On November 8, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio reported that charges were filed against Thomas L Newman, the director of the Flats Oxbow Association, for stealing over $580,000.  He is charged with money laundering and “theft and embezzlement in federally funded programs.”

It is believed he used $583,570 of Flats Oxbow Association funds for his own personal use.  

Flats Oxbow Association (FOA) is a non-profit organization that helps businesses and residents in the Flats neighborhood in Cleveland.  The organization received $393,758 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development between 2006 and 2011.  

Around the start of the funding, Newman was appointed as executive director and routinely reported back to the board of trustees for the organization.  He was in charge of soliciting donations, receiving dues from FOA members, and maintaining financial records.

He was paid an annual salary of $50,000 for his job as the executive director.  

Court documents indicate that Newman wrote checks to himself from FOA from 2006 to March 31, 2011.  Furthermore, he used company credit cards to renovate a property on 1250 Riverbed Street that his wife has personal interest in.  

Newman is also charged with trying to hide and disguise the check payments to himself and the credit card charges for the renovated property.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not released any information about Newman’s sentencing or the date he is scheduled to be sentenced.  

The FBI led the investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vasile C. Katsaros.  

United States Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach declared, “We will continue to root out public corruption and misuse of tax dollars in all its forms.  

Newman is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On September 18, 2012, the Federal Bureau of Investigation made a new compilation to the Top Ten Art Crimes list.  The piece of art is an oil painting by the French Impressionist Pierre Auguste Renoir and has an estimated value of $1 million.

According to the FBI report, the painting, called Madeleine Leaning on Her Elbow with Flowers in Her Hair, was stolen in an armed robbery on September 8, 2011.  Since the initial investigation, the FBI has now raised the award to $50,000 for any information that leads to recovery of the painting.

The owner of the painting reported a loud noise downstairs on the night of the robbery, and after she checked on the noise, she was met by a man in a ski mask.  Since the robbery, the FBI has alerted art dealers, gallery owners, and auction houses to look out for the painting.

“If the thief tries to place the painting with a reputable dealer or gallery, or tries to sell it at auction” states Bonnie Magness-Gardiner of the Bureau’s art theft program, “members of the art community here and overseas will see that the artwork has been stolen and will alert the FBI.”

The painting is on a piece of canvas about the size of 50.17 x 41.28 centimeters.  The painting is no longer in its original frame.

The victim reported that the masked robber was about 18 to 26 years old and white.  He was also about 160 pounds and 5’ 10” tall.  The man owns or had possession of a large-caliber handgun.  Contact the FBI if you have any information.  You should contact your FBI office or the U.S. Embassy or Consulate near you.  You can also submit a tip at www.fbi.gov.

Since the Top Ten Art Crimes list was established in 2005, six paintings and one sculpture have been retrieved by the FBI.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

According to a report released by the FBI on September 7, 2012, new and expectant parents need to be aware of new trends and precautions to protect their infant from abduction.

The FBI reports that while infant abductions are rare compared to other types of crime, they do happen.

For example, a woman 28 years of age was shot and killed in Texas by a 30 year-old-woman who then proceeded to kidnap the infant—only three days old—from the pediatric center.  Fortunately, the child was rescued only six hours later.

Criminals are now creating more elaborate crimes because simply walking out of a hospital with an infant is now difficult.  Most newborns have a security bracelet that will trigger an alarm unless removed.

A recent case in January of 2012 highlights the growing complexity of infant abductions.  According to the FBI, a 32-year-old woman in Florida formed a friendship with a younger mother on a social networking website.  The woman said she too has a newborn and the baby was in the hospital.  The new mother then invited the older woman to her home to spend the night, and while the new mother was in the shower the next morning, the older woman abducted the young infant.

The older woman deleted her profile from the social networking website, but she was still caught and arrested.  The baby was returned to the mother.

The FBI recommends that expectant and new parents take the following precautions to deter child abductors:

1.       New parents should not post colored balloons outside of home that announce a newborn or baby shower.

2.       Parent needs to stay particularly aware in public.  Be suspicious of someone who asks too many questions about your pregnancy and baby.

