密歇根新闻广播 家庭暴力的存在是否是司法体制的错?

Stories like that of Nicole Beverly, whose abusive husband is set to be released from prison in August despite alleged¹ threats to kill her and her children, are nothing new for Barbara Niess-May, executive director of SafeHouse Center in Ann Arbor².

“Her story is common, in that there are many survivors³ who find themselves needing to relocate because of the assailant,” Niess-May said. “What’s uncommon⁴ is the fact that she has gone public with her story.”

If law enforcement had investigated how Niess-May believes they should, she said, a public campaign to relocate Beverly and her two sons wouldn’t be necessary. But the authorities have decided⁵ not to pursue further charges.

“Survivors of domestic violence should not have to displace themselves and their children because of assailant behavior, and that is exactly what is happening here," she said.

If you or someone you know is suffering abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at its toll-free, 24-hour hotline: [phone].

Law enforcement agencies are not committed to holding assailants accountable. That culture doesn’t exist across much of the state, Niess-May said. Often authorities don’t take survivors seriously, or simply say their hands are tied. In Beverly’s case, the authorities didn’t believe the credibility of reports from fellow inmates⁶ that her husband was looking for someone he could hire to kill Beverly and her two sons.

Even after initial arrests or convictions, Niess-May sees a lack of persistence⁷. She points to the 2013 case of Shandar Turner, a Washtenaw County woman whose partner stabbed her to death in front of her twin sons.

He had been released from prison four days earlier.

Niess-May said Turner had warned police about threats to kill her, but it made no difference.

“When assailants continue to assault and hurt and threaten survivors, there isn’t the decision to say we are going to continue to hold them accountable,” Niess-May said.

In Beverly’s case, Niess-May wants clear assurances that authorities thoroughly⁸ investigate any potential threat. Has he gone through any programming while in prison to educate him on abusive behavior? Does he show remorse⁹ for his actions in the past? Does he have a positive plan for his future?

“[Beverly] has had no communication and no support from the system,” Niess-May said.

Michigan is one of 14 states that don't have an address confidentiality¹⁰ program, which allows survivors to use a neutral address in public records without revealing their actual location. Niess-May believes instituting one would make a big difference in sexual assault or domestic abuse cases.

We reached out to Attorney General Bill Schuette's office. A spokesperson said they are looking into Nicole Beverly's case and are unable to comment further at this time.

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 arbor   

n.凉亭；树木

参考例句：

• They sat in the arbor and chatted over tea.他们坐在凉亭里，边喝茶边聊天。
• You may have heard of Arbor Day at school.你可能在学校里听过植树节。

3 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

4 uncommon   

adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的

参考例句：

• Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
• Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 persistence   

n.坚持，持续，存留

参考例句：

• The persistence of a cough in his daughter puzzled him.他女儿持续的咳嗽把他难住了。
• He achieved success through dogged persistence.他靠着坚持不懈取得了成功。

8 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

9 remorse   

n.痛恨，悔恨，自责

参考例句：

• She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
• He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。

10 confidentiality   

n.秘而不宣，保密

参考例句：

• They signed a confidentiality agreement. 他们签署了一份保守机密的协议。
• Cryptography is the foundation of supporting authentication, integrality and confidentiality. 而密码学是支持认证、完整性和机密性机制的基础。