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May 5, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Amanda Grady Sexton (603) 548-9377, amanda@nhcadsv.org Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted 14-10 down party lines to approve a settlement process that is not comprehensive, and, in effect, disregards egregious abuse suffered by numerous sexual assault victims at the YDC/Sununu Center and its cover up over decades. “To be clear: the bill that passed today is not victim-centered and does not seek to make victims whole. HB1677 fails hundreds of children who were abused by employees of the State of New Hampshire. The bill excludes many victims of sexual abuse and torture from even participating in the YDC/Sununu Center settlement process, and limits other victims from accessing the justice they deserve,” said Lyn Schollett, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. We encourage anyone who has been sexually or physically abused, no matter when the abuse occurred to seek confidential and compassionate support or information through one of the 12 member programs of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Caring advocates are available 24/7 through the Statewide Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline at 1-866-644-3574. About the Coalition: NHCADSV is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy. The NHCADSV and its 12 member programs do not discriminate based on gender, age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical, mental, or emotional ability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socio-economic status, race, national origin, immigration status, or religious or political affiliation. For more information visit www.nhcadsv.org. May 4, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Amanda Grady Sexton (603) 548-9377, amanda@nhcadsv.org Yesterday, members of the Senate Finance Committee voted to exclude numerous sexual assault victims from participating in a state settlement fund for individuals who were abused by employees of New Hampshire’s Youth Detention Center. The Coalition supports the creation of a truly victim-centered state settlement fund as an alternative to the civil court process and strongly urges the Senate to amend HB1677 on the Senate floor this Thursday, May 5. As written, the Coalition opposes HB1677, and we cannot recommend that victims use this process unless the bill is amended. “The State of New Hampshire miserably failed to protect vulnerable children in its care at YDC and the Sununu Center. Children in New Hampshire’s youth detention centers suffered heartbreaking and unthinkable abuse for decades. The government employees who committed these terrible acts took advantage of the youth in their care, leveraging their position of authority to cover up the extent of their abuse,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs for the Coalition. “The state has an opportunity to set a powerful precedent through this settlement fund. Although there is no way to adequately compensate a victim for the life-long impacts of the sexual abuse and violence they endured while in the care of the state, the state can demonstrate what it means to hold institutions accountable and show unwavering support for child victims. The bill in its current form fails to do that,” Grady Sexton said. Under the current version of HB1677, some groups of victims who experienced egregious acts of sexual violence are purposely prohibited from participating in the settlement process, including children who were forced to view pornographic materials, children who were subjected to acts of indecent exposure, and children who were filmed while being sexually abused. It is critical that the definition of abuse be expanded so that any child who was sexually abused at YDC is eligible to participate in this settlement process. We also join Child USA in urging the legislature to revisit the caps on sexual abuse claims to ensure that the state is adequately compensating victims for the abuse they endured. Caps in a settlement process only benefit the state in these cases, and the caps for abuse claims in this bill shortchange victims. Under the current bill, those who suffered egregious abuse will be forced to choose between a low settlement offer or going to court. The Coalition would like to express its gratitude to Senator Lou D’Allesandro and Senator Cindy Rosenwald who advocated strongly in support of amending this legislation. We encourage anyone who has been sexually or physically abused, no matter when the abuse occurred, to come forward to seek confidential and compassionate support or information through one of the 12 member programs of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Caring advocates are available 24/7 through the Statewide Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline at 1-866-644-3574. NHCADSV is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy. The NHCADSV and its 12 member programs do not discriminate based on gender, age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical, mental, or emotional ability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socio-economic status, race, national origin, immigration status, or religious or political affiliation. For more information visit www.nhcadsv.org. March 8, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Amanda Grady Sexton (603) 548-9377, amanda@nhcadsv.org The N.H. Supreme Court Domestic Violence Task Force was convened in December after a woman was shot outside her workplace by an ex-boyfriend, a month after a New Hampshire judge denied her request for a final protective order. The multidisciplinary group was charged with conducting a “systemic review of domestic violence in the New Hampshire court system,” according to an order establishing the Task Force. The Task Force’s report was released today after the group convened several meetings throughout January, including a public hearing. The charge of this Task Force was to improve outcomes for domestic violence victims seeking relief from the court system and we believe the following recommendations will help accomplish that:
