Wings of Justice Home Page

<body topmargin="3" leftmargin="3" background="../_themes/sumipntg/sumtextb.jpg" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000066" link="#3333CC" vlink="#666699" alink="#990099"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica"> <div align="center"> <center> </font><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="8" width="98%" height="67"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="20%" height="514" style="word-spacing: 0; text-indent: 0; line-height: 100%; margin-left: 3; margin-right: 0; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6" bgcolor="#CC99FF"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica"> <p style="margin-left: 3; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="#Introduction">Introduction</a></span></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#It Can Happen to You" style="text-decoration: none">It Can Happen to You</a></span></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#How our Organization Promotes Justice" style="text-decoration: none">How our Organization Promotes Justice</a></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"> <b> <a href="#Abuse by Criminal Justice Officials" style="text-decoration: none">Abuse by Criminal Justice Officials</a></b></span></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#Who Helps Victims of the Justice System" style="text-decoration: none">Who Helps Victims of the Justice System?</a></span></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#Strategies that Prevent Officer Misconduct" style="text-decoration: none">Strategies that Prevent Officer Misconduct</a></span></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><b><font face="Arial" size="2"> <a href="#Would “Law Enforcement Accountability” Result in a Crime Wave" style="text-decoration: none">  Would “Law Enforcement Accountability” Result in a Crime Wave?</a></font></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#Justice Agency Injustices" style="text-decoration: none">Justice Agency Injustices (links and resources)</a></span></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#Grief and Survivor Support Resources" style="text-decoration: none">Grief and Survivor Support Resources</a></span></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#Frequently Asked Questions" style="text-decoration: none">Frequently Asked Questions</a></span></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#Wings of Justice Executive Board" style="text-decoration: none"> Wings of Justice  Executive Board</a></span></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><b><font face="Arial" size="2"> <a href="#Wings of Justice Advisory Board" style="text-decoration: none"> Wings of Justice</a><br> <a href="#Wings of Justice Advisory Board" style="text-decoration: none"> Advisory Board</a></font></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#Counseling and Speaker Services" style="text-decoration: none">Counseling and Speaker Services</a></span></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#On-Line Store" style="text-decoration: none"> On-Line Store</a></span></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#Donate/Support our Services" style="text-decoration: none">Donate/Support our Services</a></span> </b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#Word Search" style="text-decoration: none"> Search</a></span></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6; margin-left:3"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b> <a href="#Contact Us" style="text-decoration: none"> Contact Us</a></span></b></font></font></td> <td width="15" height="514"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="80%" height="514" style="word-spacing: 0; margin-left: 3; margin-right: 0; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> <font face="Arial"> <img border="0" src="WOJ_logo_site.jpg" align="left" width="200" height="151"><b><i><font size="5">Wings</span></font></i><font size="5"> </font> <i><font size="5">of Justice</span></font></i></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> <b><i><span style="font-family: Arial">38298 Calle Cervato, Murrieta, CA 92563</span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> <b><i><span style="font-family: Arial">e-mail:  <a href="mailto:wingsofjustice@yahoo.com" style="text-decoration: none">wingsofjustice@yahoo.com</a></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> <b><i><span style="font-family: Arial">(951) 698-3133 </span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> <font face="Arial"><b> Providing:</span></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> <font face="Arial"><b>• Support to victims subjected to justice system negligence, incompetence, and misconduct</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> <font face="Arial"><b>• Education about system dysfunctions which result in case mishandling, failures to properly prosecute serious felonies, and wrongful prosecutions</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> <b><font face="Arial">• Advocacy to improve our justice systems through implementing agency policies which promote quality</font><i><span style="font-family: Arial"> </span></i><font face="Arial">hiring and law enforcement accountability</font><i><span style="font-family: Arial">                                 </span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> <b><i><span style="font-family: Arial"> </span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12" align="center"> <b>"True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more that anywhere else."</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> </font></td> </tr> </table><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica"> </center> </div> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><u> <font face="Arial" size="4"> <b><a name="Introduction"> Introduction</a></span></b></font></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Most survivors of serious felonies find the crime deeply traumatizing.  A stunning number of these citizens are further victimized by “official” incompetence, wrongdoing, and misconduct.  This internet site assists victims where authorities failed to properly investigate and/or prosecute a crime against them or a loved one, as well as people who have suffered overt abuse from legal officials.   </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>If you are a victim of:</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>√          a homicide officially labeled as suicide or accident,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> √          a serious felony ignored by law enforcement,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          refusal by officials to admit or correct errors in failing to properly investigate a crime against you or a loved one,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          law enforcement dismissal or burying of pertinent information related to a crime,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          your efforts to secure justice answered by indifference, insults, and slander from officials,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          police threats and lawless acts to silence you,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          false accusation of wrongdoing by law enforcement,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          police use of unprovoked violence or excessive force,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          judicial bias and/or error,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          illegal search and seizure,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          arrest on false charge,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          vilification by colleagues and superiors for speaking out about misconduct within your criminal justice agency,            </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          your formal complaint citing law enforcement misconduct unjustly denied by the offending agency,</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b> </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b> You may find the following helpful:</b></font><b><font face="Arial"><br> </font></b> <font face="Arial"><b> <a href="#Grief and Survivor Support Resources" style="text-decoration: none"> Grief and Survivor Support</a> <br> <a href="#Justice Agency Injustices" style="text-decoration: none">Justice Agency Injustices</a></b></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <u> <font face="Arial" size="4"><b> <a name="It Can Happen to You">It Can Happen to You</a></span></b></font></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b><u> </span></u>People are invariably shocked and damaged at becoming a victim of the justice system.  Most individuals</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>who <a href="#Contact Us" style="text-decoration: none">contact us</a></span> became victims because they did the “right thing.”  Are you someone who would:</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>•           Call 911 for help with a crisis</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>•           Ask for law enforcement assistance if you or a loved one were a crime victim</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>•           Provide information to authorities which might help solve a crime</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>•           Report misconduct within the criminal justice system agency where you work</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b> </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>If so, you put yourself in jeopardy of becoming a criminal justice victim.  <u><span style="text-decoration: none"> </span></u></b></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><u> <font face="Arial" size="4"> <b><a name="How our Organization Promotes Justice">How our Organization Promotes Justice</a></b></font></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: 0in"> <font face="Arial"><b>In addition to helping individual victims, we focus on supporting the implementation of policies to strengthen our criminal justice systems and further our country’s ideals of equal justice for all.   Our Executive Board members, each a crime victim survivor, became re-victimized by officials after asking them to uphold and administer justice.  (Read the details in the section titled <a href="#Wings of Justice Executive Board" style="text-decoration: none">Our Executive Board</a>.)  Law-abiding citizens, we each believed fully in American justice, and were deeply saddened to find our far-reaching regard for the system and those employed in it to be naïve.   </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>We do not know the percentage of trustworthy, conscientious officials versus those who are neither.  We do realize there is serious need for reforms in our country’s police, prosecutorial, and judicial systems.  This view is shared by respected organizations which provide law enforcement training in integrity, ethics, and accountability.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>] We believe that the great majority of employees will respond positively to state-of-the-art policies and training which teach and reward accountability, ethics, and integrity.  We support the rapid implementation of these strategies (see our <a href="#Strategies that Prevent Officer Misconduct" style="text-decoration: none">Strategies that Prevent Officer Misconduct</a></span> section).   As victims without justice, we manage our grief and loss by working for reform within our systems (to reduce the numbers of citizens being victimized) and by helping traumatized survivors.  We are eager to cooperate with all who wish to improve our justice agencies. Please <a href="#Contact Us" style="text-decoration: none">contact us</a></span> so we can develop ways to work together on these issues.     </b></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> <u> <a name="Abuse by Criminal Justice Officials"><font size="4">Abuse by Criminal Justice Officials</font></a></u>  </span></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>There are virtually no societal controls on criminal justice officials.  With no obligation to act regarding crime, officials can and do ignore serious felonies.[<a href="#2_justicewomen" style="text-decoration: none">2</a>] The victim who assertively attempts to get authorities to perform may become a target for officer insults,  slander, a search and seizure of the individual or their property (the warrant gained through false testimony to a judge), and the manufacturing of evidence or false testimony to intimidate or prosecute the person regarding a crime he/she never committed, false arrests, and other forms of direct and indirect retaliation.</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> Unprovoked violence by police in public places and even in citizens’ homes is also on the rise.  Law enforcement officers arrest these victims on charges invented to justify the police violence.[<a href="#3_counterpunch" style="text-decoration: none">3</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>No American should assume himself immune from becoming a victim of official incompetence, misconduct, or abuse.[<a href="#3_counterpunch" style="text-decoration: none">3</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Criminal justice training and policies are inadequate, especially in the areas of accountability, integrity, ethics,[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>] and victim and community relations.</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Hiring standards in most law enforcement agencies have been lowered the past two decades.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         Citizen complaints against officers are usually “investigated” by the same agency against whom the complaint is made and are routinely denied or glossed over.[<a href="#2_justicewomen" style="text-decoration: none">2</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         The few citizen review boards which exist typically lack subpoena or disciplinary powers necessary to make a difference.[<a href="#2_justicewomen" style="text-decoration: none">2</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         The Blue Code of Silence is prevalent.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>] Officials cover up for each others’ negligence and misconduct, and offending persons go unchecked as employees do not wish to communicate about the wrongdoing of others.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>] [<a href="#5_policecomplaint" style="text-decoration: none">5</a>] </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         If an official selects to “blow the whistle” on someone in his team, it is virtually certain that he/she will be ostracized by colleagues,[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>] and often harassed, gagged, and forced to resign.</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         A “good ole’ boy” mentality exists among district attorneys, grand jury members, city councils, and judges (backing up law enforcement even when officers egregiously break the law).[<a href="#2_justicewomen" style="text-decoration: none">2</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         Laws give district attorneys almost complete immunity for their wrongdoing.[<a href="#2_justicewomen" style="text-decoration: none">2</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         Most attorneys, aware of the far-reaching “good ole’ boy” network which protects police from liability for their wrongs, will not represent innocent citizens whose rights have been violated.</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         Law enforcement wrongdoing is “hushed up”; citizens learn only about those occasional cases which obtain public attention, and public officials treat reports of wrongdoing as an “aberration."[<a href="#4_hrw" style="text-decoration: none">4</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         A significant minority of “law and order”citizens defend acts of police misconduct and brutality no matter how unprovoked.[<a href="#3_counterpunch" style="text-decoration: none">3</a>] </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         If a citizen defends himself from a police officer’s attack, the officer can (and likely will) charge him with a felony count of “assaulting a police officer.”  The officer can also shoot his victim (and almost always get by with it by claiming he feared for his life).[<a href="#3_counterpunch" style="text-decoration: none">3</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         Citizens are afraid to intervene against law enforcement misconduct or brutality.[<a href="#3_counterpunch" style="text-decoration: none">3</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√         If a police officer is found liable in civil court for violating a citizen’s rights, the damages are usually paid by the county or by insurance, not by the offending officer. </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Police forces have become militarized, contributing to an “us against them” attitude by officers toward the public.[<a href="#3_counterpunch" style="text-decoration: none">3</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Bullies are often attracted to police work (in studies it’s been found that police officers perpetrate at least double the rate of family violence than does the population at large).[<a href="#2_justicewomen" style="text-decoration: none">2</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Law enforcement officials investigated for rapes, domestic violence, and child abuse are rarely prosecuted and usually continue in their jobs of “public protectors.”[<a href="#2_justicewomen" style="text-decoration: none">2</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-left: 3.0pt"> <font face="Arial">            <b>Power Tends to Corrupt, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-left: 3.0pt"> <font face="Arial"><b>                               ----Lord Acton, British Historian, 1887<u><span style="text-decoration: none"> </span></u></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: 0in"> <font face="Arial"><b>Even though our country and all democratic societies survive within the truth of Lord Acton’s words, criminal justice officials in the U.S. enjoy nearly complete unchecked power.   Society’s failure to answer the question of who polices the police, or to even ask the question in regard to district attorneys, guarantees abuse against citizens and a failure of equal justice for all. </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: 0in"> <font face="Arial"><b>Law enforcement departments go to great lengths to make the public believe that internal affairs properly punishes officer wrongdoing.  These agencies create a camouflage of rhetoric, policies, programs, and committees that convince the public that such problems are assertively monitored and corrected while they hide their on-going, systematic acts of injustice.[<a href="#2_justicewomen" style="text-decoration: none">2</a>]</b></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -33.0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <u> <font face="Arial" size="4"><b> <a name="Who Helps Victims of the Justice System">Who Helps Victims of the Justice System?</a></span></b></font></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: 0in"> <font face="Arial"><b>These survivors frequently carry their heartbreaks and emotional scars alone.  