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Today In [The GOP's War on Women] - Now with Censorship!

SyphonBlueSyphonBlue The studying beaverThat beaver sure loves studying!Registered User regular
edited October 2011 in Debate and/or Discourse
TOPEKA — The Topeka City Council on Tuesday voted to repeal the city’s law against misdemeanor domestic battery, the latest in a budget battle that has freed about 30 abuse suspects from charges.

One of the offenders was even arrested and released twice since the brouhaha broke out Sept. 8.

It started when Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor announced that a 10 percent budget cut would force him to end his office’s prosecution of misdemeanor cases, almost half of which last year were domestic battery cases.

With that, Taylor stopped prosecuting the cases and left them to the city. But city officials balked at the cost.

Tuesday’s 7-3 vote to eliminate the local domestic violence law was designed to force Taylor to prosecute the cases because they would remain a crime under state law.

The matter has gotten Topeka national attention — and scorn.

“I absolutely do not understand it,” Rita Smith, executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said after the vote. “It’s really outrageous that they’re playing with family safety to see who blinks first. People could die while they’re waiting to straighten this out.”

Victim advocates fear more such drastic moves as cities and counties face tight budgets at a time when advocates say domestic violence is increasing with the stress of economic hard times.

“I just hope it doesn’t spread,” said Sharon Katz, executive director of Safehome in Johnson County. “There needs to be a higher priority for people who are going to start getting killed.”

At the council meeting, several speakers, including some council members, attacked repealing the city law if only for the message that sends.

Claudine Dombrowski of Topeka threw dice at the podium. That’s what the council is doing with people’s lives, she told them.

She asked: What if the city repealed their law and Taylor still does not prosecute the crime?

“What a way to honor victims and survivors on the 24th anniversary of domestic violence survivors month,” she said.
Two bills up for consideration by Congress neatly coincide with October’s status as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, one that advocates are cheering and another that would impede justice for victims.

The American Independent reported that an immigration enforcement act called the Hinder the Administration Legalization Temptation Act (HALT), would impose penalties on immigrants who claimed abuse. Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), one provision of the law would force immigration officials to deport illegal immigrants who claimed they were victims of domestic violence. After reporting the crime, the person would be detained because of their illegal status. They could still receive legal help, but being in detention further complicates and hinders their case against their abuser.
The House is scheduled to vote this week on a new bill that would allow federally-funded hospitals that oppose abortions to refuse to perform the procedure, even in cases where a woman would die without it.

Under current law, every hospital that receives Medicare or Medicaid money is legally required to provide emergency care to any patient in need, regardless of his or her financial situation. If a hospital is unable to provide what the patient needs — including a life-saving abortion — it has to transfer the patient to a hospital that can.

Under H.R. 358, dubbed the “Protect Life Act” and sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), hospitals that don’t want to provide abortions could refuse to do so, even for a pregnant woman with a life-threatening complication that requires a doctor terminate her pregnancy.

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  • SyphonBlueSyphonBlue The studying beaver That beaver sure loves studying!Registered User regular
    Some important facts about Topeka, Kansas
    One Domestic Violence Murder Occurred Every 10.4 Days.
    One Domestic Violence Incident Occurred Every 22 Minutes, 0 Seconds.
    Law Enforcement Made One Domestic Violence Arrest Every 41 Minutes, 48 Seconds.

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  • FeralFeral MEMETICHARIZARD interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    SyphonBlue wrote:
    Austerity, Ho!

    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
  • Gabriel_PittGabriel_Pitt Stepped in it Registered User regular
    This thread is utterly lacking in appropriate context. Let me dig something up for you.

    Original Source.

    Evaluation: Last month, the Shawnee County District Attorney decided that the best way to solve his current budget problem was to stop prosecuting all misdemeanor offenses committed in Topeka, including domestic abuse. The city council of Topeka, Kansas, naturally considers this to be utter bullshit. As such, they're considering this plan of action--removing city ordinance against domestic abuse, leaving county, state, and federal legislation against it intact--with the aim of forcing these cases unambiguously into District Attorney Taylor's jurisdiction, because they believe the county and state to have more resources and power to deal with them than the municipal agencies of Topeka alone. That is, the idea is to force domestic violence cases to be more strictly prosecuted, not less.