3.       Adjust your privacy settings for social networking sites so strangers cannot see your personal information.

4.       Report any suspicious behavior immediately.

5.       Women between the ages of 17 and 33 are most likely to abduct a newborn.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

Chatham, NJ—Criminal defense attorney Jack Arseneault knows that when he walks into a courtroom, he's already facing an uphill battle.  “My practice is primarily in white collar criminal defense,” he explained in a recent interview with laws.com.  “I would say there is an overwhelming presumption of guilt.”

For Arseneault, a military veteran who grew up in a low income family, defense came naturally.  “I always felt like the underdog, but this allowed me to gain a fair perspective of life,” he says.  “A passion for the law grew in me when I was exposed to the criminal justice system in the military.”

(More on News at LAWS.com, Contact Alberto for interviews “support@laws.com”)

From the beginning of his career—when out of 8 attorneys assigned to 8 defendants in a federal corruption case, his client was the only one to walk free—Arseneault had a high level of success in defending his clients.

While in his early career, Arseneault defended everyone from teachers to law enforcement officers he believed had been wrongly accused, his cases today tend to involve high-profile white collar crime.  Because of this, he has represented a number of celebrity defendants over the years.

These clients, according to Arseneault, present challenges for attorneys because of their overall priorities.  “I know they are frequently more concerned with public perception than with the defense of charges,” he says.  “The two factors are not conducive together—their overwhelming concern about how the case may affect their public image can sometimes overshadow their level of focus.  This concern may lead to frequent statements, made either by themselves or by their representatives, to change public perception.”

Plea bargains have been increasing in popularity over the last several decades, and Arseneault says that deciding whether or not to go to trial should be weighed carefully.  “If the offer doesn't significantly change the exposure to the client, you ought to defend the case by going to trial.  There are sometimes collateral consequences to the conviction that are so great that the client has little choice but to go to trial—like losing certain licenses and deportation.”

However, in the federal court system, Arseneault says that going to trial can be tough.  “Most of my work is in the federal courts.  Rarely do they indict unless they have what I call a headshot—in other words, if they really have them.  That, coupled with the federal sentencing guidelines, makes the plea bargain more attractive.”

Attorneys looking to practice criminal defense should be careful to avoid some common errors, according to Arseneault.  “Some of the biggest rookie mistakes happen when trial lawyers get too caught up thinking the case is about them, and not the client,” he says.  “New lawyers should also know how to talk to a jury, as opposed to talking at a jury.  Lastly, new lawyers often underestimate how high a level of preparedness is required to work on cases.”

Today, Arseneault can pick and choose his cases carefully.  “Having been in practice for many years, I allow myself to try cases I feel extremely passionate about.  I turn down clients that I know I can't zealously represent because of the nature of the allegations.  What I do offer my clients is passion and commitment.”

To learn more about this New York Criminal Defense attorney visit https://www.awffa.com.

Dallas, TX—To new attorneys thinking of becoming criminal defense lawyers, John Teakell says it's best to start on the other side.  “From my perspective, it would be beneficial to be a prosecutor for at least a short period of time, to get a sense of how prosecution works and what a prosecutor's thought process is,” he told laws.com  in a recent interview.

Teakell knows what he's talking about.  After having a successful entry into the world of criminal law in the state prosecutor's office, he moved on to even greater success by spending over 12 years as a federal prosecutor.  By the time he had spent a large part of his legal career putting people behind bars, he says that he began to consider what his next move should be.

“I enjoyed my time as a prosecutor, but I felt it was time for me to move on,” he explains.  “I got to a certain age, where if I didn't do it, then I worried that I might regret it later on in life.”

(More on News at LAWS.com, Contact Alberto for interviews “support@laws.com”)

Teakell's experience prosecuting drug trafficking cases came in handy when it came time to defend people accused of similar crimes—people who sometimes had no idea that they had been used to traffic drugs until they were arrested.  “About a decade ago, another attorney and I represented a young woman who unbeknownst to her, a 'friend' was using her and her car to transport a significant amount of illegal drugs.” In this federal court case, he successfully got a not guilty verdict for his client. Although this success was a great achievement in his career he says  “each case is different, I don’t guarantee success with all cases ” 

Defense attorneys face consistent challenges when trying to work for their clients, and Teakell believes that many of those challenges come from the lack of resources that defense attorneys sometimes have at their disposal.  “Coming up with evidence can be a challenge, even if the defendant claims he or she is innocent,” he says.

