New Column: Texas Bill to Create Domestic Violence Offender Registry Will Harm Innocent Men
April 11th, 2007 by Glenn Sacks, MA for Fathers & Families
My new co-authored column, "Texas bill to create domestic violence offender registry will harm innocent men" (Austin American-Statesman, 4/11/07), asserts that Texas HB 3958, which will be heard in the Corrections Committee of the Texas House today (April 11), will ensnare and punish many innocent men. This is in part because of the problems with the way Texas law enforcement and the judicial system handle domestic violence.
Texas bill to create domestic violence offender registry will harm innocent men
By Mike McCormick and Glenn Sacks
Austin American-Statesman, 4/11/07
House Bill 3958, sponsored by Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio), will set up a domestic violence offender registry similar to the Texas Sex Offender Registry. Castro is correct to identify domestic violence as an important issue; however, there are serious problems with the way law enforcement and the judicial system handle domestic violence. These problems will cause many innocent men to be ensnared by this bill.
HB 3958 would set up a central database containing information on anyone who has been convicted or "received a grant of deferred adjudication" for a family violence offense on three occasions. The three conviction requirement is defensible, but the inclusion of deferred adjudications — which are analogous to plea bargains — is a major problem.
Like many states, Texas has adopted aggressive arrest procedures on domestic violence calls. While politically popular, many of the architects of these types of policies are increasingly concerned that they have led to widespread abuses. For example, Greg Schmidt, who created the Seattle Police Department's domestic violence investigation unit in 1994, says that police officers are often encouraged to make arrests "in petty incidents, often where the abuse is mutual or it is unclear who the aggressor was." Moreover, Schmidt has concluded that the policies and the political climate that surround them pressures officers to see men and only men as the offenders, even though research shows that women comprise a significant minority of those who commit domestic violence.
Former Dallas Police Department patrol officer Paul Stuckle, now a criminal defense attorney in Plano, believes that these policies often lead Texas police to make arrests based only on the alleged victim's statements, and that officers often fail to complete a fair and thorough investigation.
The highly publicized case of former major league baseball player Scott Erickson has come to symbolize the problems with aggressive domestic violence arrest policies. Erickson called the police during an altercation with his girlfriend in July of 2002. According to The Associated Press, the Baltimore, Maryland police concluded that Erickson's girlfriend Lisa Ortiz: initiated the fight by hurling objects; decided to come back twice after Erickson carried her out of the apartment; repeatedly kicked the apartment door; caused Erickson two minor injuries, one of them to his pitching arm; and herself suffered no injuries. Nonetheless, the police arrested Erickson. Afterwards Ortiz publicly stated that Erickson, who did not pursue her either time after carrying her out, "has never been physically abusive toward me."
Erickson and his legal team did manage to get the charges dropped, but most men aren't so fortunate. Many Texas District Attorneys follow "No Drop" policies in domestic violence cases, pursuing marginal cases which ordinarily would be dropped for lack of evidence. Without a strong criminal case, prosecutors often try to intimidate defendants into accepting seemingly harmless deferred adjudications. Most men in these situations lack the money and resources to wage a long legal battle, and accept deferred adjudications, often without realizing that they cannot be expunged.
Inclusion on the domestic violence offender registry will be ruinous to some men's careers and reputations. The list will contain the person's name, photograph, date of birth, last known address, physical description and their offenses. Many of the men who will be placed on the registry are noncustodial fathers with child support obligations, and the registry will make it much more difficult for them to get and keep jobs.
In addition, the list would be applied retroactively. Men who agreed to deferred adjudications in previous years did so without knowing that their decision not to fight their case in criminal court would place them on a domestic violence offender registry for life.
The bill's requirement of three cases does provide a safeguard of sorts. Yet once the registry is created, it is very possible that future legislation will lower the requirements for inclusion to two or even one case. It is also possible that men with domestic violence restraining orders will be placed on the list, even though these restraining orders are granted to almost all who apply, with little judicial review. The bill may also be amended to require the state to pass out flyers with all the man's information on it to every household within a mile of his house, just as is done with the Texas Sex Offender Registry.
Many deferred adjudications are not fair findings of wrongdoing, and should not be treated as such. HB 3958 will harm many innocent men.
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April 17th, 2007 at 8:28 am
There is definitely a double standard against men when it comes to the accusation of domestic violence. This article is exactly what happened to me. My ex was the aggressor and even on the 911 tape she admits to defending herself by "hitting me in the back of the head while I was running". Guess who they hauled off? First clue, it wasn't her.
