FAIR FIRM JUST & COMPASSIONATE
VISION &
PRIORITIES
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
IT'S EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS
One of four women experience domestic violence.
Three of four of us personally know someone who has experienced it.
According to the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence's 2011 Fact Sheet:
15,278 domestic violence cases were filed in 2010 and half of all assault offenses were family related.
This is a crime that can be reduced IF:
→ All parties work together.
→ Mandatory arrest when probable cause of assault is present.
→ Imposing and enforcing legal sanctions on the perpetrator that deter further violence.
→ Immediate arrest if another act of domestic violence and / or violation of protective order occurs.
→ Immediate consequences upon re-offending perpetrators, strictly enforcing the penalties.
→ Improve the quality and amount of legal advocacy, safe housing and age appropriate education.
→ Build mutual respect between advocacy programs.
→ All advocacy agencies need to work with each other to ensure all victims' needs are met.
→ Improved inter-agency information flow and monitor procedures and policies through the Batterer's Court.
"There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit." Ronald Reagan
OUR DRUG PROBLEM
HOW WE GOT HERE
In the 1990's, as the coal mines were closing down,
a void was created. Over a period of time, the void
was filled by an inevitable increase in drug abuse.
This caused an astronomical increase
in crimes related to thievery.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
THE GOOD NEWS
A problem well defined is half solved.
If, in fact, drugs are at the root of our crime problems, then ridding our community of illegal drug activity is the start of the solution.
My top priority is putting drug dealers in jail. Then providing rehabilitation and educational opportunities for non-violent drug addicts is the next logical step.
Drug dealers are greatly responsible for gun related crimes. Therefore, protecting the community from these offenders has to be job #1 for the judiciary and law enforcement.
Our county's drug court is very effective. Unless a violent crime has been committed, the majority of drug related criminals should be sent there.
Additionally, a local effective long term
rehabilitation facility with plenty of beds
is long overdue.
The problem cannot be fixed by doing things
that are ineffective but make us feel good.
Doing what works is the answer.
ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING
AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
It's not always about punishment.
Sometimes 'the cure' can be worse than the disease. This is where alternative sentencing comes in.
You have to be honest.
Do you want to fix the problem
or just feel good about doing something
that has little or no effect?
The simplest plans are almost always the best plans.
Mental Health Courts
→ Case Management
→ Community Service
→ Mental health treatment as needed
→ Employment and Life skills Education as necessary
→ Low cost housing/paying rent according to earnings
→ Help with SSI benefits and other services as needed
→ Fines and restitution replace cost of incarceration
Veterans' Courts
→ Incarceration costs about $32,000 per inmate
→ Veteran's Court costs about $7,000 per person
→ A Buffalo, NY program has a zero recidivism rate.
→ Modeled after the Drug Court Programs
Case management
Community Service
Mental Health treatment
Employment support
Fines and restitution
Batterers' Courts
→ Monthly judicial oversight
→ Increasing penalties if reoffence
and / or breaking of Restraining Order
Alternative sentencing programs can
help reduce our incarceration costs,
reduce crime and help offenders
develop skills to become
productive citizens.
EDUCATION IS KEY
TO REDUCING CRIME
Recent collaborative measures in the county between
the judicial, law enforcement and board of education
authorities will make a tremendous impact
on the truancy problem.
Social workers operating in the schools
have a proven track record of success.
They were in our schools before and
I support their return.
The more parents and teachers work together
toward the common goal of OUR kids' education,
the results are multiplied.
Vocational education is a tremendous alternative
to college and should be highly encouraged.
Graduation is one of the most effective
crime prevention programs we have.
MEET
SANDRA
DORSEY
Sandra was born and raised in Gold Beach, Oregon. Her father worked in the lumber industry until the spotted owl controversy ruined the economy of the area. Much like the coal industry is currently being demonized; the small community in which she grew up in faced tremendous hardships. She was raised on hunting, fishing and gardening for the dinner table. She didn’t know her family was poor - because everyone was poor.
After high school she moved to Newburg Oregon to work as a nurses’ assistant, then joined the Oregon National Guard. Later that year, she married an Air Force man and built a family with four wonderful children. Roughly the next quarter century was spent serving America as a Military Spouse. Eight of those years were spent in Germany during the Cold War.
From 1991 to 1993, Sandra navigated through ‘the system’ as a single mother and prevailed. On her own feet, she then married her current husband, Paul Dorsey, now a retired Army NCO and JROTC Instructor. Together they had a family of six children with Paul adopting her four. Their military lifestyle took them from Kansas, to Alaska and finally California before choosing to move to West Virginia to start the next chapter of their lives.
From 1975 to present, Sandra Dorsey has opened her home to individuals and families when they were experiencing hard times. She helped raise several children, outside the family without compensation, until their family could provide appropriate safe housing and care... ...MORE