[Criminal Justice]
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WELCOME COMMUNITY.THIS IS A SERIES OF SHOWS INVOLVING THE EAST BATON ROUGE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE SHELL.
I SERVE ON THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
AND THE FALL OF THE YEAR REPRESENTS A TREMENDOUS PERIOD WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THE RIGHT TO RECOVERY AND THAT RECOVERY IS REAL.
SO I'D LIKE TO START WITH THE IDEA OF THE NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AND THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, WHICH IS ALSO THIS MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
AND AS WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THE FALL MONTHS, I'D LIKE TO CHALLENGE OUR COMMUNITY TO BELIEVE IN THE IDEA THAT RECOVERY IS REAL AND THAT WE CAN PREVENT SUICIDES.
SUICIDES ARE A PREVALENT, UH, ADVERSE EVENT HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH.
SO WE WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES DIRECTLY.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO TALK ABOUT HOW OUR, HOW OUR LOCAL COURTS ARE GOING TO BE ON THE FRONT LINE.
AS PREVENTORS OF PERSONS ENTERING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE'RE GOING TO BE INTERVENERS.
WE'RE GOING TO GET IN FRONT OF CRIME SO THAT OUR POPULATION WILL RECEIVE THE NOURISHMENT.
WE'LL GET THE TREATMENT AND COUNSELING SERVICES THAT YOU NEED SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE OUR LEVELS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO ISSUES SUCH AS SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS, MENTAL ILLNESS, SUCH AS SUBSTANCE USE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CRIMINAL CONDUCT THAT WE KNOW, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO GET IN FRONT OF RATHER THAN BEHIND.
SO THIS SEGMENT IS RELATED TO THE IDEA OF HOW TO DEVELOP MODELS OF COURT, HOW TO DEVELOP AT THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, A COURT MODEL, WHICH WILL CONSIST OF THE CONCEPT OF SPECIALTY COURTS.
NOW, MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY WONDERED WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A SPECIALTY COURT AND HOW DOES IT WORK? WELL, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT SPECIALTY COURTS.
SO YOU HANG ON AND I'LL BE RIGHT BACK IN A FEW SECONDS.
AND WE'RE GOING TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR VISION FOR THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF SPECIALTY COURTS COMBINED WITH OUR TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE, CRIMINAL PROSECUTORIAL AND CRIMINAL ACCOUNTABILITY COURTS.
SO WHEN YOU COME BACK, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TRANSFORMATION, MOVING THE EXISTING CRIMINAL COURT MODEL FROM THE TRADITIONAL PUNISHMENT ORIENTED MODEL TO A COMBINATION OF THE TRADITIONAL MODEL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COURT MODEL COMBINED.
WE'LL BE BACK WITH YOU IN A SECOND.
AND I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH, UH, DEFINING AND EXPLAINING WHAT IS A SPECIALTY COURT AND, UH, WHAT IS THE NEED FOR IT? WELL, HISTORICALLY, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS TRADITIONAL MODELS OF CRIMINAL COURT.
WE'VE WORKED FROM BEHIND THE SCENE.
WE, WE HAVE APPROACHED CRIME FROM, FOR, FROM AN AFTER THE FACT TYPE OF AN APPROACH.
SO BASICALLY ONCE A CRIME HAPPENS, THE PERSON IS ARRESTED AND THEN BROUGHT INTO COURT.
WELL, THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COURT MODEL ALSO KNOWN AS SPECIALTY COURTS ARE, AND ANOTHER TERMINOLOGY WOULD BE THERAPEUTIC COURTS.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THAT, THAT MODEL, BUT IT'S ORIENTED TOWARD IDENTIFY THE UNDERLYING REASONS THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
AND WHAT DO I MEAN WHEN I SAY THAT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
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IS DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE USE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ALSO ECONOMICS.SO WE'RE A LOT OF CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE UNABLE TO DIRECTLY ACCESS SERVICES UNTIL THEY ARE ARRESTED.
I HAVE HAD ON MANY, MANY OCCASIONS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY PEOPLE TO CALL ME AND SAY, JUDGE JOHNSON, WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT STOPPING AND INTERVENING BEFORE THINGS HAPPEN? I'VE HAD PARENTS TO CALL ME ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN SAYING JUST JOHNSON.
HE'S ACTING OUT HE'S USING, HE NEEDS HIS MEDICATION.
CAN WE DO SOMETHING THAT WILL BE, THAT WILL HELP PREVENT HIM FROM DOING CRIME? AND I SAY, YES, WE CAN.
SO THE NATURE OF SPECIALTY COURTS WERE DESIGNED TO SAY THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE BENEFIT OF SOCIAL SCIENCE.
WE BELIEVE, AND THE VALIDITY OF EVALUATING DEFENDANTS USING BEST EVIDENCE AND BEST PRACTICES.
NOW, WHAT ARE THOSE? THEY ARE STANDARDIZED APPROACHES TO IDENTIFY MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY, PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, SCREEN THEM, ASSESS THEM AND PROVIDE SERVICES UNIQUELY AND DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE BEHAVIOR THAT HAS CAUSED THEM TO GET INTO CRY.
WE SIMPLY SCREEN ASSESS, EVALUATE, AND TREAT.
AND WITH THESE TYPES OF MODELS THAT I'M PROPOSING, WE REDIRECT CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE REDIRECT THEM OUT SO THAT THEY RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY UNDER SUPERVISION.
BUT WITH TREATMENT SERVICES, WE DO NO LONGER WANT TO SEND THEM STRICTLY TO PROBATION, TO COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.
WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE WE REALIZE, AND THE DATA SUPPORTS IT.
THEY ARE GOING TO RECIDIVATE UNLESS WE PLAY SMART.
AND WE RECOGNIZE AS JUDGES THAT THIS PHENOMENON I'M TOUGH ON CRIME.
YOU'VE HEARD THAT ONE OR I'M SOFT ON CRIME AND WE GET LABELED.
YOU KNOW, THAT JUDGE IS TOUGH ON CRIME.
WELL, HOW ABOUT THE TERMINOLOGY? LET'S BE SMART.
AND WHAT I'M PROPOSING FOR THE PARISH IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALTY COURTS.
SO HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
I'M GOING TO IDENTIFY A FEW OF THOSE MODELS.
SO WHEN YOU'RE ASKED ABOUT WHAT I'M SAYING FOR THE PARISH, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO OUT HERE TO SAY, JUDGE JOHNSON, TALKING ABOUT A SPECIALTY COURT.
I WANT TO HELP WITH THAT PROGRAM.
JUST JOHNSON IS TALKING ABOUT THERAPEUTICS.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.
SOME OF YOU THAT WORK IN THE SOCIAL WORK FIELD OR SOCIAL SERVICES FIELD ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS CONCEPT CALLED WRAP AROUND SERVICES.
THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO RECOVERY.
ALL OF THE LITERATURE, ALL OF THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION THAT WE ARE STUDYING AND LEARNING AND EXPERIENCES TEACHES US AS JUDGES THAT WE NEED TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALTY COURTS.
AND I'M HERE TO PROMOTE SPECIALTY COURTS BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS NECESSARY TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY A BOUT SPECIALTY COURTS.
DRUG COURTS, THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF A SPECIALTY COURT, A SECOND EXAMPLE, MENTAL HEALTH COURT.
SECOND EXAMPLE, ANOTHER EXAMPLE, THE EXAMPLE OF A DOMESTIC
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VIOLENCE ALSO KNOWN AS DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT, ANOTHER TYPE OF SPECIALTY COURT, A COURT, WHICH WOULD INVOLVE THE TREATMENT OF OUR VETERANS.AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER MODELS WE CAN COME UP WITH AND WE COULD PROVIDE FOR IDENTIFY THE EVIDENCE BASED MODELS THAT WORK, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T WORK.
WE'RE GOING TO RELY ON EXISTING OPERATIONS FROM ACROSS THE NATION.
WE'RE GOING TO CREATE IN BATON ROUGE, A MODEL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COURT.
WELL, JUDGE JOHNSON, WHAT IS THAT? WELL, I JUST TOLD YOU FOUR COMPONENTS, DRUG COURT, MENTAL HEALTH COURT, VETERANS COURT, DOMESTIC RELATIONS.
AND UNDERNEATH THAT UMBRELLA OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THERE ARE FOUR MODELS AND HERE'S THE WAY THEY WORK AFTER YOU'RE IDENTIFIED.
ONCE YOU'RE ARRESTED, WE SCREEN YOU RIGHT AWAY.
