This list was just found on the web site for the Auburn Police department.  Look at the list - notice how many of these issues are used by custodial parent to keep NCP’s from their children.  It’s incredible - further evidence that these CP’s that keep children from their other parent are committing DV just like the Department of Justice defines on their website.

http://www.auburnwa.gov/police/dv/batterer_tactics.asp

Batterer’s Tactics

Batterer’s Tactics During the Relationship

You may be at risk for domestic violence if your partner is doing any of the following things:

Batterer’s Tactics After Separation

It’s well known that we are dedicated to shared parenting and exposing issues that affect custody and visitation issues for Washington families.  One of the big disruptions to family life is false allegations of Domestic Violence, which is often used as a method of brute force custody of children, but making a false claim and then getting restraining orders to keep loving parents from their child.

It’s a behavior that sickens people - it’s destructive, and a menace to families.  And it is often used in the Family Courts.  It’s, the bias it supports is all over in our state - from the hanging of biased artwork at Superior Court houses, training classes for Washington Employees, or on DSHS websites.

There is such a compelling need to write about these issue, but this site simply isn’t the place for it.  Thankfully, someone has come up with a site for doing it.  The site - WADVPress.org was just started this week and is featuring stories and information related to the destruction of Washington Families by the Domestic Violence Industry.  What a fantastic idea, and one we all need to support!

It’s not like we haven’t show several stories in the past year of people in the social services business being arrested for theft.  In fact, we have written about a few just in our own state, and with our own Department of Social and Health Services.

The most recent case was just reported by the Everett Herald and is reported on Herald Net about Richard Hartline, who allegedly stole $75,000 in funds from the agency.  Oh course my take on all of this is vastly different from others.  I’m not surprised that they found this, I’m more surprised that they don’t find more.  Let’s face it, the agency doesn’t have a solid reputation for being responsible socially.  What with foster kids being killed, beaten, and abused.  What with case workers filing liens in Counties where clients don’t own property, and with staff members stealing checks for child support in Tacoma, it’s just more evidence of a Department within Washington State that is out of control and no longer even thinking about accountability to the citizens of Washington State.

Just last week we reported how one of their staff members was caught lying to a parent, while another staff member was busy sending out liens in Counties that they should be.  There has been plenty of reporting of how the Tables used by DCS, and which they push into the legislature, are 17% to 40% higher than they should be, and we have reported on their tainted process for the Child Support Workgroup.

Let’s face it - our Social Services Agency is Socially Unacceptable!  What more can we expect from them?

Oh course there is always the story of the Social Worker in Everett that is a convicted felon and has access to private records that includes social security numbers, tax records, and of course - Administrative Subpoena power, where they routinely go after local and long distance telephone records, power bills, and more - without statutory authority or legitimate collection purpose.

However, as citizens, you should not worry.  This is business as usual.  The Government is well in control.  You can go to Starbucks, have a coffee, and worry not.  Our Government is taking care of the kids, and their financial and emotional well being.  Don’t worry - we got your six o’clock.

Or - to the smart thing and start worrying.  Get involved.  Be a part of change and help turn this mess around.  Please take a minute to sign the Shared Parenting Petition at http://petition.WashingtonSharedParenting.com and please consider going to a local shared parenting meeting.  Or don’t - but expect more of the same from an agency that is out of control - our control.

Shared Parenting Groups everywhere in Washington are getting organized and growing right now.  It’s a fact, there are several new groups that have recently met, and several more that will be meeting in the next few weeks.  There are several things that are causing this momentum - a failure by our past legislature to even consider a shared parenting bill - Again, and the upcoming elections that need our attention to move radical’s against our family values out of office.

In the past, we have focused on Senator Hargrove of the Hoquium as a person that has held these bills up.  And it is true, he has.  However, it is all part of his jockeying to keep his powerful position on the Judiciary committee that causes him to hold it up.  Make no mistake, he will tell you that the leadership of the Democratic party forces him to hold that position.  The leader, Senator Lisa Brown of Spokane is firmly in control of that aspect of family law - and she ensures that Children of divorce will never see shared parenting passed in Washington.

Shared Parenting and Children’s Rights advocates of Spokane will hold their first meeting as part of their organizing on April 21st, 6pm at Shari’s restaurant, 320N Sullivan Spokane WA 99037.  If you are a non-custodial parent, a grandparent, or parent that believes children deserve the best outcome possible after divorce, we encourage you to attend and show your support.  You will have an excellent opportunity as an organized group to demonstrate the needs of children of Washington State at the upcoming Child Support Workgroup public forum that will be held in Spokane on Saturday, May 31st.  There will be plenty of opportunities to demonstrate your view as a constituant to Senator Lisa Brown at any upcoming meetings and campaign events as well.  This is the time to have your voices heard in her district and others.

