Podcast on Crimes Against Women

In this episode we explore the intricate dynamics of family courts with Dr. Bandy Lee. Dr. Lee, an expert in violence hailing from Yale School of Medicine and Yale Law School, as well as the current president of the World Mental Health Coalition, delves into the tactics used by domestic violence offenders within the legal system and the profound consequences these actions have on family courts.Family courts, which are meant to be havens of justice and protection, can unfortunately turn into challenging battlegrounds for victims of domestic abuse. In many cases, abusive partners, predominantly fathers, exploit these systems to manipulate and distance their victims, typically mothers, from their children. This manipulation perpetuates a cycle of power and control that can have severe mental, emotional, and financial consequences. Dr. Lee's insights provide a sobering perspective on the unhealthy patterns that can emerge within these courtrooms.Our discussion doesn't end at the courtroom doors. We will also shed light on the often-overlooked issue of reunification camps and the questionable practices that occur within them. Through an in-depth exploration of the Catherine Kassenhoff case, we aim to uncover the underlying problems within these institutions. As we wrap up our conversation, we will explore potential solutions to rectify these injustices and offer a preview of Dr. Lee's forthcoming book on the family court crisis.The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.

Have you ever paused to consider how your perception of Indigenous people is shaped by language and societal narratives? Our guest, Christina Love, challenges us to reevaluate these preconceptions as she candidly shares her journey. An Indigenous speaker, educator, survivor, and activist, Christina provides us with a raw account of her experiences with violence, addiction, and personal healing.Love's personal narrative paints a vivid picture of the high rates of violence and addiction within Native American communities. She breaks down alarming statistics and the tragic history that has led to high rates of substance use disorders and trauma in tribal communities. Her insights extend to societal failures to protect victims, often leading to further victimization. We also delve into the Not Invisible Act and the missing and murdered Indigenous women's movement, revealing an urgent need for change.As if her story isn't compelling enough, Love guides us to explore the body’s role in storing trauma, examining therapy, movement and reflection as catalysts for healing. There's emphasis on the significance of humor and parenting practices in surviving and revitalizing language. We also touch on the importance of organizations focusing on healing and the essential shift in thinking about addiction and recovery. 

Join us for a transformative discussion with survivor Lt. Mark Wynn (retired) and film producers Kirsten Kelly and Andrew Schwertfeger as we talk about the new film, "This is Where I Learned Not to Sleep." Released in 2023, this documentary film explores Mark's journey after experiencing domestic violence as a child, as well as his commitment to transforming the law enforcement response to domestic violence. In our behind-the-scenes look at the documentary, we learn about the compelling reasons behind its creation and the process of returning to Mark's hometown in Texas. Mark's story, depicted in the film, serves as an inspiration to survivors of abuse, encouraging men to take a stand against domestic and sexual violence and addressing the necessity for victim-centered law enforcement leadership. With references to impacts from movements like Black Lives Matter and Me Too, the conversation delves into issues of white male privilege and police reform as we emphasize the collective responsibility to end domestic violence, an issue that resonates in households across the world. Watch the film's trailer at https://www.thisiswherefilm.com/

Have you ever found yourself questioning the truth behind the words of a person accused of a crime? What if there was a tool that could potentially detect deception patterns and reflect the truth? In today's episode, we're thrilled to have the creator of such an instrument, Dr. Darrell Turner, who will enlighten us about the Analysis of Patterns of Denial (APOD), designed specifically to detect deception among those accused of sexual offenses.Dr. Turner isn't just teaching us about APOD in this episode, he's showing us its application in real and high-profile cases. We'll be delving into the infamous BBC interview of Prince Andrew and his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The conversation doesn't stop there; we also examine how APOD can be applied in different cultural contexts and languages, even in situations where English isn't the first language of the interviewee. Then, we journey into the past, revisiting some of the most notorious criminal cases in history, such as Casey Anthony and Ted Bundy. We discuss how APOD could help detect patterns of denial and deflection in these cases, potentially shedding new light on their attempts to mask the truth. But APOD isn't just about exposing the guilty - we'll also explore how it can be used to vindicate those falsely accused of serious crimes. So, join us and Dr. Turner as we unravel an intriguing web of denial and deception, and search for truth in criminal cases involving sexual offenses.We recommend listening to our previous conversation with Dr. Turner released on June 26, 2023 titled, "Analysis of Patterns of Denial: Evaluating the spectrum of denial to reveal sexual offenders", to learn how APOD was researched and developed.

