Therapy dog helps 15 year old rape victim put rapist behind bars

If a therapy dog helps a 15 year old rape victim testify isn't that a good thing? Kids are taught that bad guys go away. They're taught good-touch-bad-touch and they're told to tell. Then, they're told to keep telling until an adult finally listens.

In a child's world kids are taught that monsters aren't real. Children who fall have their boo-boos kissed away and are given something soft to comfort them. They're told that police, teachers and parents are the good guys and that people who rape kids are the bad guys. Kids learn that they have the right to be comforted and that no one has the right to hurt them.

That's the way it works in an ideal world. The problem is that we don't live in an ideal world. Some kids find out that monsters are real. They learn fast that they may not be comforted and they grow up scared. Worst of all they find out that a 15 year old can be a rape victim.

So, if a cute fluffy dog gives a 15 year old rape victim courage to testify what problem could there be? The idea seems innocent enough.

The objection comes from a defense attorney who says that he can't cross examine a dog. He claims that the jury that found his client guilty could have been unduly influenced by a cute dog that gave a 15 year old rape victim the courage to testify against his client.

The last time I checked juries are adults. Adults are old enough to discern the truth and base their decisions on it. They're smart enough to base decisions on facts, not fur.
 
Personally, I'd like to shake the paw of any  therapy dog that helps a 15 year old rape victim testify. Attorneys sit next to their client in the courtroom. The article linked below indicated that the defendant had two attorneys at his side. Essentially, the defendant had four legs by his side. That must have brought him comfort or encouragement as the proceedings went on.

Rape victims aren't comforted when they testify. Yet all victims, teens and children included, have to tell their story to a courtroom full of adults. Children and teens can only hope that adults will believe them. When this 15 year old rape victim spoke, 12 people listened and chose to put the bad guy away. That's the way the world is supposed to work.

When I read Dog Helps Rape Victim 15 Testify on the NY Times it made me want to say 'Good job, Rosie!

Most of all, it made me want to say the same thing to the courageous 15 year old who testified and to the 12 who believed her. To them I say, good job.

Stop Berea College victim blaming - An update

Good news! I just came from the Change.Org petition about the Berea College sexual assault victim blaming. Signatures have doubled since my last post! There is still a long way to go. If you haven't been over to sign it yet please do. It says "alumni" but supporters can and are signing it.

After you sign it, could you help spread the word? The more people who sign it the stronger the message will be that's sent to the college.

Here's some background on the Berea College sexual assault.

One of my earlier posts links to the original source document that was used. Basically, this Berea College sexual assault issue is about the stupidity of blaming the victim.

According to the Richmond Register, a student came forward after being sexually assaulted by a professor. The professor was originally indicted on sex abuse charges. He pleaded guilty in January to a lesser assault charge.

Then the student filed a lawsuit against the school for a whopping $4,000. (Yes, $4,000 you read that right.)

Legal counsel for the college is trying to get the school out of paying. In doing so, the legal counsel said that the victim is responsible because she "did not take action to prevent her injuries". The Berea College sexual assault victim should not be punished for being injured by anyone; much less by a school professor!

You can get the full scoop on the news reporting by the Richmond Register. Just click here to read more.

Convicted child rapist set free in Switzerland

The following article is reporting that child rapist Polanski has been set free in Switzerland. Polanski free, Swiss reject US extradition request

A young girl was raped at age 13. Daily she has faced what happened to her. In 1977, he originally pled guilty to only one charge of having sex with a minor. For that, he received the slap on the wrist that allowed him to flee the US to face justice.

Thankfully the last 3 decades have brought changes in the U.S. judicial system. Some survivors still do not see justice. Of the ones who do most will be sentenced to more than the mere 90 days and a psych evaluation that Polanski received.

Even though Polanski is free to roam in Switzerland he must be careful. He may accidentally set foot in a country that has an extradition arrangement with the U.S. The warrant for his arrest in the U.S. is still active. It's possible that he will find himself on the same soil that he fled.

It is reported in the article that even the victim supported his freedom. In some ways this may be a relief for her. Repeatedly facing the court system is nightmarish for any survivor. To have this hanging over her head for most of her life must be horrific. To me it is understandable that she would want to drop the charges. Who wouldn't want to make this nightmare go away?

Some survivor groups will continue to cry out about his freedom. To most of us Polanski has gotten off very lightly. We can only hope and pray that he will not re-offend. If he does re-offend there probably won't be a jury on earth who is not be influenced by coverage of his flight. That may be the only home to keep him from harming another living soul.

As a survivor and advocate I believe that the person he victimized has had time to carefully weigh her decision. Normally, I don't support a slimy rapist who wiggles away from justice. But, I believe that the wishes of the victim should always be taken into consideration. If the decision by the Swiss court can give her peace then that's what matters most.

A guy takes a plea deal in rape and murder of Jennifer Hampton

A rapist isn't a man and I refuse to use the title for the rapist in this article. 


Today, WATE in Knoxville reported that Valentino Vasquez Miranda accepted a plea deal. He is the person who was found guilty of the rape and murder of Jennifer Hampton. It's unjust that he would live when his victim did not. 


Jennifer was only 21 when she left her small town in Alabama to come to Knoxville. She was hired to help open a restaurant has since gone out of business. Her family portrays her in many news articles as being the type of young woman that anyone would be proud to claim and daughter or sister. 

The restaurant rented rooms at a Knoxville Days Inn to house the restaurant workers. (A later report by WBIR indicates the Days Inn has since been renamed Ameri-Stay Inn and Suites.) The life of young Jennifer Hampton was cut short when Valentino Vasquez Miranda allegedly used a pass key to gain unauthorized entrance into her room. Days later her body was found floating in a river. 