WE'LL ASSESS YOU FOR ONE OF THESE CHALLENGES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO YOU AS A DEFENDANT.
AND WE SAY THAT YOU DEFENDED WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO GET TREATMENT FOR YOUR SERVICE, FOR YOUR ILLNESS OR FOR YOUR ADDICTION, OR FOR WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO GET INTO TROUBLE, WHICH YOU LIKE OUR ASSISTANCE.
WOULD YOU LIKE OUR HELP AND OWN IT? SOME OF YOU WILL CHOOSE OUR HELP.
OTHERS MAY NOT WANT THE COURT TO DIRECTLY HELP YOU WITH TREATMENT, BUT YOU COME OUT PERHAPS A LOT BETTER AT THE END.
IF YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE, IF YOU ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY.
AND IF YOU'RE WILLING TO GO THROUGH A VERY RIGID, STANDARDIZED APPROACH TO RECOVERY, IF YOU DO THAT AND SUCCEED, YOU GET THE BENEFIT AT THE END OF THE SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION OF THE PROGRAM.
NOW YOU ASKED THE COURT, WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM COSTS ME AS A DEFENDANT? VERY, VERY LIBERAL, VERY, VERY LIBERAL.
YOU ASKED ME, WELL, WHAT IS THE OUTCOME OF PARTICIPATION? WELL, FOR THOSE OF US THAT PAY TAXES, OR DON'T LIKE PAYING A LOT OF TAXES, I'LL TELL YOU THIS.
FOR EVERY $1 WE SPEND AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE SAVE MORE THAN $3.
IF YOU INVOLVE YOURSELF IN A SPECIAL ED COURT PROGRAM.
SO IF THESE MODELS, WE COULD GO TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAVE MONEY, WE ACTUALLY SAVED MONEY BY INVESTING UPFRONT MINIMUM NUMBER OF DOLLARS, GOSH, TO TREAT AND SERVICE INDIVIDUALS COMING INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURT.
SO WHAT I WOULD WANT TO DO IS TO START A MONTHLY, TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, COMING IN TO ASSIST US WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE COURTS SERVICES.
YOU MAY ASK ABOUT THE SERVICES, WELL SERVICES FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, SELF SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT CASE MANAGEMENT OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL CASES.
AND YOU AS A DEFENDANT WOULD AGREE ON A CONTRACT TO BE INTENSIVELY SUPERVISED.
IN OTHER WORDS, THIS IS NOT REGULAR PROBATION.
THIS IS A HEIGHTENED STANDARD OR PRO PROBATION, AND YOU'RE REQUIRED TO RETAIN DRUG TESTED.
YOU'RE REQUIRED TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENTS OKAY.
YOU'RE REQUIRED TO, IN SOME INSTANCES, TAKE MEDICATIONS WHERE, BUT WE ARE TARGETED.
WE'RE TARGETED AND VERY REFINED.
AND OUR APPROACHES DIRECTLY IN OUR PLAN IS FOR YOU.
SO WE DEVELOP A UNIQUE CASE MANAGEMENT PLAN TAILORED SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR ADVANCEMENT AND SUCCESS.
AND THESE PROGRAMS, THE ADDRESS THE CITIZENS NEEDS.
AND WE REALIZE THAT A LOT OF THE DEFENDANTS, A LOT OF THE OFFENDERS ARE HIGH RISK AND HIGH NEEDS.
SO WE IDENTIFIED THE RISK OF PUTTING YOU BACK IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE CONTROL FOR THAT RISK WITH SUPERVISION, WITH CURFEWS, WITH HOME VISITS, HOUSE ARREST, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE HIGH NEEDS.
SO WE HAD IDENTIFY FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL IN OUR SPECIALTY CORE PROGRAMS, WHAT YOUR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS ARE BECAUSE YOUR NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS.
AND ONCE WE'VE IDENTIFIED AND LISTED YOUR NEEDS, WE CORRELATE THOSE NEEDS WITH THE SERVICES.
AND YOUR OBLIGATION IS TO COME TO COURT SO THAT THE JUDGE WHO'S SUPERVISING THE VETERAN'S COURT, THE JUDGE WHO IS SUPERVISING THE DRUG COURT, THE JUDGE WHO'S SUPERVISING THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT.
THE JUDGE WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT WILL KNOW YOU INDIVIDUALLY WILL MAKE CERTAIN YOU ADHERING TO STANDARDS.
WE'LL MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE RISK OF RE-OFFENDING IS
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VERY, VERY LOW.THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THESE SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAMS. WE WILL ALSO ADDRESS PERSONS THAT ARE HAVING CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS.
WHAT NEW ROLE, WHAT DID THE WORLD IS THAT JUDGE JOHNSON? WELL, WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE DEFENDANTS HAVE MORE THAN ONE UNDERLYING PRIMA DISPOSITION.
THAT PERSON MAY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL ILLNESS.
THAT PERSON MAY ALSO HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE ISSUE.
SO THAT IS A CORY KERING CO-OCCURRING TYPE OF SITUATION.
SO WE WILL ALSO MODEL A SPECIALTY TRACK THAT WILL PUT SOMEONE ON PROBATION AND PROVIDE SERVICES AND THAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY COURT, A CORE OCCURRING PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO REFINE AND DEVELOP THE PROBLEMS TO FIT THE CONDUCT THAT WE WANT TO CONTROL REGULATE AND MITIGATE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF SPECIALTY COURTS THAT I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR PARISH.
WELL, YOU MIGHT ASK WHERE ARE WE NOW WITH THESE MODELS? WHERE ARE WE NOW AT THIS STAGE, IN THE GAME WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE SPECIALTY COURTS? WELL, LET ME BRIEFLY SHARE THIS.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GOING TO SHIFT DIRECTIONS.
WE HAVE HAD AN ADULT DRUG COURT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS HERE IN OUR PARISH, AND I'M THE PRESIDING OFFICER OVER THE ADULT DRUG COURT FOR, FOR THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT.
WE HAVE PLANS AND WE'VE DEVELOPED PLANS, CONTINGENCY PLANS, AND WE'RE WAITING ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A VETERANS TREATMENT COURT AT THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT.
SO HOPEFULLY BEFORE NEXT MONTH, BY THE END OF OCTOBER, WE WILL ANNOUNCE I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE FUNDING WILL BE IN PLACE AND STARTING NEXT YEAR, JANUARY OF 2021, WE WILL START PHASING IN A VETERANS TREATMENT COURT FOR OUR VETERANS IN HIS PARISH, WHO BY THE WAY, HAVE UNIQUE HEALTH ISSUES DIRECTLY RELATED TO MILITARY SERVICE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TREAT AND PREVENT THAT POPULATION FROM FUTURE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
SO THAT'S PHASE NUMBER TWO, DRUG COURT, EXISTING VETERAN COURTS NEXT.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT SOME JUDGES WHO ARE WANTING TO DEVELOP, HELP US DEVELOP A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT AND THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO CALL US TO HELP US DEVELOP THESE MODELS, JOIN A TASK FORCE ON, GET ON BEHALF OF ONE OF THESE COMMITTEES AND HELP US DEVELOP THE MODELS THAT ARE COMING.
UM, THAT IS WHAT I CALL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COURT.
I'VE GONE OVER SOME OF THE SPECIFIC TYPES.
I'M GOING TO SHIFT DIRECTIONS AND, UM, ALLOW SOME OF THE JUDGES WHO ARE UNIQUELY FAMILIAR WITH THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.
SO WHEN I COME BACK, I'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF THE JUDGES WHO ARE WORKING TOWARD THESE SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAMS. WE'LL BE BACK IN A MINUTE,
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT.
UM, WHO'S PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN, UH, MENTAL HEALTH COURT AND VETERANS TREATMENT COURT.
AND THAT IS JUDGE TIFFANY, UH, FOXWORTH UH, ROBERT ROBINSON.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT AND TALK TO HER ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR MODEL OF COURT.
AND AFTER WE COMPLETED THAT, WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT GEARS AGAIN AND INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR, UM, LONG SERVING A MEMBER, A LONG SERVING MEMBER OF THE FAMILY COURT.
AND THAT JUDGE IS JUDGE LISA WOODRUFF WHITE.
AND SHE'S GOING TO BE COMING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT AND WHAT THE BENEFIT OF THAT COURT WOULD MEAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JUDGE TIFFANY FOXWORTH.
AND TODAY I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT SPECIALTY COURTS AND PARTICULARLY IN THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, WHERE I CURRENTLY PRESIDE OVER DIVISION M, WHICH IS A CRIMINAL COURT.