I've learned thru this whole process that the police will take someone in no matter what and it's purely for the reason of taking liability off of the state. My situation didn't warrant anyone being hauled off.
The trouble is that a domestic violence call can mask the true situation. It's not always about someone hurting another. My ex was having an affair with a married man and was doing everything she could to get me in trouble so she could take the kids. Her boyfriend lives out of state. She did the same thing to her first husband (I was her second) and separated him from their child, whom I adopted when their daughter was 2 1/2.
I live in a county in Texas where the laws are very strict and I was at a severe risk with this charge. The state even wanted to drop the case but my ex was so vindictive the state couldn't because they were afraid of her repurcussions against the state. I ended up filing no contest to a disorderly conduct charge. Since then my ex continues to try to use this against me. She has sued me for the kids two more times but finally lost. The judge reversed the decision of primary conservatorship and gave the kids to me. She has moved out of state and married her affair, albeit prior to the rulings of the judge.
The moral of this story .... charges of domestic violence can be a great scam of smoke and mirrors for the nutjobs in the world. Women know that the authorities will always side towards the woman.
April 17th, 2007 at 9:29 am
While it has become politically popular the past few years to set up all these "registration" laws, in reality they can't be monitored. Take "sex offender" registrations. Nationally there are 600,000 registered sex offenders. But they can not account for 100,000 that are missing and do not report. There is no enforcement agency responsible for this aspect. Adding another "registration" just simply makes no sense.
April 17th, 2007 at 9:30 am
With or without arrest, a permanent record needs to be kept of EVERY accusation of a parent by a minor child, if given to a teacher, counselor, or other State employee. Especially if the child calls 911.
It is easy for a parent to tell a child, "no one will ever take you seriously." I am still told the same. Since I can't prove that I called 911 on my parents, repeatedly, they find it very easy to stonewall and say "no one would ever take your accusation seriously."
I acknowledge the fact that men are arrested and are more aggressively prosecuted by women, but by the time a CHILD calls the police on his parents, he has likely learned that the people he should be able to trust most in the world, aren't to be trusted.
The police responder should isolate the kid from the parent, for at least 15 minutes, to allow the kid time to CALM DOWN and TELL THEIR VERSION OF EVENTS.
April 17th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Their is a pattern here. Once a sentence is served. The constitution says its over. Now the totalitarians are doing away with our freedoms in detail. What other registaries will follow? I'd rather have my hand removed before I was registared as a DV abuseer. Especially since 99% of complaints are frevolous.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:28 am
I don't know about the rest of you, but I've heard just about enough. And "enough" is what decent men all across the United States need to say to the legislators (a.k.a. "lawyers", who knows, maybe even part-time family law lawyers) who keep promoting these supposedly "good intentioned" bills that attack men as a class and attempt to heap humiliations upon them that go way beyond -- and often directly challenge -- the law, due process and citizens' constitutional rights. Let me be the first to say that I abhor violence: domestic or any other kind. Let me also say that, if the criminal justice system and the courts could remove the bias and imbalance in the treatment of men and women from the application of these statutes, then I would probably have no problem with this partiular "legislator's" excessive female-vote pandering leglislation. But the law -- particularly family law -- is in a SORRY STATE. But I've got a solution -- for dealing with this issue and the "deadbeat dad" issue that was the subject of Glenn's other column today: I think men -- and those open-minded women who occasionally write here as well -- need to either start petitions, or logs, in all 50 states, describing the kind of mishandling of justice that has occurred in each of our "family law" cases in those states. I think we should cite case numbers, name names (of the misguided, incompetent or simply pompous, biased judges who have made the bad rulings in our cases. And I think we should cite the malpractices and the names of the attorneys who have committed them as well. Then, perhaps one of the reporters at the "Austin-American Statesman" or some of these other newspapers might actually dig up the court records and catch the scent of the stink that's emanating from so many of our county court houses these days and actually start covering the BIG ONGOING STORY: How family lawyers profit from -- and encourage -- the inept, corrupt, sloppy, patently unconstitutional goings-on in our family law courts because all the injustice and lopsided decision making creates an INCENTIVE for ONE SIDE (typically women) to use the court system to get the upper hand in their divorces.
April 17th, 2007 at 11:37 am
??? Start petitions ??? Surly, J.R.,you are not naive enough to believe you live in a Democracy?
