Domestic Violence Database Proposed - Background Check Your Date

[The Straight Story]

Domestic Violence Database Proposed
Written by Alicia Malaby, Anchor-Reporter

Background Check Your Date, Alicia Malaby's Report; 1/15/08

A proposed database listing the names of abusers convicted of domestic violence could help Californians find out if a potential partner has a dangerous background.

The "Domestic Violence Prevention and Right-To-Know Act of 2008" would list the names of Californians convicted of felony domestic violence or multiple misdemeanor domestic violence charges.

The idea is to give women and men information about potential partners who may turn out to be abusers.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, is the author of Assembly Bill 1771, which would create the statewide online database. "Once people are convicted of domestic violence, unless they get serious treatment and help, they're going to continue to display those characteristics of anger and violence, and so we need to do what we can to stop the violence and in the meantime, protect individuals," said Ma.

Single women and men interviewed by News10 supported the proposal and said they would use the database to find out more about people they are dating. "I would use it definitely. I think all women, not just women, but also men could use it as well for their benefit," said Winnie Hendricks of Stockton.

http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=37386

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Such databases have worked so well with regards to sexual criminals

I mean, no one is ever falsely accused and convicted on "he said, she said" evidence, right? There is no possibility that a jilted lover or bitter divorcee will frame someone, right? A child angry at a disciplinary action or because he didn't get to use the car for a date would never go to the police and file charges of constant beatings, right? And ordinary citizens could not possibly use this information as a hit list for vigilante justice, right?

:eyes:

Crimeny.

[The Straight Story]

3. Eventually they will have a data base on everything you buy as well for people to examine

Just to see if your compatible/eco-friendly/a slob/etc. All in the name of safety and health care (you don't want to date someone who buys fatty foods, or employ a smoker, and so on).

Give us choices and safety and get rid of our freedoms, and sadly I think many liberals are leading the way.

[lapislzi]

2. I think we should educate women and girls

on what to look for, how to spot an abuser before the relationship is too far along. There are almost always tip-offs if you know what to look for.

A "database" is just a tool, and a blunt instrument at that. A great deal of abuse and violence goes unreported and unprosecuted. A database also would fail to address some of the more insidious (but no less corrosive) forms of abuse: verbal, economic, sexual coercion, etc. None of these is a "crime," but they occur every day.

I always say (and let me preface this by saying that I am a domestic violence survivor and I have counseled many other survivors) that nobody goes out on a first date and beats up their date. But that doesn't mean there aren't any warning signs. There are plenty.

So, yeah, let's put a sledge hammer in the toolbox, but let's not forget the rest of the tools, OK?

[mondo joe]

4. And, IMO, raise children to appreciate that their body is theirs.

Girls are too often taught to be deferential to others, and to accept others desires for THEIR bodies. Hell, I'd say that principle is woven into some parts of the culture.

[Roland99]

5. Excellent. And anyone casting aspersions consider this...

http://www.marybyronfoundation.org/marysstory.html

I knew her and her family. Worked for a while for the company that started VINE, which was created based upon what happened to Mary. Now that company has a program in place for notifying victims of domestic violence when an EPO has been served, as the 1st 24hrs after serving an EPO are the most dangerous. Such as a school teacher who was shot and killed outside her home after an EPO was served on her estranged husband.

[lapislzi]

6. Great idea.

And I daresay a victim has a right to know when her attacker is at large. I know I'd want to know. But the O/P concerns something different: a database you can check before you enter a relationship with someone, to learn about his/her history, or if there is a history of violence. It's like the sex offender registry.

Again, all of these tools can be of use, but they are no substitute for caution, common sense, and education.

[Roland99]

7. Well, the way I look at it...

Commit a crime such as domestic abuse and esp. abuse against kids then don't expect your personal life to be exempt from review.

[LeftyMom]

15. But a lot of people plead based on very flimsy evidence,

knowing they'll get essentially no defense if they have to rely on a PD.

A friend of mine's bf, who is a real prince of a guy and a great dad, was convicted of domestic abuse in a case where his ex came over to their apartment looking to start a fight, stood outside screaming, drunk, and broke a window from the outside.

The cops came over, saw a broken window, hauled in the nearest POC, which would be him (probably doesn't help that he has old gang tats, but that's another story.) Now half the neighborhood saw this happen, we'd all seen his nutty ex come over and throw scenes before, but they wouldn't listen to anybody and ran him in. And since he's a broke young black guy, he knew his chance of getting off with a PD were slightly lower than zero, so he copped a plea. Did two years (that he had to pay for- did I mention this family is BROKE?) of anger management (I've never even known this guy to raise his voice, and he's got four kids, three of them boys, to that's practically saintly calm) but now he'd be on some database for life, too?

Until people get real defense options, no matter what their skin color or income, this database shit is for the birds.

[Elspeth]

8. The total end of privacy for everyone.

fd

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

When are we going to have the data base where we can look up what our neighbors do in the privacy of their own homes? That's the real issue.

[mondo joe]

10. Right. Because felony convictions are no different than wha you do in the privacy

of your own home.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. But that's what this is really about, right?

Gossip.

[mondo joe]

12. Of course. It's just gossip. It's not as if convicted violent offenders pose any threat

to the health or safety of others.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. Right.

Like looking up old high school acquaintences' felony record is going to be a big boon to public safety.

[XemaSab]

13. I'm not defending wife beaters or sex offenders

but human morality and conduct is not always black and white.

I know a dude who lived down the street from me in Arcata. He was originally from Santa Cruz, and he and his girlfriend moved up to Arcata for school.

About 5 months after they moved up there, he came home and found her in bed with another dude. Harsh words were exchanged and he wound up shoving her... not hard, but just a push. He didn't push her to the ground or hurt her at all.

Homie wound up going to jail for the evening.

I thought the situation was really, really messed up, and the girlfriend was the one messing it up, but the law apparently didn't see it that way. :shrug:

Again, I'm not defending domestic violence, but I can see how this registry could ruin lives that don't deserve to be ruined.

[Roland99]

17. Everyone up here yells "rule of law" re: political opposition but now... ???

BTW,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_%28crime%29

[varkam]

16. Might as well be called Nagda's Law.

I'm universally suspicious of broad-sweeping laws written in response to tragedies, and this is no different. The problem I see here is that all this will tell you is if someone has had problems in the past, not if they still have problems. The article itself said that "unless these people get help...". Well, what if someone did get some therapy or get put on some meds? Do they still have to be listed?

IMO, this is a lot like the sex offender registry in that it is something that sounds like a good idea but there is a great potential for it to jump the tracks.

[sandnsea]

18. Let's just put it all in

Every violation, court cases, late taxes, job losses, communicable diseases, put the whole thing in a database because people are too stupid to learn how to judge for themselves, and nobody can ever change anyway.