THERE ARE MANY JURISDICTIONS WITHIN THE SURROUNDING AREAS AND OUTER LYING PARISHES THAT CURRENTLY UTILIZE SPECIALTY COURTS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY ASK OUR QUESTION,
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WHAT A SPECIALTY COURT IS, THOSE ARE SUBSPECIALTIES THAT FOCUS IN ON A PARTICULAR AREA OF LAW, SUCH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DRUG COURT, PRETRIAL INTERVENTION, AND VETERANS COURT PERSONALLY.UM, I AM A VETERAN MYSELF HAVING SERVED 13 YEARS IN THE U S ARMY AS AN ENLISTED SOLDIER AND COMMISSION OFFICER.
I THINK THAT THE YOUTH OF A VETERAN COURT WOULD BE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL TO PEOPLE HERE WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION.
IT'S IN, PARTICULARLY IN OUR PARISH, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
UM, I AM AWARE OF A PROGRAM OF THIS NATURE IN ST.
TAMMANY PARISH AND WHAT THEY WITH.
THEY FOCUS ON SPECIALIZED TREATMENT FOR VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED, WHO MAY EXPERIENCE SUCH CONDITIONS AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
UM, AS VETERANS, THEY MAKE LOTS OF SACRIFICES.
THEY GO OUT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS OF ALL AMERICANS, AND WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM THEIR SERVICE AND A LOT OF ARK OUR PAST AND PRESENT SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE SERVED ABROAD AND IN WAR OR CONFLICT, WHEN THEY RETURNED BACK HOME, A LOT OF THEM DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO ASSIST THEM WITH BEING REACCLIMATED TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO SOCIETY.
AND THAT OFTEN RESULTS IN PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR WITHDRAWALS, OR JUST, IT CAN HAVE AN OVERALL BAD IMPACT ON THEIR FAMILY DYNAMICS IN EMPLOYABILITY.
AND THE USE OF SPECIALTY COURTS WILL ASSIST IN, INSTEAD OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM, THEY WILL FOCUS, FOCUS ON TREATING THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I ACTUALLY SEE A LOT OF IN CRIMINAL COURT, WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME IN FOR, FOR CRIMES, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED.
AND THESE CRIMES ARE OFTEN A RESULT OF UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH AT THAT.
AND WITH OUR VETERANS COURT THAT WILL ASSIST THOSE, THAT PARTICULAR SUBGROUP OF PEOPLE WITH GETTING ACCESS TO THE TREATMENT, THE SUPPORT AND THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, MENTAL HEALTH COURTS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE GREATLY NEEDED AND COULD BE UTILIZED HERE IN OUR JURISDICTION WITH MENTAL HEALTH COURTS, THEY WILL FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE UNDERLYING MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS AND WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO FAMILY SUPPORT OR MEDICAL SUPPORT TO ASSIST WITH TAKING THEIR MEDICATION REGIMENS.
A LOT, A LOT OF TIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ATTEMPT TO SELF-MEDICATE AND WITH THE SELF-MEDICATION, IT CAN BE IN THE FORM OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE, OR YOU CAN HAVE PEOPLE WHO, UM, GET INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
HOWEVER, IT'S, AS A RESULT OF THAT UNDERLYING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH COURTS, PEOPLE CAN BE PAIRED WITH ADVOCATES AND THOSE ADVOCATES GET OUT AND THEY SUPPORT THE PERSONS WHO ARE IN THE PROGRAM.
THEY ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO COUNSELORS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT IF NEEDED, AND IF THEY NEED MEDICATIONS TO ASSIST WITH WHATEVER THEIR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION IS, THEY CAN ENSURE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS TAKE THEIR MEDICATIONS AS NEEDED AND THUS REHABILITATE REHABILITATE THEM WITHOUT PENALIZING THEM FOR A HEALTHCARE CONDITION, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE CONTROL OVER.
UM, IN MY, IN MY EXPERIENCE IN THE CRIMINAL COURT, I SEE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THESE TYPE ISSUES.
UM, AND IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE PREVALENT AND UNDERDIAGNOSED.
WHEN PEOPLE GO IN FOR FREE TO HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, THEY OFTEN ARE NOT ADMITTED UNLESS THEY HAVE INSURANCE, OR THEY HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY GETTING OUT AND TRYING TO ADVOCATE ON THEIR BEHALF.
AND IF THEY'RE NOT DEEMED TO BE A THREAT OF DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR IN SOCIETY, THEN THEY DON'T HAVE AN AVENUE IN WHICH THEY CAN PURSUE TO GET THE TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED.
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VERY IMPORTANT.IT'S I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN DEFINITELY BENEFIT FROM, BECAUSE WHAT IT WILL DO IS IT WILL REDUCE THE RATES OF CRIME THAT ARE GOING ON HERE IN OUR, RIGHT HERE IN OUR PARENTS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURTS IS ANOTHER SPECIALTY CORD.
AND I ACTUALLY JUST, UM, BECAME SOMEWHAT MORE AWARE OF THAT.
WE HAVE A NEW SYSTEM IN PLACE IN THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, WHERE WE HAVE, UM, A TASK FORCE THAT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS IN LOUISIANA.
LOUISIANA IS RANKED SECOND IN THE NATION WITH VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN AT THE HANDS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND THIS ISN'T A ONE DIMENSIONAL, UM, ISSUE BECAUSE THERE ARE MEN WHO ACTUALLY ARE IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
LIKEWISE, AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS IN SAME SEX, EXCUSE ME, IN DIFFERENT COUPLES OR, UM, BECAUSE YOU, YOU NOW HAVE A DIVERSITY WITHIN RELATIONSHIPS WHERE YOU CAN HAVE SAME SEX COUPLES.
AND WITH THE SPECIALTY COURTS, THEY PROVIDE ACCESS TO ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN DOMESTIC RELATIONSHIPS, WHERE THEY CAN HAVE AN OUTLET TO GET IMMEDIATE PROTECTION FROM VIOLENCE.
AND ALSO FROM STALKING AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT'S HIGHLY BENEFICIAL, INSTEAD OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM, THEY CAN GET, GO TO GO THROUGH THESE SPECIALTY COURTS WHERE THEY CAN BE MATCHED UP WITH ADVOCATES, PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVIDE PER ASSIST THEM WITH PROVIDING PROTECTION THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEMS FOR NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED, BUT ALSO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
WHEN THEY PUT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THESE TYPE RESOURCES, IT HELPS THEM TO, TO MOVE BEYOND THE SITUATIONS THAT THEY'RE IN.
AND IT PROVIDES A SUPPORT SYSTEM WHERE OTHERS MAY NOT NECESSARILY HAVE IT.
AND AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT'S VERY BENEFICIAL THROUGH THE CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM.
PEOPLE CAN GET PROTECTIVE ORDERS IF THERE ARE UNDERLYING CRIMINAL CHARGES.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND JUDGES NAIL HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO WAIT UP TO FIVE DAYS BEFORE SETTING BAIL ON PEOPLE WHO ARE CHARGED WITH HAVING COMMITTED VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE IN DOMESTIC RELATIONSHIPS.
AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE BRING THEM IN, LOOK AT THE NATURE AND DEGREE OF THE CRIME, THE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD POSE AS A THREAT OF HARM OR DANGER TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE INVOLVED WITHIN THE INCIDENT.
OTHER, OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, OUR SOCIETY IN GENERAL, AND WHAT THIS DOES IS IT CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE WE CAN HAVE A SAFER COMMUNITY.
AND THEN THE PEOPLE HERE WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
AGAIN, I AM TIPPING JUDGE, TIFFANY FOX WORTH, AND I AM AN ADVOCATE AND OF SPECIALTY COURTS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT THE CITIZENS OF OUR PARISH WOULD BE IN GREAT NEED OF, AND I WELCOME OUR COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE SUBSPECIALTY COURTS.
THANK YOU, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT CASES THAT, UM, I HEAR AS A JUDGE, UM, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH LOTS OF THINGS.
ONE, THE STATISTICS ARE JUST SO TERRIBLE FOR LOUISIANA AND NATIONALLY, NEARLY THREE WOMEN ARE MURDERED IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY DAY BY A CURRENT OR FORMER DATING PARTNER.
UM, LOUISIANA HAS VERY HIGH MURDER RATE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.
PART OF THE CHALLENGE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES IS THE CYCLE.
UM, WE KNOW THAT NATIONALLY THAT THE CYCLE, UM, OCCURS, UH, SEVEN TO EIGHT TIMES.
