Domestic-violence law shields accused abusers

Submitted by Mastodon on Fri, 2014-08-08 00:21

Article here. Excerpt:

'Beacon Hill lawmakers are supposed to approve public-safety laws protecting the state's citizens -- not laws making it easier for suspected criminals to evade exposure.

Yet early Friday morning, in the 11th-hour rush to end the two-year legislative session, lawmakers held their noses and passed a domestic-violence law that shields the identities of accused abusers. Once Gov. Deval Patrick signs the law, the names of suspected abusers won't be made public on police arrest logs as is now the practice.

While most lawmakers said they opposed eliminating the public's right to know, they didn't want to gut a bill toughening penalties against repeat offenders.

Sadly, the consequences of this bill, filed sneakily in a joint House-Senate conference committee by state Rep. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, will likely diminish news coverage of this most important issue. Women, without the strength of public support behind them, will be more inclined to stay in the shadows and accept their abusive relationships.'

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Comments

1. Men are victims of domestic violence too.
2. An accusation is not the same as being found guilty. As hard as it is to believe, there is such a thing as a false accusation. Thus, allowing individuals who very well may be innocent to be pilloried is immoral.

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Submitted by xtrnl on Sat, 2014-08-09 20:18