Parents Speak Out About Massachusetts Family Court Injustice in Brockton/Plymouth Court

Here is a link with an ongoing discussion about Judge Menno in Plymouth - Brockton Family Court in Massachusetts. Victims of abuse are crying out to the State of Massachusetts, Advocacy Groups, Judicial Oversight Committees, Legal Help, Parents, whoever it may be who can help these children who are drastically devastated by the improprieties of one judge.


Here are some excerpts from Topix: 

From Sandwich, Ma - "I am desperately concerned about my children and Judge Menno. I have met 6 other women who have the same judge with similar stories....I do not know what else to do, and I feel I have done everything to try to protect my children and that is not good enough and the court does not care what I have done to help my children just grasping at straws to get dirt on me as a bad mother."

From Framingham, Ma - "pls help me end my 11yrs of homelessness by watching my video on youtube search corporate blacklisted mechanical engineer and pls tell your friends
thanks"

From Abington, Ma - "AM VR INTERSTED IN CONNECTING WITH SOMEONE, THIS IS AMAZING..6 YRS LATER, WITH MORE THAN ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR, WITH 2 KIDS"

From Fall River, Ma - "Judge Menno has a warped sense of who he is and what his responsibilities are. More than likely he had a disturbing relationship with his mother and sisters. Any man who can't be objective when there are children involved seriously is not a real man. I can't believe this man hasn't been thrown off the bench. He has caused so much suffering. And he has no concsience. He is a best friend to any man who is getting a divorce. Clearly no woman stands a chance of getting a fair deal from this woman hater"

From Abington, Ma - "Hi my sister's going through the same thing with her x-husband. He molested son and daughter and judge menno is doing nothing about it. Actually, he's granting sleepover's so that the father can do it again. How can you get rid of a judge?"

From Plymouth, Ma - "I am going through the exact same thing I have two children, judge menno has declared sleepovers and my son has been suicidal since the visits have been granted,...Judge menno doesn't care he told me to tell my 8 year old boy that if he doesn't do what judge menno wants then he will end up living with the father. Judge menno is a child abuser then! this is a form of child abuse. We need to do something. I have been threatened by him twice and he is waiting to take my son away unless i force him to sleep over a rapists. My son watched his sister get raped with a pen then she watched him get raped.
is anyone interested in starting a group to fight this jerk?"

From Plymouth, Ma - "The man has several contempt charges against him! Not once has Menno stuck to his own orders!!! Well, the person who hired the lawyer and Menno are all in this political game together!!!"

From Dedham, Ma - "This judge awarded custody of my daughters children to her husband. She went to court a couple of days ago and her attorney told her later that afternoon that the judge had awarded custody to him. He is not a bad guy. She had to call the police on him the night after they arrived home from their honeymoon and he has a vicious temper."

Massachusetts Resources For Victims of Abuse

Below is a list of resources for organizations fighting for victims of abuse in Massachusetts. Some provide services. Some provide advocacy.  Some are working with larger organizations on the problem of abuse as a whole.

NATIONAL

• Justice For Children - Justice For Children is a national nonprofit organization of citizens concerned about children's rights and their protection from abuse.
• Stop Family Violence.org - Stop Family Violence is a national grassroots organization with a mission to organize and amplify our nation's collective voice against domestic violence
• CAPPA - California Protective Parents Association - Model Protective Parent Activist Group that is paving the way for many others in other states. Association to protect children from incest and family violence through research, education and advocacy.
• Barry Goldstein - a domestic violence writer, speaker, advocate and consultant.
• Domestic Violence, Abuse, and Child Custody - Legal Strategies and Policy Issues  - Co-edited by Mo Therese Hannah and Barry Goldstein ©2010.   DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ABUSE and CHILD CUSTODY brings together experts from the US and Canada for a multi-disciplinary review of the most up-to-date research and recommendations for handling, domestic violence custody cases.
• National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges -  The publications of the Family Violence Department (FVD) of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) include comprehensive suggestions for model court practice; legislation in family violence; and policy for collaboration among child protection workers, domestic violence service providers, and the courts.  The publications, described below, can be downloaded* or ordered via facsimile (with ordering on-line capabilities coming soon) or through the Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Child Protection and Custody at (800) 527-3223 or (800) 52-PEACE.  Quantity discounts may be available, upon request, for some publications.
• The Leadership Council -  The Leadership Council is a nonprofit independent scientific organization composed of respected scientists, clinicians, educators, legal scholars, and public policy analysts. We are committed to providing professionals and lay persons with the latest scientific information on issues that may affect the public's health and safety. We also seek to correct the misuse of psychological science to serve vested interests or justify victimizing vulnerable populations -- especially abused and neglected children.
•  National Alliance for Family Court Justice - NAFCJ, founded by Liz Richards in 1993.  Dedicated for victims of exploitative family and custody court authorities. Work with other protective mothers and incest survivors to reform the system and learn winning strategies Learn more about troublesome custody issues.
• The Battered Women's Justice Project - The Battered Women's Justice Project promotes systemic change within community organizations and governmental agencies engaged in the civil and criminal justice response to domestic violence in order to hold these institutions accountable for the goals of safety and security for battered women and their children. 
• Children Against Court Appointed Child Abuse - CA3 is an organization founded by adult Children who suffered Court Appointed Child Abuse - CA3 will be the voice of every child who is a victim of Court Appointed Child Abuse (CA- CA!)  CA3 will find a way to hold the family court authorities accountable for their "Failure to Protect" children from abuse.  CA3 is determined that 'The CA-CA stops here!'
• (more to come)