Incredibly, he is reported as saying that he hopes Jennifer's family will have peace. Peace?? What a joke!


Nothing can bring Jennifer Hampton back. Nothing can wipe out the pain her family must live with day after day. How can a family ever have peace after their family member died in such a horrific way? They can't. Many people hope that Valentino Vasquez Miranda won't either. 

Proper Car Maintenance Helps Keep Women Safe

Proper car maintenance may help keep women safer. That's the word I've gotten from several self-defense experts. Manufacturers recommend regularly scheduled car maintenance. Changes in climate or terrain may make Chicago auto repair and maintenance different that what's needed in Miami.

It usually pays to adhere to the schedule as much as you can afford. Let’s say you have a Toyota Corolla with a water pump problem. Following a regular maintenance schedule can mean the problem is spotted and fixed before a car breakdown leaves you stranded.

With vacation season coming up, vehicle repair is something we all need to be aware of. It is always bad news (and scary) to be stuck someplace waiting on a tow truck. Even worse, it can make you a target for criminals. Keep your car in as good running order as you can.

If you ever do find yourself stuck don’t panic. Remain in your car unless otherwise directed. Use your cell phone to call for help and follow instructions that you are given.

A relationship with a neighborhood mechanic can benefit your can and keep you safe. That’s a win-win situation we can all live with.

Anniversary date and ramblings

January 18 is my 15 year anniversary date. It seems like it was a lifetime ago. Once in awhile it seems like it was yesterday. Survivors of sexual assault, rape or other trauma understand my point. During my time of healing my daughters have grown up. Learning how to let them lead their own lives has been tough. They both have some special needs health challenges. Combine that with a mother who is a rape survivor and I'm sure they'll have plenty of baggage to keep a therapist employed. j/k.

In my healing from sexual assault I've pushed myself beyond the limits. Growing up, my mother prepared me to drop out of school, raise a "passel" of kids (however many that is) and to fail in most areas of life. Then, I married and found happiness. Therapy helped me learn to live for the first time. Then, I became a survivor. When that happened my anger fueled my healing and helped me reach farther, dig deeper and become stronger.

This past year has been an amazing ride. I drove to Alaska from Tennessee with my daughter. Going across Canada and back through the US was the trip of a lifetime. In November, I spoke on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in DC. The same daughter was with me for that. I wish my younger daughter could have come but she couldn't get out of classes. It was an incredible experience.

But sadness has touched my life once again. When I became a survivor 15 years ago my mother was battling cancer. The mother of a friend of mine helped me greatly. She had also partially raised me, took me to high school when my mother would not and was there for the key events of my life - including helping me with the sexual assault.

This month, we found out that she now has cancer. At this point there are more questions than answers. She is a dynamic and dynamite lady. My heart is sad for her and for her family. Please keep her in your prayers.

This has brought a lot of things up for me that I faced so long ago. Today, we are bombarded with images of suffering in Haiti. I wonder how I can complain when this country is facing such a struggle. Then, I look back through the pages of my life and know that I cannot and will not complain. The fact is that evil happens, bad things happen and life isn't perfect - darn it!

But I also know that love overcomes pain. Hope overcomes sorrow. Sunrise follows sunset. This used to be cliches for me but they aren't anymore. Now they are treasures to hold dear. I hope that you hold them dear too.

Christian Response to California Homecoming Gang Rape

The homecoming dance rape of a teenager in California has shocked the country. It was not so much the outrage that a teenager could be raped at a school function (although that is part of it). What seems to have stunned the country is the number of spectators to the crime.

At the time of this writing, ABC is reporting that at least 20 people either watched or took part in the rape of a young high school student. This phenomenon is commonly called the "the bystander effect". According to CNN.com the term "bystander effect" came about in the late 1960s when a woman was raped and murdered and no one got help for her.

We don't just hear about the bystander effect in the case of the California homecoming gang rape. The victims of domestic violence that I work with often repeat the same story. They tell me "if only someone who heard my screams had called for help". Getting help for someone who is being victimized is not just the best thing to do it is the right thing to do.

Last Thanksgiving, we heard of a man being trampled at the entrance to a store. Bystanders walked right by.  No one is sure if we are seeing more cases or if we are hearing about it more often because of media and internet resources. What can be sure is about is that as Christians we have a clear example that tells us to get involved by getting help.

The parable of the Good Samaritan gives us a Biblical example of how Christians should respond to someone in crisis. In the story a man is beaten, robbed and left on the side of the road by his attackers. Two people went by, saw the man and continued on their way. A third person saw the man and took pity. He tended to the man's wounds and transported him to the safety of an inn. Then the good samaritan continued to provide for the injured man by paying the innkeeper to take care of him.

Today, we can use our cell phones to summon help. This alleviates the need to become physically involved but it does not remove our obligation to get help.

Approximately 2 and a half hours into California homecoming gang rape someone finally had the courage to report the attack. The girl who was victimized is reported to have been found semi-conscious and is now in stable condition at the local hospital.

It may take this young girl and her family many years to overcome what happened to her. They face recovery from the physical and emotional injuries and potentially large medical bills. They also face the trials for those who will be arrested for their part in the California homecoming gang rape.

This probably won't be the last incident of bystander effect that we hear about.As Christians, we should be in prayer for this young girl and for her family. Also, we should be in prayer for the perpetrators of this crime, for their families and for our nation.