FOR FVPSA 35th year celebration
From the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women
Why the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women appreciates FVPSA so much
As advocates and other interveners, we often say that battered women are everywhere: in our workplaces, neighborhoods, places of worship, social clubs, schools, and homes. Yet even today, it’s rare to hear about the victims of battering who are in squad cars after an arrest, in our local jails, in court facing criminal charges, on probation, in our prisons, or returning to our communities after incarceration. In many communities, these victims of battering are invisible.
The National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women (NCDBW), an organization that works with victims of battering charged with crimes related to their abuse, received its first FVPSA grant in 1993. Even back in the early 1990s, the FVPSA office was committed to supporting all domestic violence survivors including those with open criminal charges, serving time in jail or prison, or returning to their communities after incarceration. By funding a resource center that works with victim defendants, they proved themselves to be true trailblazers – a role they have continued to play over the years on many different issues and with many under-served communities. FVPSA’s support over the years has been critical to our work at the National Clearinghouse. Their support has made it possible for us to do all sorts of work to help end the invisibility of victims of battering who are charged with crimes, incarcerated, and/or who have criminal records. Like us at the National Clearinghouse, FVPSA understands the importance of making sure that all victims of battering have access to supports and services when they need them most.
FVPSA rocks! Let’s celebrate FVPSA’s 35 years commitment to supporting all DV survivors including those with open criminal charges, serving time in jail or prison, or returning to their communities after incarceration. THANK YOU FVPSA!
I am in prison and they accept my collect calls. It is so incredibly comforting to have someone on the other end of the phone who understands about what you’ve gone through and doesn’t treat you like you’re from another planet, or you’re stupid, or like you got what you deserved.
– From a woman who defended herself against her abusive husband and got sentenced to life
An example of who calls NCDBW
Deborah endured years of horrific physical, emotional, and psychological abuse by her husband who kidnapped her and repeatedly raped her during the three days he held her captive. Deborah testified in front of the grand jury and criminal charges were brought against her husband. But, after the grand jury hearing, Deborah’s husband threatened to kill her and her family members if she testified at trial. Terrified for her life and the lives of her family members, Deborah shared her fears with the prosecutor’s office, informing them of her husband’s death threats if she testified against him. At trial Deborah recanted, and in spite of the fact that she had shared her concerns with the prosecutor beforehand, the office charged her with felony perjury. Her husband ended up taking a plea to aggravated battery and other charges and was sentenced to ten years in prison.
Deborah turned to the local anti-domestic violence program that had previously supported her and provided her with services, but they would no longer help her now that she was facing criminal charges. She was distraught and terrified of her abusive husband. She was also frightened of being convicted of felony perjury and sent to prison, and she worried about losing her license as a social worker which would severely limit her ability to work and support herself. She contacted the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women (NCDBW). "They were the voice of reason," she said. Every week, she spoke with NCDBW staff. "They helped validate things," Deborah recalled. "I felt lower than dirt under a rock. Talking with them made all the difference in the world. No one else would listen. It's important to have someone to listen." NCDBW staff talked with Deborah on a regular basis, sometimes several times a week, listening to her concerns, offering her emotional support and encouragement, and strategizing on how to best work with her attorney to convince the prosecutors to drop the charges. NCDBW staff also provided ongoing technical assistance to Deborah’s defense attorneys as they prepared to defend Deborah against her perjury charges, a process which included multiple court filings and hearings. After almost four years of unsuccessful attempts to get the prosecutor’s office to drop the charges, Deborah ended up pleading no contest to one count of perjury. A few weeks later, Deborah finally got some good (legal) news; the judge in her case issued an acquittal, which meant that Deborah could file to have the charges expunged from her record. She filed the necessary papers and the charges no longer appear on her record. Deborah was the victim of a horrendous set of crimes against her by a very scary, abusive husband, and yet she ended up being charged with a crime and suffering through over five years of legal hell. The National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women works to change policies and practices of prosecutors who charge terrified victim witnesses. We work to support and assist victims of battering like Deborah who end up being charged.