‘Til Death Do Us Part: Inside the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Domestic Violence Exposé
(trigger warning)
(the full expose can be read at the second link)
Til Death Do Us Part: Inside the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Domestic Violence Exposé
This week, The Post and Courier, a family-owned and operated newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize Public Service gold medal for their in-depth investigation into the devastation wrought by domestic violence in their state. In seven heart-wrenching installments, Til Death Do Us Part explores the roles culture, patriarchy, law enforcement and legislation play in enabling domestic violence, as well offering commonsense strategies to combat it both statewide and nationally. The Ms. Blog spoke to Jennifer Berry Hawes, one of four journalists tasked with exposing the brutal reality of domestic violence in South Carolina, about shedding light on the suffering of so many at home.
Why this story now?
It started [in 2013] when the Violence Policy Center released its annual rankings for women who are killed by their domestic partners. Its a ranking that comes out every year and South Carolina is always near the top so, for us, quite honestly, it wasnt incredibly shocking that South Carolina was first. Its one of those things where were somewhat used to covering, so originally, we kind of approached it as the usual daily story and then my colleagues got together and discussed taking a deeper look. It wasnt just that we were ranked number one, but that our rate was twice that of the national average. There was obviously something going on here and we decided to take a deeper look at what that was.
How did you approach gathering the data and interview subjects?
[First], we divided up some of the work just by topic. Then, as a group, we decided to take a look at a list [compiled by] The Silent Witness National Initiative that details all of the people who have been killed by their domestic partners [each] year. We went through those lists of all the people who were killed and we tried to trace back details about the perpetrators offenses. We went back and looked at [their] other criminal domestic violence (CDV) convictions, other assault-type convictions
if they were repeat offenders. That proved to be really difficult and thats when we really started to think this is one of the problems. In South Carolina, your first CDV offense is a maximum in jail of 30 days. There were abusers who had multiple first offenses so, there again is another obvious flaw in the system. If you get just a matter of weeks for beating your wife and then do it again and again just get a matter of weeks, what is your [deterrent]? Even if you have the moral recognition that what youre doing is wrong, youre not suffering any real punishment. Thats when we realized more than three hundred women had died [at the hands of abusive partners] in the past decade. [About] 1 every 12 days. So, we put a database together and then moved forward gathering more information about the victims themselves, pulled out some of the cases we wanted to really dive into and then we met with surviving victims who could share their stories. One thing that we found that I didnt realize was that women are actually the most at risk of being killed [by abusive partners] when they do try to leave [and] thats one reason why a lot of them stay.
Were you surprised by the prevalence and severity of domestic violence?
I have to say when I went in, I thought I had a pretty good grasp of it, [but I] was completely proven wrong. I had people come out of the woodwork. A neighbor of mine, the wife of one of my sons coaches [whose] mother had been a victim, there was a killing in my own neighborhood. You start to realize that its everywhere and how hush-hush its kept. I thought at the start of this that we may wind up focusing on a few key victims who have particularly disturbing stories to drive this, but I think what we found was there were so many. These were women who [felt] trapped in their relationships financially, but others were the breadwinners in their family. They were educated, they had the [financial] ability to leave and support themselves, but theres so much more entwined in why they stayed. Whether it was because they believed nobody else would care about them ever or they thought, if only my husband stops drinking, if only he stops doing drugs, if only he could control his temper, if only Im a better wife, if only I dont screw up dinner. It was just so much more complicated than I expected.
. . . .
http://msmagazine.com/blog/2015/04/26/til-death-do-us-part-inside-the-pulitzer-prize-winning-domestic-violence-expose/
http://www.postandcourier.com/tilldeath/partone.html
https://www.vpc.org/ (the violence policy center)
http://www.silentwitness.net/ (the silent witness initiative--stories of domestic violence)
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Very interesting to see a local paper explicitly address the gender and religion dynamics that help drive the violence and oppression of women in SC.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)This steams me, and here is why:
In the 1970's, part of the Women's Right Movement included violence against women issues, battered women.
I was one of the founding Board Members of the first Shelter for Abused Woman in Seattle.
the issue spread across the country, and shelters got funding from state and Federal programs.
We educated police on how to handle domestic violence..that was a looong learning curve, btw.
Police started to remove the abuser and referring the victim to help on domestic violence calls.
Then the Republicans took over.
The funding was cut and cut and cut.
to the point where everything we learned about domestic violence seems to have been erased, and now we have a reporter who "did not realize" one of the key lessons we fought so long and hard to learn: domestic battery usually ends up with a dead victim, sooner or later.
It seems that everything my generation went thru in the 60's and 70's has been erased...environmental issues, regional wars, women's rights, unions.
I am feeling so weary and discouraged lately.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)brer cat
(24,576 posts)I find it horribly depressing that we are fighting again the battles we thought we won decades ago. I would feel like quitting, but then I have granddaughters, so I have to keep going. sigh.
HeiressofBickworth
(2,682 posts)I was a paralegal at that time, specializing in divorces. The shelter was asking for help from paralegals to get temporary restraining orders for battered women, pro bono. At that time, paralegals were not allowed to present orders in court, not even temporary restraining orders which were not argued by opposing attorneys. Attorneys were to follow up at the TRO hearing in order to make them permanent. Without the cooperation of the courts and the bar association, there was little need for paralegals at the shelter. I took the shelter's training course and have always remembered what I learned.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)I worked with NW Legal Service out of Snohomish County in area of Welfare Rights, also.