April 17th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
My ex-wife lied in order to obtain 2 orders of protection against me. Both were quashed/dismissed. However, while waiting for my hearing(s), I missed my daughter's 7th birthday, fathers' day, and the 4th of July. The emotional pain that I endured built character, made me stronger, and drew me closer to God. (He is used to being lied about and being left out of his kids' lives too.)
The irony hear is that during her deposition while under oath, my ex-wife admitted to assaulting--without provocation--me, and my 3 step children. She also admitted to being on the prescription drugs Zoloft and Welbutrin: a recipe for family disaster. I recommend professional therapy, counseling, diet, and exercise--then if necessary medicine as a last resort. For her false witness to the judges regarding the orders of protection, my ex-wife suffered no legal consequences. That presents a huge problem--that anyone can lie to obtain an order of protection without any punishment. It felt to me as though I was guilty until I proved my innocence.
I thank God for the widom of the judges that I have testified in front of and for their fairness in evaluating evidence and credibility surrounding the circumstances.
GR
April 17th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
THIS SYSTEM IS BROKEN!
As I have written before, I have been the subject of long term violence and abuse perpetrated by my wife.
I have been hung up on by 911 (“call back when you have a real problem”), hung up on by the domestic abuse hot line (“men don’t get abused”), had HPD officers say they would stand by while I packed a bag (when I asked why I had to leave, when I was the person with visible injuries, I was told she is the woman and takes care of the child, etc. When I informed them I was the one who worked from home and took care of our son, all I got was blank, incredulous looks). One night my son had a box of metal toys shoved into his stomach and was pushed into a wall and then thrown on the floor, in front of his horrified best friend. After I took his friend home, my son said he wanted to file a police report, which we did. Two days later a “detective” told me that his mother could do that because it did not cause serious bodily injury or broken bone (however, to cover his own backside, he did notify CPS, in Austin, but ONLY told them about the box being pushed into his stomach). Probably the worse case occurred when the Pasadena Police (suburb of Houston) responded to my 911 call, put her in handcuffs and took several rolls of film of my bloody neck, chest, and back. She then told them I was on parole, and they took the handcuffs off of her, told me to give her the check book, credit cards, and to get out of Pasadena and never come back. They then told her that they were required by law to take her to jail, but that they were not going to do that because they did not like me. They told her they were going to report that the injuries were self inflicted. In a minutely detailed twelve page report they stated that they examined her fingernails and found no trace of skin or blood. But, they do not say they examined my nails!
Now, many years later, this report was resurrected by my wife after she stabbed me with a kitchen knife. She told the female chief prosecutor that I cut my self, and used the old Pasadena report to get her currant charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon On a Family Member (Domestic Violence) dismissed.
This injustice doesn’t just stop here. It has touched my son at his school.
Recently, he was taken to the principles office after he and another boy had been playing with rubber bands. My son accidentally hit the other boy in the back of the head with a rubber band. In the principles office he was told that this was “assault by contact” and that he could be handcuffed, arrested, and taken to jail.
2 Weeks later, in music class, a girl kicked him in the leg repeatedly. He asked her to stop and she kicked harder. This was in full view of two teachers who did nothing. Why was she not taken to the office and threatened with arrest?
So, until they can assure us that everyone will be treated equally and fairly, they need to fix what is already broken .
April 17th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Given a woman willing to lie about a non-existent rape and a a prosector whom does not care if there is any evidence, can cost three young men's families a fortune financially and devastated them emotionally, and the vast majority of opinion is the woman should incur NO PUNISHMENT really says a lot that a woman can do no wrong, and that a they are NEVER subject to any threat of the loss of their civil rights.
Even if she is a complete nutcase she still gets to vote make decision on how this country should be run, but she could very easily have taken away these three young men's liberty and life, and yet, we think such a person should go unharmed, and then one of that gender stands upon the floor of a state legislature and introduces a bill where she will be held immune and MEN only will be subject to punishment, on the flimsiest of evidence, for the made-up crime of domestic violence, which will deny them all hope of ever having a better tomorrow
Such people who would allow such a thing, have already lost any good reason for being a nation. The Republic has then fell at the hand of women.
JT
April 17th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Mike,
If we do nothing, if we do not find a way to pile example after embarrassing example of ineptitude and unfairness in the public eye -- until someone finally takes the initiative to report on it -- then we are doomed to suffer under the misdirected, prejudiced, twisted and constitutionally bankrupt practices that continue to erode our freedoms and make a mockery out of our founding fathers' (FATHERS!) legacy to us. If you've got a better idea, Mike, I'm all ears....
