Sunday, June 26, 2011
Do sexual and domestic violence issues get diluted or not? This month's task force meeting debates the impact of its new name, which is still up for discussion.
Do not water down the only task force that addresses domestic and sexual violence throughout all of Pasco County. That's my advice to members of the Task Force Formerly Known as the Sexual and Domestic Violence Task Force of Pasco County. (This reminds me of The Artist Formerly Known as Prince who was then doing business as that weird symbol...) The Task Force tentatively voted in late May to drop "domestic and sexual violence" from its common-use name and expand its services in East Pasco. Its new name is "Family and Community Task Force of East Pasco," but Task Force members are continuing to debate the decision. I want the task force's focus to be clear and not clear as mud. I don't want them to drop "domestic and sexual violence" …
Do sexual and domestic violence issues get diluted or not? This month's task force meeting debates the impact of its new name, which is still up for discussion.
Do not water down the only task force that addresses domestic and sexual violence throughout all of Pasco County. That's my advice to members of the Task Force Formerly Known as the Sexual and Domestic Violence Task Force of Pasco County. (This reminds me of The Artist Formerly Known as Prince who was then doing business as that weird symbol...) The Task Force tentatively voted in late May to drop "domestic and sexual violence" from its common-use name and expand its services in East Pasco. Its new name is "Family and Community Task Force of East Pasco," but Task Force members are continuing to debate the decision. I want the task force's focus to be clear and not clear as mud. I don't want them to drop "domestic and sexual violence" …
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Is dillution the solution? Proposed name changes make no mention of sexual or domestic violence.
The Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force of Pasco County tentatively voted in late May to drop "domestic and sexual violence" from its common-use name and expand its services in East Pasco. While the new name is "Family and Community Enhancement Task Force of East Pasco," the goup is still operating as the only countywide domestic and sexual violence task force. In addition, West Pasco's Domestic Violence Task force is not included in these changes at all and is a separate operation. Why change the name? It's a different name for “marketing purposes” while the grant money still rolls in under the official legal name, according to the explanation provided by Sunrise of Pasco. That means for bylaws and grants, it's legal name remains as "…
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Marty Driscoll, a Dept. of Corrections contractor for treatment of convicted sex offenders, talks about sex offender treatment
What comes next for convicted sex offenders who are released from prison? Marty Driscoll, Co-Chair of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force for Pasco County, is a licensed therapist who helps sex offenders find the answer to this question. I spoke to him about what it is like to work with the convicted sex offenders who are out of jail on probation or parole: Driscoll is a licensed mental health therapist who worked with child abuse prevention and started first child abuse prevention program in Pasco County. Then in private practice, he noticed there was a lack of sex offender treatment in East Pasco. He started a small treatment program, then got a Department of Corrections contract in 1989. The program has grown into a 3 and a …
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Find out how men can help fight sexual assult
It certainly takes a few good men to end sexual violence. Fortunately, the good guys are running ahead and fighting on the frontlines. At least 257 men took the Men’s Pledge at the Take Back the Night event to raise awareness and stop sexual assault April 16 in Tampa, according to preliminary numbers from Marilyn Bray, outreach and empowerment coordinator for Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. Total attendance of men and women at this year’s Take Back the Night was estimated at 750. Take Back the Night, originally known as “Reclaim the Night,” is an international march, rally, protest and call to take action against rape and other forms of sexual violence. It started in Europe and has been around for more than thirty years, since a Tribunal on …
Saturday, April 9, 2011
No means no! That means stop rape! Welcome to Sexual Assault Awareness Month throughout the USA. Join Pasco County survivors and advocates to help stop sexual violence at Take Back the Night and let our voices be heard!
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It's time to speak out against rape and other forms of forced sex. To give you some perspective on the problem of sexual assault, here are just a few startling facts provided by Terri O’Brien, executive director of Sunrise of Pasco County and co-chairperson of the Pasco Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force: "No!" means "No!" No consent means it is rape! If you are incapacitated and cannot consent, it is rape. We need to pull together as a community and stop this. Here's what's horrifying: If we start counting the minutes that pass while reading this article, how many will have been sexually assaulted by the time you get to the end? How many mothers, sisters, daughters, cousins, nieces, …
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Learn what someone can be punished for. Naming it for what it is helps you to stand up and protect yourself.
“He threw me into a wall after dragging me by my hair, but he didn’t punch me with his fist.” It may not seem like it, but this anecdote is just one example of reportable domestic violence. It was given to me by Terri O’Brien of Sunrise of Pasco County, a domestic violence and sexual assault center. Knowing what counts as domestic violence can be difficult. I thought it would be helpful to know what guidelines and definitions help police and courts punish abusers. Here is what I learned about Florida’s legal definition of domestic violence ( Fl.S.S. 741.28): “Domestic Violence” means any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment …
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sexual and Domestic Violence Task Force - an introduction to those fighting for change and saving lives with Task Force Co-Chair Terri O'Brien
“Because domestic and sexual assault are a real problem in our community.” That's what Terri O’Brien told me when I asked her why we need a Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force in West Pasco County. O'Brien serves as co-chair of not one but two task forces with Marty Driscoll, who works as a therapist for convicted sexual offenders and predators in Pasco. One Task Force serves West Pasco. The other serves East Pasco. With these combined forces and collaboration with police, task force members are bound to produce results. And it's about time. Last year alone, police responded to more than 8,000 calls related to domestic and/or sexual violence. The two go hand in hand more often than not. The task force only included domestic …
Joe Sprowls
1:27 am on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
You wrote a great article more ›