Podcast on Crimes Against Women Conference on Crimes Against Women

In this episode we explore the intricate dynamics of family courts with Dr. Bandy Lee. Dr. Lee, an expert in violence hailing from Yale School of Medicine and Yale Law School, as well as the current president of the World Mental Health Coalition, delves into the tactics used by domestic violence offenders within the legal system and the profound consequences these actions have on family courts.

Family courts, which are meant to be havens of justice and protection, can unfortunately turn into challenging battlegrounds for victims of domestic abuse. In many cases, abusive partners, predominantly fathers, exploit these systems to manipulate and distance their victims, typically mothers, from their children. This manipulation perpetuates a cycle of power and control that can have severe mental, emotional, and financial consequences. Dr. Lee's insights provide a sobering perspective on the unhealthy patterns that can emerge within these courtrooms.

Our discussion doesn't end at the courtroom doors. We will also shed light on the often-overlooked issue of reunification camps and the questionable practices that occur within them. Through an in-depth exploration of the Catherine Kassenhoff case, we aim to uncover the underlying problems within these institutions. As we wrap up our conversation, we will explore potential solutions to rectify these injustices and offer a preview of Dr. Lee's forthcoming book on the family court crisis.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.

Have you ever paused to consider how your perception of Indigenous people is shaped by language and societal narratives? Our guest, Christina Love, challenges us to reevaluate these preconceptions as she candidly shares her journey. An Indigenous speaker, educator, survivor, and activist, Christina provides us with a raw account of her experiences with violence, addiction, and personal healing.

Love's personal narrative paints a vivid picture of the high rates of violence and addiction within Native American communities. She breaks down alarming statistics and the tragic history that has led to high rates of substance use disorders and trauma in tribal communities. Her insights extend to societal failures to protect victims, often leading to further victimization. We also delve into the Not Invisible Act and the missing and murdered Indigenous women's movement, revealing an urgent need for change.

As if her story isn't compelling enough, Love guides us to explore the body’s role in storing trauma, examining therapy, movement and reflection as catalysts for healing. There's emphasis on the significance of humor and parenting practices in surviving and revitalizing language. We also touch on the importance of organizations focusing on healing and the essential shift in thinking about addiction and recovery. 

Join us for a transformative discussion with survivor Lt. Mark Wynn (retired) and film producers Kirsten Kelly and Andrew Schwertfeger as we talk about the new film, "This is Where I Learned Not to Sleep." Released in 2023, this documentary film explores Mark's journey after experiencing domestic violence as a child, as well as his commitment to transforming the law enforcement response to domestic violence. 

In our behind-the-scenes look at the documentary, we learn about the compelling reasons behind its creation and the process of returning to Mark's hometown in Texas. Mark's story, depicted in the film, serves as an inspiration to survivors of abuse, encouraging men to take a stand against domestic and sexual violence and addressing the necessity for victim-centered law enforcement leadership. With references to impacts from movements like Black Lives Matter and Me Too, the conversation delves into issues of white male privilege and police reform as we emphasize the collective responsibility to end domestic violence, an issue that resonates in households across the world. 

Watch the film's trailer at https://www.thisiswherefilm.com/

Have you ever found yourself questioning the truth behind the words of a person accused of a crime? What if there was a tool that could potentially detect deception patterns and reflect the truth? In today's episode, we're thrilled to have the creator of such an instrument, Dr. Darrell Turner, who will enlighten us about the Analysis of Patterns of Denial (APOD), designed specifically to detect deception among those accused of sexual offenses.

Dr. Turner isn't just teaching us about APOD in this episode, he's showing us its application in real and high-profile cases. We'll be delving into the infamous BBC interview of Prince Andrew and his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The conversation doesn't stop there; we also examine how APOD can be applied in different cultural contexts and languages, even in situations where English isn't the first language of the interviewee. 

Then, we journey into the past, revisiting some of the most notorious criminal cases in history, such as Casey Anthony and Ted Bundy. We discuss how APOD could help detect patterns of denial and deflection in these cases, potentially shedding new light on their attempts to mask the truth. But APOD isn't just about exposing the guilty - we'll also explore how it can be used to vindicate those falsely accused of serious crimes. So, join us and Dr. Turner as we unravel an intriguing web of denial and deception, and search for truth in criminal cases involving sexual offenses.

We recommend listening to our previous conversation with Dr. Turner released on June 26, 2023 titled, "Analysis of Patterns of Denial: Evaluating the spectrum of denial to reveal sexual offenders", to learn how APOD was researched and developed.

In May 2023 the White House launched the U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence to address the national concerns related to gender-based violence and provide a roadmap for the vision that "theUnited States will be a place where all people live free from gender-based violence in all aspects of their lives." On July 13, 2023, the Podcast on Crimes Against Women met with Rosie Hidalgo for an in-depth dialogue about this plan which she describes as "a pathway to safety." In this episode, Ms. Hidalgo provides a comprehensive overview of the plan including the 7 pillars of support and strategies for action developed through a gender-based violence lens.

Rosie Hidalgo serves as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor on Gender-Based Violence at the White House Gender Policy Council. Rosie has worked in the movement to end gender-based violence for over thirty years as a public interest attorney and as a national policy advocate. Most recently she was the Senior Director of Public Policy for Esperanza United, a national resource center with a focus on providing training, research, and policy advocacy to prevent and end domestic violence and sexual assault and served on the Steering Committee of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. Rosie previously served as the Deputy Director for Policy at the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) at the U.S. Department of Justice during the Obama-Biden Administration and served on a detail to the Office of the Vice President, working with the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women.  Rosie also served on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence.  She is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York University School of Law.

The U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence can be found on the White House website, wh.gov.

Clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Darrel Turner spent 12 years developing a tool with the primary function to evaluate the truthfulness of denial in interviews with alleged sexual offenders. The result of his research is APOD, a scientifically sound instrument that aids investigators and clinicians in the Analysis of Patterns of Denial. Dr. Turner joins the conversation to discuss this new approach, how it works, and the key terms and patterns investigators can look for when determining the likelihood of a suspect's involvement in crimes of a sexual nature.