Lyn Schollett, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, said, “In light of a tragic case where a domestic violence victim was shot a month after she courageously sought a final protective order, the court pulled together this multidisciplinary Task Force to review ways to improve the system. We were grateful for the opportunity to work with stakeholders to create a roadmap in this report for improved accountability and transparency in domestic violence cases, and we will continue to work to ensure these recommendations are implemented. It’s imperative that there are measures to identify when the court system exhibits biases against women and victims of crime and a process for responding to those cases, with the end goal of improving outcomes for survivors who interact with the system.” About the Coalition: NHCADSV is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy. The NHCADSV and its 12 member programs do not discriminate based on gender, age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical, mental, or emotional ability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socio-economic status, race, national origin, immigration status, or religious or political affiliation. For more information visit www.nhcadsv.org. Press Release from Representative Annie Kuster January 28, 2022 Concord, N.H. -- Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) met virtually with members of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (NHCADSV). During the meeting, the group discussed NHCADSV’s ongoing work for the Granite State and the reauthorization of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), the primary federal funding stream dedicated to the support of emergency shelters and assistance for victims of domestic violence and their children. Last year, Kuster helped advance the FVPSA reauthorization in the House of Representatives. In 2021, NHCADSV served more than 13,000 individuals seeking support for domestic and sexual violence in New Hampshire.
“We are incredibly grateful to Congresswoman Kuster and her colleagues in the House for their work to reauthorize FVPSA this past October,” said Pamela Keilig, Public Policy Specialist at New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “FVPSA serves as an essential funding stream to ensure survivors have access to life-saving resources, and it helps ensure New Hampshire’s advocates can continue to meet the growing need for victims’ services in cases that are increasingly complex and require long-term interventions. Advocates across the state have worked tirelessly to support those most impacted by domestic violence, and FVPSA reauthorization is an integral step in ensuring survivors’ future success.” November 17, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Amanda Grady Sexton (603) 548-9377, amanda@nhcadsv.org “The victim clearly showed in her petition that she was in immediate danger, and we are devastated to learn a final restraining order was denied in this case. Sadly, 43 percent of final protective orders are denied in New Hampshire, and in some cases where the victim has suffered serious injuries and there is an ongoing criminal investigation,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs for NHCADSV. She continued, “We call on the courts to launch a comprehensive review of all recent restraining orders to ensure that judges are following all laws and protocols when making these life-altering decisions, and to seek advanced training on domestic violence for all judges presiding over these cases.” If you or a loved one have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault, you are not alone, and there is help. Advocates are available to provide support, information and create a plan for safety. Services are free and confidential. NH’s 24-hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline: 1-866-644-3574 About the Coalition: NHCADSV is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy. The NHCADSV and its 12 member programs do not discriminate based on gender, age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical, mental, or emotional ability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socio-economic status, race, national origin, immigration status, or religious or political affiliation. For more information visit www.nhcadsv.org. Press Release from Senator Jeanne Shaheen October 6, 2021 (Washington,DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),Chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW),announced today with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that New Hampshire will receive $2,091,532 in OVW grants. The funding will support projects that help survivors find safety and justice, as well as those that train an array of professionals to address the prevalence of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking across our communities.
“During the pandemic, we have seen an increase in calls to our state’s domestic and sexual violence crisis centers as survivors have faced isolation and acts of violence have escalated in homes across New Hampshire. These federal funds will allow crisis centers to continue serving as a lifeline to survivors and will strengthen our statewide response to combat domestic violence and sexual assault. Thank you to our Congressional delegation for continuing to stand with survivors, we are deeply appreciative of your efforts to secure these critical resources,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs at the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Press Release from Representative Annie Kuster August 12, 2021 Concord, N.H.-Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, met virtually with NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence leaders and members to hear about the resiliency of crisis centers navigating this unprecedented time and the future demands of serving victims of interpersonal violence.
