31 states allow parental rights/visitation to rapists

[roguevalley]

It has not been as prominent a point in the rape discussion that 31 states don't prevent rapists from visitation/custody of any kids born in their attack. Imagine being 'tethered' to your rapist for the rest of your life to quote someone from this article. The next time some sumbitch decides to decide for other people about abortion from rape, tell them about this. Ask them if they want their daughters, etc to be 'tethered' to their rapist forever. As them if this is some of that 'lemonade' that you make from the rape lemons.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/08/31-states-grant-rapists-custody-and-visitation-rights/56118/

In the wake of Todd Akin's comments about pregnancy rarely resulting from "legitimate rape," lawyer Shauna Prewitt highlights a reality for women in that situation in a column on CNN: In a majority of states, attackers are afforded the same rights as other fathers.

Prewitt, herself a rape survivor who gave birth to a daughter as a result of her attack, explains that 31 states have no laws that bar rapists from seeking custody or visitation rights. For Prewitt that astounding fact is personal. Her rapist attempted to get custody of her daughter, "but thankfully I got lucky and his visitation rights were terminated," she said, according to a profile of her by The Am Law Daily's Brain Baxter. She added: "I'm not sure I would have made the decision I did had I known I might be tethered to my rapist for the rest of my life."


There is something deeply wrong in the brains and souls of some of the men in this world. Truly.

[Scootaloo]

1. Uh... Not quite

Those states don't "allow" it, so much as there just aren't laws on the books barring it. It's a good example of an "unintended loophole," and shouldn't be presented as if legislators somewhere hunched over their papers and wrote laws forcing the issue.

It's just that most visitation laws regard the "biological parents," and the reality that this could include a rapist just didn't come up in anyone's mind when the laws were being written.

Though now that it's been pointed out, I imagine there's a Republican somewhere trying to do exactly that.

[nirala1gb]

2. Spam deleted by Violet_Crumble (MIR Team)

[LiberalFighter]

14. It shouldn't be left up to a Republican for this.

There should be plenty of Democrats that would submit legislation to prohibit visitation involving rape if the woman does not consent. And still require child support.

[xxxhelal]

3. Spam deleted by Warren DeMontague (MIR Team)

[nopedontlikeitatall]

4. SO how is this a problem?

According to the Bible as long as the rapist pays the father of the women he raped he is no longer in bad standing with god.
This is biblical and godly, all you Christians should be rejoicing.

[socialindependocrat]

5. This belief treats women as property

The only thing the rapist should do is pay child support.

[unapatriciated]

6. If you request child support, you than open the can of worms regarding visitation

and possibly joint custody. I know because eighteen years ago my daughter went through this.The courts told her if she pursued child support she would face the possibility of visitation and joint custody. We were lucky that her attacker decided he did not want to be involved with his son as long as we did not pursue child support. The point is it was his choice not hers on whether or not he would have visitation rights. The DA did not prosecute stating there was not enough evidence and it was his word against hers. she did sue in civil court for the assault and won but has never been able to collect the judgment since the creep had nothing. The asshole claimed it was mutual consent. Yeah like she would consent to sex with this guy, who she didn't know, on his third day at work. Not to mention she had refused him several times already due to the fact she is gay. His responce was she just hadn't met the right man. He was a temporary security guard hired during the holidays by her employer. When he was finished he threw a condom at her, stating keep this for the next time. This took place during the day at work.

[socialindependocrat]

8. Thank you for sharing

You would think that the laws would protect the victim

Linking visitation with the payment of child support makes
it less likely that the victim will go for the support. The guy
admits to the child being his. He should have to pay for
support and not get visitation as part of the punishment.

We need to change some laws.

[unapatriciated]

13. sad isn't it.

The asshole didn't admit to being the father in fact smeared my daughter by testifying in court that she was having an affair with another co-worker. This co-worker was a close friend of hers and happened to be AA. My grandson is a blue eyed Blondie (her attacker was from Czechoslovakia). When she sued in civil court for the assault a paternity test was done. I will say that it was very therapeutic for my daughter to hear the judge (in civil court) tell him that he was indeed guilty of rape and should have been prosecuted

[DiverDave]

9. Why is this waste of oxygen still alive?

He needs to be put down, like a rabid dog.

That a 'man' like that is alive and walking the earth and can do it again, there AINT NO GOD.
I'm surprised he wasnt taken care of sooner.
Oh, and she should have sued the company for hiring that animal.

[unapatriciated]

12. She did sue the company.

The workers comp suit went on for five years. She won a three million dollar award but saw only ten grand and medical insurance for my grandson for ten years. The reason for this was that her attacker was placed by an agency (that knew he had been fired for sexual harrassement at his last job) so the court did a percentage for the blame. The agency that placed him and was responsible for the majority of damages, filed banckruptcy and has yet to pay a dime. I still think this should have been prosecuted as a hate crime, her attacker did this simply because she was openly gay.

Her brothers wanted to do some major harm to the asshole, but than they would have been the ones serving time.

[sarcasmo]

7. They only cherry pick quotes from the bible.

[roguevalley]

10. amazing. all you christians. sad

[roguevalley]

11. this post belongs way up there