SO IT TAKES A VICTIM SEVEN TO EIGHT TIMES BEFORE, UM, SHE OR HE, SOME ARE MALE, UM, LEAVES THEIR ABUSER.
AND SO FOR ME AS A FAMILY COURT JUDGE, I SEE THAT CYCLE.
I SEE PETITIONS BEING FILED AND PETITIONS BEING DISMISSED, AND THEN REFILED AND THEN DISMISSED OR A PETITION BEING FILED AND THEN PETITIONERS DON'T SHOW UP FOR COURT.
AND SO, UM, THERE'S THE TENDENCY TO WANT TO, UM, THINK ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF
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WHAT IS ALLEGED IN THE PETITION, BUT UNDERSTANDING THE CYCLE THAT IT TAKES THAT MANY TIMES BEFORE PETITIONER LEAVES IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR, UM, A JUDGE WHO HEARS THESE KINDS OF CASES.AND AS A FAMILY COURT JUDGE, I HEAR THESE CASES ON THE CIVIL SIDE.
AND SO IT'S UP TO A PETITIONER TO ACTUALLY FILE AND THEN APPEAR IN COURT TO PRESENT THE ALLEGATIONS.
WE KNOW THAT THIS CYCLE HAPPENS FOR VARIOUS REASONS SOMETIMES.
UM, THE PETITIONERS, UM, ARE CONNECTED TO THE DEFENSE, TO THE DEFENDANT BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHILDREN TOGETHER.
UM, THEY'RE FINANCIALLY DEPENDENT ON, UM, THE, THE PERPETRATOR OF THE VIOLENCE.
SOMETIMES IT IS BECAUSE OF FEAR OF DEPORTATION OR A FEAR OF LOSING THE CHILDREN, ET CETERA.
SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE REASONS WHY IT HAPPENS.
AND THEN IN A LOT OF CASES, PETITIONERS HOPE FOR A CHANGE.
SO THEY HOPE THE BEHAVIOR OF THE DEFENDANT IS GOING TO CHANGE.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT CHANGE IS THAT IN CASES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A LONGER HISTORY OF VIOLENCE IS LESS LIKELY FOR THE BEHAVIOR TO CHANGE WITHOUT SERIOUS INTERVENTION.
UH, FOR US, THAT IS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM AND THEIR MODELS OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE.
AND THOSE TYPICALLY LASTS FROM 22 TO 56 WEEKS.
AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME, BUT IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO MODIFY A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR.
UM, SO FOR US, WE DON'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE PETITIONERS FROM FILING AT ANY ANYTIME THEY NEED TO IN THAT CYCLE.
UM, IF THERE IS PHYSICAL ABUSE, MENTAL ABUSE, CAUSE NOT ALL ABUSE WE KNOW IS PHYSICAL SOMETIMES AS THE WITHHOLDING OF THINGS, ONE OF THE WORST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES I DEALT WITH WAS A CASE WHERE THERE WASN'T ANY PHYSICAL ABUSE AT ALL.
IT WAS, IT WAS ALL ALL ABOUT, UM, CONTROL, UM, CONTROLLING.
UM, IN THIS CASE IT WAS, UH, THE VICTIM WAS FEMALE.
UM, NOT ALLOWING HER TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, NOT ALLOWING HER TO COMMUNICATE WITH FRIENDS, DISCONNECTING HER FROM FAMILY.
AND SO, UM, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A CASE WHERE, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE EVIDENCE, THE PROTECTIVE WAS GRANTED, BUT IT WAS A CASE WHERE IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE DEFENDANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE WASN'T ANY PHYSICAL ABUSE, HE WAS STILL AN ABUSER.
UM, SO THE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES IS UNDERSTANDING POWER AND CONTROL.
AND SO POWER AND CONTROL CAN HAPPEN IN VARIOUS FORMS. AND OFTEN, UM, IT'S NOT OBVIOUS FROM LOOKING AT AN ORIGINAL PETITION THAT COMES IN, UH, WHAT KIND OF PROTECTION IS NEEDED.
SO I SHOULD BACK UP AND EXPLAIN THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IS THAT, UM, ANY PERSON WHO IS A VICTIM OF ABUSE CAN GO INTO THE CLERK OF COURTS OFFICE, UM, ANY DAY THAT THEY'RE OPEN.
WE AS FAMILY COURT JUDGES SIGN THESE PETITIONS EVERY DAY, REALLY, WE ROTATE OUR DUTY OF FILE, A PETITION.
WE RECEIVE THE PETITION AND HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON JUST WHAT IS ALLEGED IN THE PETITION, WHETHER TO GRANT TEMPORARY RELIEF AND THAT TEMPORARY RELIEF CAN INCLUDE, UM, CUSTODY OF CHILDREN, STAY AWAY ORDERS, UM, USE OF A VEHICLE USE OF THE HOME, ET CETERA, WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT A VICTIM UNTIL THE VICTIM CAN COME, COME TO COURT.
WE SET THE CASES, UM, IN ABOUT 15 DAYS, WE HEAR THESE CASES, UH, EACH JUDGE HEARS THEM EVERY OTHER WEEK.
AND SO WE SET THESE CASES FOR HEARING AT THAT TIME, THE DEFENDANT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND DEFEND THE ALLEGATIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN A SUCCESSFUL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT, UM, IS TO HAVE A COORDINATED APPROACH IN EAST BATON ROUGE, PARIS.
WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THE IRISH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER AND IRISH PROVIDES SERVICES THAT SUPPORT PETITIONERS.
I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF RESOURCES.
IRIS IS A PLACE THAT PROVIDES THOSE RESOURCES, NOT
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JUST, UM, HOUSING, CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION, THAT SORT OF ASSISTANCE, BUT ALSO SUPPORT IN TERMS OF, UM, ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION IN COURT FOR MOST PETITIONERS.UM, THIS AMAZING GRANT THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM, UH, PROVIDES AN ATTORNEY WHO ACTUALLY WILL REPRESENT A VICTIM IN COURT.
NOW, JUST STOP AND THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT.
THINK ABOUT BEING A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HAVING TO LEAVE, LEAVE A HOME WHERE YOU MAY BE DEPENDENT ON THE PERPETRATOR OF THE VIOLENCE BEING BRAVE ENOUGH TO LEAVE THE HOME.
FIRST OF ALL, AND THEN GOING TO A COURTHOUSE AND FILING A PETITION AGAINST THE PERPETRATOR OF THE VIOLENCE, THEN THAT PETITION GETS SET FOR COURT.
AND THEN YOU VICTIM OF VIOLENCE ENDS UP HAVING TO GO INTO A COURT.
AND PERHAPS YOU'VE NEVER BEEN INTO A COURTROOM BEFORE.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO SUBPOENA WITNESSES, WHAT THE JUDGE IS GOING TO ASK, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO SEE IN COURT, HOW CLOSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE TO THE PERPETRATOR OF THE VIOLENCE.
AND SO IT IS OF GREAT VALUE TO A SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGATE TO HAVE THIS, THIS ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THEM IN COURT.
FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S A PRE COURT MEETING.
UM, THEY PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN COURT.
THEY CAN TELL YOU AHEAD OF TIME, WHAT SORT OF EVIDENCE TO BRING, UM, THEY'RE QUESTIONING YOU RATHER THAN YOU'RE QUESTIONING YOURSELF.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WAS PROVIDES, UH, SUPPORT AN ADVOCATE IN COURT, SOMEONE WHO, UM, ASSIST THE, UH, PETITIONER WITH OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT THEY MIGHT NEED.
UM, I'VE BEEN IN COURT BEFORE WHERE I HAVE HAD TO, UM, WHERE I'VE BEEN ASKED TO ACCEPT AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PETITIONER AND THE DEFENDANT.
AND I COULD TELL THAT THE PETITIONER IS VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT THE GREEN, THE AGREEMENT.
SO I'VE BEEN RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT THE AGREEMENT.
I HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEND THIS PETITIONER OUT, TO TALK TO A DV ADVOCATE, UM, SOMEONE WHO'S ON THEIR SIDE, THEY COULD TALK TO ABOUT WHAT THE RATIOS ARE, WHAT THE RELUCTANCE IS, UM, JUST A GREAT VALUE.
AND SO THERE ARE MANY PARISHES THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT DON'T HAVE THAT SORT OF SUPPORT.
UH, SOME PARISHES MIGHT HAVE, UH, SERVICES THAT A VICTIM COULD GO TO, BUT, BUT TO PROVIDE THE FULL PACKAGE TO INCLUDE, UH, THE ATTORNEY IN COURT IS OF GREAT, GREAT VALUE.
SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENS, UM, IN, IN LOUISIANA IS IN OTHER STATES, AS WE USE UNIFORM FORMS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SO THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, CAN LOOK AT A UNIFORM FORM AND SEE THAT THEIR PROHIBITIONS IN PLACE.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE PROCEDURES IN PLACE, UM, YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO LAW FOR DEFENDANTS TO NOTIFY THE COURT OF ANY WEAPONS THAT THEY POSSESSED AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE FOR THEM TO DISPOSSESS THEMSELVES OF THE WEAPONS AS TIME HAS PASSED THE, THE PROCESS BY WHICH THIS HAPPENS, UM, HAS IMPROVED GREATLY.
AND SO NOW THE OFFICE IS INVOLVED IN THE COURTROOM.
SO IF I ISSUE A PROTECTIVE ORDER IN FAVOR OF A PETITIONER, I AM REQUIRING THE DEFENDANT TO, UM, NOT ONLY FILL OUT A FORM AND DISCLOSE WHAT WEAPONS THE DEFENDANT MIGHT HAVE, BUT TO ALSO DISCLOSE HOW IS THAT DEFENDANT GOING TO DISPOSSESS HIMSELF OF THAT WEAPON.
AND THAT HAPPENS BEFORE A DEPUTY IN THE COURTROOM.
AND THEN WE ALSO SET THAT FOR A FOLLOWUP TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEFENDANT DOES IN FACT, DISPOSSESS HIM OR HERSELF OF THE WEAPON.
WE ALSO GET NOTICE FROM THE SUPREME COURT, IF THERE IS AN ATTEMPT AT A WEAPONS PER PURCHASE, BY A DEFENDANT WHO IS PROHIBITED FROM HAVING A WEAPON.
AND SO WE ACT ON THAT BY NOTIFYING THE PETITIONER THAT, THAT OCCURS.
THE OTHER THING WE WANT TO BE REAL MINDFUL OF IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES IS MAKING A RECORD OF BEHAVIOR THAT COULD BE INTIMIDATING IN A COURTROOM SETTING.
UM, I'M VERY RELUCTANT TO DISMISS A PETITION BASED ON A PETITIONER'S FAILURE TO APPEAR ON A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE.
AND LAST THE DV ADVOCATE HAS ACTUALLY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THAT PETITIONER.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PETITIONERS AREN'T INTIMIDATED AND THAT'S WHY
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THEY'RE NOT COMING TO COURT.AND WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT INTIMIDATION THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COURTROOM.
WE STARTED USING IN THE FAMILY COURT, A RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS BEFORE WE WOULD DISMISS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PETITION UNDERSTANDING THE CYCLE OF ABUSE AND HOW LONG IT TAKES TO LEAVE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE A PETITIONER WHO COMES IN AND REQUESTS DISMISS, SO IS DOING THAT KNOWINGLY.
UM, MORE IMPORTANTLY, VOLUNTARILY IS NOT BEING COARSE BY ANYONE TO DISMISS.
AND SO QUITE OFTEN, UM, SO THERE'S A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT THE PETITIONER IS ASKED AND QUITE OFTEN, UM, I DO DENY DISMISSALS IF THE PETITIONER HAS BEEN THREATENED BY A GUN IN THE PAST OR WITH A GUN, I'M SORRY.
UM, IF THE PETITIONER, UM, THERE'S A THREAT TO KILL THE PETITIONER IN THE PAST, IF THE, UH, PERPETRATOR HAS INDICATED, UM, UH, UH, SUICIDE TENDENCIES, UM, IF THE PERPETRATOR ACTUALLY HAS A GUN, THOSE ARE THE KIND OF CASES THAT ARE JUST NOT GOING TO GET DISMISSED.
UM, IT'S UP TO A PETITIONER THEN WHETHER THE PETITIONER COMES TO COURT OR NOT, BUT I ALWAYS MAKE SURE PETITIONERS KNOW, I, THE JUDGE AM DENYING THE DISMISSAL SO THAT THERE AREN'T ANY, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, REPERCUSSIONS FOR THAT, UH, LATER ON.
SO UNDERSTANDING POWER AND CONTROL CHILDREN ARE SO OFTEN, AND UNFORTUNATELY USED, UM, IN THAT POWER AND CONTROL EQUATION.
AND SO, UM, PETITIONERS ARE, ARE OFTEN INTIMIDATED OR FEARFUL OF FILING BECAUSE THEY FEAR, UM, THEY WILL LOSE CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT, UM, IS OFTEN GRANTED WHEN THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER IS INITIALLY FILED JUST BASED ON THE PLEADINGS, BECAUSE WE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD HAPPEN.
AND THEN OFTEN, UM, WHEN THE PROTECTIVE ORDER IS HEARD, CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN IS GRANTED IN THE PROTECTIVE ORDER.
CHILD SUPPORT IS GRANTED IN THE PROTECTIVE ORDER BECAUSE WE, WE WANT, UM, VICTIMS TO NOT ONLY BE PROTECTED.
WE WANT THEM TO BE SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY.
UM, AND ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, CHILD SUPPORT DOESN'T PROVIDE FULL SUPPORT, IT IS SOMETHING TO HELP THE PETITIONER TOWARD, UM, INDEPENDENCE.
UM, AND SO W YOU KNOW, ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS ALSO SO IMPORTANT.
UM, CHURCHES, COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS CAN, CAN DO A LOT TO HELP PETITIONERS, UM, WITH THEIR PHYSICAL SUPPORT NEEDS, BUT ALSO EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AS THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO, UM, GET OUT OF A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CIRCUMSTANCE.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE, THE CYCLE, UM, CAN HAPPEN MANY TIMES.
AND THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE IS REALLY THE VIOLENCE OCCURS.
AND THEN THERE'S A PHASE WHERE THE PERPETRATOR MIGHT APOLOGIZE FOR, UH, THE VIOLENCE HAPPENING.
AND THEN THERE'S THE PASSAGE OF TIME, AND THERE'S NO VIOLENCE FOR AWHILE.
AND THE, THE, UM, VICTIM MIGHT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
AND THEN THE VIOLENCE SLOWLY STARTS AGAIN.
AND THEN THE CYCLE REPEATS ITSELF WHERE THE ABUSE STARTS AGAIN.
AND THEN THERE'S THE MAKE-UP PHASE WHERE, UH, THE, THE PERPETRATOR THEN APOLOGIZES MAYBE MORE SERIOUSLY, MAYBE AGREES TO GO TO COUNSELING, UM, ET CETERA, AND THEN TIME CAN PASS.
AND THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN, THIS CYCLE CAN HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN A CASE, OR THE CYCLE CAN JUST HAPPEN A COUPLE OF TIMES, UM, IN A CASE.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF IS IMPORTANT FOR, UM, VICTIMS WHEN THEY'RE TESTIFYING TO TALK ABOUT IT.
AND IT'S WHY WE ASK NOT ONLY ABOUT THE MOST RECENT EVENT OF VIOLENCE IN THE UNIFORM PETITION, WE ALSO ASK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, BECAUSE AGAIN, IF THERE'S A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, THERE'S MORE LIKELY TO BE THE NEED FOR SOLUTIONS THAT ARE ABOUT LONGTERM MODIFICATION OF BEHAVIOR OF PERPETRATORS.
YOU HEAR THIS, THE, YOU MIGHT'VE HEARD IN THE MEDIA OR READ IN THE PAPER, THE COURTS ARE CLOSED BECAUSE OF COVID.
THERE WAS NEVER A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THE COURTS ACTUALLY CLOSE.
THE SUPREME COURT WAS VERY CLEAR WHEN THEY ISSUED THE ORDERS THAT WHILE, UM, YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE COURT IN PERSON IN THE COURTROOM,
[00:45:01]
UM, WE COURTS HAD TO CONTINUE TO HEAR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES AND OTHER CASES RELATED TO, UM, THEY HAD TO CONTINUE TO HEAR EMERGENCY CUSTODY OF CHILDREN AND CERTAIN JUVENILE PROCEEDINGS.SO THERE WAS NEVER A TIME WHEN WE CLOSED AND STOP HEARING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.
AND AS, UM, WE HAVE PROGRESSED IN THE PHASES OF COVID, WE ARE STILL HEARING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.
SOMETIMES WE WERE HEARING THEM REMOTELY.
SOMETIMES WE'RE HEARING THEM IN THE COURTROOM.
THE MAJORITY OF THEM NOW ARE BEING HANDLED IN THE COURTROOM.