April 17th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Dads, and family men of the world, we men know that we're the targets of immoral justice here, and we are also aware that the family law
system has turned Fathers' Rights into a damn business. It's all for the money gentlemen..... We men provoke a fight, we go to jail.
They (the females) start or provoke a fight, we (the males) go to jail.
You know what !.... They want a international uprising, ....... LET"S GIVE THEM AN UPRISING, and teach them that our Father's Rights
are NOT FOR SALE.
I don't know about the rest of you Dads, but I am going to sue the pants off anyone who places me in jail with false allegations again.
To tell you the truth, if I feel sorry for anyone, it is for our children, and for the people that have a just reason to seek protection from the
law, male or female. For these women that go around abusing the system and who press false charges against men in order to get revenge, simply because they have not mastered the control of their female emotions, I say this:
First and foremost YOU ARE THE ENEMIES OF THE STATE, and second, YOU ARE THE CHAOS that takes away vital resources
which are needed by those who have the common sense and reasoning to make this world a better place for our children, and for future generations.
It is only a matter of time before your sinister plots are exposed to the masses, which shall occur much earlier that you suspect.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS, and so do Women and Men who possess Priceless TRUE JUSTICE.
My Best Regards to Glenn Sacks and to all Fathers Nationwide.
J. Koulouris,(Esq.)
April 17th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
A petition probably isn't the answer. Instead, maybe Glenn should call for a month-long nationwide letter writing campaign -- to major daily newspaper reporters who cover the courts, telling the reporters, in story after story -- naming names, citing case numbers, etc -- about the outrageous things that have been done to us -- and the ways these actions have violated our civil rights. We should mention the names of the judges, too. (That way, if the same names keep coming up, we might actually get a story.) We should include our phone numbers as well for follow up and each letter should state that the system is broken and needs to be fixed. Perhaps we should attach a "white paper" that outlines the reasons these kinds of injustices continue to go unchecked, such as: the fact that lawyers profit from a system that's unfair in the courts; that judges pander to the lawyers who put them in office -- and contribute to their local election efforts; that the state and federal bar is morally bankrupt and incapable of policing itself -- which is the current state of affairs. (That most lawyers would never file a complaint against a fellow member of the bar -- unless ordered to do so by a judge. That the entire exparte procedure for dealing with domestic violence is horrendous -- and an attempt to inappropriately divert suposedly legitimate "criminal" actions into "civil" legal channels, where innocent people can be harrassed and tried unfairly in order to gin up the action -- and raise the ante -- in family law cases. And where, the accused is charged civilly but the only penalty for the accuser is a criminal one of perjury -- which authorities therefore never wish to impose.) We might also suggest a few story ideas to these reporters, such as: (1) spending a day in front of a county commissioner issuing cookie-cutter protective orders throwing husbands out of their homes. And then interview the commissioners on their training and follow that up by actually coming back for the hearings -- if there are any. (2) Polling local lawyers and asking them how many times in their careers they have reported another lawyer to the bar for misconduct, and, if the answer is more than "0" what the outcome was? Also, asking them how many times they witness misconduct of any kind for each instance they actually report and finally ask them why they don't report every instance, etc., etc.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
It's not just the American system that is utterly broken.
My ex-wife, eight and a half years ago now, attacked me with homicidal intent after years of abuse (physical, mental, emotional, financial, etc.); she has tried to push me to suicide while being in possession of at least four secret life insurance policies on me; she illegally transferred our daughters' college savings fund from both our names into hers alone; she has perjured; she has committed fraud; she tried to derail our divorce to prevent our daughters from attending my wedding; she has continued these activities even though she is now a member of the Alberta Bar in, of course, family law.
Nobody in a position of authority has ever gone so far as to say "don't do that" to her. I have never once had an opportunity to see a judge to plead my case. My rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms -- no less than SEVEN SECTIONS of the Charter -- have been crushed like a bug and I have had no recourse.
The rule of law? Don't make me laugh.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
The System is beginning to collapse upon itself. They can pass all the laws they want, but without the ability to enforce the laws, they are meaningless. The System is fueled by money. Shut off the fuel... Do not pay.. Ignore and/or resist Court Orders.
The numbers are now on our side. The Gov't can huff and puff like the Big, Bad Wolf, but in reality it is becoming a paper tiger. They use fear and threats to control Fathers. Screw 'em all!
April 18th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Hi J.R.
I have done just about all the things you mentoned and got all but ignored by legislators, the judicial system and the media I reported to.
