Domestic Violence

Talk Justice: Episode Twenty Four

richardsons@lsc.gov — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 18:37:19 +0000

Talk Justice: Episode Twenty Four richardsons@lsc.gov Tue, 12/14/2021 - 13:37

Access to Justice Forum | October 19, 2021

yanezc@lsc.gov — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 18:07:56 +0000

Access to Justice Forum | October 19, 2021 yanezc@lsc.gov Thu, 09/30/2021 - 14:07

October 19, 2021 • 1:00pm - 3:00pm •

Zoom

Conference / Forum

The Forum on Increasing Access to Justice will take place on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET.

You are welcome to watch the event live on LSC’s Facebook page. You do not need a Facebook account. If you are prompted to log in to view, click the “not now” option.

You may view the program with event details and a full list of participants here. Speakers and panelists include:

Gene B. Sperling, White House American Rescue Plan Coordinator and Senior Advisor to the President
Reginald M. Turner, Jr., President, American Bar Association
The Honorable Fred Upton, U.S. Representative, Michigan's 6th congressional district
The Honorable Bridget Mary McCormack, Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court; Chair, Access and Fairness Committee, Conference of Chief Justices
Meredith Bruch, Staff Attorney, Yakima, Northwest Justice Project
Cesiah Guadarrama Trejo, Co-Associate State Director, 9to5 Colorado
Nick Smithberg, Executive Director, Iowa Legal Aid
Esther Sullivan, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Colorado Denver
The Honorable Jason D. Dodson, Circuit Court Judge, Division 10, 21st Judicial Court of Missouri
Brittany Hightower, Staff Attorney, Individual Safety Unit, Lone Star Legal Aid
TeAndra M. Miller, Managing Attorney and Project Director, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Practice Group, Legal Aid of North Carolina
Pamela Roychaudhury, Managing Attorney, Legal Aid of Western Missouri
Deborah J. Vagins, President & CEO, National Network to End Domestic Violence

Virtual

Topics

Domestic Violence

Housing / Evictions

Members of Congress Join ��˶�� for Virtual Briefing on Domestic Violence During the Coronavirus Pandemic

admin — Thu, 07 May 2020 17:32:51 +0000

Members of Congress Join ��˶�� for Virtual Briefing on Domestic Violence During the Coronavirus Pandemic admin Thu, 05/07/2020 - 13:32

How Legal Aid Helps Domestic Violence Survivors

admin — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 14:28:05 +0000

How Legal Aid Helps Domestic Violence Survivors admin Tue, 08/28/2018 - 10:28

The ��˶�� (LSC) is the single largest funder of civil legal assistance in the country. LSC promotes access to justice by funding high-quality civil legal assistance for low-income Americans. The Corporation currently funds 132 local legal aid programs in every congressional district and the U.S. territories. With more than 855 offices nationwide, these programs help people escape domestic violence, assist veterans, help families with housing issues, and help seniors ward off consumer scams.

LSC grantees help constituents who live in households with annual incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. Family law cases, including domestic violence, represent the largest category of cases closed by LSC grantees each year. Low-income survivors of domestic violence seek professional legal help for only 23% of their problems. In 2018, LSC grantees reported a total of 129,186 domestic violence cases, the highest number recorded since LSC began collecting such data in 2011.

LSC grantees provide legal assistance to domestic violence survivors in many different areas of the law. Grantees prevent future violence by:

Obtaining, renewing, and enforcing protective orders in court.
Securing child custody orders so that a parent and children can legally and safely leave the abusive spouse and/or parent.
Providing other legal services in matters related to separation and divorce proceedings such as employment, financial, and housing problems.

Survivors rate the filing of a protective order as one of the two most effective tools for stopping domestic violence, second only to leaving the abuser. An academic study by two economists found that increased access to civil legal aid was one of three major factors correlating with the 21% decline in the incidence of domestic violence from 1993 to 1998. The economists concluded that civil legal aid is more effective than access to shelters or counseling services in reducing domestic violence. The Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice found that obtaining a permanent protection order results in a statistically significant reduction (80%) in police reported physical violence in the subsequent 12 months.

In addition to supporting domestic violence survivors, legal aid attorneys help their clients gain economic independence and rebuild their lives. Civil legal aid reduces repeat incidents of domestic violence, thus cutting public spending on medical care, special education and counseling for affected children, as well as police resources. Collateral effects include: improved workplace productivity and fewer lost wages. Legal aid for victims of domestic violence promotes individual empowerment and self-reliance by giving people the tools and knowledge to access the civil court system to protect and exercise their rights.

Domestic Violence

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Protecting Families From Violence

admin — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 19:18:11 +0000

Protecting Families From Violence admin Tue, 06/12/2018 - 15:18

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley's (LSHV) client Jenni’s* husband was physically abusive to her and had an alcohol and pill problem. Her husband was also an absentee father, and as a result of his drug use, contributed to a significant mental health issue for Jenni’s daughter as he would frequently appear and disappear from her life.

The husband was in Florida in a rehab center, and upon his discharge and return back to New York, LSHV served him with child custody and support petitions. Thereafter, the husband showed up at Jenni’s daughter’s gymnastics tournament impaired, yelling and trying to grab her, which led LSHV to file an Order of Protection in family court on behalf of Jenni.

*(Name changed)

Children’s Welfare Domestic Violence Opioid

Domestic Violence

New York

Congressional Briefing to Highlight Legal Aid’s Role in Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors

admin — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 17:55:36 +0000

Congressional Briefing to Highlight Legal Aid’s Role in Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors admin Tue, 10/24/2017 - 13:55

Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors So They Can Rebuild Their Lives | Missouri

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 17:20:36 +0000

Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors So They Can Rebuild Their Lives | Missouri admin Thu, 01/21/2016 - 12:20

Leanne,* a 37-year-old housewife and mother of three kids, had been involved in an abusive marriage for 15 years.