While many people may think of criminal defense as a legal area that involves a great deal of trial work, Teakell says that trials are few and far between.  “The vast majority of cases at both the state and federal levels are mostly plea agreement cases, and not trial cases,” he says.  “You have to evaluate every case to see if the evidence is there.”
The proposed sentence in the plea agreement can also make a difference, according to Teakall.  Because federal cases are almost always decided in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines, Teakell says that these cases give attorneys an opportunity to evaluate the risks of trial more clearly: “If there isn't much difference between the offer and the sentence, then it may be worth going to trial—if there is a great difference, it may be an agreement case.”

Regardless of what the prosecution will be using as evidence against his clients, Teakell says that it's critical to make sure that every client is presented with their full range of options.  “Regardless of how weak or strong the government's cases are, I always try to explore other alternatives,” Teakell explains.  “It's always up to the client whether they are going to accept a plea agreement or not.”

Today, individuals facing white collar criminal charges in Texas and throughout the United States look to the Law Office of John R. Teakell  to provide a zealous defense. His practice primarily focuses in criminal law and securities background with over 25 years of courtroom experience. He has a thorough knowledge of both federal and state crimes and both federal and state court systems. To learn more about his practice visit, www.teakelllaw.com and www.txfederalcriminaldefense.com

The Violence Against Women Act was passed by both chambers of Congress, and its reauthorization was signed into law by President Obama earlier this month. This marks a milestone for the women’s rights movements and for victims of sexual and domestic violence all across the country. Since 1994, VAWA has changed the way our societydeal with domestic violence by changing the way the federal government responds, providing funding to essential programs and now, under the new version, provides new provisions for members of the LGBT community and Native American women.

(More on  News at LAWS.com, contact Adam for interviews “adama@laws.com”)

Domestic violence is prevalent in every state. In Massachusetts, for example, more than 33,000 women and children received help from a community based domestic violence program in 2005. In 2006, 28 were killed in domestic violence related incidents. Domestic Violence shelters in Massachusetts have been filled to capacity, and thousands who had sought refuge in one of the state shelters were turned away because of a lack of space.

Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC) has been providing free services to victims of domestic violence since 1978. HAWC provides its services to victims of domestic violence residing in 23 cities and towns across Massachusetts’ North Shore. HAWC provides several services and they include: individual advocacy, a 24-hour hotline, legal advocacy, an attorney program, community education, a shelter program, children’s services and hospital advocacy.

The following is an interview with Paula Gomez Stordy of HAWC on her opinion about the recent reauthorization of VAWA, and the work of HAWC in the fight against domestic violence.

In your opinion, what does the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) signify for the civil rights movement of women?

The reauthorization of VAWA was a victory.  It continues to advocate for the civil rights of women, Native American women and it expands protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.  However, it was frightening to think that these protections that were put in place  in 1994, could have been decreased.  Countless, advocates and survivors across the country exercised their right and worked diligently for the reauthorization of VAWA.  We are grateful that both chambers of congress understood the impact of violence and passed the reauthorization.  In this day in age protections for the human rights of women should not be  at stake.

Do you think the new version of VAWA does enough to protect women against domestic violence?

Whenever, a law is passed it is necessary for the law to be implemented in all levels of government and society- federal, state, local.  Sexual assault and domestic violence programs across the country continue to be underfunded.  There is a great need of services.  Daily, we have to turn people away from our shelter because it is at capacity.  Education and prevention programs are essential for the safety of our community and sometimes programs have to decrease outreach and education when the direct service need is so urgent.

The new VAWA has historic provisions for Native Americans and members of the LGBT community. Do you think the law as passed represents a step in the right direction for both groups?

Absolutely.  The law was incomplete.  Victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault include LGBT people and Native American women. Sexual assault and domestic violence programs also must be inclusive to all victims of sexual and domestic violence.  For various reasons, it is difficult for survivors to reach out for help.  Therefore, when that happens every survivor should feel they are supported regardless of their gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation. .Everyone deserves a life free of violence.  

What has HAWC been able to achieve in terms of advancing the cause of domestic violence victims in the state of Massachusetts?

Founded in 1978, this year HAWC celebrates 35 years of providing free and confidential domestic violence services to residents of 23 cities and towns in the North Shore. HAWC has offices in Lynn, Salem, and Gloucester as well as advocates in the Beverly Police Department and North Shore Medical Center.