MASSACHUSETTS

• Enough Abuse Campaign - The Enough Abuse Campaign is a grassroots movement is gaining momentum across Massachusetts that's providing adults and communities with the knowledge and skills they need to put an end to the silence.
• M.A.S.O. - Massachusetts Survivors Outreach - Providing advocacy, resources, and healing services for victims of abuse in Massachusetts. Our mission is to find unity among advocacy groups, advocacy for victims of abuse in the family courts, health advocacy and provide healing services for victims of abuse.  Find us on Facebook
• Massachusetts Law Reform - The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute is a statewide non-profit legal services organization whose mission is to advance economic, racial and social justice through legal action, education and advocacy.  MLRI specializes in large-scale legal initiatives and systemic reforms that address the root causes of poverty, remove barriers to opportunity, promote economic stability and create a path to self-sufficiency for low-income individuals and families.  For over 40 years, MLRI has been the backbone of the Massachusetts civil legal aid system and is considered one of the premier legal services advocacy and support centers in the country.
• Massachusetts Citizens for Children - Massachusetts Citizens for Children is the oldest state-based child advocacy organization in the country. Our mission is to improve the lives of the state's most vulnerable children through advocacy by concerned citizens. It was founded in 1959 by pediatrician Martha May Eliot, MD, who served as Chief of the U.S. Children’s Bureau and held influential positions in both the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). With active support from Governor Foster Furculo, they established MCC as a permanent, independent citizens’ voice for Massachusetts’ most vulnerable children.
• Protect Mass Children - Our mission is to protect children from sexual predators through education and legislation. We want to protect every child by creating awareness and giving children, parents, educators and law enforcement the tools necessary to defend themselves. By creating awareness and keeping those who harm children imprisoned we can protect children from the devastating effects of childhood sexual abuse. Protect Mass Children is a strong voice for victims, working to protect children from sexual predators. 
• MPMCJ - Massachusetts Protective Mothers for Custodial Justice
• NAMI Massachusetts - This is the official profile of The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts (NAMI Mass) is a nonprofit grassroots advocacy, education and support organization. Founded in 1982 and obtaining 501(c) (3) status in 1999, the mission of NAMI Mass is to support individuals with mental illness and their families; advocate for nondiscriminatory and equitable federal, state and private-sector policies; and educate the public to eliminate the pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness.
• Lundy Bancroft - Lundy Bancroft is an author, workshop leader, and consultant on domestic abuse and child maltreatment.
• Women's Bar Association - Family Law Project for Battered Women -FLP has two primary missions - The first is to empower domestic violence victims by giving them a voice in their abuse prevention order and family law cases. As such, we seek to prevent further abuse, homelessness, loss of child custody, and to decrease repeated court hearings. The FLP's second mission is to engage lawyers in pro bono service and, thus, make them stakeholders on issues involving low-income domestic violence victims. The FLP meets both of its missions by referring clients to volunteer attorneys trained and mentored by the FLP on issues related to family law and domestic violence. 
• The R.O.S.E. Fund - The R.O.S.E. Fund (Regaining One's Self Esteem) is a New England non-profit, based outside of Boston, chartered to break the silence and the cycle of domestic violence (DV) and teen dating violence and abuse (TDVA).
• Jane Doe, Inc. - JDI is a coalition of 60 local member programs working together with our allies to find lasting solutions that promote the safety, liberty, and dignity for victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence. We work for social change to help create a world free of violence and abuse.
• REACH Beyond Domestic Violence - The role REACH plays in our community is significantly different than when we began in 1981. Our mission has extended far beyond our successful hotline service, to become much more of a catalyst in creating strong, healthy families and communities by offering safe housing, shelter and vital services to women, men, children and families who have experienced domestic violence. 
• Employers Against Domestic Violence - Employers Against Domestic Violence (EADV) is a non-profit, membership organization uniting Massachusetts employers with experts in the fields of domestic and workplace violence prevention. Committed to proactively addressing the causes and effects of violence in the workplace, EADV identifies and recommends national and local best practices in the areas of public policy, prevention, intervention and training in order to help employers address the effects of violence on the workplace. EADV promotes more productive workplaces that remain intolerant of all forms of violence by supporting comprehensive and safe interventions for those affected by violence.
• Battered Women's Resources - The Official Website of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS)
• MassLegalHelp - "Where Do We Go From Here?” is a self-help guide that answers legal questions about getting out of and staying out of domestic violence relationships. This guide is for victims and survivors of domestic violence, the service providers who help them, and other non-lawyers who have questions about these issues. 
• DOVE, Inc. - DOVE, Inc. (DOmestic Violence Ended) assists thousands of victims of domestic violence each year through our 24-hour hotlines, emergency shelter and community services. During the last three decades, DOVE has grown from a small emergency shelter to a comprehensive multi-service agency providing life-saving services by addressing the complex issues of domestic violence.
  

