Families of SOs Community Group
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Some of you remember my post early this year. For those who have not...here it is.
Background info.....
As a Deputy Sheriff for 23 years I spent the last 15 years in the courts. My court was Initial Appearance. So I was as close to the beginning of the long process of the criminal justice system. To make a long story short...what i experienced is the lack of knowledge and the lack of support for those families who have family members accused of crimes.
Fast forward.......what i noticed is those families affected by sex crimes were totally clueless vs the average law breaker. I am trying to put it in simple terms here and hope to not offend anyone. I took note. Johnnie who breaks into home has no family in the audience. Johnnie who is accused of a sex crime has his parents and others in the viewing area.
So what? Just an observation.
When my good friends and neighbors had a son arrested for sexual assualt they called me. I guided them through the process. I told them what to expect. I excused myself from my court to sit with the parents as support.
This was the beginning. Then i knew. But not yet really.
Then my daughters boyfriend arrested for rape. Here we go again. Mom calls for help. So i do. Iam trying to make this short.
Long story but here i am.
This is my goal. And it is my passion. I want to help those families and guide them through the process. I cant raise everyones kids to tell them to keep their mouth shut. So here we are.
So to all of you i want your thoughts and opinions. I am thinking of creating a so called liason between the family and the courts. I want to help and guide families. What I found is there is no support for family. Are we not "victims" also?
That is what floored me. I went to our countys victimwitness unit. I know these people. I worked with them for 15 year. What did i get? Sorry.....we cant help you. We support the victim of the crime. Your daughter and you dont quaify.
ok my story aint short....
Summing it up.... i want to propose to the Sheriffs Department that they need a family advocate. I have all the time now that iam retired. In fact my husband encourages me in this.
This is where i need your help. Lets make a difference! Thoughts?
Background info.....
As a Deputy Sheriff for 23 years I spent the last 15 years in the courts. My court was Initial Appearance. So I was as close to the beginning of the long process of the criminal justice system. To make a long story short...what i experienced is the lack of knowledge and the lack of support for those families who have family members accused of crimes.
Fast forward.......what i noticed is those families affected by sex crimes were totally clueless vs the average law breaker. I am trying to put it in simple terms here and hope to not offend anyone. I took note. Johnnie who breaks into home has no family in the audience. Johnnie who is accused of a sex crime has his parents and others in the viewing area.
So what? Just an observation.
When my good friends and neighbors had a son arrested for sexual assualt they called me. I guided them through the process. I told them what to expect. I excused myself from my court to sit with the parents as support.
This was the beginning. Then i knew. But not yet really.
Then my daughters boyfriend arrested for rape. Here we go again. Mom calls for help. So i do. Iam trying to make this short.
Long story but here i am.
This is my goal. And it is my passion. I want to help those families and guide them through the process. I cant raise everyones kids to tell them to keep their mouth shut. So here we are.
So to all of you i want your thoughts and opinions. I am thinking of creating a so called liason between the family and the courts. I want to help and guide families. What I found is there is no support for family. Are we not "victims" also?
That is what floored me. I went to our countys victimwitness unit. I know these people. I worked with them for 15 year. What did i get? Sorry.....we cant help you. We support the victim of the crime. Your daughter and you dont quaify.
ok my story aint short....
Summing it up.... i want to propose to the Sheriffs Department that they need a family advocate. I have all the time now that iam retired. In fact my husband encourages me in this.
This is where i need your help. Lets make a difference! Thoughts?
I keep pretty busy, but I will be glad to help you in any way you need me.
Your idea of a liaison between the family and the courts is an excellent idea and you will be very effective as you have seen so many people affected by this. Your job as a court bailiff makes you probably more suited than anyone else.
If I can help, holler.
rewdiazepam
The thing too is the person who committed the crime is also in a bad place as they do not know what to do in any of this. All my husband was told by a public defender is plead not guilty, then of course it goes from there. If my husband would of plead guilty at the beginning i am not sure if it would of proceeded to where it got to and what a crap deal he got.
Maybe the best thing we can all do, when we find out about others who are just starting this nightmare, is recommend this forum. The support here is wonderful and available at any time of the day or night from a wide variety of people. Whereas, you might get totally worn out trying to be there for everybody in your local area. Just my two cents. God bless you for your kind thoughtfulness!
As what our rights were.
This place was great, for a lot of info, but sometimes you don't know what questions to ask. I try to answer those questions for families who are currently navigating through the legal process.
You have an advantage, as you have seen things from another view point, unlike most of us.
I would be happy to act as a Family advocate or help you set up such a program with the local courts to help families going through this if you can find some way to do that.
https://www.rainn.org/get-information/types-of-sexual-assault/male-sexual-assault They also have a secure confidential support line for sexual assault victims (no matter what their age or when they were themselves assaulted) and they "specialize in getting help for men and boys
So where do i go? Are there businesses out there that can help with helping me put this together? Or any of you have expertise in writing and preparing proposals for presentations?
Did i say i get stage fright talking in front of people? Sounds silly doesnt it? But yet i can put on the uniform and bark orders!
Any ideas?