  • Captain CarrotCaptain Carrot Alexandria, VARegistered User regular
    Which is pretty fucking stupid, since he explicitly said "I don't have the manpower or money to prosecute these cases."

  • DehumanizedDehumanized Registered User regular
    It's a bit of a sensational OP, but really fuck austerity measures. This is where bullshit across-the-board budget cuts lead.

  • SyphonBlueSyphonBlue The studying beaver That beaver sure loves studying!Registered User regular
    This thread is utterly lacking in appropriate context. Let me dig something up for you.

    Original Source.

    Evaluation: Last month, the Shawnee County District Attorney decided that the best way to solve his current budget problem was to stop prosecuting all misdemeanor offenses committed in Topeka, including domestic abuse. The city council of Topeka, Kansas, naturally considers this to be utter bullshit. As such, they're considering this plan of action--removing city ordinance against domestic abuse, leaving county, state, and federal legislation against it intact--with the aim of forcing these cases unambiguously into District Attorney Taylor's jurisdiction, because they believe the county and state to have more resources and power to deal with them than the municipal agencies of Topeka alone. That is, the idea is to force domestic violence cases to be more strictly prosecuted, not less.

    No, that was in the OP if you actually read it.

    "It started when Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor announced that a 10 percent budget cut would force him to end his office’s prosecution of misdemeanor cases, almost half of which last year were domestic battery cases.

    With that, Taylor stopped prosecuting the cases and left them to the city. But city officials balked at the cost.

    Tuesday’s 7-3 vote to eliminate the local domestic violence law was designed to force Taylor to prosecute the cases because they would remain a crime under state law."

    The problem is they're playing a game of chicken with domestic violence. And they've legalized it within the city, hoping the county or state would pick it up.

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  • HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration Thread Centrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
    This was a budget issue?

  • ThanatosThanatos Registered User regular
    What they're doing is trying to get their budget back. It's a typical tactic used by "justice" officials everywhere.

    Washington's prisons are threatening to release rapists and murderers if their budget is cut.

  • SyphonBlueSyphonBlue The studying beaver That beaver sure loves studying!Registered User regular
    Thanatos wrote:
    What they're doing is trying to get their budget back. It's a typical tactic used by "justice" officials everywhere.

    Washington's prisons are threatening to release rapists and murderers if their budget is cut.

    But did Washington actually legalize rape and murder?

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  • zeenyzeeny Registered User regular
    This is crazy stupid.

  • emnmnmeemnmnme Registered User regular
    The police will still come over to a house and break up a fight, I bet. The abuser won't be in court the next week but it doesn't sound like the cops are going to just not show up at all.

  • SyphonBlueSyphonBlue The studying beaver That beaver sure loves studying!Registered User regular
    edited October 2011
    emnmnme wrote:
    The police will still come over to a house and break up a fight, I bet. The abuser won't be in court the next week but it doesn't sound like the cops are going to just not show up at all.

    Sure, but without a law backing them up, what are they going to do, ask them nicely to not beat each other up?

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  • redxredx I(x)=2(x)+1 whole numbersRegistered User regular
    edited October 2011
    SyphonBlue wrote:
    emnmnme wrote:
    The police will still come over to a house and break up a fight, I bet. The abuser won't be in court the next week but it doesn't sound like the cops are going to just not show up at all.

    Sure, but without a law backing them up, what are they going to do, ask them nicely to not beat each other up?

    Or, you know, hold you until a state or county law enforcement officer can arrest you. Or, arrest you and transfer you to state/county law enforcement custody.

    Like, it's still on the books. A sheriff will totally come around, arrest you and dump you in a cell for the night.

    redx on
    They moistly come out at night, moistly.
  • SyphonBlueSyphonBlue The studying beaver That beaver sure loves studying!Registered User regular
    redx wrote:
    SyphonBlue wrote:
    emnmnme wrote:
    The police will still come over to a house and break up a fight, I bet. The abuser won't be in court the next week but it doesn't sound like the cops are going to just not show up at all.