Its mission is to create social change by taking action against personal and societal patterns of violence and oppression. With an annual budget of 1.7 million, HAWC services include:

24 hour hotline 1 800 547-1649

Individual advocacy

Support groups

Legal Advocacy

On call Hospital and Police Response

Shelter

Parent/Child Trauma Recovery Services

Homicide Prevention Teams

Youth Violence Prevention Education

Community Education

This past fiscal year 2012 HAWC served over 3,000 adults and children experiencing abuse.

Do you believe Massachusetts has come far since the initial passage of VAWA in 1994?

I do.  I began working in the field of domestic violence in 1994 and since then we have been more inclusive about how we identify victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.  We have more research about the lethality of abuse and impact of trauma.  We are more aware of cultural diversity.  One type of solution does not help all equally.  Survivors of abuse are diverse.  Therefore, responses and services should represent that diversity.

Our community as a whole is more educated about sexual and domestic violence and that’s exactly what needs to happen in order to decrease violence in our community. It’s everyone’s issue. This topic was once taboo.  I am grateful for the strength of survivors who had the courage to talk about their experiences.  Their experiences and the experiences of victims who lost their lives at the hands of a perpetrator have changed laws and society as a whole.   

If you are a victim of domestic violence in the state of Massachusetts, please contact HAWC for help. To learn more about domestic violence, please visit the Domestic Violence Page. 

Interviewed with Paula Stordy of Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC), Salem, Massachusetts

Montgomery, AL—Shortly after moving to Montgomery in the 1980s to work for the then-new Equal Justice Initiative, defense attorney BryanStevenson got to meet one of the biggest icons of the civil rights movement: Rosa Parks, the black activist who most famously was arrested for her protest of an unconstitutional Alabama law requiring black riders to sit in the back of buses when whites wanted a front seat.

“There were actually three amazing people there who were involved in the Montgomery bus boycott,” Stevenson recalled of the meeting in a recent interview with laws.com.  “One was Rosa Parks.  The other two, you may not know: Ms. Johnny Carr, who organized the Montgomery bus boycott, and Virginia Derr.  They invited me over to their house and they were all on the steps talking for about two hours, and finally, after a couple of hours, Ms. Parks turned to me and she said: 'Now, tell me, Bryan, what are you doing here in Alabama?”

(More on News at LAWS.com, Contact Alberto for interviews “support@laws.com”)

Stevenson told her about his plans for the Equal Justice Initiative—how he wanted an organization that could work to get innocent people off death row, end mass incarceration, and stop racial bias in the criminal justice system.  When he was done, he says, “Ms. Parks looked at me and shook her head, and said, 'mmmh, mmmh, mmmh, mmmh,' she said, 'That's going to make you tired, tired, tired.'  And Ms. Carr leaned forward, and she put her finger in my face, and she said, 'That's why you've got to be brave, brave, brave.”

“Brave, brave, brave” is exactly what Stevenson has been.  His remarkable life has taken him on a path from the “colored” elementary school in his rural Delaware town to Harvard Law School, to working in the Deep South to get innocent people off death row.  Today, he is known as one of the most dedicated and talented attorneys and legal scholars working on the issue of injustice and bias in the criminal justice system.

In this kind of highly politically charged work, Stevenson says emotions are an asset, not a liability.  “My emotions are a part of when I manage these cases,” he told laws.com.  “It's quite emotional for me, but what keeps me strong is knowing that they need me to be a strong advocate.  I have been successful in my career, and this is what has energized me and kept me motivated to continue.  EJI holds its offices in a historical space, with all the souls around it to remind me to keep an eye on the prize.  It keeps me honest.”

The historical space Stevenson refers to is a former whites-only school on Montgomery's Commerce Street, which was an infamous slave trading space before the Civil War.  Slave auctions were held not far from where Stevenson's office chair sits today—and Stevenson's work has drawn important parallels between America's contemporary system of mass incarceration and antebellum slavery.

Children are of special concern to Stevenson, who has rallied against the sentencing of children as adults and has worked to end the school-to-prison pipeline that has been imposed upon many young black men.  Stevenson's work with the EJI was instrumental in leading to the Supreme Court decision ending sentences of life imprisonment without parole for juveniles, which he describes as “an energizing and gratifying experience—there is still a lot of work to be done, but it is encouraging.  We are hopeful that we can continue to make progress.”

