 through the local Western Union office to an address and then keep the balance for their fee.  The check sent to them is bogus and they are now out the money.

    Source: www.iscpp.org

  • WWW.Crimeprevention101.com: Georgia Reaches Out to Girls Lost in ‘the Life’

    By Diane Loupe
    WeNews correspondent
    Wednesday, October 7, 2009

    new program in Georgia helps prostituted girls and teens find a way out of “the life.” Eight juveniles have been in the program since July and state officials expect that number to grow.ATLANTA (WOMENSENEWS)–Working with prostituted girls can be very difficult.

    Just ask Sharon Saffold-Scott, an author and motivational speaker who was sexually exploited as a girl. She wasn’t ever prostituted, but she knew girls who were.

    “They might have bad attitudes, they may push you away,” said Saffold-Scott. “I didn’t want to be around me. I felt that my life was a series of tragic events that I didn’t choose. These girls don’t trust police and don’t know who to call for help.”

    Kaffie McCullough, program director of a statewide campaign to stop the prostitution of children in Georgia, agrees. “They’re not your soft and cuddly victims.”

    Read more http://womensenews.org/story/prostitution-and-trafficking/091006/georgia-reaches-out-girls-lost-in-the-life

  • Schwarzenegger Restores Funding to State’s Domestic Violence Shelters

    www.crimeprevention101.com

    From V-Day.org newsletter:

    Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Restore Funding to State’s Domestic Violence Shelters

    Do to the incredible efforts and support by activists such as yourselves, V-Day is pleased to announce that Gov. Schwarzenegger today signed SBX3 13, by Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose) to restore $16.3 million of state funding to support California domestic violence shelters.

    SBX3 13 provides for a one-time $16.3 million loan from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund to fund domestic violence shelters statewide for the 2009-10 fiscal year. The loan will be repaid with interest at the rate earned by the Pooled Money Investment Account by June 30, 2013.

    Therefore, V-Day will NOT have a protest this Friday, as previously announced.

    Though this is a great V-Victory, our work on this is not complete. V-Day will begin dialoguing and researching what actions will help make this funding permanent – as this bill is a one-time measure.

    We’d like to thank you all for jumping in on this effort and for all the work you are doing! Stay tuned to V-Mail for further ways you can help bring permanent funding for DV groups in CA.

    Read more:  www.vday.org

  • Dear Margo: Phone Sex in the Office!

    Dear Margo | 10/15/2009 12:00 am 
    By Margo Howard

    Dear Margo: I have a contract position — very much needed after six months of unemployment. I’m doing a good job and get on well superficially with my supervisor. Here’s the problem: I am required to sit next to a 40-something schmo in an office with very low cubicle walls. He has easily audible sexual conversations with his multiple girlfriends and either doesn’t realize or doesn’t care that they are overheard. These are conversations describing how what she did (explicit) felt (explicit) exactly where on his body (explicit) during their lunch hour. I wear earphones and listen to soothing sounds to calm my nerves, but when he really gets on a roll, I go to the bathroom or the coffee machine. But there is only so much time you can spend away from your desk.

    My co-worker on the other side, also male (but 25), is incredulous because he can hear it, too. As a contractor, I can be let go for any reason, with or without “just” cause. I can’t complain to HR. Bigmouth and his supervisor are big buddies. I feel trapped, demeaned and altogether furious when this occurs. I really try to keep my head down, ears closed and fingers busy on the keyboard, but it gets unbearable! Is there any solution? — Grossed Out

    Dear Gross: Why can’t you go to HR? Or your supervisor?   Such conversations not only have nothing to do with work and should not take place on company time, but they’re a form of harassment.   This is nothing more than dirty talk in the workplace. I would not be so afraid of this lowlife. You could tell him, yourself, that he may not be aware of it, but many people in the office can hear these lascivious conversations, and no one appreciates them. I suggest you man up, to coin a phrase. If no one chooses to deal with the problem, you have a lawsuit. — Margo, righteously

    Note from Dear Margo-16748Susan B to Margo and “Gross):  sorry Margo, while I totally agree that this woman does have the basis for a lawsuit, sexual harassment suits take YEARS to settle, are costly to pursue,  and are extremely hard to win.  And, she’s a very expendable employee who has been out of work for months prior to getting this job.