    Sure, but without a law backing them up, what are they going to do, ask them nicely to not beat each other up?

    Or, you know, hold you until a state or county law enforcement officer can arrest you. Or, arrest you and transfer you to state/county law enforcement custody.

    County already said they're not prosecuting these people, so.......I guess the next part of the plan is to hope and pray the state picks up the tab?

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  • jefe414jefe414 "My Other Drill Hole is a Teleporter" Mechagodzilla is Best GodzillaRegistered User regular
    Disregarding the "domestic" aspect of this for one moment, assault and battery would still be crimes, right? I mean, if I was walking down the street and some other dude ran up to me and hit me with a brick, that would still be illegal? Why not just arrest someone on an assault & battery charge instead of the domestic violence one?

    Xbox Live: Jefe414
  • jothkijothki Registered User regular
    I imagine that domestic violence charges are much harder to get dropped by the victim.

  • JHunzJHunz Registered User regular
    jefe414 wrote:
    Disregarding the "domestic" aspect of this for one moment, assault and battery would still be crimes, right? I mean, if I was walking down the street and some other dude ran up to me and hit me with a brick, that would still be illegal? Why not just arrest someone on an assault & battery charge instead of the domestic violence one?
    I'm assuming that any amount of assault and battery that would be prosecuted as a misdemeanor in a domestic case is probably also a misdemeanor if it's a guy on the street. Which means Taylor isn't going to prosecute it, which means the city is going to be pissed about that too, which probably means they'll make assault and battery legal too if they don't get too much backlash over this.

    bunny.gif Gamertag: JHunz. R.I.P. Mygamercard.net bunny.gif
  • Magus`Magus` The fun has been DOUBLED! Registered User regular
    I know this is kind of a cliche response but I can't help myself.

    Kansas

  • JustinSane07JustinSane07 Really, stupid? Brockton__BANNED USERS regular
    jefe414 wrote:
    Disregarding the "domestic" aspect of this for one moment, assault and battery would still be crimes, right? I mean, if I was walking down the street and some other dude ran up to me and hit me with a brick, that would still be illegal? Why not just arrest someone on an assault & battery charge instead of the domestic violence one?

    I had this same thought yesterday too.

    I have to wonder what the difference is between A&B and DV on the books is, then.

  • Magus`Magus` The fun has been DOUBLED! Registered User regular
    DV tends to hold a higher penalty, for one.

    Also a lot (all?) of police institutions will fire/not hire someone who has been convicted of DV.

  • DarkPrimusDarkPrimus Registered User regular
    SyphonBlue wrote:
    Thanatos wrote:
    What they're doing is trying to get their budget back. It's a typical tactic used by "justice" officials everywhere.

    Washington's prisons are threatening to release rapists and murderers if their budget is cut.

    But did Washington actually legalize rape and murder?

    Topeka did not legalize spousal abuse, because they did nothing to overturn or sidestep the state law against it.

    Let's not misrepresent what's going on here, because the situation is scummy enough as it stands.

  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    Why are these states so resistant to releasing drug offenders. We are going to release murders and rapists, but those non violent offenders can enjoy their 5 years of mandatory minimum.

  • ThanatosThanatos Registered User regular
    zepherin wrote:
    Why are these states so resistant to releasing drug offenders. We are going to release murders and rapists, but those non violent offenders can enjoy their 5 years of mandatory minimum.
    It's possible that the mandatory minimum won't allow them to do that, and it also makes it more likely that their funding won't be cut if they threaten to release murderers and rapists.

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  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    Thanatos wrote:
    It's possible that the mandatory minimum won't allow them to do that, and it also makes it more likely that their funding won't be cut if they threaten to release murderers and rapists.
    Nah people get off early on mandatory minimums for a variety of reasons, good time parole, etc. The mandatory minimum only applies to the sentencing guidelines which the judge can give. Now the later part is probably true, sounds like a terrorist threat to me. Maybe some rendition is in order. :)

  • DehumanizedDehumanized Registered User regular
    I really don't see what's to talk about here. This isn't "omg disaster" this is a jurisdictional fight and it sounds like Topeka is in the right. With any luck this gets money allocated to the right places.

