Former U.S. Soldier Being Charged For Murder, Rape

Steven Dale Green is being charged as a civilian for crimes he allegedly committed while serving in the United States Army in Iraq. Green is facing 17 charges after being accused of raping a 14 year old Iraqi girl and then burning her body. A law was passed in 2000 called the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act that allows an ex military man (or woman) like Green to be charged on U.S. soil for crimes committed while serving in another country. There are arguments that possible jurors will not "understand" the situation that Green was in, so therefore will not be able to make an informed decision...What do you need to understand that raping someone is wrong? That raping a child is wrong? Burning their body and killing their family is okay if you're in a battlefield in Iraq? Just because those jurors are civilians, and not military does not mean they do not know right from wrong, even in the most difficult circumstances. Nothing justifies those actions.

Former soldier faces civilian trial in Iraq rape
The first former Army soldier to be charged as a civilian under a 2000 law that allows him to be prosecuted for alleged crimes committed overseas faces a trial of his peers - in a federal courtroom in Kentucky.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30072858/from/ET/

Todays Technology Hosts New Problems to Figure Out

Whether it's "sexting" or posting inappropriate images online, cell phones and the internet make it easier to exploit our youth and overwhelming to keep track of. Sexting is when you send sexually suggestive text messages with your cell phone. It is becoming a huge problem with teenagers and now they are even looking at charging some with child pornography. There is also the case of a 14 year old girl in New Jersey who posted over 30 pictures of herself on MySpace that were sexually explicit, all becuase she wanted her boyfriend to see them. She was arrested and charged with child pornography and distribution. If she is convicted, she would have to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law. The woman behind Megan's Law, whose daughter it is named for does not think this is right. The law was not designed for people like her. Maybe she shouldn't be charged under Megan's Law, but what should happen? She probably does need some counseling, but mostly a lot of parenting. There needs to be a punishment of some sorts or a procedure in place to deal with this problem. It's scary how many cases there are, and no one knows how to deal with them. Three young girls in yet another state are facing the same issues after sending photos to the boys at school with their cell phone. Another girl committed suicide after her ex boyfriend shared racy photos of her with others. We should know what our children are posting on the web, what networking sites they are using and checking their cell phones. Not only is this risky behavior, but the emotions involved are intense. The humilation behind someone sseing the pictures or messages who wasn't supposed to can be too much, especially as a teenager. Trying to monitor what are children are doing can be time consuming and stressful, but look at the alternatives.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29912729/from/ET/

Her teen committed suicide over "sexting"
The perils of teens electronically exchanging suggestive messages were driven home by Cynthia Logan, whose daughter Jesse took her own life at 18 after being taunted over a photo meant only for her boyfriend. "She was being tortured," said the teen's heartbroken mom.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29546030/from/ET/

DNA Evidence Frees Innocent Man

Ronald Cotton spent 11 years of his life in prison for a rape he did not commit. His accuser, Jennifer Thompson-Cannino had helped police draw a sketch of the man who had assaulted her and he had fit the description. The sketch she helped with was her last visual of the man who had raped her. During the police line up, she picked Ronald Cotton out and had no doubts about her decision. He was the one who fit the sketch the best. It just so happens that he closely resembled the actual perpetrator. Jennifer was consumed with guilt when she found out DNA evidence had proved he was not her attacker, but Cotton had already forgiven her. They are now good friends who wrote a book together, "Picking Cotton: A Memoir of Injustice and Redemption". When they speak and appear together, they stress the importance of how our memory can trick us, and how your subconscious works. They would like to see a few changes in the way police do their lineups. It's amazing that they have moved past the terrible crime that connects them, and honorable to see how they have turned a bad experience into something positive.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29613178/from/ET/

Same Person Responsible for 13 Rapes?

Students at both Kansas State and the University of Kansas have been alerted by school officials to be extra cautious during spring break, which begins next week. Over the last eight years, 13 rapes have occured at the two school campuses during school breaks. Investigators believe the same person could be responsible due to similiarities in the attacks. The schools have put warnings up on their websites and different groups have handed out pamphlets on and off campus. The schools have even emailed students to get the word out, and have alerted the community to be on the lookout. This is a great approach to draw awareness and take preventative measures. The schools are showing support for a very serious issue that affects many young people, especially during the college years.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/12/kansas.spring.break.rapes/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Does GPS Monitoring of Sex Offenders Work?

When convicted sex offenders are fitted with GPS monitoring devices we assume that someone is watching their every move and ensuring the safety of those around them. GPS will tell you where an offender is or was, but it doesn't tell you what he or she is doing at the time. GPS is a valuable tool in corroborating an offenders alibi or confession, but only after that crime has already been attempted or committed. Experts say GPS needs to work with other programs to be successful, and not to count on an ankle bracelet to deter an offender from committing another crime.

Darrin Sanford is a homeless convicted sex offender who was wearing a GPS device when he killed a 13 year girl after attempting to rape her. The young girl had been warned to stay away from the area in which she was assaulted, but she went anyway. It certainly doesn't mean she deserved what happened to her. She was a teen. A young girl who felt confident enough to walk through that field. Her family did what they could by warning her of the dangers. They were trying to protect her. Darrin Sanford took advantage of the situation and killed her when he couldn't do what he intended. The GPS did not stop him from committing this terrible crime, but why was he out in the streets anyway? He had been in trouble before for not registering as a sex offender, so how many chances does he get? His offenses went back 10 years, and now a young girl is dead and a family devastated.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/12/sex.offender.gps/index.html

Oprah's Magazine Shares Stories from Male Survivors

David France talks with men who have survived sexual abuse and their wives in Oprah's magazine "O". 1 in 6 men will be sexually abused in their lifetime, and more often than not, they stay silent about it. In this article, three men share their stories and their struggle with their relationships. Their marriages have suffered, but their wives have stood by and are invovled in the healing process. A lot of times, intimacy issues come up when the victims become involved in a healthy relationship. The individuals responsible for the abuse have not only altered the victims life, but all the people around that person. This goes for their wives, girlfriends, partners, parents, children and anyone else they may be close to. It affects so many more people than we think, and seems to take on a domino effect.
With any victim of sexual violence, it's hard to come forward and report the abuse, but with men and young boys, there are even more victims who stay silent. They tend to feel ashamed and embarrassed that they couldn't stop the perpetrator and even worry that the abuse defines their sexuality. Sexual abuse knows no boundaries and doesn't discriminate. These men were strong enough to come forward and discuss the most intimate stages in their lives. We should all be thankful that they were brave enough to shatter the silence.
http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200810_omag_sexual_abuse/1

"Operation Cross Country" Works to Combat the Abuse of Children

Twenty-nine cities took part in "Operation Cross Country", and 48 minors were found in the raids. Nationwide, over 500 adults were arrested and charged with prostitution related charges. Prostitution has been a problem all over the country for years, but more and more minors seem to be involved. Whether they selling their bodies by force or by "choice", these young people are being taken advantage of. Some of the prostitutes are as young as 12 years old.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1445413,child-prostitution-crackdown-022309.article