Oregon Attorney General Wants to Make Strangulation a Felony
 
March 20, 2011
The Associated Press

MEDFORD, Ore. — Domestic violence experts and Oregon State Attorney General John Kroger want to make strangulation a felony act in Oregon.

The Mail Tribune newspaper reports that strangulations are currently misdemeanor crimes. Kroger says the Oregon law should recognized strangulation as a serious crime.

He is asking the public to support House Bill 2940, which he helped write.

Experts say strangulation is often used by abusers in domestic violence and sexual assaults as a form of control. They note studies showing that victims who are strangled are more likely to end up killed by their partners.

Make Strangulation a Felony, State Attorney General Says

He calls for public support of a proposed bill to make it a serious crime instead of a misdemeanor

March 20, 2011 
By Sanne Specht
Mail Tribune

He wraps his hands around his wife's neck and squeezes. When she screams for help, he smothers her face with a pillow.

Luckily for this particular victim, another family member manages to call police. The wife survives. Her husband pleads guilty to the misdemeanor crime of strangulation and is sentenced to 30 days in Jackson County Jail and two years' probation.

The violent scenario — and the consequences — are all too common in the Rogue Valley and across the state, say domestic violence experts and Oregon's attorney general.

U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Releases Investigation of New Orleans Police Department – Praises New Orleans Family Justice Center and Adopts Recommendations of National Family Justice Center Alliance on Handling of Domestic Violence Cases In New Orleans

On May 15, 2010, the Civil Rights Division opened an investigation of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Following its comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department on March 17, 2011, announced its findings that the NOPD has engaged in patterns of misconduct that violate the Constitution and federal law. The documents provide more information about the investigation, the Justice Department’s findings, and next steps. Click here to read more.

Family Justice Center Adds Domestic Violence Bureau

March 18, 2011
By Lisa Blackwell

When domestic violence victims walk through the door of the one place family justice center, it’s the only place they need to go.

That's because the Montgomery Police Department's Domestic Violence Bureau is now located on the second floor.

Steve Searcy, Executive Director, One Place Family Justice Center, says “If the victim wants to come through the whole family justice center without having contact with law enforcement that’s available also because they’re upstairs but if they want to pursue a criminal case then they’re ready and available to initiate and start that process. Investigators designed the office space with victims in mind. Each cubicle is partitioned for privacy.

Officers' spouses fill pantry's needs; Shasta Family Justice Center receives food from group

March 18, 2011
By Dylan Darling 

A month after seeing that the food pantry at the Shasta Family Justice Center was nearly bare, a group of Shasta County law enforcement spouses filled it.

Click here to read more.