I was falsely accused of domestic violence 4 years ago, not once but twice by my ex wife. The first time was just before we separated when I tried to keep her from taking all our money to buy drugs. I didn't touch her, but took the car keys to try to keep her from once again spending our rent and food money on meth and cocaine. She rubbed her neck to make red marks when police were called. She didn't even have to say anything, the officer said "What happened to your neck, he try to strangle you"? She said yes, and I was arrested. The next time was 3 months later when she attacked me while high on drugs, knocking my glasses off and beat me in the side of the head. She was accidentally hit when I was nearly knocked out and instinctively threw my arm up to block the blows. I was in shock that they didn't at least also arrest her. No sir, once again she was a totally innocent victim, and I was a horrible abusive beast.
I was arrested, my injuries ignored, and not even allowed to speak to tell my side. The only thing that's ever in most police reports is what the woman wants in there, because the man has no rights and isn't even allowed to tell his side.
I have been fighting false assault charges, as well as rights to my child for 4 years. I have refused to plead guilty to the false charges, but I have been threatened by the prosecutor that if I don't accept a guilty plea they would make sure I don't see my son and would drag things out for a very long time, and they have done that. I was told that even if I have a trial I WILL lose, because the prosecutor knows how to manipulate the jury to find me guilty even if I'm not. Even my own attorney just wants me to take the plea because he said he fears the prosecutor is right about being able to get the verdict they want, even though I'm not guilty. I have learned that rights, truth and justice have no place in the courtroom any longer.
The same charge has been brought 4 separate times (they say they can enhance up and down for as long as they want), and I have paid 4 separate bonds on the same charge. It has been in one court twice and dismissed, only to go to another court and was dismissed, now I have had the fourth warrant put on me, and paid the fourth bond to go back to the first court next month. ALL FOR THE ONE BOGUS CHARGE FROM 4 YEARS AGO! Four different times, and dozens of court appearances each time, just because I refuse to plead guilty to something I did not do. The courts hate it when a man won't just plead guilty and make things easy for everyone, and they will make his life Hell any way they can in order to force that guilty plea.
Meanwhile my son lives in an abusive home where I have proven abandonment, neglect and abuse. I am refused even phone contact and the few visitation rights I have been allowed are usually ignored. The courts will do nothing about her contempt.
I was even given temporary custody when my son was abandoned, and he did very well with me, but they gave him back to his mother a few months later when she wanted him. Of course the local women's domestic violence organization has believed her lies, and have paid all her expenses- including all travel and hotel expenses, pro bono attorneys, new wardrobe for court and all other expenses. They even paid all her expenses when she wanted to move clear across the country in order to keep me from seeing my child, even though I haven't yet been found guilty of anything. She even told me they paid her to say she was in fear for her life in order to get a restraining order against me. They told her they would give her money and pay her expenses only if she would do that, otherwise she would get nothing, and they didn't care that it wasn't true.
Her attorney was allowed to hand-pick the judge she wanted, one that gave them everything they asked for. This judge does fund raisers for this women's organization that the attorney works for, and in turn is given campaign money from them to stay on the bench. The judge would never allow an actual hearing in the courtroom, but had meetings in chambers with just the two attorneys. My attorney was repeatedly refused a chance to show any proof we had, and the accusation of 'alleged' family violence was used against me every time.
I was never given any written results of the orders, as they were made then changed over and over, without me ever being allowed to be heard or show my proof of anything. We later found out there wasn't a single note or anything stating the specific orders and why they were repeatedly changed in the judges records. No record at all! It's like trying to fight an invisible enemy- always just my word against theirs because they know how to leave no paper trail.
I have brought the injustice and discrimination to the attention of every representative I could find- local, state and national. I have written, called and emailed some of the media as well. All I ever get from legislators is a form letter thanking me for supporting their position, or I'm told that they can't comment or do anything about legal matters. I have received some moral support from a few other fathers, which I'm grateful for.
I can't begin to get anywhere when she has an organization backing her lies up with millions of (tax) dollars at their sevice. I have to pay everything myself, and have nothing left to fight with. I have been bankrupted financially, emotionally and physically and my child is being destroyed just as surely. Believe me, nobody in the system really listens and nobody really cares, and I'm too tired and depressed now to hardly keep caring myself..
