December 2017 - Save - Leading The Policy Movement For Fairness and Due Process On Campus

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Nasheia Conway

Report: “Domestic Violence Programs May Be Shortchanging Women”

WASHINGTON / December 13, 2017 – Stop Abusive and Violent Environments is today issuing a report that documents the ineffectiveness and unresponsiveness of the nation’s domestic violence programs, and reveals some of these policies may be harmful to women. SAVE calls upon Congressional lawmakers to assure that qualified persons are selected to draft the upcoming reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Current domestic violence laws were crafted by advocates who ascribe to the “power and control” model of domestic violence. The “patriarchal control” concept is inconsistent with research findings that women are often the initiators of partner violence (1), and cannot explain why rates of violence are higher among lesbian than heterosexual couples (2).

The power and control orientation has led to rigid domestic violence laws that foster mandatory arrest and no-drop prosecution policies, which are seen as unresponsive to the wishes and needs of women.

The report identifies 10 ways in which the nation’s domestic violence laws are shortchanging women:

No proof of effectiveness
Rigid arrest and prosecution policies place victims at risk
Mandatory prosecution ignores women’s wishes
Women lulled into a false sense of security
Aggressive criminal justice measures ensnare women
Heavy caseloads make it harder for victims to get help
Female abusers can’t get needed help
Shelters lack a therapeutic focus
Children removed from homes
Family dissolution

The report is supported by over 50 citations of scientific research studies, government surveys, and expert reports, and is available online (3).

Citations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, Atlanta, Georgia. Tables 4.7 and 4.8. http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/NISVS_Report2010-a.pdf
NISVS, 2010 Findings on Victimization by Sexual Orientation, Tables 6 and 7. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_sofindings.pdf
http://www.saveservices.org/reports/

SAVE (Stop Abusive and Violent Environments) is working for practical and effective solutions to domestic violence: www.saveservices.org

Contact: Chris Perry

Telephone: 301-801-0608

Email: cperry@saveservices.org

With Growing Bipartisan Support for Campus Due Process, SAVE Calls for an End to ‘Kangaroo Courts’

WASHINGTON / December 4, 2017 – Stop Abusive and Violent Environments (SAVE) is calling for the restoration of fairness and due process in campus sexual assault cases. SAVE is issuing this appeal in light of the resurgent bipartisan support for fair and equitable treatment of all students.

This recent bipartisan support includes California Governor Brown’s October 15, 2017 veto of a bill that would have codified the denial of key due process rights for accused students, such as the right to cross-examination and a presumption of innocence. In his veto message, Governor Brown highlighted the fact that accused students, “guilty or not, must be treated fairly and with the presumption of innocence until the facts speak otherwise.” (1)

On October 26, the House of Representatives Roundtable on Campus Sexual Assault convened a hearing during which Task Force members argued that fundamental fairness was essential (2):

Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH): “Too often conversations about these proceedings break down into two camps: those in support for the rights of the accused, and those who support protections for survivors of sexual assault. These are not mutually exclusive.”
Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA): We appreciate the “very delicate balance that exists in which all students have an expectation of the right to due process.”

Last week the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the PROSPER Act, a bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. The bill would guarantee several fundamental due process rights, including adequate written notice, a meaningful opportunity to admit or contest allegations, access to material evidence, and a prohibition on institutional conflicts of interest (3).

In light of these developments, SAVE urges state lawmakers to consider passage of the Campus Equality, Fairness, and Transparency Act (CEFTA) (4), which contains many due process provisions similar to those in the PROSPER Act.

Presaging the rescission of the Department of Education’s 2011 policy on campus sexual violence, Secretary Betsy DeVos declared on September 7, “Through intimidation and coercion, the failed system has clearly pushed schools to overreach…It’s no wonder so many call these proceedings ‘kangaroo courts.’” (5)

Citations:

SAVE (Stop Abusive and Violent Environments) is working for practical and effective solutions to campus sexual assault: www.saveservices.org