If you haven’t signed the Shared Parenting Petition, please do so - it is the best way to organized advocates for shared parenting.  It demonstrates your support, but more importantly, it tells who you are, how to reach you, and what County you live in.  Critical to our success.  Please ask others to go to http://WashingtonSharedParenting.com/petition

Let’s work together to end Family Abuse in Washington State.  Remember - Thumbs up for Shared Parenting Washington!

Just got this tidbit from a non-custodial father in Washington State.  It’s well known that the State of Washington has the ability to put a lien on property owned by non-custodial parents when they are behind in their child support.  We have no gripe with it - its an effective means of collection.  And, Washington State Law and their policy allows for it when they have “Evidence” of property being owned in a County.

A new game DCS has been playing is to blanket the counties of Washington with Liens, when there is no evidence of the NCP even owning property in the county.  One individual had 16 of them sent out by a Wayne Oda of the Everett office of DCS.  In reviewing the policy of DCS, it was found that the policy states specifically that if they have evidence of property owned in Washington Counties or another state, they are permitted to filed the lien.  Here is the rub - they file these liens whether they have evidence or not.

The Bothell man has questioned the evidence they have for these liens, as he is certain none exists.  A request for copies of the evidence from DCS turned up none.  So - we know they have members of their staff not following policy by sending out property liens to counties wher they have no evidence the NCP owns property - a real issue in State Government, as it can leave an employee open to civil lawsuits.

It gets better.  An Attorney within their Policy Division, Peter Turner,  corresponded back to the Bothell Man that their policy does not apply to liens in Washington State, supposedly quoting the policy with a statement that it does not include Washington Counties, and it appears he intentionally deleted the words “in Washington Counties” to make it appear that it was only for out of State property, and even stating that their policy was only written for use on out of state properties.

Of course this was incorrect, and appeared to be an intentional attempt to mislead and even lie to this citizen, who has every right to question the validity of the liens that were sent out by members of the DCS staff.

The next issue is the cost to counties across Washington State.  DCS gets reimbursed for their expenses, but these small counties have to suck it up and take a beating on their local budget when these nonsense liens come to them.  They serve no purpose, no public interest, unless the goal of DCS is to pressure, humiliate, and harrass the citizens of Washington State.  Oh course we have shown many examples of how they operate with bad faith, trying to use their deep pockets to abuse citizens of Washington State.

It appears that Director Stillman has been asked to look at this issue.  A copy of an email sent to Mr. Stillman, along with his response indicates he will be investigating the issues within his agency.  It will be interesting to see if this is just another DCS issue that he sweeps under the rug and ignores, or if he will take real action against dirty employees within his agency and begin to operate for the citizens of Washington and their children.  It really is time that they remember they are a part of the Department of Social and Health Services, not the treasury or department of revenue. 

If you have had an issue of liens being sent out to Counties where you do not own equipment, please file your complaint to Dstillman@dshs.wa.gov and send a copy to hudsta@dshs.wa.gov    Be sure to copy the State Auditors office and ask that the staff responsible be held accountable. 

It appears that Fox News has just had a wakeup call after a father drowns his three children in a tub in a hotel and then tries to committ suicide.  There incredible headline is “Who Could Do this?”  Wakeup mainstream media - you have been making headlines out of this subject for several years now, and you have yet to report on the real issue.  In fact, it almost seems like you refuse to report on the real issue here.  This incident, like the last 50 infuriates me to no end!  It’s becoming too frequent of a disgusting part of family life in the United States, and those responsible need to pony up and fix it.  Starting with Washington’s own Legislature!

There is an epidemic in the United States - it’s a sickness that affects most all families in our country.  It’s a virus for which there seems to be no cure today - it’s called child custody.  And, rather than spend money on researching a solution, or US Government, through the Health and Human Services Department is spreading it like it is a cure for the common cold.  Their funding though Social Security is what causes 99.5% of this problem.

Look at the scenario.  Parents get a divorce, not funny, not desirable, but it happens.  The most precious part of the marriage is the parent-child bond, and nobody in a normal, healthy family wants to walk away from that.  Yet, our very courts are funded, our prosecutors are funded, special interest groups fund, a devision of property, development of a parenting plan, and a child support order that in 85% of the cases removes one loving parent from the life of the children.

