http://juneauempire.com/local/2013-01-26/girlfriend-oxy-ring-leader-sentenced#.UQXiVWc1XgY
In this recent case in Alaska, the girlfriend of a drug kingpin claimed that her involvement in his criminal behavior was coerced and that he had a history of being violent with her. The girlfriend claimed that she had previously been sexually and physically assaulted by her boyfriend, with whom she had a young child, and that she did as he asked when it came to his drug transactions out of fear for herself and her son. However, the judge in the case ruled that she had sufficient means of escape from the alleged abuse (car, phone, computer, separate residence) to that she could not claim her involvement in criminal activity was solely as a result of coercion.
In addition, I would like you to answer the following questions/complete the following tasks:
- Go to:
- http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state.php?state_code=AL
- On the left hand side, select your state.
- Read the state law overview
- After selecting your state and reading the overview, on the left hand side, select crimes.
- Your state may or may not have IPV or DV listed.
- If it does have it listed, write a short paragraph describing the law.
- Ex: is it felony or misdemeanor, what makes it a felony or
misdemeanor, how is it defined (heterosexual, homosexual, married,
cohabitation, etc), who does it protect (children, relatives, pets).
Just give an overview.
My state, Alaska, did not have much information available on this site. There was a section on "some basic information about crimes, not specific to Alaska" and a section on victim compensation in Alaska. - If it does not have it listed, follow these directions:
- Go to google and type in your state and domestic violence/domestic abuse/intimate partner violence law
- ex: Florida domestic violence law
- When I did this, I was redirected back to a different section of the WomensLaw site: http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=475&state_code=AK
- Again, give an overview
- Ex: is it felony or misdemeanor, what makes it a felony or
misdemeanor, how is it defined (heterosexual, homosexual, married,
cohabitation, etc), who does it protect (children, relatives, pets). Just give an overview.
As it states on the website, "According to Alaska law, domestic violence is when a household member commits or tries to commit one or more of approximately 64 crimes against you or against another “household member”.* Note: A household member does not have to live with you." Many of these crimes are listed on the site and range from harassment to murder. However, since this section of the site offers only the information that pertains to Domestic Violence Protective Orders, it does not state whether or not these crimes can result in a separate Domestic Violence charge, nor whether these charges would be considered felonies or misdemeanors. However, just about anyone experiencing any form of domestic violence could apply for a Domestic Violence Protective Order which grants them extensive protection and separation from their abuser. - Often times, leaving an abusive relationship is dangerous.
- research how individuals can get help in your state.
- Write a short paragraph discussing what they can do
- Ex: help line, shelters, legal actions, etc.
- Remember to post links to the the places you find.
- As I mentioned above, victims of domestic violence in Alaska can file for a Final (long-term) Domestic Violence Protective Order, a Temporary (20-day) Domestic Violence Protective Order, or a 72-hour Emergency Protective Order. These protective orders offer the victim a legal means with which to combat their offender, and a way to escape from their grasp. Protections outlined in these orders include mandatory separation for the offender, full use of the residence and vehicle by the victim, temporary custody of children, accompanying peace officer on visits to the home of the offender, and more. Additionally, there is no filing charge for one of these protective charges, and a lawyer does not have to be there (though it is recommended to seek legal counsel if the abuser does). These orders can be filed in the judicial district of the offender, victim, or location of abuse.
- http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=475&state_code=AK&open_id=10882#content-3560
- http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=475&state_code=AK
- Media aspect
- A lot of Public Service Announcements, songs, movies, documents, books, etc. have been created concerning DV and IPV
- find two media documentations (this does not need to come from your state)
- Tell us what they are (including links)
'When Dad Killed Mom' is a book about domestic violence from a child's perspective. The Google Books tagline reads: "Jenna and Jeremy knew their parents' marriage was in trouble. Mom and Dad didn't talk much, and when they did, they had to work really hard to be civil to each other. But no one could have predicted what would come next. The headline read, COLLEGE SHRINK KILLS WIFE, and suddenly everything changed. Now with Mom dead and Dad in jail, Jenna and Jeremy must re-create a life and a family of their own--somehow."
http://books.google.com/books/about/When_Dad_Killed_Mom.html?id=tKWtcQAACAAJ"What's Love Got To Do With It?" is the story of the abusive relationship between Tina and Ike Turner, a celebrity couple. Part of the movie's description metaphorically sums up the experience of many victims of abuse - "In love with Ike and determined not to leave in the way her mother had, she finds herself the target of increasing violence from her unstable husband who can't see who is making the band such a success."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108551/?ref_=sr_1