Leanne knew she had to escape after her husband slammed her head against the wall and choked her so hard she passed out in front of the kids. When her oldest son tried to help, he was thrown to the ground, put in a headlock, and burned on his arm with a lit cigarette.
After police arrived at her house, Leanne was taken to the hospital with a concussion, two black eyes, and bruises all over her body. She had to get a brace for her neck.

That night changed everything for Leanne. She immediately filed four Orders of Protection against her husband, seeking safety for her children and herself. When her husband realized he was not allowed in the home, he hired an attorney and filed for divorce within six weeks.

Meanwhile, Leanne was without any income after losing her job due to the residual effects of her injuries and an impaired ability to work. Her mother in law, who owned the family home, served Leanne with an action for Unlawful Detainer. Leanne and her children were being kicked out, after nearly a decade of living there.

Facing homelessness and destitution, Leanne contacted Legal Aid of Western Missouri (LAWMO) for help. With three kids looking to her for shelter, support, and strength, she felt hopeless and alone and was starting to regret ever calling the police on her husband.

LAWMO attorneys represented Leanne in the Orders of Protection, the Unlawful Detainer, and in the divorce proceedings. After several court appearances and arduous negotiations, the Unlawful Detainer action against her was dismissed. Leanne and her kids were able to stay in their home for many months, until they could find a new home. She was granted full custody of her children, who now see their dad only in the safety and care of a therapist.

*Names have been changed

Domestic Violence

Missouri

Helping Domestic Violence Survivors Access Legal Protection | Kentucky

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 21:54:45 +0000

Helping Domestic Violence Survivors Access Legal Protection | Kentucky admin Wed, 01/20/2016 - 16:54

One night, Rebecca’s husband became angry with her. He began pushing her, banging her head into walls, and slamming her onto the floor.

Rebecca tried to sneak out of the house after her husband calmed down. He caught her and attacked her again. This time, she was able to get away long enough to call to the police without her husband’s knowledge. When the police arrived, her husband began threatening to kill the client and their baby. He also made threats to the police, charged at them, and had to be tased. He was arrested and charged criminally.

With her husband in jail, Rebecca quickly contacted Legal Aid of the Bluegrass for legal assistance. Attorneys represented her during a domestic abuse hearing, and were able to get the police officer to testify.

On the day of the hearing, after Rebecca’s husband saw that a police officer was there to testify against him, he agreed to a 3-year protective order with no contact with Rebecca or members of her household, including their infant child.

Legal Aid of the Bluegrass attorneys stand ready to assist Rebecca in the future should she have any more trouble arising from this incident.

*Names have been changed.

Children’s Welfare Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

Kentucky

Domestic Violence Survivor Wins Custody | Illinois

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 20:59:46 +0000

Domestic Violence Survivor Wins Custody | Illinois admin Wed, 01/20/2016 - 15:59

After enduring a physically abusive relationship, Rebecca* was shocked when the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) determined that she had committed child abuse and threatened to take away her children.

DCFS began the investigation as the result of a report when Rebecca sought an Order of Protection from her abusive domestic partner. DCFS failed to understand the dynamics of domestic violence and simply found Rebecca at fault for the abuse, rather than recognizing that Rebecca was a victim of abuse. DCFS also failed to recognize the reasonable steps that Rebecca had taken to protect herself and her children.

As a result of DCFS’s finding of abuse Rebecca lost her job at a childcare center. Unemployed and in danger of losing custody of her children, she contacted Prairie State Legal Services (PSLS) for help.

Rebecca’s attorneys at PSLS represented her in an appeal of the DCFS finding, and were able to get it reversed. They helped Rebecca expunge her record, enabling her to retain employment and maintain custody of her children.

*Names have been changed

Domestic Violence

Illinois

Mother and Domestic Violence Survivor Flee

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 20:44:11 +0000

Mother and Domestic Violence Survivor Flee admin Wed, 01/20/2016 - 15:44

Maria was referred to the Northwest Colorado Legal Services Project (NCLSP) by the women’s shelter where she was staying with her children. Her husband brought her to America and did not allow her to leave their home during the ten years of their marriage. Maria fled to the shelter and sought a protection order. After being served with the protection order, her husband filed for divorce and sought to move both cases to the county where he lived. NCLSP recruited a volunteer attorney, Erik Halverson, who practiced in the county where the shelter was located. Mr. Halverson successfully petitioned the court to allow both cases to be heard in the jurisdiction where Maria was living in the shelter. With the help of NCLSP Maria was granted divorce, alimony and regular child support payments.

Children’s Welfare Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

Colorado

Domestic Violence

Talk Justice: Episode Twenty Four

Access to Justice Forum | October 19, 2021

Members of Congress Join ���˶��� for Virtual Briefing on Domestic Violence During the Coronavirus Pandemic

How Legal Aid Helps Domestic Violence Survivors

Protecting Families From Violence

Congressional Briefing to Highlight Legal Aid’s Role in Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors

Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors So They Can Rebuild Their Lives | Missouri

Helping Domestic Violence Survivors Access Legal Protection | Kentucky

Rebecca*, a young mother, was trapped in an abusive marriage.

Domestic Violence Survivor Wins Custody | Illinois

Mother and Domestic Violence Survivor Flee

Members of Congress Join ��˶�� for Virtual Briefing on Domestic Violence During the Coronavirus Pandemic