VAWnet News Blog

In a letter sent Tuesday to Goodell, Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii, and Rep. Jackie Speier, a Democrat from California, wrote: “We urge you to create accountability at all levels of the NFL, particularly among team owners, who have the most direct financial incentives to avoid long-term suspensions and quickly get players back on the field.” Read More

“It’s a chilling thought that the same day we all gathered to discuss domestic-violence prevention and education, a life was cut short due to this tragic crime just a few blocks away. This reaffirms the need for more conversations like this about domestic violence.”

“… fewer than half of all domestic violence victims ever call the police. One reasonable reaction to this data is to encourage more victims to call the police for help. And we do. But that’s not the only or best solution for everyone.

Christopher Chapa had a lot of plans ahead adding, “I think that’s the hardest part is just seeing what would have been.” His plans included marrying his girlfriend Claudia Esquivel and being step-father to her five-year-old son. In June of 2014 Chapa was shot to death in Galveston. The woman now charged with his murder is the one he was about to propose to.

“The stigma associated with IPV may be especially pervasive in minority victim populations, including men abused by women, people in same-sex relationships, or transgender individuals. These victims may be especially reluctant to report IPV to law enforcement, resulting in a cycle of abuse in which violent partners escape the criminal justice system and become repeat offenders.

“Police may remove the perpetrator, but the victim is left with the question of what to do next,” Messing says.