AND SO WE, WE WILL, WE ARE CONTINUING TO HEAR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO HEAR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.
THE LAW IS VERY CLEAR ON HOW TIMELY WE HAVE TO BE IN CONSIDERING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.
WE KNOW IT IS IMPORTANT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF VIOLENCE THAT OCCURS IN THE SEVERITY OF VIOLENCE AND, UM, TO NOT HEAR A CASE COULD COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO US AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT.
I'D LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE YOU TO MEMBERS OF THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SPECIALTY COURT, UH, WORK GROUP.
UH, I WANT TO APPLAUD THIS WORK GROUP, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING, UH, MONTHLY FOR ALMOST A YEAR PLANNING AND BRAINSTORMING ABOUT HOW TO DEVELOP A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT PROGRAM FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
AND THEY'VE BEEN FOLLOWING A PARTICULAR TOOLKIT THAT GUIDES THEM TO DEVELOP BEST EVIDENCE PRACTICES.
SO THIS IS ONE GROUP THAT IS PARTNERING WITH US TO PROMOTE STRUCTURALLY FORMATION OF A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT.
SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON THAT ARE INTERESTING THAT, UH, YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.
SO STAY, STAY IN STANDBY AND STAY TUNED AS THIS TASK FORCE, COME TO YOU TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH, PRISON REFORM COALITION, AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SPECIALTY CORE PLANNING WORK GROUP IN THE 19TH JDC.
AND THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS BECAUSE I AM A SURVIVOR AND I'M AN ADVOCATE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND I AM A PARTICIPANT OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SPECIALTY COURT PLANNING WORK GROUP.
AND I AM HERE BECAUSE I ONLY WROTE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOR 20 YEARS, AND NOW I WORK IN MENTAL HEALTH AND I SEE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON A DAILY BASIS.
MY NAME IS TOWANDA BOULDER, AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARENTS, UH, REFORM COALITION.
AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE DOMESTIC PROBLEM SPECIALTY COURT.
AND I HAVE HAD A PERSONAL IMPACT OF A NEIGHBOR WHO WAS, UH, MURDERED DURING THE MESSAGE BOX, AND I FELT THE NEED TO BE ASKED.
SO THE REASON WHY, UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE SPECIALTY COURT PLANNING, UM, WORK GROUP IS TO SEE IF THERE IS A NEED FOR ANOTHER SPECIALTY COURT HERE, THE 19 JDC, AND JUST THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR, WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IMPACTED DIRECTLY BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FAMILIES, OR MEMBERS OF THE, UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AS WELL AS JUDGES OR ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES THAT ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IN THE COURTROOMS. SO THIS IS BASICALLY THE REASON WHY WE ARE DOING THIS WORK GROUP TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND AN IMPACT TO REDUCE THOSE NUMBERS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES AMONG INTIMATE PARTNERS.
SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE, AND WE HOPE THAT THIS IMPACTS YOU.
AND IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH US THROUGH THE EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH, PRISON REFORM COALITION.
AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE JUST A FEW THINGS ABOUT HOW I GOT INVOLVED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
I WAS VERY YOUNG AND I GOT INTO AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP THAT LASTED EIGHT YEARS.
AND THE REASON THAT THAT RELATIONSHIP IMPACTED ME SO MUCH IS BECAUSE THIS MAN WAS A NARCISSIST.
AND HE MET ME IN A VERY VULNERABLE STATE, WHICH MOST VICTIMS ARE IN A VULNERABLE STATE WHEN THEY MEET THEIR ABUSERS.
AND I WAS 15 YEARS OLD AND I HAD JUST LOST MY FAMILY AND MADE SURE I WENT TO WITH MY GRANDMOTHER.
AND I LOOKED TO HIM FOR LAWS AND GOT ABUSED FROM THE FIRST DAY THAT WE MET THAT RELATIONSHIP LASTED EIGHT YEARS AND DIDN'T IMPACT MY LIFE TREMENDOUSLY.
AND I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THROUGH THIS WORK GROUP, WHAT POWER AND CONTROL AND THE ROLE THAT IT PLAYS AMONG THOSE VICTIMS. AND I MOVED TO SAY
[00:50:01]
VICTIM TO SURVIVORS, BECAUSE ANYBODY THAT IS GOING THROUGH A SITUATION LOVE DOES NOT HARM.AND SO DIMITRIA, UM, JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON YOUR END, WHAT WILL BE YOUR EXPERIENCES DEALING WITH THOSE TYPES OF CASES? UM, WELL, FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN DURBIN, I WORKED IN THE CORRECTIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND GAMES.
WE HAD A LOT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS COMING, UM, IN AN ALPHA B CORRECTIONAL FACILITY WITH DIFFERENT WOMEN THAT WERE COMING IN, OF COURSE, WITH LOW SELF ESTEEM.
AND OF COURSE THEY WERE DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAY THEY WERE LOOKING FOR LOVE, RIGHT.
AND AS FAR AS THE, ON THE MENTAL HEALTH, AND, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU'VE BEEN IN THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION, IT PSYCHOLOGICALLY, IT DAMAGES YOU.
SO THEN YOU NEED SOME, SOME MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND SOME THERAPY TO KIND OF WORK THROUGH IT.
BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, THERE'S THE SELF-ESTEEM LOW.
SO YOU NEED SOME POSITIVE, SOME POSITIVE SELF-TALK AND, AND SOME, SOME THERAPY TO JUST KIND OF GET THROUGH IT AND TO, YOU KNOW, GO FROM DAY TO DAY, PARDON SOME NATIONAL STATISTICS.
IT TAKES A SURVIVOR AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES BEFORE LEAVING AND LEAVING IS THE MOST DANGEROUS STATE BECAUSE THE SURVIVOR CAN ACTUALLY BE KILLED TRYING TO BE FREED FROM THAT ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP.
SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING FOR YOU TO PONDER TAWANDA.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND THE REASON WHY I GOT INVOLVED AS AN ACTIVIST IS BECAUSE I HAD A NEIGHBOR WHO WAS MURDERED BY HER HUSBAND.
HE MURDERED BOTH GRANDPARENTS AND HE MURDERED A COUSIN, COUSIN OF HER.
SO IT WAS FOUR PEOPLE WHO WERE MURDERED AND HE SHOT HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW, BUT SHE WAS THE SURVIVOR.
AND LOOKING AT THAT, IT'S JUST LIKE WHAT LAKITA STATING ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR THEM TO FEEL COMFORTABLE TO LEAVE.
SHE LEFT HOME AND SHE RETURNED WITHIN A TWO WEEK SPAN, BUT I DO BELIEVE IF THERE WERE RESOURCES AND MORE HELP THAT WE COULD HAVE REACHED OUT TO HER THAT SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE TODAY.
SO WITH HER, I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO SEE IT ON BOTH SIDES.
I WAS PULLING MY CORD EMPLOYEE AS WELL AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH MY OWN PERSONAL PEOPLE THAT I KNOW HAS DRAWN ME TO BE AN ACTIVIST AND TO SEE WHAT RESOURCES WE CAN COME UP WITH, UH, ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THINGS AVAILABLE SO THAT WOMEN WON'T FEEL SO INSECURE THAT THEY HAVE TO RETURN TO AN UNSAFE HOME.
AND SO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THE WORK GROUP DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST WHATEVER YOUR PREFERENCE IS, AS FAR AS OUR RELATIONSHIP PURPOSE.
SO WE ARE HERE TO ADVOCATE AND WE ARE HERE TO REDUCE THOSE RISK FACTORS THAT WE MENTIONED, BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH AN IMPERATIVE TIME WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT WORLD CRISIS WILL BE, BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE STATISTICS THAT IN THE INCREASE OF THE NUMBERS, DUE TO PEOPLE BEING TRAPPED AT HOME WITH THEIR ABUSE OF SOME PEOPLE, OUTLETS ARE ONLY WORK SCHOOL AND BEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE STUCK IN YOUR HOME, THAT'S A VERY DANGEROUS STATE.
AND, YOU KNOW, JUST LOOKING AT THAT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, HOW TO INCREASE ARE HAPPENING AMONG THE SOUTHERN REGION.
AND AS WELL AS ON THE WEST COAST, THOSE TYPE OF NUMBERS, WE ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN BE A VOICE THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAPPENS SAFELY AND SMOOTHLY WHEN YOU TRANSITION OUT OF THAT RELATIONSHIP.
