This year, the National Domestic Violence Registry would like everyone to remember the victims of domestic violence.  We would like to challenge everyone to help restore hope and give to those who are suffering through domestic violence. Whether they are a victim or a family member of a victim who has lost their life, they need strength, encouragement and love this holiday season.

Each year, domestic violence touches more women and children. It usually escalates during the holiday season and for some, holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas are filled with repeated acts of abuse.

For many survivors such as myself and our team at NDVR, many of us are just thankful to be alive, thankful that we can celebrate another holiday.  So many of us have escaped death by the hands of abusers and most of all, have regained our lives that now allow us to understand, have compassion for victims, and to do the critical work that what we do.  And for these things, I know myself and others are truly grateful.

Written by Myra Spearman, Executive Director

P.S.

You also may want to consider giving a token of hope to a loved victim or survivor of domestic violence by purchasing one of our new Hope t-shirts or hats.  Proceeds will help support The National Domestic Violence Registry program.

National Domestic Violence Registry PSA – We Are Empowered from Natnl Domestic Violence Registry on Vimeo.

While millions of government dollars are wasted on producing more pamphlets, holding grand events, paying celebrities to make special appearances, etc., we have predatory monsters out there that care little for their victims, their families and let alone themselves.

The brutal murder of Tiana Notice by stabbing is a horrific act, beyond what words could ever describe without a series of expletives to describe what kind of a monster took her precious life.

Tiana was murdered on February 14, 2009, Valentine’s Day, by her ex-boyfriend who violated his restraining order that Tiana had issued against him.  Carter came to Tiana’s residence and did the unforgivable act. [To hear the 911 call, watch the video http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/stalkers--10175663] .

Over two years later, the case finally goes to trial and James Carter, Jr., Tiana’s abuser and murderer, had this to say in letters he wrote while in prison (and we hate having to re-pen these words):

In the first letter, dated June 3, 2009, and addressed to a James Johnson, Carter says, “If you try to [expletive] me over, it’s going to take a Navy Seal to stop me. … I don’t regret what I did because that bitch was out for blood.”

Carter also said Notice and the police should have left him alone. “Now look what happened,” he wrote.

He also wrote that his lawyer will argue that he was suffering from “extreme emotional distress that Tiana caused.”

In the second letter, to James Carter Sr., his father, he blames Notice for running up bills.

“I’m glad that bitch is dead,” he wrote in the letter, dated June 7, 2011. “I hope her ass is burning in hell with a pitchfork as big as Texas in it.”

He also expressed anger at Notice’s family.

“Tiana and her family are in my way and must be taught a lesson,” he wrote. “People die because they don’t know when to back down.”*

And this is what abusers think about their victims,  “I hope her ass is burning in hell with a pitchfork as big as Texas in it.”  Meanwhile, Carter’s defense will invoke the ridiculous argument, according to Carter’s letter, that Tiana caused “extreme emotional distress” and therefore justifies her murder.  We don’t have to tell you how ridiculous this defense argument truly is.

It’s because of the aftermath of domestic violence, the pain, the anger, the anguish that the Notice family and communities experience across our country that The National Domestic Violence Registry is here to fight for the American people.  Domestic violence isn’t just about two people getting into an argument, it’s about the blatant disrespect for human life and the right that abusers try to take away from victims to live a life  they want and love whomever they desire to love even after the relationship is over.  We are about ending the free pass on power and control that the system so readily gives to abusers who wreck and ruin lives leaving everyone else to pickup the pieces.  You have a right to know who these predators are!

Are you mad?  Are you sick and tired of real life male and female predators trying to snuff the life of your daughter’s and son’s?  You should be. Then do what you can to help The National Domestic Violence Registry and The Tiana Notice Foundation and get involved for the fight of our lives!

*Ref: http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-carter-notice-1022-20111021,0,7103099.story

By Lyn Twyman, Deputy Director

Has anyone considered what the victim is actually going through. They live in fear daily and the only recourse they have is to call the police if they can. Now the law enforcement and judicial system is sending the strongest message ever, ‘You’re on your own! We are no longer here to serve and protect.’  I know it can be extremely hard to call the police on your offender; the fear of retaliation and retribution is far greater than anyone can imagine. If they are arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence, in most cases, they’ll be back home before you know it. Now the offender has free pass to conduct their reign of terror whenever and however they’d like to.

The fact that Topeka is willing to pass legislation to abate domestic violence as a crime in their city is unconceivable. What other crimes are on the chopping block?, home invasions, theft, DUI; now that you’ve peaked our interest, we’d like to know.

Guam is one of 5 U.S. Territories with a population of approximately 178,000.  Guam was able to successfully pass the Family Violence Registry Act which “requires that all repeat offenders with multiple offenses involving domestic or family violence to be registered in a centralized database available for public reference.  Additionally, Senator Rodriguez’s law includes provisions stating that first-time family violence or domestic abuse offenders convicted of using a deadly weapon or of criminal sexual conduct involving a minor must register at the time of the first offense.”*

So far, domestic violence related registries with the exception of The National Domestic Violence Registry and now Guam’s registry, are only available for law enforcement use.  The National Domestic Violence Registry is a non-profit  model program that was founded in 2007 to help protect the general public from abusers by posting the conviction records of repeat offenders.  It is the first model of its kind for public domestic violence related conviction records.  Now Guam through Senator Rodriguez has become the first to pass successful legislation at the government level, showing that the value for the life and safety of the general public can no longer be ignored.  Those who cannot control their emotions, anger, and who have a desire to hurt or even kill another human being will not be tolerated.

*http://pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17625:guam-5-year-family-violence-statistics-in-the-thousands&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156
Written by Lyn Twyman, Deputy Director

Not only an emotional toll, but big price tag

Watch the video on our Media Page at http://www.domesticviolencedatabase.org/media.asp or visit Fox News and watch there at http://video.foxnews.com/v/1127127727001/cost-of-domestic-violence

National Domestic Violence Registry PSA – We Are Empowered from Natnl Domestic Violence Registry on Vimeo.

Welcome to the blog of The National Domestic Violence Registry!