In May 2023 the White House launched the U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence to address the national concerns related to gender-based violence and provide a roadmap for the vision that "theUnited States will be a place where all people live free from gender-based violence in all aspects of their lives." On July 13, 2023, the Podcast on Crimes Against Women met with Rosie Hidalgo for an in-depth dialogue about this plan which she describes as "a pathway to safety." In this episode, Ms. Hidalgo provides a comprehensive overview of the plan including the 7 pillars of support and strategies for action developed through a gender-based violence lens.Rosie Hidalgo serves as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor on Gender-Based Violence at the White House Gender Policy Council. Rosie has worked in the movement to end gender-based violence for over thirty years as a public interest attorney and as a national policy advocate. Most recently she was the Senior Director of Public Policy for Esperanza United, a national resource center with a focus on providing training, research, and policy advocacy to prevent and end domestic violence and sexual assault and served on the Steering Committee of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. Rosie previously served as the Deputy Director for Policy at the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) at the U.S. Department of Justice during the Obama-Biden Administration and served on a detail to the Office of the Vice President, working with the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women.  Rosie also served on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence.  She is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York University School of Law. The U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence can be found on the White House website, wh.gov.

Clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Darrel Turner spent 12 years developing a tool with the primary function to evaluate the truthfulness of denial in interviews with alleged sexual offenders. The result of his research is APOD, a scientifically sound instrument that aids investigators and clinicians in the Analysis of Patterns of Denial. Dr. Turner joins the conversation to discuss this new approach, how it works, and the key terms and patterns investigators can look for when determining the likelihood of a suspect's involvement in crimes of a sexual nature.

Genetic genealogy has the potential to solve up to 90% of crimes including cold cases that have gone unsolved for decades. We first witnessed the power of this technology in the case of the Golden State Killer (GSK) in 2020. But it's more than just a tool for identifying perpetrators: genetic genealogy transforms how - and how quickly - crimes can be solved, and it accelerates both justice and potential healing for survivors of those crimes. In this episode we explore the impact of genetic genealogy with survivors of GSK Gay Hardwick and Kris Pedretti, as well as retired Sacramento County D.A. Anne Marie Schubert who led the investigation of the GSK case, to understand how solving this cold case after more than 40 years of silence has transformed their lives and how it will potentially change the future for all.This episode includes a discussion about sexual violence and homicide.Gay Hardwick Advocate, Sexual Assault Survivor Gay Hardwick is a former Marketing Director for a Real Estate Development firm, a retired California Elementary School Teacher, and a survivor of the Golden State Killer. Ms. Hardwick has been an outspoken supporter of sexual assault survivors, both on social media, in televised interviews, and in the HBO documentary, I’ll be Gone in the Dark. She has participated in the Sacramento Victims’ Rights Coalition, and police department training in Elk Grove, California. Ms. Hardwick’s goals are to alleviate the silence and shame that victims of sexual assault take on as they move through the legal system or suffer in isolation as their cases remain unresolved. In conjunction with Kris Pedretti, her fellow survivor, Ms. Hardwick helps moderate the Facebook site, Sexual Assault Survivors, It’s Time to Tell Your Story. Kris Pedretti Survivor Advocate & Educator , Sexual Assault Survivors Kris Pedretti was 15 years old on December 18, 1976, when she became Victim #10 and was raped multiple times by the Golden State Killer. After refusing several requests to discuss her attack publicly, and undergoing much therapy, Ms. Pedretti found her voice with the positive support from friends and the community. She participated in television interviews and documentaries on the GSK stating that it was freeing for her to say out loud, “This happened to me.” Today, Ms. Pedretti has started a support group for sexual assault survivors, a private Facebook group titled “Sexual Assault Survivors: It is Time to Tell Your Story.” She also began hosting monthly gatherings for sexual assault survivors. Ms. Pedretti also speaks with groups and individuals to take away the stigma of sexual assault on victims. She believes deeply if we stand together, we can take back the control of our bodies and our lives. Anne Marie Schubert Strategic Advisor, Government Affairs, Verogen Anne Marie Schubert has over 32 years of law enforcement experience and is a nationally recognized expert in forensic DNA. She was elected District Attorney for Sacramento County, California in 2014 and served in this capacity until December 2022. Notably, in 2018, her office led the investigation and prosecution of Joseph DeAngelo, the “Golden State Killer using Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG). Since the arrest of DeAngelo, her team has used FIGG to identify the NorCal Rapist, unidentified human remains and partnered with the California Innocence Project to exonerate Ricky Davis after 15 years of wrongful conviction. Today, she is nationally recognized in her knowledge of forensic DNA and has trained law enforcement across the world on the use of Forensic investigative Genetic Genealogy (FiGG) to solve violent crime, exonerate the innocent and identify human remains. 