  DOVE works with individuals, families, and communities to help them recognize their strengths and achieve their goals. DOVE's services are designed to provide assistance and guidance in identifying safety issues and options, empower victims/survivors of abuse to make healthy choices about their own lives, and educate the community about domestic violence and ways to prevent it.
• Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance - The Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) was established in 1984 with the enactment of the Commonwealth's first Victim Bill of Rights. Its purpose is to advocate for and assist victims of crime. MOVA's activities are governed by the Victim and Witness Assistance Board, chaired by the Attorney General. 
• Protective Mothers Alliance International - PMA is working toward bringing about dramatic reform in family court for protective mothers and their children. PMA advocates for change through education, legislation reform, enforcement of current legislation, community and media outreach and other strategies that may be effective and beneficial. PMA supports the efforts of protective mothers in keeping themselves and their children safe from the abuse of a former partner, and in empowering these mothers to become advocates for themselves and others
• (more to come)

MASSACHUSETTS LEGAL RESOURCES

• Women's Bar Association - Family Law Project for Battered Women -FLP has two primary missions - The first is to empower domestic violence victims by giving them a voice in their abuse prevention order and family law cases. As such, we seek to prevent further abuse, homelessness, loss of child custody, and to decrease repeated court hearings. The FLP's second mission is to engage lawyers in pro bono service and, thus, make them stakeholders on issues involving low-income domestic violence victims. The FLP meets both of its missions by referring clients to volunteer attorneys trained and mentored by the FLP on issues related to family law and domestic violence. 
• Massachusetts Law Reform - The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute is a statewide non-profit legal services organization whose mission is to advance economic, racial and social justice through legal action, education and advocacy.  MLRI specializes in large-scale legal initiatives and systemic reforms that address the root causes of poverty, remove barriers to opportunity, promote economic stability and create a path to self-sufficiency for low-income individuals and families.  For over 40 years, MLRI has been the backbone of the Massachusetts civil legal aid system and is considered one of the premier legal services advocacy and support centers in the country.
• Massachusetts Law Library - Massachusetts Law About Domestic Violence - Massachusetts Laws - Massachusetts Regulations - Massachusetts Guidelines - Selected Case Law
• Massachusetts Law Library - Guidelines for Judicial Practice - Abuse Prevention Proceedings
• Mass Legal Help - The Domestic Violence section of MassLegalHelp has important information for victims and survivors of domestic violence about their rights concerning child support, housing, employment, immigration, making it on your own, criminal complaints, Chapter 209A Abuse Prevention Orders ("restraining orders"), custody and visitation, separation and divorce, paternity, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) that used to be called Department of Social Services (DSS), personal property, and doing a case in the Probate and Family Court.  Domestic Violence also has legal forms and samples, booklets, brochures, and pamphlets, and information and links to critical services and resources.
• The Battered Women's Legal Assistance Project - The Massachusetts Legislature established the Battered Women’s Legal Assistance Project in 1993 to provide free legal assistance to low-income battered women seeking long term security for themselves and their children. With funding from the state budget, BWLAP provides legal information, advice and representation to victims of domestic violence in complex family law, abuse prevention and other cases where domestic violence is a critical factor.  BWLAP represents victims who suffer from a wide range of abusive, violent, or intimidating behaviors.
• Massachusetts Division of The Department of Justice - The Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit handles the investigation and prosecution of federal offenses involving public corruption, whether such offenses occur at the federal, state, or local level. The unit also handles all civil rights prosecutions, and other cases of particular sensitivity, as assigned on an individual basis. 
• The Department of Justice - Office on Violence Against Women - The mission of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, is to provide federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

(more to come) 

MASSACHUSETTS CASE LAW

• Champagne vs. Champagne - 429 - Mass 324 - Suffolk County - March 4, 1999 - April 9, 1999 - General Laws c. 208, s. 18, empowers judges in the Probate and Family Court to issue permanent protective orders and to incorporate them into judgments of divorce nisi. [326-328] 
•  Rauseo vs. Rauseo - 50 Mass App.Ct. 911 - January 10, 2001 - 740 NE2d 1063 (2001) Court held that even the sending of flowers by defendant who was under abuse prevention order could be construed by wife as a hostile and threatening act in light of the existing order.

Please keep checking back as this blog will continue to change with resources. Please leave comments or suggestions below of viable resources for victims of abuse in Massachusetts.

Remember ...

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG ... ALONE WE ARE WEAK!!!!

Let's work together to end abuse once and for all!!!!