Friends and family, in order to feel secure, may not wish to hear how officials acted wrongly or face the reality that the same could happen to them.</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0pt; text-autospace: none; margin-left: 0in"> <font face="Arial"><b>The needs of these victims are often inadequately met in survivors’ groups, where the crimes endured by most members are being addressed by authorities.  Group members (seeking to please the investigator and district attorney handling their case) may be afraid to stick up for survivors who’ve been mistreated by officials.  Crime victims re-victimized by justice system officials are among those most isolated, broken, and damaged—often enduring an on-going sense of helplessness, fear, and grief.  </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-left: 3.0pt"> <u> <font face="Arial" size="4"><b>Do Government-Funded Advocate Centers Assist these Victims?</b></font></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-left: 3.0pt"> <font face="Arial"><b>Criminal justice officials have gained ever-increasing control over Victim Witness Centers, leaving advocates unable to confront wrongdoing by law enforcement.  Advocate centers’ core funding is usually administered by a state criminal justice office, and grants most often require that victim centers obtain approval from local law enforcement chiefs.  Advocates have their offices in the police department or district attorney’s office with whom their agency is contracted.  Stripped of their power to stand up to officials on a victim’s behalf, they become one more disappointment to the survivor who thinks surely there’s someone who advocates in behalf of law enforcement victims. </b></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><u> <font face="Arial" size="4"><b> <a name="Strategies that Prevent Officer Misconduct">Strategies that Prevent Officer Misconduct</a> </span></b></font></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Research has identified the origins and solutions to officer wrongdoing.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>] Yet, no national, standardized movement exists to effectively implement state-of-the-art policies and training to prevent corruption.  We acknowledge the National Institute of Ethics, which has delineated most of the strategies we list below.    Dr. Neal Trautman, Director of the Institute, previously a decorated police officer, holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and a Ph.D. in the Administration of Criminal Justice.  We offer the following list to show how problems of criminal justice victimization of American citizens can/will be stopped.  When communities and law enforcement agencies incorporate policies and practices such as the following, most officer misconduct will be eliminated, police/community relations will be improved; increased convictions of those guilty of serious felonies will occur; law enforcement morale will be improved, and wrongful prosecutions will decrease:</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Upper administration insures quality recruitment and thorough background investigations (including making certain those who conduct background checks have completed a background investigation seminar, have sufficient resources, and are told by the chief that he/she will be held accountable for the quality of their investigations).[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Administrators and decision-makers receive training in corruption prevention solutions and in implementing the cutting edge in field training.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Administrators show courage in determining, acknowledging, and correcting the flaws of the current discipline system, e.g., making sure rules and regulations are fair, clear, realistic, well-communicated, and that employees understand the consequences of violating policies.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          The chief administrator role-models total commitment to integrity, openly holding him/herself accountable to determine ethical problems and to implement policies to resolve them.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Agencies conduct effective career survival training focusing on:  causes of misconduct, ethical dilemma situation training, researched facts about bad cops, intervention to prevent fellow officers from destroying their career through misconduct, the need for ethical courage, the abilities required to rise above the toughest moments,[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>] and police/community/victim relationship training.  Top administrators attend this training to educate themselves as well as to emphasize its importance to employees.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Agencies establish a mindset where officers hold themselves and their fellow workers accountable for their actions, where loyalty to principles such as honor and integrity are truly embraced as the highest priority.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Administrators establish and perpetuate a culture that constantly analyzes to whom or where the loyalties of workers are committed.  Moral heroism is taught as the highest of values.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          The organization has a written policy protecting whistleblowers.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          The agency has a written policy that mandates termination for anyone who does not report misconduct to a supervisor and Internal Affairs.  Supervisors must review the policy with subordinates and speak to them directly about integrity and the code of silence.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Agencies implement an effective process that tracks performance and levels of integrity (through use of force reports, citizen complaints, allegations within civil suits, letters and phone calls from the public, internal commendations and confirmed violations of policies, etc., so there is intervention for those whose performance is outstanding, required self-training programs for employees needing assistance to correct performance deficiencies, and appropriate firings and discipline.  Mid-level supervisors report results to administrators at quarterly “Integrity Meetings.”[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          All employees sign an Oath of Honor stating, “Honor, integrity, ethical behavior, and respect shall never be betrayed.  I will always hold myself and others accountable for acting in accordance with these values.”[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Visible signs of integrity reinforcement, such as posters, pictures, and quotes are placed in locations throughout the agency. </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          The chief administrator conducts annual confidential surveys to ascertain the level and source of anger or frustration that employees feel within their agency.  Once determined, corrective actions are taken until future surveys confirm that employees feel policies are fair and that discipline is consistent, progressive, and appropriate.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Chief administrator demands ethical, respectful role-modeling of all leaders and makes sure these leaders have the skills to show respect, appreciation, and fairness to employees; and to give attention and help to subordinates’ personal needs.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Supervisors are trained to and required to act as trainer, counselor, ethical role model, and mentor for their employees.[<a href="#1_ethicsinstitute" style="text-decoration: none">1</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Supervisors are reviewed and evaluated in part by how they deal with officers who violate citizens’ rights and engage in unethical behavior.[<a href="#4_hrw" style="text-decoration: none">4</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          The agency punishes officers who violate administrative rules.[<a href="#4_hrw" style="text-decoration: none">4</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          State and federal prosecutors prosecute criminal acts committed by officers, including superior officers complicit in those acts.[<a href="#4_hrw" style="text-decoration: none">4</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          All authorities ensure that the conduct of police officers meets international standards that prohibit human rights violations.[<a href="#4_hrw" style="text-decoration: none">4</a>]</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.5in; text-autospace: none; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Arial"><b>√          Law enforcement officials answer to independent review boards which have subpoena and discipline powers.[<a href="#2_justicewomen" style="text-decoration: none">2</a>]<u> </span></u></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"> fn <a name="1_ethicsinstitute">1.</a> <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: single" target="_blank" href="http://www.ethicsinstitute.com/">www.ethicsinstitute.com</a></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"> fn <a name="2_justicewomen">2.</a> <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: single" target="_blank" href="http://www.justicewomen.com/handbook/part1_obstacles.html">www.justicewomen.com/handbook/part1_obstacles.html</a></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"> fn <a name="3_counterpunch">3.</a> <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: single" target="_blank" href="http://www.counterpunch.com/roberts09252007.html">www.counterpunch.com/roberts09252007.html</a></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><span class="FooterChar"> fn <a name="4_hrw">4.