We continue our conversation about the Tulane University School of Law Women's Prison Project to explore the work of jailhouse lawyers within women's prisons in the state of Louisiana. Hannah Groedel, the Emil Gumpert Access to Justice Legal Fellow at Tulane Law, leads the effort to educate and support jailhouse lawyers, also known as counsel subs. Ms. Groedel joins the conversation to provide an overview of the work, its challenges and the long road to justice that women experience when wrongfully incarcerated.This episode was recorded on location at the 2023 CCAW and discusses incarceration, gender-based violence, and discrimination.

The Women's Prison Project offers transformative no-cost legal representation for survivors of domestic violence who have been wrongfully incarcerated in the state of Louisiana. Co-director Becki Kondar, and supervising attorneys Carlotta Lepingwell and Stas Moroz join the conversation to discuss how domestic violence can impact a woman's chances for incarceration and how the project is working to change that.The Women's Prison Project was awarded the Ignite Award at the 2023 CCAW. The project is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Tulane’s Domestic Violence and Criminal Justice Clinics. The organization was honored for its work to support survivors charged or imprisoned after killing an abuser in self-defense or for having committed crimes under an abuser’s coercion or duress.This episode was recorded on location at the 2023 CCAW and discusses incarceration, gender-based violence, and discrimination. 

Two-thirds of mass shootings in the U.S. are committed by perpetrators with a history of domestic violence.  A recent report from the Office of Justice Programs’ National Criminal Justice Reference Service explores the connection between domestic violence and mass shootings offering both findings as well as opportunities for improving prevention and response. Jan Langbein and Jordyn Lawson of Genesis explore the highlights of the report, characteristics of these offenders, issues of entitlement and male privilege, and how Genesis responds to survivors of these experiences. This episode discusses mass shootings, gun violence, domestic violence, and suicide. 

