Weekly News Update

June 2, 2008 |
Valor

Week of May 27th
Boston Puts the Squeeze on Subway Gropers

Transit officials in Boston recently launched an aggressive campaign aimed at cracking down on people who take advantage of the tight squeeze on crowded trains. Over the past month, officials say the program has led to a record number of arrests for subway sex assaults.
Priesthood evolves in response to crisis
In the quiet morning light, Mike Quinn and Jerry Murphy hold their Bibles close to their hearts and do the sign of the cross…The priesthood has evolved and much of it has to do with the years of child abuse and rape that have plagued Catholic churches across the nation.
These new priests have passed a tough round of background checks, a battery of psychological testing, and training to prevent sexual abuse.
Peacekeepers ‘abusing children’
Children as young as six are being sexually abused by peacekeepers and aid workers, says a leading UK charity.


Study: Girls in Sexist Societies Worse at Math
For decades, researchers and educators have debated why boys tend to perform better than girls in math. Are men naturally more logical creatures and thus better at scientific endeavors? Are girls not encouraged by their families, their friends or society at large to pursue scientific careers?
Rape in Santa Cruz
Somewhere in the United States, a woman is raped every two minutes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Though sexual assault, and specifically rape, has been on the decline in the past decade, there is still a high amount of rape nationwide — including in Santa Cruz. From 2003 to 2007, Santa Cruz has had 224 reported rapes, according to the Uniform Crime report. The city was ranked the fourth highest out of 448 California cities for rates of reported rape in 2006.
Relationships questioned in Dateline sting
A slew of lawyers representing clients who were arrested in Mantoloking as part of Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” series went before Superior Court Judge Barbara Ann Villano seeking information on any agreements between Dateline NBC, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and other law-enforcement agencies involved in the sting, and the California-based nonprofit organization Perverted Justice.
Dublin doctor accused of rape is arrested
A Dublin doctor accused of sexually battering two men at his home and taking hundreds of photographs of 19 patients who were unconscious and undressed at his medical clinic was arrested Thursday, authorities said.

Political opponents criticize D.A. Steve Cooley for deal on sex offender sanctions
In the final week of campaigning before Tuesday’s election, Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley drew fire Friday over a deal he made with judges and defense attorneys two years ago to postpone seeking tougher sanctions against some serious sex offenders who had already served their prison sentences.
Op-Ed’s
As a community, we can do more for victims of violence
By Rosario Marin
When violent crime enters our lives it never leaves without a permanent mark. We celebrate our survivors and honor our dead, but mental or physical, the scars that victims, advocates and families of crime victims carry with them stay for life.
Valley lawmakers pushing their bills through the hoops

Like most people, state legislators move more quickly when there’s a deadline looming. It’s been a busy week in Sacramento because today is the deadline for bills to move out of their “house of origin.”
Singer R. Kelly Reinforces Racial and Sexual Stereotypes
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Here’s a bet. Accused child pornographer and sexual panderer, R. Kelly has three albums in the can ready for release. If Kelly is convicted of the multiple counts slapped against him in his trial, the albums will fly out the can fast and even faster off the store racks.