    My advice would be to try to get others in the office, especially the women, to either  confront this guy as a group (surely others must be bothered by this kind of lewd conversation too) or to go to  management together as a group and complain about it.

    Otherwise, I’d tell her to do her best to ignore it until she gets hired permanently or finds a better job.

    Read more:  http://www.wowowow.com/relationships/dear-margo-phone-sex-office-395165?utm_source=wowOwow+Weekly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=75fa003045-Weekly_Newsletter_10_15_0910_14_2009&utm_medium=email

     
  • Five women accused of being wi…

    Five women accused of being witches paraded naked in Jharkhand- Hindustan Times: a**holes !!!! http://bit.ly/wYTTk via @addthis

  • The Dalai Lama’s Amazing Procl…

    The Dalai Lama’s Amazing Proclamation to Women: http://bit.ly/3T6KpD Huffpost -

  • The Bizarre Trial of Amanda Knox

    Newsweek
    By Barbie Nadeau | Newsweek Web Exclusive
    Sep 10, 2009

    Nuclear-Family Fallout

    Regardless of the verdict, the trial of Amanda Knox has ruined the lives of almost everybody involved in it. 

    The Tabloid Trial of ‘Foxy Knoxy’

    Suspects, victims and legal foes behind Amanda Knox’s bizarre trial for the murder of her roommate in Perugia, Italy

    It has been a long hot summer for American murder suspect Amanda Knox, currently living in an Italian prison cell. Her parents are in the United States, her trial (she is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, in November 2007) is on hold for the Italian holidays, and there is no air conditioning in Capanne Prison. Temperatures there have hovered in the upper 90s for most of August, and, like many Italian prisons, Capanne is seriously overcrowded. There are 485 detainees stuffed inside a facility built for 284. In August, nine guards suffered smoke inhalation after angry inmates started a fire and staged a mini-riot. (Knox was not among those involved, but she described the frightening incident to friends.) “You can imagine how hard it is to control these criminals who live in seven-square-meter cells when temperatures are unbearable,” says Francesco Petrelli, who represents prison guards. “The situation is extremely difficult for guards, but it’s worse for the detainees whose only outlet is to argue and fight with each other. It is bad for everyone.”

    Read more http://www.newsweek.com/id/215133

  • Domestic Violence in the Orthodox Jewish Community

    October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month:  in October 2008, I did a very informative radio show on DV in the Orthodox Jewish Community.

    To listen:  http://susanbartelstone.com/shows/10-4-08.html

  • Orthodox Jews Rely More on Sex Abuse Prosecution

    NY Times
    By PAUL VITELLO
     October 13, 2009

    For decades, prosecutors in Brooklyn routinely pursued child molesters from every major ethnic and religious segment of the borough’s diverse population. Except one.

    Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

    Members and activists take part in a meeting for Survivors for Justice, a group formed to help Orthodox Jews molested as children.

    Of some 700 child sexual abuse cases brought in an average year, few involved members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community — about 180,000 followers of Hasidic and other sects who make up the largest such cluster outside Israel. Some years, there were one or two arrests, or none.

    But in the past year, there have been 26. District Attorney Charles J. Hynes has brought charges against a variety of men — yeshiva teachers, rabbis, camp counselors, merchants and relatives of children. Eight have been convicted; 18 await trial.

    read more:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/nyregion/14abuse.html?th&emc=th

  • Crime Prevention 101: Upcoming Radio Show

    Topics:  Healing From Trauma Using the EFT Technique & The Alcohol–Rape Connection; Live on Thursday 10/15/09 @ 8-9pm eastern

    Two thought-provoking topics this week:  Alternative healing techniques and the connection between alcohol and rape.  Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), known as tapping, is most closely analogous to ancient Chinese meridian healing systems—except that it’s designed to aid in the relief of both physical pain AND deep emotional trauma; and there’s an impressive amount of anecdotal evidence from thousands of people, including children, who’ve experienced relief using this method.  Crime Prevention Specialist Susan Bartelstone interviews EFT Practitioner Sophia Cayer about this non-traditional technique.