    Topeka is in the right in the sort of way that involves putting dozens of people who probably should be going though a domestic violence trial on the street. It's a shit situation.

  • Eat it You Nasty Pig.Eat it You Nasty Pig. tell homeland security 'we are the bomb'Registered User regular
    This kind of thing is pretty common in cash-strapped cities and counties. It's just that normally, they stop enforcing nonviolent misdemeanors like drug possession before they stop enforcing violent ones. Maybe this county has already done that and is having it's budget cut farther, I'm not sure.

    hold your head high soldier, it ain't over yet
    that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    edited October 2011
    This kind of thing is pretty common in cash-strapped cities and counties. It's just that normally, they stop enforcing nonviolent misdemeanors like drug possession before they stop enforcing violent ones. Maybe this county has already done that and is having it's budget cut farther, I'm not sure.
    Sounds like whoever they have contracted for the prison is trying to scare money out of the state. If I were in charge of that contract I would set a list of priorities for them in terms of which groups to release in the event of budget cuts (have my superiors oversee and edit it) and if they deviated I would get them fined or in severe violation recommend their contract be terminated and assume control of the prisoners, shipping them to other prisons. They will comply because you essentially cost them 100s of millions of dollars if they are stubborn.

    zepherin on
  • So It GoesSo It Goes We keep moving...Registered User regular
    edited October 2011
    jefe414 wrote:
    Disregarding the "domestic" aspect of this for one moment, assault and battery would still be crimes, right? I mean, if I was walking down the street and some other dude ran up to me and hit me with a brick, that would still be illegal? Why not just arrest someone on an assault & battery charge instead of the domestic violence one?

    I had this same thought yesterday too.

    I have to wonder what the difference is between A&B and DV on the books is, then.

    when you assault/batter an intimate partner or family member it's DV

    depends on the state exactly what crimes are on the books but the relation between defendant and vicitm is what makes a crime domestic violence or domestic violence related

    So It Goes on
  • So It GoesSo It Goes We keep moving...Registered User regular
    zepherin wrote:
    Thanatos wrote:
    It's possible that the mandatory minimum won't allow them to do that, and it also makes it more likely that their funding won't be cut if they threaten to release murderers and rapists.
    Nah people get off early on mandatory minimums for a variety of reasons, good time parole, etc. The mandatory minimum only applies to the sentencing guidelines which the judge can give. Now the later part is probably true, sounds like a terrorist threat to me. Maybe some rendition is in order. :)

    in which state?

    some mandatory minimums don't allow good time

  • So It GoesSo It Goes We keep moving...Registered User regular
    I really don't see what's to talk about here. This isn't "omg disaster" this is a jurisdictional fight and it sounds like Topeka is in the right. With any luck this gets money allocated to the right places.

    Topeka is in the right in the sort of way that involves putting dozens of people who probably should be going though a domestic violence trial on the street. It's a shit situation.

    it's no big deal to let an abuser out after a victim has cooperated with police on the night of the arrest

    worried about victim safety? nah

  • SyphonBlueSyphonBlue The studying beaver That beaver sure loves studying!Registered User regular
    More news in the War on Women
    Two bills up for consideration by Congress neatly coincide with October’s status as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, one that advocates are cheering and another that would impede justice for victims.

    The American Independent reported that an immigration enforcement act called the Hinder the Administration Legalization Temptation Act (HALT), would impose penalties on immigrants who claimed abuse. Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), one provision of the law would force immigration officials to deport illegal immigrants who claimed they were victims of domestic violence. After reporting the crime, the person would be detained because of their illegal status. They could still receive legal help, but being in detention further complicates and hinders their case against their abuser.
    The House is scheduled to vote this week on a new bill that would allow federally-funded hospitals that oppose abortions to refuse to perform the procedure, even in cases where a woman would die without it.

    Under current law, every hospital that receives Medicare or Medicaid money is legally required to provide emergency care to any patient in need, regardless of his or her financial situation. If a hospital is unable to provide what the patient needs — including a life-saving abortion — it has to transfer the patient to a hospital that can.