April 18th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
I shouldn't write now, because I am in a rage. I have seen too much of this crap in Texas, been in contact with men being persecuted in other states. even to fleeing into the Northwest wilderness in the dead of this past winter. Glenn, I thank you for your article bringing this travesty of a bill to our attention and for your efforts to expose this system in Texas and this tyrant we have as an Attorney General. I will keep calling him a "little big man who gets his jollies persecuting poor Mexican laborers," and I do it in the Austin American Statesman. I, too, was falsely accused of domestic violence twice and subjected to 7 months of persecution the last time. The first time, I had a TRO isssued against me and handled it pro-se. It was dropped because I did not notify the opposing shyster that I had filed a reply. The second was a Temporary Protective Order, which the UNBIASED female judge extended in order to further persecute me, and then it was dropped. There was no evidence and my ex's lies were so obvious in court that she couldn't even put a year on the supposed violence, yet Brenda Smith of Hays County extented the TPO! J.R.'s idea of exposing these shysters and shyster judges by name is a good one, which I have tried, but am too small to get anywhere so far. If you do it, Glenn, I hope you concentrate on Texas, but you will need legal backing (which you don't need me to tell you). I will help in any way I can, if you just ask.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Thank you so much for bringing up this important subject. My life has been ruined from a DV incident in WA state. My wife had embezzled $20,000 that I know of in anticipation of her setup, then got in my face bigtime after working three straight 70 hour workweeks. She initaited the response to use the system against me. Worse yet, the system in the state of WA prevents me from bringing this evidence to light, as they readily define this behavior, "blaming the victim". The courts and DV industry allow this to happen. I finally got fed up and moved out of state after two subsequent false allegations caused me to spend time in jail and drained my bank account. There is now an unfounded warrant out for my arrest. I have never been a problem with the law, was a network administrator and gainfully employed as a productive member of society. Now, I'm having difficulties finding work due to this.
Glenn, I would gladly offer up my story and I'm seeking federal support to investigate the state of WA as they have no desire to clean up their own mess. I am looking for others with similar stories to come forward as I know that I'm not the only one. This needs to stop.
John Lukas
April 18th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Hi H.G.
Was called for jury duty and the case was domestic violence
They ask each jury whether they could convict someone under the law. When they got to me told them considered such laws unconstitutional, if not illegal. Of course, they excused me. Four more men followed me out the door, and cannot say how much influence that action had on the jury, since the case involved a man getting out of a car and the door touched the women, not hit, touched, did not knocker down, did not injure, but like to think my action emboldened the jury to see this BS for what it is, a power play by women to get men beat up by the system. Anyway, the jury voted unanimously the guy was not guilty.
JT
April 18th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
The climate of fear in this country has led to an across the board disregard for the rights of the accused, unless they happen to be multimillionaires like O.J. Simpson or Phil Spector.
Furthermore, there is less and less inclination to give people the opportunity to change for the better. One mistake and you're history. As more and more people are marginalized, there is certain to be more and more crime and violence as people lose legitimate options to function in society. This is inevitable.
It's like trying to cure a headache by cutting off one's head.
Like Mike says above, we need to say "NO" to this insanity.
And we need to start coming down real hard on false accusers. These people are often even worse than those who actually commit the sort of crimes they accuse others of committing. Why not start a false accuser registry when their accusations are PROVEN false?
April 18th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Great idea, Frank! A false acuser's registry! We could start one nationally. All it would take is one web site. I think we'd have to show the "falsehood" by showing -- or citing -- rulings that actually dismissed the charges. While it would only be a fraction of the actual charges brought -- since so many of the cases are settled (to the wife's favor; that's why they were brought!) before the hearing dates -- and many more are allowed to "stand" even though untrue -- it would still be a start. Might even get us some publicity. I hope Glenn sees this and considers hosting it on his website. I'd also like to suggest that we add another component: scoring circuit court judges on a scale of 1 to 5 for gender bias, [1= No bias present; 5=extremely biased] and maybe scoring family law attorneys by unethical practices. [same rating]. Please weigh in with your opinions.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Hi all!
A false accuser's registry is a great idea, and also listing the biased and corrupt judges and attorneys. It is a good start to at least shine some light on part of the problem.
Another thing I think of often is educational groups for young men to be educated about the pitfalls that await them if they are not very careful. I wish I would have known it was so easy to be accused and lose so much, due to another persons lies and mental problems. Things can change so quickly in relationships, and I wish I wouild have realized that getting out immediately with my child would have been the best thing. In trying to save the relationship the man will always lose. The system is not conducive to amicable, fair divorces and child custody either, and that's another lesson young men need to learn before they're mired in it.