    Then she’ll be speaking with provocative writer/anti-rape activist Jaclyn Friedman whose body of work has become a popular reference for new thinking about preventing rape without shaming or blaming the victim.  The conversation starts with the drinking and rape link and then anything else that comes up…from the Chris Brown case, Miley Cyrus, the rape culture and who knows where we’ll land.

    It’d be a crime not to listen!

  • How to Deal With Stalkers Video

    Good video and tip sheet about stalking  from Safe Horizon ( a great  NYC victim services agency):

    http://www.safehorizon.org/page.php?nav=snb&page=stalking

  • Lauren Left Her Batterer and Regained Her Life

    October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month:  nice to hear an inspiring story!

    From: SafeNews from Safe Horizon
    10/08/09
    safehorizon@safehorizon.org

    Lauren’s Story

    LaurenBy the time Lauren came to Safe Horizon, both her body and her spirit were beaten. Lauren had endured more than 20 years of a violent marriage, to a man who abused her physically, emotionally, psychologically, verbally, and financially. Read more about Lauren. >

  • Let’s Stop Sex Trafficking Right Here at Home

    Women’s Enews is one of my favorite news sources.  Very provocative topics and contributors.

    Womens Enews.org
    By Samir Goswami and Anne Ream
    WeNews commentators
    Monday, October 12, 2009

    Chicago is locking up prostituted women and girls, which Samir Goswami and Anne K. Ream say is the wrong response to sex trafficking. They call on Chicago and other cities to target the johns and pimps who fuel the exploitation.

    Editor’s Note: The following is a commentary. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily the views of Women’s eNews.

    (WOMENSENEWS)–The recent publication of Nicholas D. Kristof’s and Sheryl WuDunn’s book, “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide,” brings much-needed attention to the sexual trafficking of women and girls in poor and developing countries.

    Raising awareness of this damaging and deadly industry, as well as greater action on the behalf of these women and girls, is long overdue. International sex trade is financed by the pain of those who often come from difficult or desperate circumstances, women who are then thrust into unimaginably cruel conditions.

     Read more http://www.womensenews.org/story/commentary/091009/lets-stop-sex-trafficking-right-here-at-home

     

  • Kenya’s Criminals Tap a Growth Industry: Kidnapping

    I think this is one of the most horrifying and disturbing news items I’ve read in a while! and they’re looking at kidnapping as a growth industry…sick, sick, sick.

    NY Times
    By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN
    Published: October 11, 2009

    NAIROBI, Kenya — Little Emmanuel Aguer was one of the most recent victims.

    Skip to next paragraph

    Enlarge This Image

    Jehad Nga for The New York Times

    Ater Aguek, left, and Morris Ater, the father and uncle of Emmanuel Aguer, 6, who was snatched last month on the way to his grandmother’s house. Four days later, his uncle found his corpse stuffed in a sugar sack. His head had been bludgeoned and his eyes were gouged out.

    A month ago, he was snatched on the way to his grandmother’s house. Four days later, after his middle-class family received calls asking for $70 or else — calls the family was not sure were even genuine — his uncle found his corpse stuffed in a sugar sack. His head had been bludgeoned and his eyes were gouged out.

    Emmanuel was 6 years old.

    “These people knew what they were doing,” said his uncle, Mariak Aguek. “What they did was so traumatizing, I can’t even express it.”

    Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, is a teeming city of have-nots and have-lots, so notorious for violent crime that it is often called “Nai-robbery.” But there is a new problem, or at least one that is causing new fear — kidnapping, and several recent attacks have been on children and Western women.

    Read more http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/world/africa/12kenya.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

  • Mixed Martial Arts for Fitness, Not Combat

    NY Times:  By R. M. SCHNEIDERMAN
    Published: October 6, 2009

    MORE than 35 years ago, Bruce Lee’s high-flying moves and sinewy physique popularized martial arts in America.

    Yet nearly a decade before his 1973 film “Enter the Dragon” inspired Americans to enroll in traditional martial arts such as karate and kung fu, Mr. Lee had abandoned his own kung fu training and embraced an amalgam of fighting styles, taking whatever he found useful from the likes of judo and Western boxing, among others.