And, leaves the children as pawns with the other child.  Can you really expect a parent to not act like a lion deprives of it’s young?  Don’t you think society would judge them as irresponsible if they did not fight for their own children.  YEt, the very judges that are charged with turning down the heat, putting parenting in the position they belong, as two loving parents to these children, needlessly tear them apart, creating a lifetype of bitterness, anger and hostility to destroy the lives of children. 

The ultimate outcome - death of a parent, or worse yet, death of the children and a parent or both parents.  And who is to blame for this - our government, every last one of them that makes a living a merchants of misery to our children.

Shame on you judges that show your bias in the courts.  Shame on the Guardian Ad Litem that shows no mercy as parents fight through the inevitable issues of divorce.  Shame on the US Health and Human Services that spends billions of dollars on enforcement of child support orders, but forbids the states from enforcing parenting plans.

There is one single reason why a mandatory parenting plan is not enforceable in Washington State.  There is no money in it.  The prosecutors who are 100% funded by DCS will not prosecute - they are not allowed - they are not paid, and they have no interest.  DCS will not fund because US H&HS will not allow it, in fact DCS will lose their Social Security funding if they do enforce it.  Judges - well their contracts with DCS require they work with the prosecutors, they are not even interested in these orders once they are set.

So, while it is a sickness that causes someone to take such serious measures like killing their own children, or shooting at a judge, or killing their former spouse - don’s ask “Who Could Do This” until you have ask “Why Would Our Government Continue To do This!”

The bigger issue here is this one question - When will main stream media do the real story, follow the money, expose the greed that is driving an industry that abuses families, children, and causes more suicides in the United States than any other single issue, and causes sick and desperate mothers and fathers to kill their own helpless children.

Shame on all of you!  Shame on you for allowing this to continue.  And don’t start complaining when it happens in Washington State one day - there will be little excuse for it.

Please - if this angers you as much as it angers me - leave a straightforward comments for others to read.  If you remain silent - expect to continue to read headlines about more children being killed by their parents.  It’s a disgusting part of the news that we don’t need to continue to read!  End it now!

For four years, the Thurston County Superior Court has had “Artwork”  hanging in their hallways that could easily be described as extreme biased.  One might wonder why we might blog this story about bias, but bias has everything to do with only 7% of the non-custodial parents in Washington State getting 4 days or more with their kids, while the remaining 93% go on wondering why our courts would keep them from their children when they are simply responsible and loving parents.

One of the pieces of Art showed a pregnant women with a statement “Her child will most likely be a first generation American, and a third Generation Wife beater“.  I don’t know about you, but that statement disgusts me.  What’s more is that all of the artwork put men in the same light.  Now if the art made statements about domestic violence in general, I’d be okay with it, or if it was half statements against men and half about women, then I would feel different.  But to try and teach people that only men committ domestic violence does nothing to solve a terrible issue in society. 

What’s worse is that a group of judges that are supposed to stand for justice for all, equal protection, and fairness to everyone can’t see past their noses to see the irony of what they put on their walls, and how it matches what they hand out in their own courts each day.  Shame on you, your behavior is dispicable.  CONSUMER WARNING - This level of blatant bias should cause anyone to wonder if they will get a fair trial in these courts.  If you can move to another county court - it might be a great idea!

Luckily, two Olympia men, Bruce Fischer and Jamie Powell brought the issue up to the local media, the Thurston Board of Commissioners, and who ever else would listen.  And, they listened.  Red faced, the art was removed quickly.  Seems they are no longer wagging their tail in Thurston County Courts, but hiding it between their legs.

The Olympian printed a story regarding the issue that was well written and included some nice quotes, one from Judge Chris Wickham.  According to Wickham “we try very hard not to present the appearance of favoring one side or the other”.  Instead of being so concerned about the appearance Chris, maybe you could just demonstrate a lack of favoring one side by your rulings, which don’t seem to mind showing it each day.  Wickham claims to have received them from a State official at a domestic violence conference.  Care to share with us who was giving out these little gems Chris - we would love to have their name.  Clearly, they have the same bias and don’t belong in a civil service position in our State.  CONSUMER WARNING - I suspect this is a good judge to have recused from any hearing you have if you are male.