John Taylor, that was a good thing you did, standing up for what's right and true. The only problem is that when they weed out all the guys that don't buy their BS they're left with mostly the people that are anxious to convict men for any reason they can. I'm glad the guy was exonerated in the end, but you can bet that his life will never be the same. He most likely went through Hell awaiting trial, probably spent at least some time behind bars, and surely lost rights to his children for a time if he had any. Innocent until proven guilty just doesn't exist any longer for men.
Men's rights groups are great, but most men never hear of them or pay little attention to them, until they're entrenched in the dirty workings of the system with a divorce, child custody/support or false accusations. It's imperative that young men learn what the system really is before they make decisions that may destroy their rights, dreams and lives. I would advise all young men NOT to marry or have children, not unless they can somehow adopt as a single parent and stay that way. Not until the system again includes rights for males/fathers.
I also believe all males should boycott joining or serving in the military ASAP. If men are not good enough to be fathers to their children, are considered incompetent buffons with no Constitutional rights, what are they fighting for? Let the feminists that have the rights and power in this country go over there and earn their own rights. Empty out the N.O.W. headquarters and send them all over there. Too many men have suffered and died already, with nothing now to show for the freedoms and rights they fought for. (Yes, I know a few women serve also, but the vast majority in active duty are still men). Why should men continue to fight for rights that we aren't given by our own country any longer?
The small strides that are being made are great, but will take another lifetime to turn things back to where they should be.. They keep passing more laws that take away more rights from men. Laws that make it impossible to defend an accusation of any kind, because males are considered to be guilty from birth it now seems. It's time to do what our forefathers did and fight to take back what's rightfully ours, because the price some of us have paid is already way too high. The American dream has turned into a nightmare for way too many good men.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Hi all!
A false accuser's registry is a great idea, and also listing the biased and corrupt judges and attorneys. It's a good start to at least shine some light on part of the problem.
Another thing I think of often is educational groups for young men to learn about the pitfalls that await them if they're not very careful. I wish I would have known it was so easy to be accused and lose so much, due to another persons lies and mental problems. I would have stayed alone and childless in order to protect myself. Things can change so quickly in relationships, and the wonderful person you marry can quickly become your worse nightmare, as mine did after becoming a drug addict. The system is not conducive to amicable, fair divorces and child custody, all they do is throw fuel on a raging fire and lay all the blame on men, and that's another lesson young men need to learn before they're mired in it.
John Taylor, that was a good thing you did, standing up for what's right and true. The only problem is that when they weed out all the guys that don't buy their BS they're left with mostly people that are anxious to convict men for any reason they can. I'm glad the guy was exonerated in the end, but you can bet that his life will never be the same. He most likely went through Hell awaiting trial, probably lost everything he had, spent at least some time behind bars, and surely lost rights to his children if he had any. I'd bet he lost all faith and belief in the system too, as they're usually very hostile toward any man that refuses to plead guilty and requests a trial.
Innocent until proven guilty just doesn't exist any longer for men.
Men's rights groups are great, but most men never hear of them or pay little attention to them until they're entrenched in the dirty workings of the system with a divorce, child custody/support or false accusations. It's imperative that young men learn what the system really is before they make decisions that may destroy their rights, dreams and lives. I would advise all young men NOT to marry (or even live with somebody) or have any children, not unless they can somehow adopt as a single parent and stay that way. Not until the system again recognizes equal rights for males/fathers.
I also believe all males should boycott joining or serving in the military. If men are considered second class citizens, not good enough to be fathers to their children, are considered incompetent buffoons with no Constitutional rights, what are they fighting for anyway? Their greatest threat is not over in Iraq, but right here in their own country.
Let the feminists that have been handed all the rights and power in this country go over there and earn their own rights. Empty out the N.O.W. headquarters and draft them all. They have enough male-hatred and hostility to easily take care of the enemy, and they'll be doing something constructive for a change.
Too many men have suffered and died already, with nothing now to show for the freedoms and rights they fought for. (Yes, I know a few women serve also, but the vast majority in active duty are still men). Why should men continue to fight for rights that we are no longer any part of?
The small strides that are being made are great, but will take another lifetime to turn things back to where they should be. They keep passing yet more laws that take away even more rights from men. Laws that make it impossible to defend an accusation of any kind, laws that give fathers no rights to parent, or even visit their own children.
It will take a lot more than letters, lists and petitions to make big changes, though they are a start.