    Finally, Americans seem to be catching up.

    Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/fashion/08fitness.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

  • Military Rape Awareness Week 10/12-19/09

    Due to the incredible epidemic of rape in the military in which 1 in 3 women in the military have been raped or sexually assaulted, Veterans for Peace, a national veterans organization, has designated October 12-16 as “Military Rape Awareness Week.”

    Peace activist and author of the Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler, of  the amazing V-Day organization, will join Veterans for Peace on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13th for a “Military Rape Awareness Week” public action in NYC in front of the Armed Forces Recruiting Station, Times Square, Broadway and 42nd, New York City. 

    If you’re in NYC, come one down.

    More Information on Military Rape Awareness Week >www.veteransforpeace.org

  • Elizabeth Smart Testifies About Her Abduction

    For the first time since she was abducted from her home when she was 14 years old, Elizabeth Smart has spoken publicly about her ordeal, testifying at a competency hearing in federal court. Smart said she was repeatedly raped daily by Brian David Mitchell and kept chained by a cable around her leg.

    From Charles Montaldo Newsletter:  about.com/crime/punishment

    Read more:  http://crime.about.com/b/2009/10/02/elizabeth-smart-testifies-about-her-abduction.htm?nl=1

  • SCAM ALERT – JURY DUTY VISHING SCAM

    Method of Delivery: Phone call from an alleged court officer

    Primary Region Effected: Reports from 11 states, including: Florida, New York, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, Oregon, California, Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Hampshire; may spread nationally

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (www.fbi.gov)

    Scam Characteristics: A caller identifies him/herself as an officer of the court and notifies the victim that a warrant has been issued for their arrest for a failure to report for jury duty. If the victim protests they have never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks for a Social Security number and date of birth to verify the victim’s identity and cancel the arrest warrant. This fraud is spreading quickly and has been reported in 11 states so far.

    Lifelock.com ALERT #: 200901-2  Read more:  www.lifelock.com

  • Women Warriors Welcome

    A teenage girl says she killed a militant with his own gun after insurgents attacked their home in Indian-administered Kashmir.

    Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8279929.stm

  • Biden commemorates Violence Against Women Act

    By CHRISTINE SIMMONS (AP) – 6 days ago

    WASHINGTON — Women’s groups gathered at Vice President Joe Biden’s home Tuesday night to toast the 15th anniversary of landmark legislation aimed at eliminating violence against women.

    “You’ve helped so many women step out of the darkness. You’ve helped so many young girls expect a different future, expect different treatment,” Biden said as he commemorated the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. “This is a day to celebrate. We have so much to be proud of.”

    The National Women’s Law Center, FaithTrust Institute, National Network to End Domestic Violence and AAUW (formerly the American Association of University Women) were among the groups invited to the vice president’s residence, located on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory in northwest Washington.

    Read more:  http://tinyurl.com/VOCAACT

  • SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL CAMPUS SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH

    Security on Campus PSA: nice.

  • Exclusive: Elle’s Homeless I…

    Exclusive: Elle’s Homeless Intern Speaks Out, Doesn’t Feel Exploited http://www.mediaite.com/qbmkb

  • Neighborhood Tweets for Crime …

    Neighborhood Tweets for Crime Protection: http://bit.ly/597Yf via @addthis

  • In case of a natural disaster …

    In case of a natural disaster – r u prepared? http://bit.ly/Zofwr via @AddToAny

  • Katrina-related Frauds & scams…

    Katrina-related Frauds & scams – disgusting http://bit.ly/X3Zwa via @addthis

  • WSJ.com – Links to Sex Crimes …

    WSJ.com – Links to Sex Crimes to Follow Texas Suspects – should be everywhere http://bit.ly/To9lS

  • Jusst what we need – a foldabl…

    Jusst what we need – a foldable gun (also comes w/ flashlight for walks a night http://bit.ly/zXSpJ

  • RT @huffingtonpost Eve Ensler:…

    RT @huffingtonpost Eve Ensler: The Terminator is Back http://bit.ly/bMR8o: disgraceful to cut 100% of domestic violence funding in CA!!!!!!

