Transitioning Times

Today, April 30th, 2012 marks the end of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  The staff of Transitions has been very busy marking this important month. Staff tied teal ribbons (the official color of sexual assault awareness) to parking meters and restaurant fencing in downtown Lewisburg. On April 4th, a staff member and a volunteer travelled to Harrisburg for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape's annual Advocacy Day.  (PCAR's CEO Delilah Rumburg calling for Pennsylvania legislators to pass HB1264 during PCAR's Advocacy Day at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.) Chris Mallios, Attorney Advisor for Aequitas: The Prosecutor's Resource for Violence Against Women trained 71 individuals at Susquehanna University at Transitions' annual training event. On April 18th, Susquehanna University held a Health Fair, which was attended by two Transitions Staff members. The Federal Corrections Complex at Allenwood hosted an Emergency Preparedness Carnival on April 25t...

April 22-18, 2012 is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.   Every April since 1981, one week has been designated as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week .   This year’s theme is “Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim.” It is necessary to take this opportunity to remember that every victim may not feel that he or she has rights.   This year’s campaign video focuses specifically on minors who are victims of sex trafficking ,    LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning) youth ,   migrant workers , and   victims of crimes using technology .   A person who is being told, by an offender or their culture, that no one will listen, no one will believe you, may not feel that he or she has rights.   A 14 year old person who has run away from their home may not know that he or she can even report a crime, let alone receive free and confidential support.   He may be told that he cannot report a cr...

On April 12, 2012, Transitions hosted Christopher Mallios, attorney advisor from Aequitas , the Prosecutor’s Resource for Violence against Women.  He presented seven hours of training to 45 law enforcement officers, including those serving in custody and probation capacities, 24 victim/witness coordinators and advocates, Snyder County’s District Attorney, and one of Northumberland County’s Assistant District Attorneys.  The training was supported by Grant No. 2009/2010/2011-VA-06-20518 awarded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for the STOP Formula Grant Program, awarded to Snyder County.  It was held at Susquehanna University, with many of the participants coming from Snyder County.  Mr. Mallios presented information about alcohol facilitated sexual assault.  Participants learned that more than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape, and that victims of d...

With Earth Day right around the corner, April 22, 2012,  please consider a quick and simple way to turn your recycling efforts into a lifeline for a survivor of domestic violence. By donating your old wireless phone and accessories to the HopeLine® program , you can help organizations like Transitions serve the women, men and children who turn to us in their time of need. HopeLine recycles your no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories, in any condition, from any manufacturer or service provider. Proceeds from these recycled phones provide grants to local domestic violence programs and wireless phones and free airtime to survivors so they can call for help in emergencies and connect to services and support. Phones can be dropped off at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store in our area or mailed with a postage-paid label, available at www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline . As part of the refurbishing process, HopeLine scrubs all donated p...

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Transitions has been busy making sure everyone knows it!  Our committee spent much of March calling boroughs in Union, Snyder, and Northumberland Counties to get permission to post teal ribbons in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  Lewisburg's downtown is now festive, with ribbons on parking meters from Hufnagle Park to 2nd St.  Milton's downtown is also sporting festive teal ribbons.  Look closely, as some of the ribbons have cards attached with information about Sexual Assault.  Here is what they say: Healthy Sexuality... ...is consensual and respectful.  ...is free from coercion and violence. ...contributes positively to self esteem and relationships with other people. Internet?  Facebook?  Photos, names, addresses, phone numbers, school name and/or activities are all "clues" for sexual predators to find you. Sexting?  Photos sent to a friend or posted online can not be "...

Many of our posts are about the impact violence has on its victims, often specifically violence against women.  We have been rallying to get the Violence Against Women Act reauthorized , a great deal of our time is spent helping domestic violence victims, often women.  Much of our work is reactionary, how to heal, how to deal, what to do after a traumatic event.  But what if there was no violence against women?  What if the climate that allows, ignores or encourages men to perpetrate violence against women changed?  There are organizations that are working to  challenge men and boys to define their own masculinity.  I was especially moved by a speech given by Tony Porter about the "manbox."  Men are told that their emotions need to contained within a box that includes only anger and fearlessness.  Men and boys are taught that they are strong, which in turn means women are weak.  That in order to be a "real" man, th...

The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 02, 2012 NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH, 2012 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Though we have come far in the fight to reduce sexual violence, the prevalence of sexual assault remains an affront to our national conscience that we cannot ignore. This month, we stand with survivors of sexual assault, join together to break the silence, and recommit to ending this devastating crime. Rape and sexual assault inflict profound suffering upon millions of Americans every year. Nearly one in five women has been raped, and still more have endured other forms of sexual violence or abuse. Tragically, these crimes take their greatest toll on young people; women between the ages of 16 and 24 are at greatest risk of rape and sexual assault, and many victims, male and female, first experience abuse during childhood. The tr...

In our local area, many people are employed at correctional facilities, whether at the county, state or federal level.  Due in part to our rural landscape, we have over ten facilities in the Susquehanna Valley.  The employees of these facilities can be held to different standard because they are considered law enforcement.  It is important for family members and paramours of corrections officers to understand some of the differences. Protection from Abuse orders are civil court matters; they do not become part of a person's criminal record, unless they violate one.  This brings us to PFA's filed against corrections officers .  Someone may hesitate to file a PFA because they believe, or have been told, that the person they are filing against may lose their job.  This is not necessarily true.  Each corrections facility has their own policies and procedures, however both the Department of Corrections (state) and the Bureau of Prisons (f...