To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
MOTHERS JUSTICE MOVEMENT: Equal Justice in the Courts
In 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice released a study (Saunders Report) that found the STANDARD and REQUIRED domestic violence training received by judges, lawyers, and evaluators does not adequately prepare them to handle abuse cases. Inadequately trained professionals tend to believe the myth that mothers frequently make false allegations. MOST contested custody cases are actually domestic abuse or child abuse cases in which abusers have been allowed to use the courts to regain control over their victims, and bankrupt the safe, non-offending, primary care-giving, protective mother. These innocent children lose contact with their mothers and experience irreparable harm.
Why is this important?
EVERY YEAR 58,000 CHILDREN ARE SENT FOR CUSTODY OR UNPROTECTED VISITATION WITH A DANGEROUS ABUSER. EVERY COUNTY IN EVERY STATE HARBORS DANGEROUS JUDGES. NO CHILD IS SAFE.
http://www.leadershipcouncil.org/1/med/PR3.html
In addition, in 2013 the Center for Disease Control concluded a lengthy investigation into adverse childhood experiences. The ACE study is one of the largest medical investigations ever conducted to assess associations between childhood maltreatment and later-life health and well-being. They found that a child’s exposure to certain trauma’s, including domestic violence or child sexual abuse, resulted in more illnesses and injuries to children in childhood through adulthood (i.e., social emotional and cognitive impairment; adoption of health-risk behaviors; disease, disability and social problems; and premature death). This study demonstrates how a child’s exposure to domestic or sexual abuse is a PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. Yet every year, an estimated 58,000 children are sent for custody or unprotected visitation with a reported abuser. So how is this happening? Although research confirms that deliberately false allegations by mothers in child sexual abuse cases occurs less than 2% of the time, 85% of these cases results in custody to the alleged abuser—which means our courts are sending children to live with their rapist. Inadequately trained professionals tend to believe the myth that mothers frequently make false allegations. Therefore, in thinking they have the needed expertise, they don't listen to domestic violence or child abuse evidence, experts, or consider current research. Mothers are then forced into poverty trying to protect their children-- while, their children continue to be abused. Mr. President, we now have the medical research to declare domestic violence and child abuse a PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. The Justice Department reports that only 10% of children are protected from further abuse once they report. The U.S. Department of Justice's Saunders report states that the STANDARD and REQUIRED domestic violence training received by judges, lawyers, and evaluators does not adequately prepare them to handle abuse cases. WE ARE PETITIONING FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF FAMILY COURT PRACTICES IN AN EFFORT TO STOP STATE JUDGES FROM FORCING DEFENSELESS CHILDREN TO BE HARMED BY ABUSERS. WE WANT AN AUDIT OF THE FUNDING TO THE COURTS, AND ADDRESS THIS FUNDING THAT IS GENDER BASED AND FUELING THE WAR ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WE WANT A MOTHERHOOD.GOV THAT WILL PROTECT OUR RIGHTS TO PARENT AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. We thank you in advance for your support.
http://www.leadershipcouncil.org/1/med/PR3.html
In addition, in 2013 the Center for Disease Control concluded a lengthy investigation into adverse childhood experiences. The ACE study is one of the largest medical investigations ever conducted to assess associations between childhood maltreatment and later-life health and well-being. They found that a child’s exposure to certain trauma’s, including domestic violence or child sexual abuse, resulted in more illnesses and injuries to children in childhood through adulthood (i.e., social emotional and cognitive impairment; adoption of health-risk behaviors; disease, disability and social problems; and premature death). This study demonstrates how a child’s exposure to domestic or sexual abuse is a PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. Yet every year, an estimated 58,000 children are sent for custody or unprotected visitation with a reported abuser. So how is this happening? Although research confirms that deliberately false allegations by mothers in child sexual abuse cases occurs less than 2% of the time, 85% of these cases results in custody to the alleged abuser—which means our courts are sending children to live with their rapist. Inadequately trained professionals tend to believe the myth that mothers frequently make false allegations. Therefore, in thinking they have the needed expertise, they don't listen to domestic violence or child abuse evidence, experts, or consider current research. Mothers are then forced into poverty trying to protect their children-- while, their children continue to be abused. Mr. President, we now have the medical research to declare domestic violence and child abuse a PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. The Justice Department reports that only 10% of children are protected from further abuse once they report. The U.S. Department of Justice's Saunders report states that the STANDARD and REQUIRED domestic violence training received by judges, lawyers, and evaluators does not adequately prepare them to handle abuse cases. WE ARE PETITIONING FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF FAMILY COURT PRACTICES IN AN EFFORT TO STOP STATE JUDGES FROM FORCING DEFENSELESS CHILDREN TO BE HARMED BY ABUSERS. WE WANT AN AUDIT OF THE FUNDING TO THE COURTS, AND ADDRESS THIS FUNDING THAT IS GENDER BASED AND FUELING THE WAR ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WE WANT A MOTHERHOOD.GOV THAT WILL PROTECT OUR RIGHTS TO PARENT AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. We thank you in advance for your support.