Research demonstrates that people who experience abuse have significantly higher risks for both mental health challenges and substance use disorders. The complex pattern of abuse that is coercive control increases these dangers for survivors especially when an abuser uses a mental health diagnosis or substance use against the victim. Taken a step further, when an abusive partner alleges substance use or mental health concerns against a survivor, the legal justice system will often revictimize the survivor leading to loss of child custody or other penalties and consequences. From a 2014 study conducted by the National Center on Domestic Violence we learn in-depth the dangers of these types of coercions such as treatment sabotage and emotional abuse. We take a deep dive with Gabriela Zapata-Alma of the National Center on Domestic Violence about how these types of coercion are inflicted, their consequences, the red flags that warn mental health and substance use coercions are happening, and how the use of a trauma lens by medical providers and the court system could better cultivate safety and effective solutions for domestic violence survivors.Gabriela Zapata-Alma, is a licensed clinical social worker, the Associate Director of the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, and a faculty member at the University of Chicago, where they direct the Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Training Program within the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice.  Ms. Zapata-Alma brings over 15 years of experience supporting people impacted by structural and interpersonal violence through innovative and evidence-based clinical, housing, resource advocacy, peer-led, harm reduction, and HIV-integrated care programs. As a person with lived experience of violence and trauma, Ms. Zapata-Alma centers survivor-driven solutions, non-pathologizing approaches, and intergenerational healing in the work. Currently, Ms. Zapata-Alma authors best practices, leads national capacity-building efforts, and provides trauma-informed policy consultation to advance health equity and social justice.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of people through force, fraud, or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit. Domestically, per the United States Dept. of Justice, the definition is similar, stating that trafficking of persons involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. Locally, the Texas Attorney General’s Office also includes in its definition that human trafficking is modern-day slavery. Wherever you are in the world, individuals are suffering at the hands of offenders whose tips and tricks are so insidious that it seems impossible to combat. However, ranging from the simple, yet skillful, to the sophisticated, effective law enforcement investigations are happening that are ultimately holding offenders accountable. This episode will explore various facets of those investigations with seasoned investigator Joseph Scaramucci, and discuss both the pitfalls and best practices that can determine an investigation’s level of success. Joseph Scaramucci began his career in law enforcement in 2004, and was promoted to Detective in 2008 with the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, investigating Crimes Against Persons. Since creating a Human Trafficking Unit in 2014, Detective Scaramucci has conducted sting operations resulting in the arrest of more than 600 sex buyers, and 160 individuals for human trafficking and related offenses, which has led to the identification of over 300trafficking victims. Detective Scaramucci has worked both state and federal investigations as a Task Force Officer with H.S.I., leading to investigations and arrests throughout the U.S. He further advises and participates in sting operations throughout Texas, the U.S., and abroad. Det. Scaramucci is certified in Courts of Law as a Subject Matter Expert in Human Trafficking and has further advised and testified in the State House and Senate, assisting with the creation and passage of laws leading to harsher penalties for human trafficking.

Children are often the overlooked and underserved victims of domestic violence, especially post-separation from an abusive partner. It is during post-separation that technology is often weaponized to target children further abusing and controlling them and their mothers. This episode explores recent studies that expose the extensive levels of abuse children experience in homes where domestic violence occurs with an emphasis on technology-facilitated methods of abuse. Our guest, criminologist and domestic violence researcher Molly Dragiewicz, reveals the stunning findings of the eSafety Research report “Children and technology-facilitated abuse in domestic and family violence situations” and other studies, as well as strategies to safeguard privacy and enhance personal safety.Molly Dragiewicz is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University in Australia. Ms. Dragiewicz is an internationally award-winning criminologist who studies violence, gender, technology, and cybercrime. She completed the world-first study of women’s experiences of technology-facilitated coercive control and the world-first study on the ways children are involved in technology abuse. Ms. Dragiewicz is highly involved in interdisciplinary, collaborative research with community organizations working to end violence against women. She is a frequently invited speaker and trainer for judicial officers, lawyers, first responders, domestic violence advocates, and universities. She founded Australia’s first interdisciplinary graduate certificate in domestic violence and is the founder and convenor of the Brisbane Domestic Violence Research Student Network (BDVRSN). Ms. Dragiewicz also serves on the Board of Queensland’s Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and the Gold Coast Family Law Pathways Network.  

