Marks on her face don’t prove DV

Oh, really...they argued about her leaving, interesting....then when police arrive SHE has marks on her face from being slapped, he has no marks on him at all...BUT he claims he didn’t strike her that in fact HE was the one who was struck.  Oh, ok...THEN charges were dropped against him AFTER an investigation...hhhmmm, take a look at the jobs he has held, oh and a comment on the article at the original site:  states that his family owns half the county.  NOW I see where justice was served....NOT!!!  I just hope she doesn’t end up on my murder-suicide map (erm, well when I get it going again)!

By Mary Kelli Palka Story updated at 12:07 PM on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

Domestic-violence charges against Yulee Middle School’s new principal, the former mayor of Fernandina Beach, were dropped after the investigation by the State Attorney's Office.

James D. Rodeffer, 49, was charged Aug. 18 with domestic violence after an incident at his home with his wife, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.

He and his wife, Heather Rodeffer, told deputies they started arguing over her leaving while they had visitors. She said her husband followed her into a bedroom, slammed the door, grabbed her by the arm and slapped her in the face, according to an incident report.

James Rodeffer told deputies he didn’t strike his wife, according to the report, but said he grabbed and pushed her. He said he was struck during the incident, but deputies said they saw no sign of injury on him. The report said Heather Rodeffer’s face had some redness and there was bruising on her upper arms.

Rodeffer’s previous positions include Fernandina Beach mayor and a city commissioner, Callahan Middle School principal and director of secondary education for Nassau County schools.

The Rodeffers and a spokeswoman with the school district couldn’t be reached for comment late Thursday. But Assistant State Attorney Wes White, director of the Nassau County office, said the charge was dropped Thursday after the incident was investigated and the involved parties were questioned.

Domestic-violence charge against Yulee principal dropped | Jacksonville.com

Movement helping release battered women from prison

original:   Financial adviser from Chesterfield helped spark domestic violence movement - STLtoday.com

Joe Church has been an advocate for releasing battered women from prison in Missouri. (Robert Cohen/P-D)

BY STEPHEN DEERE

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

08/30/2009

When Joe Church attended his 20-year high school reunion in 1997, he noticed that an old friend was missing. What happened to Michelle Povis?
That question proved to be a catalyst for the fight to release 11 women who claimed to be victims of abuse.
Church learned that Michelle Povis, who had become Michelle Hendrickson, had been convicted of murdering her husband.
Church couldn't understand how the girl he knew at Mercy High School, a private Catholic school in University City, could kill. He called the prison, Tipton Correctional Center, and arranged a visit.

"I didn't call with the assumption she was guilty or innocent," said Church, 50, a financial adviser from Chesterfield. "She was a friend, a classmate, who was in prison. … What could cause that to happen?"
In 1994, Hendrickson shot her husband, Rodney, while he slept in their home in St. Charles County. They had four children, ages 5 to 11.

Hendrickson told police that her husband tied her up, beat her and raped her that night. She also said she had suffered years of abuse, with her husband throwing her off a roof once because she dropped a hammer.
Hendrickson pleaded guilty in 1997 to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years. At her sentencing, Rodney Hendrickson's relatives said that it was wrong for Hendrickson to shoot her children's father and that her punishment should be harsher.

Church told his mother Hendrickson's story shortly after the prison visit. "My mom said, 'You're going to do something, aren't you?'" he recalled.
Church started calling domestic violence advocates. Soon, the state's four law schools became interested. They would go on to identify 10 other cases to take on.

Still, Hendrickson failed in early attempts for clemency or parole. Finally, in October 2008, the parole board freed her, but only after she had served 14 years.

Hendrickson, now 49, moved in with her parents in St. Charles, and Church helped get her a job with a maintenance company. Hendrickson has become friends with Church, his wife and their four children.
While the efforts of lawyers have helped free other women, Hendrickson had to serve nearly her entire sentence. Still, her case helped touch off the movement.

Church's role in that movement now is mostly to provide "moral support." "I'm just very fortunate I was put in a position to help somebody," he said.

Women are dying while money just sits in account

original:  http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-domestic-violence-funds.art.artaug30,0,1005065.story

In Connecticut, couples pay a $10 surcharge when they take out a marriage license. According to state law, funds from the surcharge are to be used to help pay for badly needed domestic violence and sexual assault programs. But more than $1 million is accumulating in an account at the state Department of Social Services and is not being spent for the surcharge's intended purpose.

What's going on?

"To have funds just sitting in an account while domestic violence victims cannot access services due to inadequate staffing at our programs is irresponsible of the state," says Erika Tindill, executive director of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

In Connecticut, there are 18 domestic violence programs that provide a wide array of services, including 24-hour hotline support, emergency shelter, support groups, counseling and assistance with the legal system. These services receive funding from several sources, including the federal government, but the marriage license surcharge funding stream is critical.

This is not general fund money. Its allocation doesn't depend on the passage of a state budget. It can be compared with the funding for Legal Aid services, which in large part comes from interest on money held in escrow for people buying homes.
We can't imagine why DSS is pooling this money in an account when the services it would pay for are so critically needed.

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