If you think 2020 isn’t going well for you, take a look at the Boy Scouts: it’s estimated that up to 50,000 victims of child sexual abuse could come forward in the Chapter 11 Boy Scout bankruptcy. Survivors until November 15 to file paperwork and join the bankruptcy, which I predict will uncover decades of…Continue reading A Day of Reckoning for the Boy Scouts
Being an honorable Boy Scout is not about forcing yourself to carry secrets of hurt and shame. Honoring the Boy Scouts is not about protecting the public from the truth about your experience in Scouting. So what do you do if you are a Scout who was sexually abused? What do you do if you…Continue reading Boy Scouts and Abuse: Why come forward?
Last week, The Orange County Register published an excellent two-part series on the sex abuse cover-up scandal inside of USA Swimming. Some of horrific facts reporter Scott M. Reid unearthed: • Top USA Swimming executives, board members, top officials and coaches acknowledge in the documents that they were aware of sexually predatory coaches for years,…Continue reading ICYMI – USA Swimming has a scandal on its hands
The era of secret child sex abuse settlements in California is over. I am usually quick to beat up on California Governor Jerry Brown for his poor record on protecting institutions who cover-up child sex abuse. But a new law enacted January 1, 2017, slipped under my radar— and organizations who harbor men and women who…Continue reading California outlaws secret abuse settlements, hidden evidence
THE WELL-ARMORED CHILD – the book that is being hailed as the “definitive child safety manual” – is on sale for only 99 cents (YAY!) for the Kindle and Nook. You can get the Kindle version here. The Nook version is available by clicking here. In the book, you can learn age-specific tools and strategies to…Continue reading The Well-Armored Child – FLASH SALE!
I wrote two pieces in September’s issue of OC Family. CASA’s volunteers make a difference in the lives of Orange County’s foster children and TWO LOCAL NON-PROFITS HELP KIDS IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM It’s nice to write about good news for a change.
A federal bankruptcy judge has set an August 3 deadline for victims of child sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The deadline, called a BAR DATE, is the final day and men and women abused as children can file claims against the Archdiocese to expose their abuser and get justice and accountability. The…Continue reading Bar date set for St. Paul/Minneapolis abuse victims
This week’s question, two days late. Joelle, how do scandals in places like Penn State and the Catholic Church start? I mean, these aren’t bad people in these institutions, right? Will new policies by these organizations and others make sure that men and women who abuse children are reported and stopped, instead of protected? This…Continue reading Ask a Question Friday: Reporting and Institutions
As of this writing, there is no new new news on SB 131. California Governor Jerry Brown has until Sunday to sign the bill, veto it, or do nothing. If he signs the bill or does nothing, SB 131 will become law on January 1, 2014 Let’s keep our fingers crossed for victims—all victims. Why? Because…Continue reading T-minus 2 for SB 131
Here is the latest on SB 131: Governor Brown has until October 13 (a previous blog post said October 10) to sign the bill, veto the bill, or do nothing. If he signs the bill or does nothing, SB 131 becomes law. As written, the law would go into effect on January 1, 2014. If…Continue reading So … what’s going on with SB 131?
Your question of the day: You see a child being sexually abused and beaten on a street corner. Whom do you call? Answer: The local university, your bishop, your commander or the leader of the closest nonprofit. Ridiculous? Of course it is. Utterly absurd? Yes. Child endangerment? You bet. So let’s try again with the correct…Continue reading Institutions need to get out of the sex abuse investigation business
The California Child Victims Act—SB 131—has made it through Appropriations and is scheduled for a vote on the Senate Floor TOMORROW. The bill dramatically extends the civil statute of limitations for children who are sexually abused and gives older victims a one-year window to come forward, expose their abuser and seek accountability. In short, if…Continue reading The CA Child Victims Act Needs Your Support – NOW
What if Pablo Escobar had hosted a symposium on Drug Trade Gangland Violence Prevention? No matter what well-respected, hard-working experts he invited, the symposium wouldn’t have stopped the continued promulgation of violence in the Columbian Drug Cartel. Later this month, Penn State will be hosting a symposium on child sexual abuse and prevention. Their list…Continue reading A symposium has never stopped sex abuse and cover-up
Some of the Boy Scouts of America “perversion files” are going to be posted online next week. The documents – in which all victims’ names will be redacted – will outline the more than 80-year history of sex abuse and cover-up in the Boy Scouts. The list of “ineligible” volunteers – men who had…Continue reading A Modest Proposal for the Boy Scouts (and others)