  • Lorena Bobbitt’s Unforgettable…

    Lorena Bobbitt’s Unforgettable Story: she’s on Oprah today and coming up on my show Crime Prevention 101 http://tinyurl.com/cv9hyy

  • Chakarova’s ‘Price of Sex’ Rev…

    Chakarova’s ‘Price of Sex’ Reveals Sex Marketplace: Women’s eNews Article http://www.womensenews.org

  • If you don’t know about Womens…

    If you don’t know about Womens eNews check this video out — http://bit.ly/amIpG

  • Women’s Enews channel on YouTu…

    Women’s Enews channel on YouTube – check it out: http://www.youtube.com/WomenseNews

  • Violence Survivor Lobbies to O…

    Violence Survivor Lobbies to Open VAWA’s Books: Women’s eNews Article http://www.womensenews.org

  • FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for…

    FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending August 21, 2009‏:
    http://bit.ly/4kb3Gh via @addthis

  • In Pakistan tribal belt, femal…

    In Pakistan tribal belt, female reporters get a voice — latimes.com – http://shar.es/FDGc

  • COMPUTER FORENSICS LABS: Makin…

    COMPUTER FORENSICS LABS: Making a Digital Difference‏ in Crime Prevention: http://bit.ly/cM5vP via @addthis

  • FBI List of Missing Children -…

    FBI List of Missing Children – Please help: http://bit.ly/48Bfm3 via @addthis

  • Beware of Mass Marketing Scams…

    Beware of Mass Marketing Scams: http://bit.ly/VOVav via @addthis

  • Stop Family Violence :: Marrio…

    Stop Family Violence :: Marriott’s latest: too little too late – http://shar.es/QQnX

  • RIM: UAE Carrier’s Blackberry …

    RIM: UAE Carrier’s Blackberry Update Was Spyware – http://shar.es/Qu6k

  • Husbands in India protest laws…

    Husbands in India protest laws favoring women http://tinyurl.com/husbandsprotest

  • Afghanistan’s bravest woman brings her message to UK – Asia, World – The Independent

    Malai Joya … I salute you!!!

    Five assassination attempts have failed to silence a woman determined to defend Afghans from warlords, drug lords and the Taliban

    By Glyn Strong
    Thursday, 23 July 2009

     

     It is a year since I last saw Malalai Joya. She was at Stansted airport preparing to return to Afghanistan: a tiny figure clutching a large holdall and a gold-coloured trophy. It was the Anna Politkovskaya Award for human rights campaigning and Ms Joya was the second recipient. Some might say the trophy brings with it a curse. It was created in memory of the Russian journalist gunned down outside her Moscow apartment in 2006. The first recipient, Natalya Estimerova, was murdered last week in the Chechen capital. As Ms Estimerova passed on the trophy to her in 2008, her message was blunt: “Malalai, be brave.”

    Afghanistan’s bravest woman brings her message to UK – Asia, World – The Independent.

  • This Is What Rape Culture Looks Like «

    Yes Means Yes Blog:

    There is only one rapist alleged [in the Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger case]. But there are so, so many participants… And now, as these details emerge, ESPN has instructed its entire team of reporters to not report any of this information.

    Read more:  This Is What Rape Culture Looks Like «.

  • Stupid Criminal Story

    By Lady Gator on 07/20/2009 3:25 pm 

    I must relate a “stupid crook” story I read in the newspaper this AM.

    It seems the crook broke into a house by using his ATM card.  After he had looted the house he kidnapped a female living in the house.  He called the woman’s husband and asked for money.  When the police arrived at the home they found the stupid crook’s ATM card still in the door. 

    Read more:  wOw Reports: The Best News of the Week – From YOU | wowOwow.

  • Sexual Assault News & Updates

    Learn more from RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) http://www.rainn.org/taxonomy/term/4

  • What Women Need Now: More Coalitions, More Justice

    Run Date: 06/10/09
    By Linda Basch
    WeNews commentator
    How can women pull together to revise and improve our national social-justice contract in these turbulent times? Linda Basch says the National Council for Research on Women is hunting for answers this week.
    WeNews commentator
    How can women pull together to revise and improve our national social-justice contract in these turbulent times?
    via http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=4037