HeiressofBickworth
(2,682 posts)I lived (then and now) in Snohomish County but I worked on Queen Anne in Seattle. It would have been some time around 1973 -- that was the year that no-fault divorce became the law in Washington. I worked for a closed-panel law firm, one that was not open to the general public but was available to members of 26 unions that contracted with the firm for discounted services. We offered divorce, bankruptcies, adoptions, DUI, probates and estate planning with a few other civil cases as well. It isn't around any longer. I was a paralegal for divorce, bankruptcies and adoptions. It was my experience with divorce cases that gave me the interest in doing some legal work for the shelter.
Do you recall a plan to use paralegals for TRO's?
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Quite irritatiing that we have to address this inequality crap all over again, tho.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Pretty disappointing show of support.
niyad
(113,336 posts)or anything.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Skittles, get over here.
Much as I'd like to throttle people into caring, that strategy probably would backfire, in one or more myriad ways.
But some ASS KICKING could prove to be helpful.
niyad
(113,336 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)I chucked all my pervy stuff, but I DO have my massive hiking boots.
niyad
(113,336 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)niyad
(113,336 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)-_-
niyad
(113,336 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)I'm glad to see it did!!!!!!
Your OP deserves to be seen. It's IMPORTANT
Skittles
(153,169 posts)that seems to be a meme
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)We're too Nice.
niyad
(113,336 posts)reichwingnuts would come up with now.
but, you are correct. we have been way too nice, way too patient. back in the early days of the current women's movement, we were told that we didn't have to protest, to demand, that the courts would protect us. I would laugh, except that it isn't remotely funny.
"For the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change. And this fact is only threatening to those women who still define the master's house as their only source of support."--audre lord
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Clearly no one else is going to fight for us. Even though we've always been on the front lines for other causes, we have to keep at this one ourselves.
niyad
(113,336 posts)fight for women's suffrage around the time of the civil war, and every season since then for one cause or another.
Skittles
(153,169 posts)the sexism in America is still rampant
niyad
(113,336 posts)governmental power.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)It drastically changed my life for the better.
And we we were not sitting at home...there were marches. We were loud. We were active.
Apparently loud and active is much needed right now, to counter the current Reich Wing attempts to drag everyone back to the days of serfdom.
niyad
(113,336 posts)loud and active. how much coverage in the msm have any of our marches, etc. gotten?
remember this:
Flashback: Over One Million March for Womens Lives
Posted 04/25/2014 by National Organization for Women & filed under Abortion Rights/Reproductive Issues.
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The following is an article from the Spring 2004 National NOW Times, written by former Communications Director Lisa Bennett.
March for Women's Lives, 2004
A small portion of the crowd, marching through Washington, D.C.
In the weeks leading up to the March for Womens Lives, organizers knew the event would be one of the largest of its kind ever in Washington, D.C. Marchers were coming by car, bus, train and plane from all over the United States and even the world. But no one could predict exactly what heights the attendance would reach.
On April 25, 2004, a year of planning paid off when 1.15 million women, men, girls and boys marched to protect and advance abortion rights, birth control and access to a full range of reproductive health care options.
Marchers began gathering shortly after sunrise at the National Mall, between the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument. By 10 am, when speakers and performers took the morning stage, a sea of activists were pouring from the metro stations into the heart of the nations capital. A photo taken from atop the Monument shows an amazing mile-long column of people clad in purple and pink t-shirts and waving a collage of signs. You look beautiful, NOW President Kim Gandy told the crowd.
The March itself took hours to complete with so many people participating. The route took reproductive rights supporters past the White House and down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol building. Back on the Mall again, more speeches and entertainment rounded out an incredible day.
. . . .
http://now.org/blog/over-one-million-march-for-womens-lives/
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)Remember My Story.
Remember My Name.
Yes, we must.
Solly Mack
(90,771 posts)AuntPatsy
(9,904 posts)niyad
(113,336 posts)AuntPatsy
(9,904 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)AuntPatsy
(9,904 posts)niyad
(113,336 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,632 posts)trumad
(41,692 posts)steve2470
(37,457 posts)FSogol
(45,488 posts)Kali
(55,014 posts)jesusfuckingchrist
Heidi
(58,237 posts)okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)bemildred
(90,061 posts)Passed down from generation to generation.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)Usually I wait until I'm finished with the entire article before I comment or recommend but this one is a MUST read, especially for anyone who claims to care about women's issues.
Thanks for posting niyad.
niyad
(113,336 posts)riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)the depth and scope of the writing and analysis is excellent.
Are you a South Carolina resident?
I can't believe I missed this article before. I've now shared it at least ten times even without finishing it. Shared at such diverse places as the local women's shelter I volunteer at - to the local food pantry, and especially with my two daughters.
niyad
(113,336 posts)thank you for sharing, and continuing to share this valuable information.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)About the status of women?
Why the hell is our Life or Death such a low priority?
Systematized bias that ends up with a lot of women DEAD, yet that commands so little attention?
We hear about all the other human rights violations, and pizza parlors denying service to gay weddings get top priority for weeks, but institutionalized neglect of women, which helps KILL US..... ??
niyad
(113,336 posts)progressive boards and sites. we simply do not count.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)When the issue is a "top-free" protest. Then we matter a big whole lot.
niyad
(113,336 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Just a lot of jackassery.... The "Femen" brouhaha.
AuntPatsy
(9,904 posts)niyad
(113,336 posts)progressive board.
AuntPatsy
(9,904 posts)freepotter
(351 posts)nt