At Issue & In Focus

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Wednesday, January 11^th has been proclaimed as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

Human trafficking is one of the most egregious human rights violations we see. It is a heinous crime of exploitation that involves forcing people to work for others for profit, whether through traditional types of labor or sexual exploitation.  Victims are men, women, and children from our state, our country, and across the globe.  Experts estimate that world-wide, 27 million people are trafficked annually bringing in $32 billion dollars. It is the fastest growing and second largest black market.

This past year, our office worked with legislators to enact a law that makes human trafficking a felony in our state and creates services for victims. The passage of this law has given us some important tools to combat trafficking, but more work needs to be done. To that end, we are beginning the work of our state wide task force made up of government and non-profit agencies to examine and address all aspects of trafficking.

Everyone has something to offer in the fight against human trafficking. Hospital, hotel, and transportation staff are in a unique position to identify victims.  Educators and parents can encourage prevention and internet safety education. Today, everyone can take a moment to learn about the signs and consequences of human trafficking and all that we can do to prevent this exploitation.

To learn more about human trafficking and what you can do, visit the Attorney General’s website.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of race, sexual orientation, or gender and the effects can impact many aspects of someone’s well-being. The consequences of this violence bring forth concerns for victims with regards to their health, homes, and financial security when they try to leave their abuser.

Help is available. Our office can provide assistance for victims with many of these issues.   For general concerns please contact our Office at (617) 727-2200.

For specific health insurance concerns, the Insurance & Health Care Consumer Helpline is (888) 830-6277

To receive assistance with consumer issues, our Public Inquiry & Assistance Center Hotline number is (617) 727-8400. Operators are available from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Alternatively you may file consumer complaints via email any day at any time by completing our Consumer Complaint form 

For information about our Victim Compensation and Assistance Division please click here or call (617) 727-2200 ext.2160

From September 2010 through August 2011 our Office responded to 206 domestic violence victim compensation claims and provided over $658,410.71 in compensation to victims.

If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please contact SafeLink at 1-877-785-2020. SafeLink is a 24-hour, free and multi-lingual hotline for programs in Massachusetts. An advocate can talk with you about your needs and help you identify appropriate resources.

National Crime Victims Week and Victim Rights Week

The Attorney General’s office is commemorating National Crime Victims Week and Victim Rights Week April 10, 2011 through April 16, 2011. Our office is committed to advancing the rights of victims. We serve and support victims and witnesses in a variety of ways, including advocacy, financial and resource assistance, and achieving policies that positively impact victims lives.

Staff at the Attorney General’s Office assist victims in understanding their rights as a crime victim, determining what expenses may be eligible for compensation, and assessing what other resources are available to assist them. Additionally, we often assign advocates to work with victims throughout investigations and prosecutions.

Using funds obtained from perpetrators, the Attorney General’s Office can often provide financial assistance to eligible victims of violent crime or their families. This assistance may be used for mental health counseling, other medical care, funeral and burial costs, and other expenses. Last year, the Office successfully advocated for reforms and updates to the guidelines around victim compensation which has made financial assistance available for a wider range of needs, including crime scene cleanup and security measures such as changing locks on a door.

The Office also supports policies and legislation which support victims, including our proposed Human Trafficking bill and Melissa’s Bill. Additionally, we support this legislation designed to ensure that murder victims families are not re-victimized by the perpetrator while grieving. 

If you or a loved one has been the victim of violent crime, please contact us for further assistance at (617) 963-2160, or learn more online.

Staff from the Attorney General’s office will attend and participate in the 2011 Massachusetts Victim Rights Event Tuesday, April 12th, entitled: Shaping the Future Honoring the Past: Seeking Healing Through Justice. This annual event is open to the public and is attended by hundreds of crime victims, survivors, criminal justice and victim services professionals, legislators and agency leaders from across the Commonwealth. To register for the 2011 Victim Rights Event, please visit the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) website at www.mass.gov/mova or call MOVA at 617-727-5200.

White Ribbon Day 2011

On March 3, 2011, men around the world will participate in the fourth anniversary of White Ribbon Day, a day where men and boys can take part in the solution to ending violence against women.  White Ribbon Day is an opportunity to change societal attitudes and beliefs that perpetuate violence against women.  The event promotes safety and respect in all relationships and situations and helps to build a network of resounding voices that will support and advance the initiatives and efforts of Jane Doe Inc. and its member organizations.

The White Ribbon Day Massachusetts 2011 rally, hosted by the Men’s Initiative for Jane Doe Inc., will take place on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the State House, This year’s campaign is co-chaired by Congressman Bill Delahunt and Michael Weekes, President/CEO of the Providers’ Council. The centerpiece of the campaign will be local White Ribbon Day Proclamation events held throughout the Commonweath from March 4th to 11th.

The Attorney General’s Office is dedicated to protecting victims of violent crimes in the Commonwealth. The office provides referrals and services to domestic violence victims through their Victims Witness Advocacy and Compensation Divisions. In 2010, the Victim Compensation Division provided a total of $742,144.44 to 317 victims of domestic violence and their families. Please visit our website to learn more about the resources and tools we can provide victims.

