Jane Doe Inc. Annual Meeting - October 30, 2009

JDI organized a full day of activities for its Annual Meeting. With potential cuts in state funding looming overhead, an afternoon with two panels of experts offered perspectives to inform federal policy as well as state and local policy and practice on two specific topics: 1) continuing the reduction of domestic violence homicides in Massachusetts and 2) ssupporting victims of rape and sexual assault, specifically around issues of confidentiality. Following this invitation only afternoon session, Jane Doe Inc. turned to other business – electing its new officers for the coming year - and a reception featuring the day’s guest, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, Lynn Rosenthal, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas and First Lady of the Commonwealth Diane Patrick.

See and hear more about the day's events:

Press Release
Media Coverage
Photo Gallery

PANEL I: A Story of Reducing Domestic Violence Deaths

MA Department of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Lauren Smith moderated the first panel, with Middlesex District Attorney Gerald Leone, Framingham Police Department Deputy Chief Ken Ferguson, Essex County Assistant District Attorney, Mary Alice Doyle, Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center Associate Director Kelley Dunne; Community Advocacy Program Director Sue Chandler; and JDI Communications Director Toni Troop.

During 2006, domestic violence homicides began to escalate; tripling to a rate of one death per week, on average, in 2007 and continuing at that rate until August 2008. Between September and late December 2008 there were no known domestic violence deaths in Massachusetts. During this same period, we were all hearing of the devastating condition of our national/worldwide economy. In Massachusetts, law enforcement agencies began noting an alarming increase in domestic violence calls. JDI member programs were reporting substantial increases in requests for services (between 50% and 100%). The economic downturn was in full swing. When most of these indicators (spikes in police calls + spikes in requests for services + bad economy) should have been predicting a continuing increase in domestic violence homicides, they were dropping in MA. The speakers reflected on their part in this effort.

PANEL II: Confidentiality for Survivors of Sexual Violence

First Lady Diane Patrick moderated the second panel, featuring Lucia Zuniga, SANE Program Director; Marianne Winters, Praxis for Change and JDI Consultant; Colby Bruno, Manager Attorney Victim Right’s Law Center; Lisa Kidwell, Detective UMass Amherst Police; and Lysetta Hurge-Putnam, Executive Director Independence House.

Privacy and confidentiality for victims of sexual assault has been and continues to be a key issue in Massachusetts and the U.S. This emphasis on confidentiality is due to the potential injustice that results from the use of victims’ normal reactions to rape as defense for rape. Since a defense for rape is almost always about consent, a likely defense strategy would include sexual history, mental health status, and the attempt to assign blame to the victim. Simply stated, the normal reactions that most victims have to sexual assault could be misused by a defense and misunderstood by juries and judges.

This Panel explored the many competing interests and points of tension among current practices and protocols and among practitioners and systems regarding confidentiality for survivors of sexual violence.

Special thanks for our meeting sponsor!