</a> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"> <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: single" target="_blank" href="http://www.hrw.org/reports98/police/uspo14.htm">www.hrw.org/reports98/police/uspo14.htm</a></span></font></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Arial">fn <a name="5_policecomplaint">5.</a> U.S. Dept. of Justice, National Institute of Justice Research in Brief, May 2000, <a style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: single" target="_blank" href="http://www.policecomplaint.com/">www.policecomplaint.com</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-left: 3.0pt"> <u> <font face="Arial" size="4"><b> <a name="Would “Law Enforcement Accountability” Result in a Crime Wave"> Would “Law Enforcement Accountability” Result in a Crime Wave?</a> </b></font></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-left: 3.0pt"> <font face="Arial"><b> The National Institute of Ethics, a Congressional award winning nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to furthering ethics and integrity throughout America, states that the cover-up of misconduct hurts law enforcement.   Dozens of the most capable and qualified law enforcement leaders in the nation came together in 2001 to form the National Commission on Law Enforcement Integrity to orchestrate a nationwide, coordinated movement to implement and sustain strategies and techniques to prevent employee misconduct and enhance the integrity of law enforcement agencies.  Unfortunately, this Commission was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.  We encourage all concerned with strengthening our justice systems to support groups working toward law enforcement reform.  Please read our <a href="#Strategies that Prevent Officer Misconduct" style="text-decoration: none">Strategies that Prevent Officer Misconduct</a></span> section.<u><span style="text-decoration: none"> </span></u></b></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><u> <font face="Arial" size="4"> <b> <a name="Justice Agency Injustices">Justice Agency Injustices</a></span></b></font></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>National Institute of Ethics (nation’s largest provider of law enforcement and corrections ethics training) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.ethicsinstitute.com/"> www.ethicsinstitute.com</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Police Watch U.S. Civilian Review Board (public can file a personnel complaint with them regarding any law enforcement official in U.S.; they will assign an agent to investigate and act) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://policewatch.us/system/index.php">http://policewatch.us/system/index.php</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>National Police Accountability Project by the National Lawyers Guild (dedicated to ending police abuse of authority through legal action, education, and support of grassroots and victims’ organizations) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.nlg-npap.org/index.htm">http://www.nlg-npap.org/index.htm</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Women’s Justice Center (advocacy for victims of rape, domestic violence, and child abuse; their chapters titled “Mapping the Obstacles to Criminal Justice for Women” at <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.justicewomen.com/handbook/part1_obstacles.html">www.justicewomen.com/handbook/part1_obstacles.html</a> and “How to Write an Effective Letter to Make the System Work for You” at <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.justicewomen.com/handbook/part3_write.html">www.justicewomen.com/handbook/part3_write.html</a> are especially helpful</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Police Complaint Center (they document and investigate alleged incidents of police misconduct) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.policeabuse.org/">www.policeabuse.org/</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Police Misconduct and Your Rights (guidelines to know and exercise your legal rights when confronted by a police officer) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://hyperreal.org/misconduct">http://hyperreal.org/misconduct</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> Innocence Project (national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent further injustice), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.innocenceproject.org/">http://www.innocenceproject.org/</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> September 25, 2007 article by Paul Craig Roberts (Asst. Sec of Treasury in Reagan administration, past Assoc. Editor of Wall Street Journal editorial page and Contributing Editor of National Review) titled “A Pandemic of Police Brutality - And They Usually Get Away With It” <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.counterpunch.com/roberts09252007.html">http://www.counterpunch.com/roberts09252007.html</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Twisted Badge (promotes public awareness of law enforcement malfeasance) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.twistedbadge.com/">www.twistedbadge.com</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Police Crimes (news on police officers, police departments, and other law enforcement agencies) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.policecrimes.com/">www.policecrimes.com</a> </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>DMOZ Open Directory Project/Police Misconduct (articles and site links related to police misconduct) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Crime_and_Justice/Police_Misconduct/">http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Crime_and_Justice/Police_Misconduct/</a> </b> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Americans for Effective Law Enforcement (a non-profit organization which publishes legal information, conducts seminars for law enforcement officials and their attorneys as to what police can and cannot lawfully do in the performance of their law enforcement functions, and presents positions regarding criminal justice issues of national importance) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.aele.org/">http://www.aele.org/</a> </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> policeattorney.com (a private law office focusing on administrative/disciplinary, civil and criminal defense of peace officers related to acts and omissions in the course and scope of duty—covers peace officers’ rights, the purpose of Internal Affairs investigations, legal requirements in handling citizen complaints, etc.) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.policeattorney.com/internal-affairs.htm">http://www.policeattorney.com/internal-affairs.htm</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Police Complaint Database (records reporting of serious misconduct of police and law enforcement officers) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.policecomplaint.com/">www.policecomplaint.com</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Police Misconduct (information on police misconduct with related links) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://michaelbluejay.com/police">http://michaelbluejay.com/police</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Race, Racism, and the Law (information on justice and race issues) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://academic.udayton.edu/race/03justice/crime.htm">http://academic.udayton.edu/race/03justice/crime.htm</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> Mishpat.Net Internet Legal Information, Police Misconduct (information on police misconduct and related site links) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://mishpat.net/law/Criminal_law/law_enforcement/police/Police_Misconduct/index.shtml">http://mishpat.net/law/Criminal_law/law_enforcement/police/Police_Misconduct/index.shtml</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Article by David McGowan, March 4, 2002, titled “American Heroes?” <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.davesweb.cnchost.com/wtc14.html">www.davesweb.cnchost.com/wtc14.html </a> </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Real Crimes – Real Cases (families of murder victims from across the Country summarize their cases of police cover-up and corruption) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.realcrimes.com/">www.realcrimes.com/</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> Addressing Police Misconduct, U.S. Dept. of Justice (laws enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice) “Addressing Police Misconduct,” <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/cor/Pubs/polmis.htm">http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/cor/Pubs/polmis.htm</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>Human Rights Watch (the largest human rights organization based in the U.S., conducts fact-finding investigations into human rights abuses around the world, publishes findings, meets with government officials to urge changes in policy and practices at the UN, the European Union, and in capitals around the world), “Shielded from Justice:  Police Brutality and Accountability in the United States <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.hrw.org/reports98/police/uspo14.htm">http://www.hrw.org/reports98/police/uspo14.htm</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> Department of Justice Office of Victims’ Rights Ombudsman, “The Rights Established Under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act of 2004,” <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/vr/cvra/index.html">http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/vr/cvra/index.html</a> </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> Government Liability Legal Info