King 5 ran the story as well, with several new quotes. Family Court Presiding Judge Paula Casey was quoted as sayng ”It was my opinion that even though the posters probably represented reality, it makes some people feel uncomfortable and so it’s just best we don’t post it since we want to be inviting and make sure everyone feels they’re heard and treated fairly when they come to the court,” said Judge Paula Casey, of Thurston County Superior Court.  CONSUMER ALERT - Probably another Pretend Judge to have recused if you are male.  She doesn’t even attempt to hide her extreme bias!  And, I guess her rulings in her court demonstrate it ohhh so well.

Oh course, her statement was offensive.  Again, her opinion as a supposed non-biased judge is that the posters “probably represented reality”.  Huh!  Maybe from the standpoint of her normal biased rulings they do, but according to federal studies they don’t come close to the truth.  More than one study has shown that Women committ domestic violence at the same rate as men!  Her bias should be removed from the bench.  And, her statement of “we want to be inviting” and “make sure everyone feels they’re heard and treated fairly” just doesn’t represent what a court should stand for.  Maybe stating something like - Our courts represent fairness, and anything that demonstrates any kind of gender bias just doesn’t belong in our society.  Including your biased rulings Mrs. Casey!  Maybe its time for our Judicial Conduct Committee to look at the bias being handed out in Thurston County.  It is certainly well overdue!

And, just to add some laughter to this whole ordeal, the two men who helped to get these removed are now being abused by women who feel that it is okay to have these biased posters hanging in a courtroom.  A Marge Moore actually called to tell these men they have their priorities wrong.  Listen to her brilliant voice recording or this little voicemail morsel.  She doesn’t mention that all domestic violence should be stopped, as these men believe.  Apparently she has drank the koolaid that women are the only victims in our society.  Marge, as long as you are in denial that only men perpetrate domestic violence, people will contineu to be hurt.  All domestic violence needs to end - and narrow minded thinkers like yourself do nothing to help innocent victims.  We really need our government to wake up and end all Family Abuse, especially against innocent children that are kept from having access to their children.  This is defined as domestic violence by the Department of Justice.

Wake Up Thurston County.  Impeach these judges who promote Bias in your county.  If you continue to support them at election time, they you are also a part of the problem.  Maybe the process can be started early by everyone filing judicial conduct complaints against them.  It is a violation of their Judicial Canon’s to do anything that would cause the public to question their impartiality.  They certainly have raised many questions for me.  You can download the forms here.  http://www.cjc.state.wa.us/Filing_complaint/forms.htm

You can also voice your opinion on these judges at http://www.ratethecourts.com/

We get some strange stuff sent to us by people throughout the State.  Today, we received a snippet from someone that received a lengthy Public Disclosure Request from Washington’s Division of Child Support.  In the document was a note from Nancy Koptor, who works in Ellen Nolan’s Policy Department at DCS.  Nancy had attended a Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorney’s (WAPA) Best Practices meeting for Ms. Nolan and Director David Stillman.

Many of the notes were hum drum, same old stuff you would expect from a non-profit that lobbies the legislature for the benefit of collecting money for Washington States revenue machine.  But one note really caught everyone by surprise.

It seems one of the members, Barbara, was complaining about a program called Bright Start determining that a juvenile man was not the father of a child that he had signed an affidavit of paternity for.  In other words, he admitted to being the father, but DNA testing proved he wasn’t.  These affidavits are what is used to establish child support payments - many times for men that are not the real father.  It seems that Bright Start provides DNA testing for men that question their paternity, and the results came back negative - he was not the father - as Jerry Springer announces.

The rub was that the juvenile mother had given the child to her parents, who were proceeding with custody, and she did not name the juvenile man as the father.  The disappointment here for Barbara is that the young man will not have to pay child support - and Barbara and company must go look for a new father to put on the affidavit in order to establish Paternity and meet their federal goals for Title IV-D funds.  Now, one would think that a fine outstanding member of the bar like Barbara would be happy to see that an innocent man had been vindicated, that he would not be paying child support for a child that was not his, that he could move on with his life as planned, without the extra burden of paying for a child that was not his.  One would think they would be happy that justice was served, that he was not falsely let to believe he was a father of a child that was not his.  Barbara should be thrilled that now the rightful father can be found, to have a relationship with the child, to provide accurate and necessary medical history for the child, and to be able to have the opportunity to be involved in the life of their child and the extended family.

What is the most pathetic part of the whole ordeal is that she was happily advised that the problem will be going away - Bright Start ends in March, 2008.  Seems this type of justice served just couldn’t end fast enough for this sad and unprofessional bunch of pretend members of the legal community.