AND SO, UM, JUST TO, JUST TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, DIMITRIA, IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD, AS FAR AS, UM, LOOKING AT THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OTHER THAN TRAUMA AND THE, THE S THE LONGTERM JEOPARDY, THAT IT HAS AN IMPACT YOUR CHILDREN THAT'S IN THAT HOME, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT PHYSICALLY BEING ABUSED, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN? DO YOU SEE A LOT OF CASES AMONG THE CHILDREN? WE DO SEE A LOT OF CASES AMONG THE CHILDREN.
HOWEVER, UM, SOMETIMES WE AS ADULTS DON'T REALIZE THAT OUR ACTIONS AS THE PARENTS ARE ACTUALLY AFFECTING THE CHILD AND THEY'RE AFFECTING THE CHILD IN A MAJOR, MAJOR WAY.
AND SOMETIMES THEIR CHILD MAY NOT SAY ANYTHING, BUT IT'S THE ACTUAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT THE TEACHER MAY SEE, OR THE COUNSELOR MAY SEE, OR THE NEIGHBOR MAY SEE, BUT THE PARENT DOESN'T ACTUALLY SEE IT.
SO THE, THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GET WITH THE PARENT AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, I NOTICED THIS, OR I NOTICED THAT.
AND THEN THE PARENT MAY REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING IS GOING ON AND THAT THE KID IS ACTUALLY BEING AFFECTED.
HOWEVER, DAMAGED KIDS BECOME DAMAGED ADULTS, IF THEY DON'T RECEIVE ANY TYPE OF HELP.
AND, AND A LOT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS.
I DO KNOW THAT SOME WOMEN, I USED TO GENERATION SOMETIMES LIKE WITH
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ME, IT WAS GENERATIONAL FOR ME.SO YOUR GENERATION, IT'S JUST REPEATING THE CYCLE.
YOU KNOW, THEY SAW THEIR MOM JUST, YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE TO BE LOVED.
THIS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO BE HIT ON, OR THEY HAVE TO BE IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION.
SO THEY GET INTO THAT SAME SITUATION.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S NOT A NEW THING.
SO THERE ARE AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
AND WE JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY IN IT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH, UM, THOSE WHO WORK FIRSTHAND AMONG OUR KIDS SOMETIMES INSTEAD OF GOING STRAIGHT INTO PUNISHMENT, LET'S GET DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY AND FIND OUT THE REASON WHY IS THIS CHILD ACTING OUT? IT'S JUST CHILD BEING ABUSED AS A CHILD, SEEING THAT TYPE OF AGGRESSION AT HOME, BECAUSE THAT COULD BE PLAYING OUT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO LET'S TAKE A DEEPER DIVE IN.
LET'S NOT JUST TRY TO BAND-AID THIS CHILD FOR ACTING OUT, BUT GET TO THE CORE REASON OF WHY THIS CHILD IS ACTING OUT.
AND I THINK THAT THAT CAN MAKE A HUGE IMPACT AND A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY WE LOOK AT OUR KIDS AND HOW WE RESPOND TO THEIR ACTIONS, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I'M THIRD GENERATION, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNEW BETTER, BUT YET, AND STILL IT WAS EMBEDDED IN ME, YOU KNOW, CONCEIVED FROM ABUSE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE CHILDREN.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ADULT COURT.
THIS IS ABOUT THE FAMILY UNIT ALTOGETHER, WHATEVER THAT FAMILY UNIT LOOKS LIKE TO YOU, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT.
WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE WITH THE DISCRIMINATION.
I THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT, UH, WHETHER IT'S MALE OR FEMALE, THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE.
AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.
I'VE KNOWN A NEIGHBOR WHOSE FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MURDERED, BUT I ALSO HAD A BEST FRIEND WHO WAS, WAS AN ATTORNEY AND SHE WAS KILLED IN HER LAW FIRM.
SO PEOPLE, SOMETIMES PEOPLE WONDERING WHY THIS IS HAPPENING TO ME AND MY, THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH IT, IT'S ON EVERY LEVEL.
SO DON'T BE AFRAID TO SEEK HELP IF THERE'S AVENUES FOR YOU TO SEEK HELP, PLEASE DO SO, DO NOT BE AFRAID.
AND I KNOW THAT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE, BUT A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH NOT GOING BACK.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR TO FORM WAYS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE THAT THERE NO OTHER WAY OUT OF THIS, BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER WAY OUR NEXT SEGMENT DISCUSSES AND FOCUSES ON THE CONCEPT OF BAIL.
AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE BAIL PROJECT.
THEY'VE VISITED US A WHILE BACK.
AND THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER GROUP THAT IS IN REFORMATION WITH, REGARDING, REGARDING BAIL.
AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE A PARTICULAR PERSON WHO THE CEO, UH, GREATER BATON ROUGE, Y WCA, UH, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, INTRODUCE DIANE PEYTON.
AND SHE'S GOING TO COME TO YOU AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THE Y W C A IS DOING TO BRING ABOUT BASING BAIL FOR BAIL REFORM FOR PERSONS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO BASICALLY LACKED MONEY AND THEY'VE BEEN ARRESTED AND THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY TO GET OUT OF JAIL.
AND SO I I'M, I'M ELATED TO BRING, UH, HER BEFORE YOU SO THAT SHE COULD TELL YOU ABOUT HER PROGRAM.
WELL, WHY DON'T WE SEE A GREATER BATON ROUGE AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY BELL FUND.
UH, THE WIDE WCH COMMUNITY BAIL FUND ACTUALLY STARTED IN DECEMBER OF 2018.
WHEN WE BAILED OUR FIRST LADY OUT OF JAIL, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF OUR PROGRAM IS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WHO DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THEIR BAIL FEES AND RETURN HOME, WHICH RESULTS MANY TIMES WITH INDIVIDUALS LOSING THEIR JOBS, THEIR HOUSING, POTENTIALLY CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN, BECAUSE THEY'D BEEN CHARGED OF ANY FENCE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF ANY CRIME.
AND HAD THEY HAD THE MONEY TO GO HOME AND THE RESOURCES TO PAY THEIR BILL FEE.
THEY WOULD BE HOME AND ABLE TO ACTUALLY DEFEND THEIR CASES MUCH BETTER.
UM, STAY CONNECTED WITH THEIR CHILDREN, MAINTAIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT, UM, AND CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVE CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE REALITY IS IT COSTS MORE MONEY TO ACTUALLY, UH, HOUSE SOMEONE IN PRISON THAN IT IS TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO GO HOME AND WAIT FOR THEIR TRIAL DATE.
WHAT I'VE SEEN SINCE 2018, UM, IS THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT MANY TIMES ARE WAITING IN OUR LOCAL PARISH PRISON FOR 17 MONTHS, MAYBE TWO YEARS WAITING FOR
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THEIR TRIAL DAY.IMAGINE SITTING IN A PRISON FOR TWO YEARS FOR A CRIME THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF ALL HE CHARGED STUFF FOR US AT WIDE WCA, GREATER BATON ROUGE.
I MISS OUR MISSION IS TO HELP ELIMINATE RACISM AND EMPOWER WOMEN.
WHAT WE KNOW CONCERNING ELIMINATING RACISM, THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR LOCAL JAILS AND PRISONS ARE INDIVIDUALS OF COLOR.
THEY'RE BLACK, THEY'RE BLACK MALES, UH, QUITE A FEW OF THEM.
UM, WE HAVE WOMEN WHO ARE STRAINING THEIR RESOURCES, TRYING TO BAIL OUT THEIR SONS AND THEIR HUSBANDS OR THEIR BROTHERS OR THEIR NEPHEWS, WHICH IS CAUSING A STRAIN ON WOMEN'S ACTUAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES, WOMEN WHO ARE WORKING MANY TIMES, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WOMEN OF COLOR ARE UNDEREMPLOYED AND ARE OFTEN THE LOWEST PAID, UM, IN DIFFERENT JOBS AND POSITIONS AT Y WCA.
WE HAVE COMMITTED OURSELVES TO HELP WITH THIS STRUGGLE, TO HELP WITH THIS BURDEN.
AND WE DO THAT BY ACTUALLY POSTING BAIL.
WE TRY TO POST BAIL FOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENSES.
WE TRY TO POST BAIL FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, WOMEN WHO ARE FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES, BUT THEY HAVE RECEIVED A CHARGE ANYWAY.
UM, UM, WE'RE HERE TO BE A HELP AND A SUPPORT, AND WE DON'T STOP JUST WHEN WE BAIL YOU OUT OF JAIL.