Center (the law as it relates to issues of government liability—includes articles, frequently asked questions, important court decisions, and resources) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.governmentliability.com/law.html">http://www.governmentliability.com/law.html</a> </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> California Department of Justice, “Policy Governing Citizen Complaints Against Law Enforcement” (guidelines governing the manner in which the DOJ will respond to complaints by members of the public against a law enforcement agency or its employees) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://ag.ca.gov/civilrights/pdf/citizencomplaintpolicy.pdf">http://ag.ca.gov/civilrights/pdf/citizencomplaintpolicy.pdf</a>  </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> California Department of Justice Unlawful Discrimination Handbook, Chapter 9 – “Peace Officer Misconduct or Abuse,” (the Attorney General may bring a civil action to eliminate the unlawful pattern or practice of a government agency or person engaging in a pattern of practice that deprives any person of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by state or federal law), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://ag.ca.gov/publications/civilrights/01CRhandbook/chapter9.php?PHPSESSID=0a7e5488329f785908ee1d2b47cf616">http://ag.ca.gov/publications/civilrights/01CRhandbook/chapter9.php?PHPSESSID=0a7e5488329f785908ee1d2b47cf616</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> California Department of Justice (a general guide to help you direct your inquiries and complaints about government) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://ag.ca.gov/consumers/general/government.php">http://ag.ca.gov/consumers/general/government.php</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b> California Department of Justice (a copy of the actual Complaint Form required to file a complaint against a law enforcement officer or agency with California’s Attorney General)  <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://ag.ca.gov/consumers/pdf/complaint_form_law_enforcement.pdf">http://ag.ca.gov/consumers/pdf/complaint_form_law_enforcement.pdf</a> </b> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><b><font face="Arial"> California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice: created by the California Senate to examine causes of wrongful conviction and to make recommendations and proposals to insure the administration of justice is just, fair, and accurate. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ccfaj.org/" style="text-decoration: none"> www.ccfaj.org</a> (taking public comment). </font></b></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><u> <font face="Arial" size="4"> <b> <a name="Grief and Survivor Support Resources">Grief and Survivor Support Resources</a></span></b></font></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children (on-going emotional support, education, prevention, advocacy, and awareness to all survivors of homicide victims) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.pomc.com/">http://www.pomc.com/</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>National Coalition of Homicide Survivors (information, resources and ideas, to improve support and victim assistance services to homicide survivors), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.mivictims.org/nchs/resource/states/ca.html">www.mivictims.org/nchs/resource/states/ca.html</a> </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none"><font face="Arial"><b>DMOZ Open Directory Project/Society:Crime:Victims (articles and links relevant to crime victims), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Crime/Victims">www.dmoz.org/Society/Crime/Victims</a> </b></font></p> <p style="line-height: 14.0pt"><font face="Arial"><b>Safe Horizon (efforts to prevent violence, provide support and promote justice for victims of crime and abuse and their families, <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.safehorizon.org/">www.safehorizon.org</a></b></font></p> <p style="line-height: 14.0pt"><font face="Arial"><b>Citizens Against Homicide (assists families through the criminal justice system, accompanies victims to parole hearings to keep the convicted murderer in prison, provides information on crime legislation), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.murdervictims.com/CAH.htm">http://www.murdervictims.com/CAH.htm</a></b></font></p> <p style="line-height: 14.0pt"><font face="Arial"><b>Murder (links to articles on survivor issues) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://home.earthlink.net/~hopefull/TC_murder.htm">http://home.earthlink.net/~hopefull/TC_murder.htm</a></b></font></p> <p style="line-height: 14.0pt"><font face="Arial"><b>Families & Friends of Murder Victims (a California non-profit organization providing information, support, and friendship to survivors of murder victims), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.webersons.com/ffmv">www.webersons.com/ffmv</a></b></font></p> <p style="line-height: 14.0pt"><font face="Arial"><b>Crime Victims United (education and political action to enhance public safety, promote effective crime-reduction measures and strengthen the rights of crime</b></font><span style="font-family: Arial"> </span><font face="Arial"><b>victims) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.crimevictimsunited.com/">www.crimevictimsunited.com</a></b></font></p> <p style="line-height: 14.0pt"><font face="Arial"><b>National Organization for Victim Assistance (victim and witness assistance practitioners, criminal justice agencies and professionals, mental health professionals, researchers, victims and survivors promoting rights and services for crime victims), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.trynova.org/">www.trynova.org/</a></b></font></p> <p style="line-height: 14.0pt"><font face="Arial"><b>Families & Friends of Violent Crime Victims (Washington based organization providing support and advocacy for all victims of crime,  missing persons, and their loved one, and providing education about victims' rights and services),</b> <b> <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.fnfvcv.org/">www.fnfvcv.org/</a></b></font></p> <p style="line-height: 14.0pt"><font face="Arial"><b>Crime Survivors (advocacy and resources for crime victims and their families to help victims become survivors),</b></font><span style="font-family: Arial"> </span> <font face="Arial"><b> <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.crimesurvivors.com/">www.crimesurvivors.com</a></b></font></p> <p style="line-height: 14.0pt"><font face="Arial"><b>The Compassionate Friends (national support organization helping grieving parents, grandparents, and siblings) <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.compassionatefriends.org/">www.compassionatefriends.org</a></b></font></p> <p style="line-height: 14.0pt"><font face="Arial"><b>Homicidal Drownings (many drownings are actually homicides, provides guidance to first responders regarding investigation), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-ems/articles/310457/">http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-ems/articles/310457/</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Justice for Homicide Victims (support and friendship to survivors of homicide, information about the criminal justice system, information to interested professionals regarding the problems faced by the survivors of a violent death), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.justiceforhomicidevictims.com/">www.justiceforhomicidevictims.com</a></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>MADD (<span style="color: #333333">information on victim rights and the legal system, online chats and special resources to help you cope with grief, injury, medical, and financial issues that often follow a drunk-driving crash), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.madd.org/Victim-Services.aspx">http://www.madd.org/Victim-Services.aspx</a></span></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b><span style="color: #333333">Beyond Missing (</span><span style="color: #000033">aid in the recovery of abducted and missing children by providing high speed, cost effective communication tools to law enforcement and the communities they serve, parent information and resources), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.beyondmissing.com/about_bm.shtml">http://www.beyondmissing.com/about_bm.shtml</a></span></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, (nation's largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures--priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns, brothers, monks, and others; independent with no connections to church or church officials), <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" href="http://www.snapnetwork.org/">http://www.snapnetwork.org/</a></b></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><font face="Arial" size="4"><b> <a name="Frequently Asked Questions">Examples of Frequently Asked Questions</a> </span></b></font></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>1. My daughter’s death was called an accident but I believe he/she was murdered.  What should I do?</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Answer:  Talking to someone who’s been in your shoes can reassure and strengthen you to pursue the truth.  Go to our <a href="#Contact Us" style="text-decoration: none">Contact Us</a></span> section and phone us.  Every person’s situation is unique.  It’s best we give specific guidance regarding what to document and how to approach officials.  We have learned useful tips from ours and others’ experiences. </b></font></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>2. Officials don’t seem to want to investigate a crime committed against me.  