Trauma-informed judges who understand domestic violence from a survivor's perspective are becoming more common but are not yet commonplace. In this episode, we talk with Judge Michael Denton, a veteran judge with decades of experience in both trauma-informed judicial training and practical experience navigating domestic violence cases about the benefits of the trauma-informed approach and the development of related specialty courts.Michael Denton has served Travis County for more than 30 years, first as a young lawyer prosecuting offenders in County courts; later as the Director of the Trial Division for the Travis County Attorney’s Office, and; for the past 20 years, as Judge for Travis County’s domestic violence court (County Court-at-Law #4).  Bringing passion and commitment to this service, Judge Denton's advocacy began during his time as a volunteer for Austin’s (then) Rape Crisis Center, answering crisis calls and visiting the hospital to help survivors and family members.  In the 1990s, Judge Denton was Co-Chair of the Austin-Travis County Domestic Violence Task Force. Working across agency lines, including law enforcement and non-profit organizations, the Task Force reformed how Travis County approached domestic violence, including the creation of a specialty court for domestic violence.  Judge Denton has also trained other judges through the Texas Council on Family Violence and authored a domestic violence chapter of the Texas Bench Book.

Ten percent - or one in ten - of men are buyers of commercial sex. In doing so they are perpetuating an industry that not only continues the objectification of women but also endangers the lives of women and girls. This episode explores the tactics of sex buyers and the traffickers they work with to buy women and girls for sex, how sex buyers are prosecuted, and what it will take to reduce or eliminate the commercial sex industry. Alisa Bernard and Benjamin Gauen join the conversation to offer perspectives from the front lines of supporting survivors and prosecuting traffickers and sex buyers.Alisa Bernard is the Equality Model Campaign Manager at World Without Exploitation and has a deep background in and extensive ties to the anti-trafficking movement having collaborated with several major stakeholder groups including the EPIK Project, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, World Without Exploitation. Ms. Bernard previously served as Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at Thistle Farms and the Executive Director of Education and Partnerships for the Organization for Prostitution Survivors. She also has developed and facilitated trainings at conferences across the US and Canada as well as authored articles featured in the Seattle Times, Crosscut, and Dignity Journal.Benjamin Gauen is a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Mr. Gauen leads his office’s work in combatting sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation offenses through investigations and prosecutions, policy development, and community engagement. He has nearly 12 years of extensive felony trial experience specializing in cases involving sex trafficking, sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. He is a member of several anti-trafficking task forces in Washington State and frequently partners with stakeholders to strengthen laws and system responses that help victims and survivors. Additionally, Mr. Gauen conducts training on sex trafficking for prosecutors and law enforcement around the United States. He also serves on the board of directors for the non-profit organization Stolen Youth, which works to end child sex trafficking in Washington state.

Founded with the tenet, "Muslim women for all women" the Texas Muslim Women's Foundation has evolved into a robust continuum of care for survivors of domestic abuse. While the culturally sensitive services offered by the foundation align with the principles of Islam, embracing peace in the home and condemning violence, they are available to women from all cultures. Heena Khan, LPC-S, RPT, the foundation's Director of Clinical & Counseling Services and the founder of Uplift Counseling Services joins the conversation to detail best practices in prevention and intervention for survivors, specifically those who are Muslim. In doing so, Ms. Khan addresses the importance of approaching survivors with cultural humility, curiosity and compassion to yield positive outcomes for women, how to overcome barriers to service and provide individualized care, how to incorporate self-care for teams who work directly with victims of abuse and violence, and the wide array of services available to women escaping domestic abuse that ranges from housing to somatic movement therapy to refugee services. Packed with evidence-based knowledge and tactical solutions, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who serves survivors, needs more information about services available to Muslim women, and those considering a career in the anti-violence movement. 

Black women in the United States are disproportionately affected by violence and yet face significant barriers to services and support. While progress has been made over recent decades to better respond to their experiences, as Karma Cottman, CEO and Executive Director of Ujima, the National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community tells us, "we have a long way to go." In this episode, we discuss the state of violence against black women in America, how firearm possession by violent offenders is leading to higher rates of repeat violence as well as femicide, the failures of systems to protect and serve black women, and the strategies that will best support their safety.Karma Cottman is the CEO and Executive Director of Ujima, the National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community. Ms. Cottman has worked in the gender-based violence field for over 20 years, internationally and nationally in the United States at the local, state, and national level to ensure that policies and legislation are responsive to the needs of GBV survivors, particularly from Communities of Color. Through Ujima Inc., Ms. Cottman has established federal funding streams and national technical assistance centers focused on increasing access for culturally specific service providers to federal and state funding support.