Stevenson has freed people from death row and from prison, and he knows his work is far from done, no matter how “tired, tired, tired” he gets.  To would-be attorneys wanting to make a difference, Stevenson gives this crucial piece of advice: “Make sure you can handle being uncomfortable, because you can't create justice without it.”

Houston, TX—While she knew from the time she started in law school that she wanted to be in the courtroom, criminal defense attorney Nicole DeBorde started where many aspiring criminal lawyers do: in the prosecutor's office.

“I worked as a prosecutor for several years, and at some point, I was not feeling as passionate about the work as a prosecutor, so I decided to go into private practice as a criminal defense attorney,” DeBorde told laws.com in a recent interview.  “I found that I really was passionate about criminal defense, so that's why I've stuck with it.  I enjoy it. I enjoy being in the courtroom and fighting for my clients.  Fighting for the underdog was where I knew I needed to be.” 

(More on News at LAWS.com, Contact Alberto for interviews “support@laws.com”)

Becoming a criminal defense attorney showed DeBorde a new side to the justice system.  “When I got into private practice, I learned that many times, the government does not have the whole story and they are operating only on part of the facts. Sometimes they are all together wrong.” 

DeBorde says will only take a case if she feels like she and the client can communicate effectively and she believes she might be able to help. That process begins with a free consultation.  “In the free consultation, we have the opportunity to talk about what the accusations are, we discuss what kind of crime they are accused of, what type of involvement they had, how complicated and long it's going to be to mount the proper defense.  After all this is discussed, if we find we are compatible and feel comfortable with one another, we move forward.  If we are not able to be compatible, then I refer them to someone else.” 

Plea deals are not always “deals” according to DeBorde. Lawyers should work with their clients to assess the risks and fully discuss the permanent consequences of accepting a plea.  While some defendants feel pressured to plead guilty to lesser charges in order to avoid long prison sentences, DeBorde says that clients who are willing to tolerate the risk should go to trial when wrongly accused: “If the client didn't do what the government is accusing them of doing and they take a plea deal, it will be on their record for the rest of their life.  These things aren't like financial problems that go away after a period of time.  If they apply for a job, even sign up for the PTA, these things will come up.  Many times, you can't afford to take a plea deal.” 

DeBorde says that she finds her career in criminal defense deeply rewarding.  “Every time you have someone sit down with you with a terrible and hopeless situation, and there is no one who believes them, you become their last hope.  They are laying all the facts out for you, and their life, heart and family is on the line, and when you can make the right thing happen, it's an wonderful feeling,” she says.  “I have to say that I am very fortunate that it happens to us at our law firm a lot.  Whether it is a DWI or a complex fraud case or a murder case, those accusations will not follow a client if we can succeed. Sometimes it is a matter of mitigating a bad situation; sometimes it is a matter of avoiding a conviction all together” 

More than most other kinds of law, DeBorde says that criminal defense law is great at inspiring passion in attorneys.  “It is something that is really easy to get passionate about and work hard at because you're a defendant's last hope. I like standing up for the guy no one else is willing to stand up for and I like winning for them.  It’s a great combination.”

Domestic violence organizations across the country have celebrated the recent reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  This new legislation is more powerful than the older version, because it both expands and creates new federal programs that help victims of sexual and domestic violence.  VAWA is responsible for establishing the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and for providing much needed funding to essential services programs for victims of sexual and domestic violence.

(More on  News at LAWS.com, contact Adam for interviews “adama@laws.com”)

South Asian women in the United States experience sexual and domestic violence at rates that are far higher than the national average. In a study conducted in the Greater Boston area, 160 married South Asian women were surveyed, and more than 40 percent reported being physically or sexually assaulted by their male partner in their lifetime. This compares to a national rate of 22 to 25 percent. Of those South Asian women reporting experiencing domestic violence, some 65 percent reported also experiencing sexual violence.

Manavi was established in 1985 as the country’s first organization to specifically address the needs of South Asian women victims of domestic violence. It is a New Jersey-based organization and its programs involve providing direct services to survivors of domestic violence, grassroots organizing within the South Asian community, and advocacy. Its name, Manavi, means “primal women” in the Sanskrit language. It is a secular organization and provides services to all women.