When I talk to them, they make me feel as if I’m bothering them and they’re condescending.  What can I do?</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Answer:   Don’t let rude remarks or unsympathetic responses from officials dissuade you from your pursuit of justice.  We can best guide you with more information, helping you form ways to deal effectively, but not aggressively, with officials.  They need to see you as determined and strong, but not belligerent.  We can also help you clarify if you need to file a Formal Complaint against an official or officials and how to do that.    Go to our <a href="#Contact Us" style="text-decoration: none">Contact Us</a></span> section and phone us—let’s talk.</b></font></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>3. My rights have been violated by a police officer.  How do I find an attorney to help me?</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Answer:  Few attorneys are equipped to deal with police misconduct cases.  If you speak to an attorney who doesn’t specialize in this area, you will most likely be discouraged.  Don’t be influenced by an attorney who isn’t an expert in such cases.   We have a civil rights attorney on our Advisory Board who will attempt to help you locate a qualified attorney in your area.  Go to our <a href="#Contact Us" style="text-decoration: none">Contact Us</a></span> section and phone us.  You also need the support of people who’ve walked in your shoes.   We can provide support, and you will find similar cases at our “Justice Agency Injustices” links.  </b></font></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>4. I want to file a Formal Complaint against a policeman but I’m afraid he or his colleagues will take revenge against me.   How can I prevent this from happening?</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Answer:  It is best that your Formal Complaint be filed with the assistance of a civil rights attorney.  Officials are much less likely to mistreat you if they know you have skilled legal protection.  Do not let “just any attorney” handle this matter.  We can attempt to help you find an appropriate attorney in your area.  If you cannot afford the services of an attorney, one of our Executive Board members can help you with the Complaint and also put you in touch with one of the centers under our “Justice Agency Injustices” list which assist with Complaint filings.   It is important that the agency against whom you are complaining realize that other knowledgeable people are helping you and know of your circumstances.  Send copies of the Formal Complaint to your mayor, city council members, and other community members.</b></font></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>5. I called  911 for help with a family problem and one of the officers who went to the house shot my son, then claimed he killed him in self-defense, saying he feared for his life.  No weapon was taken into custody and those who were present said my son had no weapon.   Isn’t this murder or at least involuntary manslaughter?   How can the policeman get by with this?  I’m devastated.</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Answer:  We assume that none of the other officers at the scene disagreed with the one who claimed he acted in self-defense, or perhaps they even agreed with him.  Unfortunately, this happens too often.  It’s called the Blue Code of Silence—a practice among law enforcement in which officers cover up for each others’ acts of excessive force and wrongdoing.  You need the support of others who’ve experienced a similar situation.  Go to our <a href="#Contact Us" style="text-decoration: none">Contact Us</a></span> section and phone us.  You also need a good attorney who specializes in Wrongful Death Suits (usually, this type of attorney takes the case on contingency and little or no up-front money from you is required) as well as a civil rights attorney to help you file a Citizen Complaint against the officer(s) and assist you in seeking criminal charges or a rightful consequence for the guilty official(s).   Read our website sections, <a href="#Abuse by Criminal Justice Officials" style="text-decoration: none">Abuse by Criminal Justice Officials</a> and <a href="#Justice Agency Injustices" style="text-decoration: none">Justice Agency Injustices</a> where you will find many aids.  Join with other parents who’ve lost loved ones to murder.  There are many helpful links under our <a href="#Grief and Survivor Support Resources" style="text-decoration: none">Grief and Survivor Support</a> section.  </b></font></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>6. I keep getting stopped by police while driving and have been wrongly ticketed.  I think it’s because I filed a Complaint against an officer who was belligerent and rude to me.  How can I stop this?</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Answer:  We will attempt to help you find an attorney in your area who is adept at representing citizens against police (most attorneys aren’t willing to act against police, let alone act competently).  Go to our <a href="#Contact Us" style="text-decoration: none">Contact Us</a></span> section and phone us.  We can provide important emotional support, plus advice about how to behave if you’re stopped again by an officer.  If you lack the money to hire an attorney, we can provide guidance with a Citizen Complaint and refer you to centers that help with Complaints against police.  It is important that the agency against whom you’re complaining know you have legal help and/or assistance from others.</b></font></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>7. My seventy-one year old mother was shot three times in the chest while drinking coffee on her front porch.  Authorities called her death a suicide and closed the case.  I am in disbelief, how could this happen?  I’m getting nowhere with the police and can’t afford an attorney or private investigator.</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Answer:  Victim survivors who simply phone the agency or meet with officials are rarely successful in getting them to re-open a case.  Officials may “shine you on” indefinitely.  Request copies of the Police Investigative Notes and Coroner’s Report to find if the “three shots in the chest” are mentioned.  FAX or mail us a copy of the reports.  We can then help you decide on your next step, which may be to file a Formal Complaint with the responsible agency(s).  We have forms we can FAX or e-mail you to help you prepare the Complaint, and we will be available by phone to assist.   Agencies are required by law to investigate and respond in writing to a Formal Complaint.  If officials fail to act responsibly regarding your Complaint, you have evidence of their wrongdoing, which allows you to go to a higher authority.  You need the support of a murder victim survivors’ group.  Go to <a href="#Contact Us" style="text-decoration: none"> Contact Us</a></span> and give us a call.  Read our section <a href="#Abuse by Criminal Justice Officials" style="text-decoration: none">Abuse by Criminal Justice Officials</a>. There is an abundance of helpful information at the links listed in our <a href="#Justice Agency Injustices" style="text-decoration: none">Justice Agency Injustices</a> and <a href="#Grief and Survivor Support Resources" style="text-decoration: none">Grief and Survivor Support Resources</a> sections.</b></font></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>8. When I was seventeen I was arrested and charged with crimes I didn’t commit.  I served nearly three years of a seventeen-year sentence before the real facts came out and a judge set me free.  I want to change the laws that made it easy for me to be wrongly convicted.  I haven’t received even an apology, let alone compensation for the damage done to me.  Will you help me get laws changed?</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Answer:  We are eager to cooperate with every group and individual who is working to improve our criminal justice system.  Go to our <a href="#Contact Us" style="text-decoration: none">Contact Us</a></span> section and let us know exactly what you’re doing and how we can help.  If there’s a way to support you in being compensated for your damages, we want to do that, too.</b></font></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>9. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit.  The D.A.’s Office has no evidence but they’re pursuing this anyhow.  It’s costing me a fortune to defend myself, and I’m very scared.  Can you help?</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Answer:  Phone us so we can provide you emotional support (go to our <a href="#Contact Us" style="text-decoration: none">Contact Us</a></span> section).  </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>We can give you some beneficial ideas and suggestions.  We can provide even better assistance by reading the paperwork on your case.  After talking with us on the phone, you will know whether you wish to copy these legal documents and mail them to us for further help.  </b> </font></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>10. Why would you believe a citizen is innocent if a police officer says he committed a crime?</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Answer:  We are crime victims who assist people victimized by criminals and by incompetent and unethical officials.  We listen with the ears of experience.  We study documents related to the case.  We consult with our private investigators (former police officers) and the attorney on our Advisory Board.  Each advisor has extensive experience in dealing with criminals and police.  Our judgments are based on evidence and experience.  Everyone must prove his integrity to us, including police.