March 5, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: 
Alyssa Dandrea, [email protected] 

Our systems of justice failed Vernon Hayford—and so many others in the Granite State. Tragically, this is just the most recent in a string of cases where we see a decades-long history of escalating violence but no true accountability or adequate interventions. The result was fatal.

Carrie Drake has a history of numerous vicious assaults with deadly weapons and attempted murder against a prior intimate partner, and she previously stabbed Vernon Hayford in 2020. A review of her criminal history shows that time and time again, her charges were dropped, pled down to far lesser charges, or she received suspended sentences for her extremely violent actions. Carrie Drake consistently breached the conditions of her bail and failed to seek court-ordered treatments, and yet little was done to hold her accountable and to ensure her victims’ or the public’s safety. There were multiple opportunities for the system to intervene before she escalated to the point of homicide. 

"Domestic violence homicides are predictable and preventable. When interpersonal violence continues and becomes more severe, the outcome is so often that someone dies. Those who commit violence in our communities must be held accountable for their actions. Our systems must also enforce compliance with mental health and substance abuse treatments when they are a factor in domestic violence cases," said Director of Public Affairs Amanda Grady Sexton.

Our hearts are with the victim in this case, and we hope that the systems—including prosecutors and the courts, as well as legislators who craft policies that are intended to protect the public—are willing to conduct intensive case reviews to determine how a person with a violent 18-year history was ever in a position to commit the ultimate act of domestic violence.

NH’s 24/7 Statewide 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

January 10, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: 
Alyssa Dandrea, [email protected] 

On Friday, January 12 at 9:30 a.m., the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing on HB1064, relative to penalties for violation of protective orders. The Coalition strongly opposes this bill, which is one of the most dangerous legislative proposals we have seen at the New Hampshire State House in years.
 
HB1064 seeks to repeal part of our state’s domestic violence law, which directs law enforcement to seize firearms and other deadly weapons after an abuser is arrested for knowingly violating a protective order. In a state where domestic violence is a factor in more than half of all homicides, abusers must face consequences for threatening and abusing partners, family members, and children with firearms and other deadly weapons. It is critical that abusers are prohibited from accessing weapons, otherwise more domestic violence cases will result in injury or death.
 
We have an opportunity to make our communities safer and instead some of our elected officials are attempting to turn back the clock to the 1970s, when systems of accountability for domestic violence offenders were merely nonexistent.
 
Coalition Public Policy Specialist Pamela Keilig said, “With so many pressing issues facing victims and survivors in New Hampshire, it’s inexcusable that this bill is even up for debate in 2024. Long ago the state legislature recognized the seriousness of domestic violence in our communities. HB1064 is an open invitation for future violence and has no place in our state.”
 
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

Shaheen visited Turning Points Network in Claremont, one of New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence’s (NHCADSV) 12 domestic and sexual violence crisis centers. Turning Points Network will receive a CDS award of $162,000, which will be used for critical office updates, such as the installation of a security system, a phone system that includes the 24-hour crisis line and updated office equipment and furnishings. 

“We remain grateful to Senator Shaheen for ensuring that advocates have the tools and resources they need to respond to domestic and sexual violence in their communities. The Senator continues to be a leading advocate for the critical work of New Hampshire’s 12 crisis centers and understands how important securing federal funding is so they can carry out their mission and provide live-saving services to those fleeing abuse,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs, NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. 

​“Over the last three years, crisis center advocates have seen a heightened demand for services and complex cases that require more intensive and long-term support. These services are essential to help survivors and their families heal from their trauma and to effectively educate communities on how to prevent domestic and sexual violence. We are excited to see the impact that the Congressionally Directed Spending will have for the crisis centers receiving funding for these important projects. This type of flexible funding is crucial to allowing crisis centers to address the unique needs in their communities and make a real difference in the lives of survivors.” ​

Washington, D.C. — Today, President Joe Biden signed Rep. Annie Kuster’s (NH-02) bipartisan legislation, the Safe Connections Act, into law to protect survivors of domestic abuse and violence. This new law will help survivors of domestic violence and other crimes cut ties with their abusers by separating from shared wireless service plans, which can be exploited to monitor, stalk, or control victims. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Deb Fischer (R-NE).

“This legislation will make a real difference in the lives of survivors trying to separate from their abusers here in New Hampshire and across the country,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs for NHCADSV. “Far too often, abusers will use shared phone lines to manipulate and intimidate their victims – thanks to Congresswoman Kuster, victims now have a clear path to separating their phone service.”​

​Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, helped advance her legislative amendment to ensure the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children can continue their critical joint work with law enforcement to recover missing children and combating online child exploitation as part of H.R. 8152, the American Data Privacy and Protection Act. This bill passed the Energy and Commerce Committee and now heads to the House Floor for passage.
 
“The growing presence of predators targeting and exploiting children online is alarming,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs at the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “We must do everything in our power to stop child exploitation and equip our law enforcement officers and child protection organizations with the tools and resources they need to hold perpetrators accountable and keep our kids safe. The amendment offered by Rep. Annie Kuster today will help achieve that goal right here in New Hampshire.”

(Washington,DC) – (U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)) visited the Coos County Family Health Services’ (CCFHS) Response to Domestic and Sexual Violence Crisis Center in Berlin to discuss efforts to boost services and programs for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She and local advocates discussed the importance of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and how the pandemic has heightened demand for the crisis center’s services.

“The reauthorization of VAWA earlier this year was a necessary step towards ensuring that the law and state-wide interventions reflect the current and most pressing needs of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. We are all aware of the challenges that emerged over the last two years, resulting in an incredible need for New Hampshire’s crisis centers to pivot their outreach and resources in order to continue providing essential services to survivors. This critical need is still present today and although the core role of an advocate has not changed, the scope of their work has expanded immensely as they seek to meet the increasingly complex needs of survivors. The effort to modernize VAWA every 5 years allows our communities to effectively respond to the changing needs of survivors in the Granite State, and we are so grateful to Senator Shaheen for her leadership on VAWA and her unwavering commitment to survivors of domestic and sexual violence,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs, NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

(Manchester, NH) –Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced that New Hampshire has received $4,698,138 to bolster AmeriCorps programs throughout the state. The funding is provided by both AmeriCorps’ annual funding and the American Rescue Plan. Specifically, this funding will support programs managed by City Year, Inc., For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Student Conservation Association. 

May 5, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: 
Amanda Grady Sexton (603) 548-9377, [email protected]

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.