    Under H.R. 358, dubbed the “Protect Life Act” and sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), hospitals that don’t want to provide abortions could refuse to do so, even for a pregnant woman with a life-threatening complication that requires a doctor terminate her pregnancy.

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  • emnmnmeemnmnme Registered User regular
    I do not understand the thread title change.

  • So It GoesSo It Goes We keep moving...Registered User regular
    SyphonBlue wrote:
    More news in the War on Women
    Two bills up for consideration by Congress neatly coincide with October’s status as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, one that advocates are cheering and another that would impede justice for victims.

    The American Independent reported that an immigration enforcement act called the Hinder the Administration Legalization Temptation Act (HALT), would impose penalties on immigrants who claimed abuse. Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), one provision of the law would force immigration officials to deport illegal immigrants who claimed they were victims of domestic violence. After reporting the crime, the person would be detained because of their illegal status. They could still receive legal help, but being in detention further complicates and hinders their case against their abuser.
    The House is scheduled to vote this week on a new bill that would allow federally-funded hospitals that oppose abortions to refuse to perform the procedure, even in cases where a woman would die without it.

    Under current law, every hospital that receives Medicare or Medicaid money is legally required to provide emergency care to any patient in need, regardless of his or her financial situation. If a hospital is unable to provide what the patient needs — including a life-saving abortion — it has to transfer the patient to a hospital that can.

    Under H.R. 358, dubbed the “Protect Life Act” and sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), hospitals that don’t want to provide abortions could refuse to do so, even for a pregnant woman with a life-threatening complication that requires a doctor terminate her pregnancy.

    What are we supposed to be cheering about here??

  • SyphonBlueSyphonBlue The studying beaver That beaver sure loves studying!Registered User regular
    emnmnme wrote:
    I do not understand the thread title change.

    There wasn't enough substance in the original OP, so I made it about the war on women.

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  • Magus`Magus` The fun has been DOUBLED! Registered User regular
    Look up.

  • SyphonBlueSyphonBlue The studying beaver That beaver sure loves studying!Registered User regular
    So It Goes wrote:
    SyphonBlue wrote:
    More news in the War on Women
    Two bills up for consideration by Congress neatly coincide with October’s status as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, one that advocates are cheering and another that would impede justice for victims.

    The American Independent reported that an immigration enforcement act called the Hinder the Administration Legalization Temptation Act (HALT), would impose penalties on immigrants who claimed abuse. Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), one provision of the law would force immigration officials to deport illegal immigrants who claimed they were victims of domestic violence. After reporting the crime, the person would be detained because of their illegal status. They could still receive legal help, but being in detention further complicates and hinders their case against their abuser.
    The House is scheduled to vote this week on a new bill that would allow federally-funded hospitals that oppose abortions to refuse to perform the procedure, even in cases where a woman would die without it.

    Under current law, every hospital that receives Medicare or Medicaid money is legally required to provide emergency care to any patient in need, regardless of his or her financial situation. If a hospital is unable to provide what the patient needs — including a life-saving abortion — it has to transfer the patient to a hospital that can.

    Under H.R. 358, dubbed the “Protect Life Act” and sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), hospitals that don’t want to provide abortions could refuse to do so, even for a pregnant woman with a life-threatening complication that requires a doctor terminate her pregnancy.

    What are we supposed to be cheering about here??

    I didn't post it, but:
    Another domestic violence bill long praised by advocates, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), is up for congressional reauthorization.

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  • Magus`Magus` The fun has been DOUBLED! Registered User regular
    Women are one of those demographics that I never quite understood what the GOP has that appeals to them. Then again, voting against your own self interest is a thing, I guess.

  • MentalExerciseMentalExercise Indefenestrable Registered User regular
    Magus` wrote:
    I know this is kind of a cliche response but I can't help myself.

    Kansas

    Haha, yeah! Those silly hicks eliminating a local law to simplify jurisdictional issues making it easier to solve a thorny budget issue, which is difficult to do in the best of times, let alone during a recession. Next thing you know they'll be readin, MIRITE?! OLOLZ!!!11!1!

    "More fish for Kunta!"

    --LeVar Burton
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