It's time to do what our forefathers did and fight to take back what's rightfully ours, because the price some of us have paid is already way too high.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:22 am
H.G. Says:
"The only problem is that when they weed out all the guys that don’t buy their BS they’re left with mostly the people that are anxious to convict men for any reason they can."
Yep, when! Would rather live with being weeded out then keeping my mouth shut living among them.
What was really surprising, I was not alone, and that day, the imaginary "they" did not cast their vote.
Cannot say what will happen on any day one stands and speaks what they believe, but do know you are going along when yo don't, and worse, it gives legitimacy "to convict men for any reason"
JT
April 19th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Here's another suggestion. Right now, the "law" states that the only penalty for falsely charging a man with domestic violence in an exparte proceeding (a civil proceeding -- and charge) is a CRIMINAL charge, and finding, of perjury. Perjury ("knowingly" lying under oath) is a CRIMINAL CHARGE that's an extremely difficult charge to prove under normal circumstances. It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to prove under current ex parte proceedings, because -- among other things -- complicit judges RARELY ASK the petitioners (women "victims") enough questions to establish an evidentiary foundation for proving perjury. Worse yet, under existing state laws, judges are NOT EVEN REQUIRED TO ASK SUCH QUESTIONS. Then, if a man who was wrongfully accused -- as I was -- goes to the State Attorney's office -- as I did -- and asks them to swear out a criminal complaint against his spouse alleging Perjury, they are told -- as I was -- that the court will not look favorably on them for trying to get their spouse convicted of a CRIMINAL CHARGE when their spouse only charged them CIVILLY. So, here's my suggestion: Why don't we start a nationwide drive to have state laws changed. Remove the perjury charge and introduce a Civil fine, of say, $2,500 for every instance in which a woman brings "domestic violence" charges against her spouse only to have those charges dismissed as "lacking foundation," i.e., being unsubstantiated or unprovable. Thoughts?
April 19th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I have finally stumbled upon someone with a sound social policy for dealing with divorce, in general. I encourage everyone to visit his site and read this article. Here's the link: http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive/u-v/usher/2005/usher061305.htm
April 19th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
I first wrote a scathing attack on this Joaquin Castro in my blog, then sent him an e-mail telling him what a mistake he has made and how he has made thousands of enemies in Texas. A few thousand more wouldn't hurt our cause! Go to www.state.tx.us. click Government, click next Government link, Texas Legislature, Hourse of Representatives, then Members (on the left side). Once you get his site, you will find an e-mail link. Use his Zip so that you are not filtered out. Make no threats, but let him know how you feel.
Sheer numbers are threatening in and of themselves!
April 24th, 2007 at 3:48 am
NYS has adopted a “Primary aggressor law”. What is means is that because men are typically hardier than women are the man is going to be arrested in any domestic violence situation where he defends himself from harm. The bottom line is that a woman can beat on her significant other and if he stops her and leaves a mark anywhere he is the one in the wrong. I liken this to a wife shooting at her husband with a .22 and because the husband has a .38 to defend himself, he is the person who has done all the wrong because his gun is bigger. This puts men in the position of not even being able to defend themselves or restrain their domestic partners from assaulting them.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
I agree that there is a double standard in regards to domestic abuse matters. I know of an incident in which the wife was being agressive and the husband ended up calling the police to protect himself (so he thought). When the police arrived, guess who was the individual who was immediately under suspision, the husband of coarse. The wife was never even questioned. He was arrested. Eventually, he pleaded no contest to charges because, after several court appearances, he just couldn't afford to defend himself.
May 13th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
[...] In my April column "Texas bill to create domestic violence offender registry will harm innocent men" (Austin American-Statesman, 4/11/07), I explained that Texas HB 3958 will ensnare and punish many [...]
May 17th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
[...] In my April column "Texas bill to create domestic violence offender registry will harm innocent men" (Austin American-Statesman, 4/11/07), I explained that Texas HB 3958 will ensnare and punish many [...]
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:10 am
[...] which ordinarily would be dropped for lack of evidence. To learn more, see my co-authored column Texas bill to create domestic violence offender registry will harm innocent men (Austin American-Statesman, 4/11/07) or click [...]
July 19th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
[...] which ordinarily would be dropped for lack of evidence. To learn more, see my co-authored column Texas bill to create domestic violence offender registry will harm innocent men (Austin American-Statesman, 4/11/07) or click here or [...]
July 30th, 2007 at 12:17 am
[...] violence cases, and it's interesting the way some women feel entitled to attack or abuse men. The Scott Erickson case is another [...]