Podcast on Crimes Against Women Conference on Crimes Against Women

Two-thirds of mass shootings in the U.S. are committed by perpetrators with a history of domestic violence.  A recent report from the Office of Justice Programs’ National Criminal Justice Reference Service explores the connection between domestic violence and mass shootings offering both findings as well as opportunities for improving prevention and response. Jan Langbein and Jordyn Lawson of Genesis explore the highlights of the report, characteristics of these offenders, issues of entitlement and male privilege, and how Genesis responds to survivors of these experiences. This episode discusses mass shootings, gun violence, domestic violence, and suicide. 

Research demonstrates that people who experience abuse have significantly higher risks for both mental health challenges and substance use disorders. The complex pattern of abuse that is coercive control increases these dangers for survivors especially when an abuser uses a mental health diagnosis or substance use against the victim. Taken a step further, when an abusive partner alleges substance use or mental health concerns against a survivor, the legal justice system will often revictimize the survivor leading to loss of child custody or other penalties and consequences. From a 2014 study conducted by the National Center on Domestic Violence we learn in-depth the dangers of these types of coercions such as treatment sabotage and emotional abuse. We take a deep dive with Gabriela Zapata-Alma of the National Center on Domestic Violence about how these types of coercion are inflicted, their consequences, the red flags that warn mental health and substance use coercions are happening, and how the use of a trauma lens by medical providers and the court system could better cultivate safety and effective solutions for domestic violence survivors.

Gabriela Zapata-Alma, is a licensed clinical social worker, the Associate Director of the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, and a faculty member at the University of Chicago, where they direct the Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Training Program within the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice.  Ms. Zapata-Alma brings over 15 years of experience supporting people impacted by structural and interpersonal violence through innovative and evidence-based clinical, housing, resource advocacy, peer-led, harm reduction, and HIV-integrated care programs. As a person with lived experience of violence and trauma, Ms. Zapata-Alma centers survivor-driven solutions, non-pathologizing approaches, and intergenerational healing in the work. Currently, Ms. Zapata-Alma authors best practices, leads national capacity-building efforts, and provides trauma-informed policy consultation to advance health equity and social justice.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of people through force, fraud, or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit. Domestically, per the United States Dept. of Justice, the definition is similar, stating that trafficking of persons involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. Locally, the Texas Attorney General’s Office also includes in its definition that human trafficking is modern-day slavery. Wherever you are in the world, individuals are suffering at the hands of offenders whose tips and tricks are so insidious that it seems impossible to combat. However, ranging from the simple, yet skillful, to the sophisticated, effective law enforcement investigations are happening that are ultimately holding offenders accountable. This episode will explore various facets of those investigations with seasoned investigator Joseph Scaramucci, and discuss both the pitfalls and best practices that can determine an investigation’s level of success. 
Joseph Scaramucci began his career in law enforcement in 2004, and was promoted to Detective in 2008 with the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, investigating Crimes Against Persons. Since creating a Human Trafficking Unit in 2014, Detective Scaramucci has conducted sting operations resulting in the arrest of more than 600 sex buyers, and 160 individuals for human trafficking and related offenses, which has led to the identification of over 300trafficking victims. Detective Scaramucci has worked both state and federal investigations as a Task Force Officer with H.S.I., leading to investigations and arrests throughout the U.S. He further advises and participates in sting operations throughout Texas, the U.S., and abroad. Det. Scaramucci is certified in Courts of Law as a Subject Matter Expert in Human Trafficking and has further advised and testified in the State House and Senate, assisting with the creation and passage of laws leading to harsher penalties for human trafficking.

Children are often the overlooked and underserved victims of domestic violence, especially post-separation from an abusive partner. It is during post-separation that technology is often weaponized to target children further abusing and controlling them and their mothers. This episode explores recent studies that expose the extensive levels of abuse children experience in homes where domestic violence occurs with an emphasis on technology-facilitated methods of abuse. Our guest, criminologist and domestic violence researcher Molly Dragiewicz, reveals the stunning findings of the eSafety Research report “Children and technology-facilitated abuse in domestic and family violence situations” and other studies, as well as strategies to safeguard privacy and enhance personal safety.
Molly Dragiewicz is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University in Australia. Ms. Dragiewicz is an internationally award-winning criminologist who studies violence, gender, technology, and cybercrime. She completed the world-first study of women’s experiences of technology-facilitated coercive control and the world-first study on the ways children are involved in technology abuse. Ms. Dragiewicz is highly involved in interdisciplinary, collaborative research with community organizations working to end violence against women. She is a frequently invited speaker and trainer for judicial officers, lawyers, first responders, domestic violence advocates, and universities. She founded Australia’s first interdisciplinary graduate certificate in domestic violence and is the founder and convenor of the Brisbane Domestic Violence Research Student Network (BDVRSN). Ms. Dragiewicz also serves on the Board of Queensland’s Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and the Gold Coast Family Law Pathways Network.  

Trauma-informed judges who understand domestic violence from a survivor's perspective are becoming more common but are not yet commonplace. In this episode, we talk with Judge Michael Denton, a veteran judge with decades of experience in both trauma-informed judicial training and practical experience navigating domestic violence cases about the benefits of the trauma-informed approach and the development of related specialty courts.
Michael Denton has served Travis County for more than 30 years, first as a young lawyer prosecuting offenders in County courts; later as the Director of the Trial Division for the Travis County Attorney’s Office, and; for the past 20 years, as Judge for Travis County’s domestic violence court (County Court-at-Law #4).  Bringing passion and commitment to this service, Judge Denton's advocacy began during his time as a volunteer for Austin’s (then) Rape Crisis Center, answering crisis calls and visiting the hospital to help survivors and family members.  In the 1990s, Judge Denton was Co-Chair of the Austin-Travis County Domestic Violence Task Force. Working across agency lines, including law enforcement and non-profit organizations, the Task Force reformed how Travis County approached domestic violence, including the creation of a specialty court for domestic violence.  Judge Denton has also trained other judges through the Texas Council on Family Violence and authored a domestic violence chapter of the Texas Bench Book.

Ten percent - or one in ten - of men are buyers of commercial sex. In doing so they are perpetuating an industry that not only continues the objectification of women but also endangers the lives of women and girls. This episode explores the tactics of sex buyers and the traffickers they work with to buy women and girls for sex, how sex buyers are prosecuted, and what it will take to reduce or eliminate the commercial sex industry. Alisa Bernard and Benjamin Gauen join the conversation to offer perspectives from the front lines of supporting survivors and prosecuting traffickers and sex buyers.
Alisa Bernard is the Equality Model Campaign Manager at World Without Exploitation and has a deep background in and extensive ties to the anti-trafficking movement having collaborated with several major stakeholder groups including the EPIK Project, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, World Without Exploitation. Ms. Bernard previously served as Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at Thistle Farms and the Executive Director of Education and Partnerships for the Organization for Prostitution Survivors. She also has developed and facilitated trainings at conferences across the US and Canada as well as authored articles featured in the Seattle Times, Crosscut, and Dignity Journal.

Benjamin Gauen is a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Mr. Gauen leads his office’s work in combatting sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation offenses through investigations and prosecutions, policy development, and community engagement. He has nearly 12 years of extensive felony trial experience specializing in cases involving sex trafficking, sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. He is a member of several anti-trafficking task forces in Washington State and frequently partners with stakeholders to strengthen laws and system responses that help victims and survivors. Additionally, Mr. Gauen conducts training on sex trafficking for prosecutors and law enforcement around the United States. He also serves on the board of directors for the non-profit organization Stolen Youth, which works to end child sex trafficking in Washington state.