The following is an interview with (unsure of name) of Manavi on her thoughts and feelings about the recent reauthorization of VAWA, and the work of her organization in the realm of domestic violence.

In your opinion, what does the recent passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) signify for the women's rights movement?

The re-authorization of the Violence against Women Act (VAWA) was a triumph for all organizations that focus on ending violence against women such as Manavi.  VAWA goes some way in making a difference in one of the areas of women’s rights: violence against women that undermines her right to live safely and gain autonomy.

This iteration of the Act makes it possible for community based organizations as well as other state and governmental agencies to continue to provide critical and life-saving services to women affected by various forms of cruelty: such as domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, stalking etc. through the various streams of funding.   Manavi has been part of the grassroots movements that led to VAWA in 1994, working closely with many allies to obtain and collate information, draft portions of the initial legislation, and rally the necessary forces for passage of the Act.  Each and every reauthorization has been significant for the community we represent for creating access and benefits for women who would have had no other way to obtain safety and make a different life for themselves and their children.  Many of the immigration provisions, access to housing and public benefits, the Full Faith and Credit Provisions, LEP (Limited English Proficiency), provisions for LBGT (Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Gay and Transgender),  and funding enable Manavi to continue to work with women as well as allies in the state and the nation.

VAWA has also enabled Manavi to work closely with other South Asian Women’s organizations (SAWO’s).  Manavi hosts a biennial conference where members from all the SAWO’s gather to exchange ideas, debate critical issues, challenge each other and forge new pathways to working with many marginalized women within our communities.

For 29 years now, Manavi has worked towards empowerment, liberation and justice for South Asian women.  The passage of this iteration of VAWA recognizes the efforts of community based organizations to challenge norms and ideas that perpetuate the subjugation of women.  

Do you believe the new version of VAWA goes far enough to protect women against domestic violence?

In the evolution of VAWA, each iteration has provided more and more benefits for women in immigrant communities such as South Asian to overcome barriers.  These have included reaching out to law enforcement, accessing the courts for safety, obtaining immigration relief, and obtaining housing and public benefits.  Each of the iterations has also revealed what works and what does not work and where the work is for the future.   Many of the women who approach Manavi have been able to use the immigration provisions.  Some of the added provisions are helpful for many women who are undocumented such as protections for fiancées was an important advancement.    However, many of the women who are on H dependent visas are unable to forge an independent path.  While some use the U visa provisions, nevertheless, we still have to figure out what other avenues exist.

Additionally, many of the provisions for sexual assault and campus programs are essential in our communities.  Sexual violence remains a taboo subject in South Asian communities.  Along with the current events in many of the South Asian countries, there is impetus to raise the issue of sexual violence as evidenced by the many vigils and activities around the issue in our communities.  VAWA will allow us to do much work in the community on this issue, especially among the youth and those on college campuses.  

What are some of the unique circumstances of South Asian domestic violence victims?

There are several unique challenges faced by South Asian women, who are victims of violence.  

Language plays a big part in the lives of South Asian women.  It is a challenge for women when they attempt to access services or law enforcement, or the courts if they do not speak or understand English.  Interpreters for some of the languages and dialects are not readily available leading to many missed opportunities.   Unbiased professional interpreters in some of the languages are hard to come by and there is very little accountability.

Cultural reality is another challenge faced by South Asian women. Many women fear the repercussion of speaking out about the violence or attaining a restraining order or divorce within the community and their families.  There is a strong social stigma around a broken marriage and sexual violence, and for women to reach out for support and take a stand, is very difficult. Many in the systems and institutions may not understand the reluctance or the recantations and brokering cultural exchange is an important service provided by Manavi so that other players can understand where the women are coming from and the reluctance that shapes specific behaviors.

Immigration status is also a challenge for South Asian women. Many women are on a visa status dependant on their spouse. Many of these visas have restrictions such as not being able to drive, work, or have a social security card. This isolates them in many ways and also forces them to be subject to their spouse’s control and abuse.  For the women who have children born in the US, the option to leave the marriage is not an easy one because of custody concerns.  Understanding the provisions of the laws in the US vs. the South Asian laws and its impact on families and relationships is critical for women to make decisions that are empowering in the end.

What has your organization been able to achieve in terms of advancing the cause of South Asian domestic violence victims?