Is it possible to end gender-based violence and human trafficking in just one generation? Programs like manKINDness, a men's advocacy program at New Friends New Life in Dallas, Texas, are working to do that and much more. By addressing gender-based violence and human trafficking directly with young men, the manKINDness program is taking steps to usher in a cultural shift that reverses toxic masculinity and embraces respect. In this episode, Matt Osborne explains the enormity of the problems of human trafficking, objectification of women, pornography addiction, et al, and how educating young men to reject traditional roles of manhood like anger and violence and demand more of themselves and their peers can ensure a safer future for all.Matt Osborne has been fighting the crime of human trafficking in some form since 2006 and currently leads the New Friends New Life Men’s Advocacy Group in Dallas Texas where he coordinates the activities of one hundred men in North Texas as they mobilize to take action against sex trafficking and exploitation of women and girls by raising awareness through advocacy, education and volunteerism.   Mr. Osborne served a 12-year career with the CIA and U.S. Department of State, where he worked issues related to terrorism against the homeland, illegal narcotics, organized crime and human trafficking. He regularly provided secrets and analysis to U.S. presidents, senior cabinet officials, and the National Security Council. As part of his mission to fight trafficking, Mr. Osborne has led a total of 16 undercover rescue operations that resulted in the liberation of 178 human trafficking victims and in the arrest of 55 traffickers.

In recent years the terms narcissist, gaslighting, and coercive control have become household words. And often times those words are being applied as labels to behaviors of abusive partners, albeit incorrectly. In response to the labeling and possible misunderstanding of what or who is a "narcissist" and when the use of terms related to narcissistic personality disorder are actually appropriate, we revisit our 2021 conversation on this topic with Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a licensed clinical psychologist, professor of psychology, and founder of LUNA (Learning/Understanding Narcissistic Abuse) Education, Training & Consulting, LLC. In this episode, Dr. Ramani expounds on the epidemic of narcissism, walks listeners through the mind of a narcissist, shares how to spot the red flags of narcissistic behavior, how narcissism can manifest in relationships often leading to abuse and domestic violence and explains the correct usage of terms related to narcissistic personality disorder. 

The criminal justice system is the avenue that victims and survivors are legally expected to take when seeking justice for crimes committed against them. However, this system is primarily designed to ensure that the rights of both victims and defendants are upheld. Unfortunately, the rights for victims and survivors - both human and legal - are disproportionately compromised by an overabundance of caseloads, insufficient financial resources, and limited manpower along with the pervasiveness of unqualified personnel who many times are neither trauma-informed nor victim-centered in their approaches, processes, or remedies. These deficits leave victims and survivors exposed to injustices, inferiority, and sometimes incarceration. Former prosecutor Kelsey McKay joins the conversation to highlight the ways in which victims are often re-victimized by the very system that should be in place to protect them, and shares strategies on how survivors and their families can be better treated and supported as they seek the justice they deserve.Kelsey McKay is a former prosecutor and a highly recognized expert on criminal asphyxiation, domestic violence, sexual abuse and other forms of power-based crimes. As a prosecutor, she spent 12 years handling complex cases and designing creative solutions. She has trained practitioners across all systems and represented individuals as they navigate the criminal system. With a skill for implementing change and working across disciplines, she appeals to audiences from the Pentagon to festivals such as SXSW, bringing cultural awareness to the need for systems change. Built with solutions engrained in efficiency, empathy and equality her approach recognizes the limits of practitioners and the vulnerability of survivors. Her influence has built a team facilitating solutions that move professionals and communities from awareness to action. Her new non-profit, RESPOND Against Violence, is a multidisciplinary think tank seeking to generate sustainable change in our society’s collective response to violence and trauma.