“It was great to be with so many Granite State leaders from the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence to hear first-hand about the resiliency of crisis centers and future needs as we come out of COVID-19,” Rep. Kuster continued. “As our communities begin to open more, we need to be prepared for an even greater onslaught of reporting and need for services. That’s where Congress must step in. I will continue working in Congress to ensure survivors have the support they need to recover.” August 10, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Amanda Grady Sexton (603) 548-9377, amanda@nhcadsv.org The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence applauds Governor Sununu for vetoing SB141 and HB334, which would have placed victims of domestic violence and stalking at heightened risk of lethal assault in our state. We are grateful that the Governor stood with the New Hampshire Department of Justice, the NH Judicial Branch, and crime victim advocates who are working to ensure that our background check system in New Hampshire will remain strong and responsive to victims of domestic violence and stalking. We call on the New Hampshire Legislature to sustain this veto. The passage of SB141 and HB334 would substantially weaken our background check system and could result in increased incidents of domestic violence homicide. Our member programs shared significant concerns that passage of this legislation would lead to the inadvertent sale of firearms to those who are legally prohibited from purchasing weapons due to their extreme risk of harming their partners and children. Should this legislation pass, it will leave the state with an incomplete and inconsistent database system that will not cover all types of court protective orders. The outright elimination of the Gunline without sufficient planning and evaluation would trivialize the very real danger that victims of domestic violence and stalking face every day in this state. “These bills further endanger victims of domestic violence and stalking in the Granite State. Our background check system must remain comprehensive so that individuals who are legally prohibited from purchasing a firearm will be flagged during a background check,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, the Coalition’s Director of Public Affairs. “The state’s current background check system provides the necessary safeguards to ensure that dangerous abusers will not have access to firearms that can be used to kill their victims. Victim safety must remain paramount when considering any changes to our background check system in New Hampshire.” Read the Coalition's letter to the Governor here. About the Coalition: NHCADSV is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy. The NHCADSV and its 12 member programs do not discriminate based on gender, age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical, mental, or emotional ability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socio-economic status, race, national origin, immigration status, or religious or political affiliation. For more information visit www.nhcadsv.org. Press Release from Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Representative Annie Kuster August 3, 2021 (Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02) introduced legislation with Congresswomen Gwen Moore (WI-04), Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Alma Adams, PhD (NC-12) to study the harmful effects of intimate partner violence on maternal health. The Protect Moms from Domestic Violence Act would research domestic and sexual violence as a social determinant of health. The bill would also award grants to programs that improve maternal and child health outcomes of survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
“We are grateful to Senator Shaheen and Congresswoman Kuster for introducing this critical legislation that recognizes the significant toll that domestic and sexual violence can have on victims throughout their lifetime, especially when it comes to their physical and mental health,” said Lyn Schollett, Executive Director, NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “We have long known that intimate partner violence leads to a host of short- and long-term health consequences for victims, and it’s critical that we invest in resources and services that can more effectively respond to the needs of survivors, especially those who are pregnant and at an increased risk of maternal morbidity. This is a meaningful first step towards strengthening our social and medical systems to acknowledge the additional barriers that pregnant survivors face, and recognizing intimate partner violence as the serious public health issue that it is." Kuster-Backed Legislation to Support Sexual Violence Survivors Signed Into Law by President Biden7/29/2021 Press Release from Representative Annie Kuster July 22, 2021 Washington, D.C. — Today, President Joe Biden signed into law the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act, legislation Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) helped introduce to shore up the depleted resources of the Crime Victims Fund and ensure survivors of sexual violence get the support and assistance they need.
“I have been proud to champion this legislation that averts a truly disastrous situation by providing critical reinforcement to the Crime Victims Fund and VOCA programs,” said Rep. Kuster. “As founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, I have talked with countless survivors about how critical it is to have support as you heal and rebuild your life after experiencing trauma. Our victim service providers in the Granite State, including the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Granite State Children’s Alliance, do incredible work with the VOCA dollars they receive, and the impending shortfall in VOCA resources would have had a devastating impact on them and the survivors they assist. I applaud my colleagues in Congress for advancing this commonsense fix in a bipartisan way, and appreciate President Biden quickly signing the bill as it reached his desk.” |
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The 12 member programs of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence provide services regardless of gender,age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical, mental or emotional ability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socio-economic status, race, national origin, immigration status or religious or political affiliation.
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New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
PO Box 353, Concord, NH 03302-0353
(603) 224-8893
New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
PO Box 353, Concord, NH 03302-0353
(603) 224-8893
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