WE HAVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ATTACHED TO THAT MANY TIMES, WE HELP INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY OBTAIN HOUSING.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS, WE HELP INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY OBTAIN A BED FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HELP VERSUS BEING IN JAIL.
CAN WE TEACH THEM SKILLS, BUT THEY'RE NO LONGER ADDICTED TO HEROIN OR THEY'RE NO LONGER SPEAKING DRUG, NEW THINGS.
WE PROVIDE TRAUMA COUNSELING THROUGH SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH A GRANT THROUGH OUR CITY.
UM, AND THEY'RE SHARING WESTERN BROOMS OFFICE, A RECAST GRANT WHERE WE NOT ONLY BAIL YOU OUT, BUT WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT GOT YOU HERE TO BEGIN WITH.
HOW DO WE HELP YOU MEND THAT BROKEN, THAT BROKEN FENCE, THAT BROKEN AREA WITHIN YOUR HEART, WITHIN YOUR MIND, WHATEVER PERIOD, WHATEVER ACTION WHAT HAPPENED THAT CAUSED YOU TO TOO SOMETIMES ENDED UP ON A TRACK THAT LEADS TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.
WE ALSO HELP YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A MENTOR OR SOMEONE TO HELP THEM PICTURE THEIR FUTURE, HELP THEM FIND EMPLOYMENT IN A JOB.
SO THEY AREN'T LEANING ON SELLING DRUGS OR STEALING ITEMS, PETTY THINGS THAT ARE BEING STOLEN, TRYING TO MAINTAIN THEIR DAILY BASIC NEEDS.
WE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS WORK.
WE'RE DEDICATED TO THIS WORK, AND WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT OUR PARTNERS, WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY BEING ON BOARD, WE WORK VERY HEAVY WITH DIFFERENT PARTNERS, SUCH AS OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.
THEY HAVE BEEN A CHAMPION WITH HELPING TO IDENTIFY IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY'RE SERVING, UM, WHO MAY BE IN NEED OF OUR ASSISTANCE.
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL EVEN TO OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE TRY TO DO WHAT THEY CAN WHEN WE CALL THEM AND SAY, WE HAVE A NEED.
UM, CAN WE DISCUSS GETTING A BAIL, NO WORK.
UM, WE ARE HERE WORKING COLLECTIVELY WITH ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, WORKING WITH THE PRISON COALITION, UH, WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL JUDGES, SUCH AS JUDGE JOHNSON OR ANYONE ELSE'S WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH US AND SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
UM, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE FROM OUR COMMUNITY BAIL FUND, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, UH, Y WCA DASH B R.ORG.
WITH THAT, YOU CAN CLICK ON THE LINK THAT SAYS, IF YOU NEED HELP, YOU CAN SAY, WHAT TYPE OF HELP YOU MAY NEED FOR YOUR LOVED ONE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS MAY ALREADY BE IN JAIL AND IT'S THEIR LOVED ONE.
THAT'S SUBMITTING THAT REQUEST KNOW THAT THOSE REQUESTS ARE REVIEWED IMMEDIATELY.
I WILL WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IF I HAVE TO AND, AND RESPOND TO THOSE REQUESTS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO HELP.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION IS WE ALSO ASSIST WITH PROTESTORS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN QUITE A FEW RECENT, UM, UNREST AND EVENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN BOTH OUR LOCAL AND NATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT HAS CAUSED, UM, I FELLOW CITIZENS TO BE VERY PASSIONATE AND DEDICATED TO SPEAKING OUT AND HAVING A VOICE, UM, FILLING THE NEED TO PROTEST WITH THAT.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED FOR THAT.
WE ARE HERE TO ASSIST WITH THOSE PROTESTS NEEDS.
UH, WE'VE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM COLIN KAEPERNICK TO THE ROBERT F. KENNEDY FOUNDATION,
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UM, TO FUNDING FROM WINTER AND KEVIN RILEY JR.UM, THE WILSON FOUNDATION, WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND WE ARE EXCITED FOR THIS WORK.
UH, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THIS WORK, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOU ABOUT THE Y WCA GREATER BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY BAIL FUND.
WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE OUT THE SHOW WITH THE ISSUE OF VOTING THIS VOTING, THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY VOTING.
THIS SHOW IS ABOUT EMPOWERMENT.
THIS SHOW IS ABOUT PREPARING THE WAY OUR SHOW IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CITIZEN OF OUR COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED.
WE HAVE MARGINALIZED FAR TOO LONG SEGMENTS OF OUR OWN HOUSE.
WE HAVE TO, SOME DEGREE HAVE BEEN ASHAMED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THINGS THAT ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR FAMILIES.
WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE A FAMILY.
AND WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING, AND WITH THAT ACCEPTANCE, WE MUST PLAN FOR ACCEPT AND RE ENTER THE PHASES OF TRANSITION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ONE WAY THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPROVES IS THAT THE VERY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT SYSTEM AS DEFENDANTS ARE MADE WHOLE OR MADE FULL, ARE GIVING ALL OF THEIR CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS BACK.
SO FOR TOO LONG, WE HAVE MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GONE TO PRISONS WHO HAVE GONE TO JAIL AND ARE COMING BACK TO LIVE AMONG US AND WITH US.
AND FOR SOME REASON, WE DON'T WANT TO REALLY HELP THEM IMPROVE.
SOME OF US DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
WHY? I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK IT'S MAYBE CONCERNED FOR DISTINCTIONS THAT MAKE NO SENSE.
SO I CHALLENGED OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP EVERY PERSON RETURNING FROM PRISON AND FROM JAIL TO BE MADE WHOLE, TO GIVE THEM AN EQUAL CHANCE TO BE RESTORED AS EQUAL CITIZENS AMONG US.
WHEN WE DO THAT, YOU WILL FIND THIS COMMUNITY THAT THEY WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE THEIR WAY BECAUSE THEY SEE HOPE FROM YOU.
YOU'VE GOT TO SHOW THEM THE WAY YOU'VE GOT TO TEACH THEM THE WAY YOU'VE GOT TO PICK THEM UP.
THEY'VE GOT TO RELATE TO THEM.
YOU'VE GOT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY'RE IMPORTANT.
AND ONE OF THE MAJOR WAYS YOU CAN DO THAT IS TO EMPOWER THEM AND ASSURE THEM THAT THEIR VOTE MATTERS.
SO STEP NUMBER ONE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE CERTAIN CITIZENS THAT YOU STRESS TO THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHO GO AROUND BELIEVING THAT I CAN'T VOTE.
IT'S ALMOST INDOCTRINATED WITHIN SOME, IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHO, WHEN I TALKED TO, I SAID, JUDGE JOHNSON, I CANNOT HELP YOU TRANSFORM CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
I CANNOT HELP YOU SOLVE THESE CRIME PROBLEMS. I HAVE NO POWER.
JUDGE JOHNSON, NOT TELLING THEM, OH YES, YOU CAN.
IF YOU WOULD FOLLOW THE BASIC RULES, GET YOURSELF RESTORED, FOLLOW THE PROCESSES.
AND ANOTHER THING ABOUT SOME OF THESE PROCESSES, WE'VE GOT TO CHALLENGE SOME OF THESE PROCESSES, WHICH MAKE IT TOO DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THEIR BEST TO RECOVER, TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK, BUT STILL DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
STILL DENIED THE BASIC SIMPLE PROCESS TO REGISTER.
I WANT THIS COMMUNITY TO KNOW IF WE CONTINUE TO SEGREGATE.
IF WE CONTINUE TO DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND BETWEEN THOSE WHO HAVE GONE TO PRISON, THOSE WHO HAVE GONE TO JAIL, AND THEN COME BACK TO US FROM THE REST OF US WHO NEVER WENT, THEN WE WILL NOT HAVE THE GREATEST SOCIETY.
SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU GO AND VOTE.
WE HAVE A SHORT WINDOW OF TIME LEFT TO DO THAT.
THE VOTER REGISTRAR'S OFFICE WILL BE OPEN FOR EXTENDED HOURS, COME AND REGISTER, AND THEN SELECT WHOMEVER YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PERSONS IN A LOT OF POSITIONS ON THE BALLOT, INCLUDING US JUDGES, INCLUDING US AS JUDGES.
AND I'D LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THIS, I NEED HELP AT THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT.
I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP THESE MODELS THAT I'VE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING A VETERANS COURT, A MENTAL HEALTH COURT.
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REMEMBER TO VOTE FOR THESE ELECTIONS COMING UP IN THE FALL, NOVEMBER THE THIRD.