Love Shouldn’t Hurt

As we honor the 16^th anniversary of Teen Dating Awareness Month, it has become apparent that it is more important than ever to organize and get the word out that love shouldn’t hurt. 

According to the National Resource Center for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, one in 10 teens have been physically harmed by their boyfriend or girlfriend and twenty-five percent of sixth grade students (average age of 11 or 12) think it is okay to hit their girlfriend. One in five female college students will be sexually assaulted by the person they are in a romantic relationship with. 

Many teens stay in abusive relationships because they are afraid to speak up. To learn more about organizing a local information group, joining a support group or for information on how to enlist your school in this campaign against violence, visit www.teendvmonth.org.

AG Coakley Announces Legislative Agenda

Attorney General Martha Coakley today announced the filing of nine bills as a part of her legislative agenda. The series of bills seek to better protect public safety, combat fraud and corruption, and address the foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts. The bills include legislation that would establish standards and require banks to engage in loan modifications when they are financially beneficial to the bank before foreclosing on a property.  The AG’s Office also filed comprehensive human trafficking legislation that would establish human trafficking for sexual servitude or labor as a crime in Massachusetts, one of only five states in the country without human trafficking laws. Additionally, the AG’s Office filed comprehensive economic crime legislation designed to give law enforcement the necessary tools to investigate and prosecute sophisticated criminal activities and enterprises in the 21^st century.  Other bills filed relate to drug trafficking in methamphetamine, corporate manslaughter, dissemination of harmful materials to minors, manufactured housing, metals dealing, and the failure to have workers’ compensation insurance.  To see the full press release, click here.

Resources for Victims of Violent Crime

A public hearing held by the Berkshire County Commission on the Status of Women this month indicated that Berkshire women face high rates of isolation, violence and teen pregnancy.  Eight women from different agencies presented reports regarding the challenges faced by women in Berkshire County.  Pam Malumphy, co-Chairwoman of the Committee, vowed to take the issues to the State Commission on the Status of Women.  The hearing focused mostly on the increase of domestic violence incidents in the region.  Other issues discussed were lack of women representatives in the Legislature, pre-natal support, immigration reform, and body image. 

The Attorney General’s Office has recently updated the regulations which oversee the amounts and types of compensation which may be offered to eligible victims of violent crimes, include domestic violence, to help them meet some of the expenses that have been incurred.  Visit the Victims of Violent Crime section of the Attorney General’s website for more information and resources.

Help for Victims of Crime

The Attorney General’s Office has recently updated the regulations which oversee the amounts and types of compensation which may be offered to eligible victims of violent crimes (and their families) to help them meet some of the expenses that have been incurred. These expenses include funeral and burial expenses, medical, dental or mental health care, the repair or replacement of locks or other security devices, etc.

The Attorney General’s Victim Compensation & Assistance Division is funded largely by fines levied against perpetrators of crime. In addition to providing compensation, the Attorney General Coakley’s Office also provides advocacy services for victims and education to the public regarding victim compensation and assistance services.

More information can be found at www.mass.gov/ago/victimcompensation.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

According to Jane Doe Inc., the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, last year in Massachusetts alone there were 23 domestic violence homicides.  On average, Jane Doe reports that last year over 2,000 domestic violence victims in Massachusetts reached out daily for help.

From July 2009 through June of 2010 the Attorney General’s Office responded to 200 domestic violence victim compensation claims and was able to provide over $587,000 in compensation to victims of domestic violence.

If you or someone you know needs help, please contact SafeLink at 1-877-785-2020. SafeLink is a 24-hour, free and multi-lingual hotline for programs in Massachusetts. An advocate can talk with you about your needs and help you identify appropriate resources for help.

Victim Witness Academy

Last week, the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) held its annual Massachusetts Victim Assistance Academy (MVAA) at Endicott College in Beverly, MA.  Started in 2005 with seed funds from the Federal Office for Victims of Crime, the program is an intensive 40-hour, week-long training for victim advocates early in their careers (under 5 years of service).  This year the program brought together 28 professionals who interact with crime victims on a daily basis in various capacities and systems (i.e., victim advocates from criminal justice agencies, community-based agencies, and hospitals).  The program educates them on the many systems that impact victims’ lives and promotes the importance of collaboration with other providers to enhance victims’ abilities to seek and hopefully move toward healing and justice.

MVAA is unique in its approach to educating victim service providers.  The training is “victim-centered,” focusing on understanding victims’ individual and diverse backgrounds and their experiences across time and systems.  Each day of training highlights a different time period post-victimization (e.g., 24-48 hr., 48 hr.-2 months, 2-12 months, 12+ months) and a different type of violent crime and victim populations, including:

• Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
• Assault & Property Crime
• Homicide/Motor Vehicle Homicide
• Child Abuse

The primary systems addressed include victim advocacy, criminal justice and mental health; however, classes also include a focus on others such as health care, faith, and media.  In addition, advocates are educated on victim compensation and their experience with services offered through criminal justice agencies post-conviction. 

There are many advocates at work in the Attorney General’s Office striving to support victims and witnesses of violent crimes and to protect their rights.  Learn more about Victim/Witness Services by visiting the AGO website.