</b></font></p> </blockquote> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><font face="Arial" size="4"><b> <a name="Wings of Justice Executive Board">Wings of Justice Executive Board</a> </span></b></font></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b><u>  </span></u>We share our stories as crime survivors/justice system victims to let others in similar circumstances know they are not alone and to provide personal testimony regarding our own experiences.  Many citizens victimized by our justice systems have become fearful of authority and reluctant to speak about the wrongs they endured.  We hope, in giving voice to their pain, to help them re-build their strength.  </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <img border="3" src="http://redwoodsunshine.org/wingsofjustice2/mary_sacha_2.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" width="189" height="255"><font face="Arial"><b>Mary B. Stewart, Founder, Chairperson</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b> Wings of Justice</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b> Mary Stewart, a Marriage, Family Therapist, for years provided counseling to individuals, couples, and families in southern California.  On the morning of June 10, 1992, Mary found her daughter dead from a gunshot wound to the forehead.   In shock and grief, she called 911.  Riverside County Sheriff officers arrived, quickly labeling the death a suicide. </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b> In the period following Terese’s death, friends and family became aware of information suggesting Terese to be a homicide victim.  As Mary and her son, Shane, provided evidence to local authorities, they found themselves repeatedly traumatized by officers’ indifference and rudeness.  Mary hired private investigators, and sheriff officials victimized Terese’s family by blithely dismissing findings.    </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b> Nine years after Terese’s death, Mary’s attorney contacted the California State Attorney General’s Office  regarding the homicide case compiled by Mary’s investigators—the suspect, a man who with his wife had been convicted of fraud against Mary concurrent with Terese’s death.  The Attorney General referred Terese’s investigation back to Riverside.  Riverside District Attorney Investigator Martin Silva interviewed Mary.  To her astonishment, Silva claimed that either Terese committed suicide or Mary killed her.    In response to Silva’s acts, Mary’s attorney warned her if she didn’t give up her quest for justice for Terese, Riverside officials would try to destroy her, perhaps even fabricate evidence to falsely prosecute her.</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>When Mary refused to give up her justice efforts, Silva presented a fraudulent affidavit to a local judge (which included thirty-one material misstatements and omissions) in order to get a search warrant against Mary’s home.  Silva and four additional officers, under the color of law, vandalized Mary’s home.  Mary filed a Formal Citizen Complaint with Riverside District Attorney’s Office regarding Silva’s affidavit perjury.  Chief Investigator Michael Curfman falsely claimed he could not substantiate Silva’s perjury.  Mary complained to the agency chief, District Attorney Grover Trask, who took no action, making himself complicit in the cover-up of Silva’s criminal behavior.  A trying year passed with Silva and District Attorney Michael Soccio refusing to review the private investigative package with Mary or her representatives.  Mary again asked the California State Attorney General’s Office to take charge of Terese’s case.  </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>After more diligent efforts by Mary, Riverside District Attorney’s Office and the State Attorney General’s Office acknowledged Terese’s death to be a homicide.  Two years later the two top officials in the State Attorney General’s Office Criminal Division reviewed the evidence.  Agreeing Riverside mishandled the case, they claimed they lacked the resources to act in behalf of Terese, and took no action regarding Silva’s perjury.   The Blue Code of Silence had now moved from the county level to the state level (state officials should have filed criminal charges against Silva regarding his affidavit perjury). </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>In response to a federal civil rights lawsuit Mary filed against Silva, District Magistrate Stephen Larson agreed to allow Mary to take Silva to jury trial to seek to hold him accountable for committing perjury in the Search Warrant Affidavit and for perpetrating a Search and Seizure against Mary in order to harass and intimidate her.  One month later, in a written ruling, Larson reneged on his decision.  Stating that he was bothered by the extent and type of Silva’s omissions and misstatements, he claimed Silva, as a law enforcement officer, could not be held liable for his acts.   </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>A few weeks after Larson rescinded Mary’s right to take Silva to trial, Larson received the endorsement of Riverside County law enforcement leaders and was given a permanent appointment to the federal bench by President Bush.  </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Mary’s case demonstrates how officials prevented justice regarding Terese’s murder, how the Blue Code of Silence covered up law enforcement officials’ negligence and incompetence, and how the “good ole’ boy” network at the county, state, and federal levels protected Silva from liability for his criminal behavior.  Go to <a style="color: blue; text-underline: single; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://www.murdermislabledsuicide.com/">www.murdermislabledsuicide.com</a> for the full details.</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <img border="3" src="http://redwoodsunshine.org/wingsofjustice2/botts_simons_10_07.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" width="276" height="164"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Arial; text-decoration: underline; font-weight: 700"> Susan Botts, Board Member<br> Wings of Justice</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700">After witnessing the murder of their oldest son, Dag,  in June 2005, Susan and her family were in a state of shock and horror. Compounding this, they later realized that, in the absence of any viable investigation and witness statements, the county Sheriff had declared Dag’s death an “accident.”  </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700"> Contacting the California Department of Justice, Susan and family were advised to file a complaint with the local Sheriff. Months after Dag’s death, the Drug Task Force Commander conducted an investigation, but neglected to include accurate statements from the witnesses and included statements from non-witnesses concerning events they did not personally witness. The officer also inferred in his report that the accused was not on probation at the time he killed Dag, despite admissions by the accused and his family and verifiable external evidence that he was, in fact, on probation at the time for another violent crime. The officer declined to turn Dag’s case over to the District Attorney’s office for prosecution based on his perception of “inconsistencies.” </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700">Upon contacting the California Department of Justice again, Susan and family were advised to ask the Sheriff’s Department to reexamine the case. The department declined this request, by way of non-response. The California Department of Justice then responded that they would not intervene in the case, unless all local resources for recourse had been exhausted, with complaints filed with the Sheriff, the District Attorney, the Grand Jury, and any available citizen review board. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700">The Sheriff finally responded in January of 2006 that he had conducted an investigation, found their complaints to be unfounded (unjustified) and stated that the accused had not been a contributing factor in Dag’s death. Unfortunately, and contrary to state and federal policies and procedures, neither the Sheriff, nor any member of his department, nor any other government agency or representative, contacted or took statements from any of the witnesses or complainants before or during this internal investigation. Thus, the Sheriff failed to conduct a reasonable investigation into the matter before arriving at his conclusions. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700">Rather than acknowledge and correct errors, the Sheriff chose, instead, to validate his officers' conduct, at the expense of justice and the safety of the community.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700"> Susan and family filed complaints with the county Grand Jury, but received no response until the spring of 2007. The Grand Jury responded that, because the Sheriff had already investigated and there was no finding of malice, the Grand Jury would not investigate further. However, the Sheriff Department’s investigation and internal investigation were the subject of the complaints. Thus, the Grand Jury did not respond to the actual substance of the complaints. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700">Susan and family also filed complaints with the District Attorney’s office, but received no response, again, until the spring of 2007. The District Attorney stated that he had not received a homicide report from the Sheriff’s Department and, thus, had nothing to investigate. The District Attorney invited them to contact the Department of Justice again. Because the mother of the person who killed Dag worked in the Victim Witness Division of the District Attorney’s office, concerns about a conflict of interest at both the DA and Sheriff Department were unshakable. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700">Each agency and official charged with, and each mechanism intended for, the prevention of these types of injustice and misconduct failed. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700">The Del Norte County District Attorney’s office has since come under scrutiny for allegedly leaking information to the primary suspect in the hit and run murder of another teen in 2006, unlawful automatic weapon sales across state lines, unlawfully dropping felony charges in a crime against an elderly couple, receipt and misappropriation of funds and abnormally large “investigative fees,” unethical attempts to dismiss criminal charges against DA employees, over-billing the State of California, and misappropriation and theft of evidence, among other things. In essence, this District Attorney’s office has significant misconduct issues that have served to obstruct, rather than uphold, justice on a wholesale level, while the State of California looks on. </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700">Because of her experiences, Susan is active in efforts to improve law enforcement accountability, civil and human rights, and promotes the implementation of a statewide law enforcement oversight agency as the primary responder investigating complaints about county agencies and officers.  </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </b></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" 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<style></style> <font face="Arial"> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><u><b> <font size="4"></span></font></b></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><u><b> <a name="Wings of Justice Advisory Board"><font size="4">Wings of Justice Advisory Board</font></a><font size="4"></span></font></b></u></p> </font> </div> </div> </div> <div class="msgbody clearfix" id="message1820143320" style="VISIBILITY: visible"> <div id="yiv2127211807"> <div> <font face="Arial" size="2"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b> <font size="3">Darla Downs, former Probation Officer, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200029615_0" style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed"> Santa Barbara County, California</span></font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b> <font size="3"> </font></b></p> </font> <font face="Arial"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b>Mike Madigan, California Licensed Private Investigator, Founding President of Litigation Archives, Inc. and Editor of The Twisted Badge ( </b> <font face="Arial" size="2"> <b> <font size="3"> <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200029615_2"> <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none" href="http://www.twistedbadge.com">www.twistedbadge.com</a></span></font></b></font><b> )<br>  </b></font></p> <font face="Arial" size="2"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b> <font size="3">Mike Roberts, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200029615_3" style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed"> California</span> Licensed Private Investigator, former Riverside County, CA Sheriff Detective <a target="_blank" href="http://www.robertsinvestigations.com/" style="text-decoration: none"> www.robertsinvestigations.com</a></font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b> <font size="3"> </font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <font size="3"><b>Gary Wenkle Smith, Civil Rights and Criminal Defense Attorney, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200029615_4" style="cursor: hand; border-bottom: 1px dashed #0066cc; background:"> California <a target="_blank" href="http://www.GaryWenkleSmith4thedefense.com" style="text-decoration: none"> www.GaryWenkleSmith4thedefense.com</a></span></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b> <font size="3"> </font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b> <font size="3">James Stice, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200029615_5" style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed"> California</span> Licensed Private Investigator, former Riverside County, CA Sheriff Officer</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b> <font size="3"> </font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b> <font size="3">Patrick Sullivan, Licensed Private Investigator, former <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1200029615_6" style="cursor: hand; border-bottom: 1px dashed #0066cc; background:"> Los Angeles</span> Sheriff Detective </font></b> </font> <font face="Arial"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sullivanpigroup.com/" style="text-decoration: none"> www.sullivanpigroup.com</a></b><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align="center"><b> "Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance, but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters." </b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><i>                                                        ------ Michael Josephson</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></font><br>  </div> </div> </div> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><u><b><font face="Arial" size="4"> <a name="Counseling and Speaker Services">Counseling and Speaker Services</a></span></font></b></u></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><font face="Arial"><b>Counseling and guest speaker services are available from Wings of Justice. </b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><font face="Arial"><b>For more information or to make an appointment, contact: </b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><font face="Arial"><b>Mary Stewart <br> Phone: (951) 698-3133  </span></b></font><b><span style="font-family: Arial"><br> e-mail: <a href="mailto:wingsofjustice@yahoo.com" style="text-decoration: none">wingsofjustice@yahoo.com</a></span></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"> </p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><b><font face="Arial"> <u> <a name="On-Line Store"><font size="4">On-Line Store</font></a></u> </span></font></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><b><font face="Arial"> In development at this time.</span></font></b></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><b><i>"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." </i></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><b><i>            - Albert Einstein</i></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><u><b><font face="Arial" size="4"> <a name="Donate/Support our Services">Donate/Support our Services</a></span></font></b></u></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><b><font face="Arial">Please contact Wings of Justice concerning donations, support, and participation.</font></b></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6"><u><b><font face="Arial" size="4"> <a name="Word Search">Search</a></span></font></b></u></p> <body background="../_themes/sumipntg/sumtextb.jpg" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000066" link="#3333CC" vlink="#666699" alink="#990099"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica"> <form action="../_derived/nortbots.htm" method="POST" onsubmit="location.href='../_derived/nortbots.htm';return false;"><input type="hidden" name="VTI-GROUP" value="0"><p><b>Search Wings of Justice & Redwood Sunshine sites for: </b><input type="text" name="search" size="20" value></p><p><input type="submit" value="Go!"><input type="reset" value="Reset"></p></form> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font face="Arial"><a href="#top" style="text-decoration: none">Go to main menu / top of page</a></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b> <u> <a name="Contact Us"> <font size="4">Contact Us</font></a></u>  </span></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Phone: (951) 698-3133  </span> </b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12"> <b><span style="font-family: Arial">e-mail: <a href="mailto:wingsofjustice@yahoo.com" style="text-decoration: none">wingsofjustice@yahoo.com</a></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Please let us know if you need emergency support.  If you get our message service, we will attempt to return your call within twenty-four hours.  If you do not indicate you are in crisis, we will respond to your call within one week.                                  </span></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b> You may alternately fill out our form below send via email or postal mail and we will get back to you:</span></b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>First Name ________________________________________</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Last Name _________________________________________</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Street Address ______________________________________________</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>City _______________________________________________________</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>State __________________________________________________</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Zip ______________________</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Telephone ___________________</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>FAX _______________________</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>E-mail _____________________________</b></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><b>Questions and Comments</b></font></p> <p align="center"><img src="../_themes/sumipntg/sumhorsa.gif" width="600" height="10"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; 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