People are the voices that create a positive change in our lives. The 1970s was full of protestors and equal right movement.
Why did the world stop and forget about children?
Be the change you want to see in this world.
If you would like to support this WV law change, please contact me.
There are several things that you can do actively to assist in making this law change happen.
- Share your personal West Virginia child abuse story with me by email or USPS mail.
- P.O. Box 107 Montcalm, WV 24737
- Call my personal number at: 304.888.3648
Our children are counting on the adults in society to protect them when their own families can not. If an abuser does not receive sufficient punishment for these sexual abuse crimes against their children, this does hinder the child's ability to recover because of fear of the abuser being introduced into their young abused lives. This will happen to young abused lives if we do not intervene with this law change.
cynthia cox
CALL TO ACTION
Call to Action is for West Virginia volunteers to prevent child abuse.
Call to Action is an educational effective change to stop child abuse by empowering adult survivors of child abuse, parents, and organizations to create the change we want to see in West Virginia to help our children.
The resources offered here will help break down the legislative process. Without our input, our efforts, and our focus to put children first then nothing will change.
Adult survivors of child abuse are strong people. Adult survivors of child abuse know the long term repercussions of the effects of child abuse that linger behind. Use your life’s circumstances of bad to activate the positive change in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. Our child are counting on us.
There is more you can do where you are located also. Create a free profile on www.Congress.org. This website will assist you in determining who your elected leaders and officials are so that you may contact them with your concerns.
Time is the only essential ingredient needed to create effective change and protect all children. Consider taking a few minutes today to express your concerns and thoughts on stopping child abuse.
Children depend on our strengths to keep them safe and no matter how weak we think we are, just think about the silent voices of children who have no one.
Research
I have written my entire life to help alleviate the insanity and injustices I have witnessed in society by the mistreatment of individuals. Writing provides clarity for me.
I see no gender when I view into the eyes of another. External appearances lie and deceive. True beauty is hid within and shines outward in actions. I detest biological age as credentials for expertise. I detest papers that reference a person as qualified.
Real characteristics of life are the actions of treatment toward others. Knowledge can be sought and applied for seekers to improve self and life.
Circumstances are the obstacles that make us weak or keep us strong depending on individual perception. Hope is not lost as long as there is one believer alive to active.
Pain will hurt as long as a person chooses to retain. Hate will conquer the soul of the prisoner until they release. Jealously is the source emotion of self-deprivation.
Financial status is not a celebration of time dedicated to a job well done but a loss of time toward others who need you.
Research the laws that you would like to change to protect children.
I will advocate my time, skills and resources to change the following amendment to the West Virginia Code Crimes & Punishment.
The WV Code 61-8D-5 details the conviction punishment for sexual abuse crimes against children committed by parents, guardians, custodians or persons in a position of trust.
WV needs to enforce this sexual abuse law by child caretakers to protect our children. This additional punishment change will allow sufficient time for the child victim to receive proper treatment without fear of abuser release.
I have highlighted the current law in orange and my changes in red that I am seeking. The current ages of child victims are highlighted in orange.
§61-8D-5. Sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust to a child; parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust allowing sexual abuse to be inflicted upon a child; displaying of sex organs by a parent, guardian, or custodian; penalties.
(a) In addition to any other offenses set forth in this code, the Legislature hereby declares a separate and distinct offense under this subsection, as follows: If any parent, guardian or custodian of or other person in a position of trust in relation to a child under his or her care, custody or control, shall engage in or attempt to engage in sexual exploitation of, or in sexual intercourse, sexual intrusion or sexual contact with, a child under his or her care, custody or control, notwithstanding the fact that the child may have willingly participated in such conduct, or the fact that the child may have consented to such conduct or the fact that the child may have suffered no apparent physical injury or mental or emotional injury as a result of such conduct, then such parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a correctional facility not less than ten (18 YEARS) nor more than twenty years (25 YEARS), or fined not less than $500 ($2000) nor more than $5,000 ($10,000) and imprisoned in a correctional facility not less than ten (18 YEARS) years nor more than twenty years (25 YEARS).
(b) Any parent, guardian, custodian or other person in a position of trust in relation to the child who knowingly procures, authorizes, or induces another person to engage in or attempt to engage in sexual exploitation of, or sexual intercourse, sexual intrusion or sexual contact with, a child under the care, custody or control of such parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust when such child is less than sixteen years of age, notwithstanding the fact that the child may have willingly participated in such conduct or the fact that the child may have suffered no apparent physical injury or mental or emotional injury as a result of such conduct, such parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a correctional facility not less than five years
(18 YEARS) nor more than fifteen years
(25 YEARS), or fined not less than $1,000 ($10,000) nor more than $10,000 ($20,000) and imprisoned in a correctional facility not less than five years (18 YEARS) nor more than fifteen years
(25 YEARS).
(c) Any parent, guardian, custodian or other person in a position of trust in relation to the child who knowingly procures, authorizes, or induces another person to engage in or attempt to engage in sexual exploitation of, or sexual intercourse, sexual intrusion or sexual contact with, a child under the care, custody or control of such parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust when such child is sixteen years of age or older, notwithstanding the fact that the child may have consented to such conduct or the fact that the child may have suffered no apparent physical injury or mental or emotional injury as a result of such conduct, then such parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a correctional facility not less than one year (10 YEARS) nor more than five years (15 YEARS).
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a custodian or person in a position of trust whose age exceeds the age of the child by less than four years.
03/10/2011 - Email from Delegate Joe Ellington
Ms. Cox, Thanks for your message and recommendations on sexual abuse by parents or other guardians. I was saddened to hear about your own experiences and pray for your healing. I am supportive of your suggestions and will keep them in mind with any legislation in this session and in the future. - Delegate Joe Ellington
Progression
I feel strongly in the course of my direction to protect children by this amendment to allow sufficient time away from their abusers to be able to get proper treatment without fear of adult abusers being allowed back in their lives as is in the case when an abuser is a caretaker.
I am not an expert. I fear no one and respect everyone. I will learn through this process and share the journey. However, if we do not become the change we want to see in the world, how can our children?
ACTIVATE WV CODE CHANGE 61-8D-5
Be yourself. No one can ever tell you you're doing it wrong. - James Leo Harlihy
BLUEFIELD (WVVA) -
Raised in McDowell County,
Cynthia Cox was sexually abused
by her father when she was a child.
The Department of Health and
Human Resources stepped in,
and her father was forced to leave
her family's home for six months.
Then, he was allowed back home,
and abused Cox again.
She feels she's not only a victim
of abuse, but also a victim of the system.
To read her full story, you can purchase
Cynthia Cox's book, "The I in Me."
Or, you can get a free copy in PDF.
If you live in Virginia and you or
someone you know is a victim of
child abuse, you can call 1-800-552-7096.
If you live in West Virginia,
you can call 1-800-352-6513.
Anatomy of A Child Abuse Case -
Investigating Child Abuse
May 04, 2011 5:31 PM EDT
2012
2012
.
2012