On a day to day basis, Manavi provides several options for the women who call us. We provide peer-supportive counseling that is language specific, culturally specific and recognize that women may have newly emigrated from South Asia may be unaware of their rights. We are able to walk them through their rights and the risks of all the possible options available so that they can make decisions that are best suited to their circumstances.   We also hold support groups and provide a safe space for women to talk about what they have been through and gain emotional support from their peers.

Manavi provides a safe home called Ashiana, which is in an undisclosed location, where women can get their bearings and make informed decisions about their lives. Manavi provides free legal clinics, legal referrals, and court accompaniments to help the women feel supported throughout the difficult process of using the legal system.

Through our outreach and education program, we raise awareness about the various forms of violence against women in our communities and provide information and resources.  We work closely with our allies in the domestic and sexual violence movements and provide trainings to them as well as law enforcement and court staff on how to better work with South Asian women.

Manavi has been at the forefront of the movement to end violence against women as the first South Asian women’s organization founded in 1985.  Working and challenging our allies locally and nationally we have provided innovative ideas and cutting edge work in our 29 years.  This has been helped by our continued involvement with many of our sister organizations in South Asia.

Do you believe the South Asian community in the United States has come a long way since the initial passage of VAWA in 1994?

We do believe that since the initial passage of VAWA, the South Asian community has made remarkable progress.  Even in the early years, many of the community members supported our work since we never wanted funding to dictate what needed to be done in the community.  Many segment of the community struggled with us and many did not. But clearly a lot still needs to be done. Violence against women is still a big issue in the South Asian community and although people are more open to talking about it, there are still many barriers that women face. Some of the newer provisions on sexual violence and campus grants will help us move into new areas of work with the support of our communities.

If you are in a domestic violence situation, please contact Manavi for help. For more information on domestic violence, please visit the Domestic Violence Page. 

Greenwich, CT—Legal analyst, author and criminal defense attorney Mickey Sherman says that one of the biggest challenges facing criminal defendants today is a matter of public perception.

“The public view is that everyone must be guilty if they got arrested,” Sherman told laws.com in a recent interview.  “Also, we now have the 'CSI factor.'  All these crime solving or forensic investigation television shows affect the public perception of what crime is, though that probably hurts the prosecutors more than the defendants.”

(More on News at LAWS.com, Contact Alberto for interviews “support@laws.com”)

Sherman is no stranger to television himself.  In fact, a case in which he was defense counsel was the first trial to be broadcast in its entirety on then-fledgling Court TV.  He has provided commentary over the years for high profile trial coverage, including the O.J. Simpson trial, and worked with CBS's Early Show as a legal analyst for four years.

Commentary, Sherman explains, is an art—and not one that all attorneys are naturals at.  “You'd be surprised at how many intelligent lawyers are not good commentators, or get insulted when Nancy Grace cuts them off,” he says.  “It's just part of the show.  Another problem I have noticed is that when some attorneys get in front of the camera, they can't contain a thought or an answer in the short time they are given.  Just because you are great in court does not mean you're great for TV.”

His secret to television success?  “Although I take my job as a legal analyst seriously, I don't take being in front of the cameras too seriously.”

Over the years, Sherman has defended a number of controversial clients.  Those cases led to him hearing the same question so often that he decided to write a book using it as the title: “How Could You Defend Those People?”  He says: “I could be walking in a Dunkin' Donuts, or attend an exclusive cocktail party, and people always asked me, 'Hey, Mr. Sherman, how could you defend those people?'  I could be giving a speech at a prestigious legal organization or just walk down the street and people always ask me that question.  The book is more like a backstage pass to the criminal justice system and my career.”

Sherman's career as an attorney led his son Mark to pursue a career in law as well.  When advising him, Sherman says his advice was to “spend more time listening to clients, and never pre-judge anyone.  We are not in the business of judging people.  Both sides sometimes want to win so much that they cut corners.  My best advice would be not to cut corners.”

Today, Sherman is running his own firm in Connecticut, and says that when deciding whether to take a case to trial, “Each case is different.  You listen to your client and learn the facts.”

Not all attorneys are willing to take cases to the courtroom, says Sherman, which often stems less from the case itself and more from an attorney's insecurities.  “So many lawyers don't want to or are afraid to go to trial.  They are afraid of the unknown.  To me, the spontaneity is one of the best parts of being a criminal defense lawyer—an adrenaline rush occurs when I am in the courtroom.”