The truth is that Bright Start seemed to get in the way of the slam dunk paternity order and the resulting child support and Title IV-D funding that is so popular and necessary for the revenue stream of Washington State’s Division of Child Support.  Clearly, the movites of these prosecutors has been demonstrated.  Following the money in this case is a very very short trail, it extends from their desk to ANY paternity document they can find - right or wrong.

There was a time when being a member of the Washington State Bar Association was a matter of pride, dignity and a sense of honor.  There was a time with the Department of Social and Health Services truly provided SOCIAL services to the community.  Today, there are far too many practitioners of family law that simply don’t get it.  It’s a job, not a profession.  It’s a goal, not what is right or wrong.  It is revenue, versus justice for all.  Will someone ever stand up as a member of the WSBA Family Law and say enough is enough.  Will hey bring some dignity back to the profession of Family Law?  Will the real Social Workers every stand up in unity and say they are not debt collectors, but true professionals concerned about the welfare of Washington Families?  Will our Legislature ever pull their heads out of the sand to see how destructive the have allowed this department to become?  Will families survice in Washington State?

Hey wives, step mothers and non-custodial moms!  It’s about time we start listening to your needs, and presenting a place for you to share your thoughts with other women that share your experiences.  Many times these are the people that provide the support to non-custodial parents during some of their toughest times, and while we focus on our issues, we may not recognize the pressure it puts on them.  Their stress is different and unique, and just as important. 

Help celebrate our support for these 2nd spouses that are so near and dear to us with their new blog at Washington Stepmothers and Second Wives

Gret job on this great site - the first story is a great one that is inspiring!

No question - domestic violence needs to stop.  There is no question that false allegations of domestic violence for the sole purpose of gaining an upper hand in divorce and child custody cases needs to stop as well.

Very few things can damage a family faster than a false accusation of domestic violence.  DV punishments in Washington State are swift and severe, removing a man/woman from the lives of their children, denying them custody, and parenting time.  And, when time is finally gotten back, it is generally under expensive and awkward supervised visitation.  It is a form of family abuse that needs to be reigned in by our legislature, who seem more content to write more laws to protect even pets, but refuse to protect the innocent that get falsely accused.

West Virginia became the first state in the United States to pass a law that makes it a crime to falsely accuse someone of domestic violence.  The penalty - $1,000, legal fees, and up to 60 hours of community service.  It’s too bad that Washington couldn’t be the leader of this cause - but until the Domestic Violence industry stops spending their federal grants on lobbying the legislature, it’s going to be a long road ahead for victims of false accusations of Domestic Violence.

The train is coming - I can’t wait to see the DV Divas get run over by it!

Thanks to Harry Crouch of the California Men’s Center for sharing this story!

In 1972, the citizens passed the Public Disclosure Act via the initiative process.  This initiative created one some say are the most progressive laws in the nation.  Washington Citizens wanted a government that was run openly, with access to records by the people.  It’s a long standing law that is being reviewed by a legislative committe that meets regularly to discuss the more than 300 restrictions that have been added to the law.

One part of the law is being tested and challenged regularly in Washington State - Court Records.  The act specifically exempts court records, which are available for purchase from the Clerks office, and serves as a source of funding for the courts.  Court records have always been open to the public, unless sealed by the courts for specific reasons - of course those sealing came under attack recently, and the courts are now trying to figure out how to behave better and open them back up.

The real argument here is the Courts administrtive records - those that are created in the day to day operation of the courts - and more.  King County maintains those records are exempt from disclosure.  Most courts do not make this claim.  King and Thurston are the predominant courts to claim this.

Yet, King County has a real issue that needs to be address.  King County runs Family Court services as part of their court.  Families in divorce attend these services to create parenting plans, parenting evaluation, etc. prior to a divorce being finalized.  With their own evaluators, counselors, and other staff, King County claims they are exempt from disclosure.  The very idea that a Court has investigators creates an issue for King County.  Investigations are the role of the police or other agencies, but not a court.  Yet, King County operates it’s family investigations under the courts, holds all of the records as court records that are neither available to the public as court records, or available to the public as a public record.

The dark hole in Washington’s Court are a violation of the Public Records Act of 1972.  So, easy enough, sue the courts for the records.  That sounds like the reasonable thing to do.  But the courts no better.  It requires pretty deep pockets to file suit against a court, who is unlikely to rule in your favor when trying to protect itself, or a neighboring court.  It is unlikely to get better response from our own State Supreme Court.

The denial of records under the Public Records Act by King County Superior Courts is just another example of the courts operating as they see fit, rather than under the rule of law.  Per Linda Ridge - Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for King County Superior Courts, “Please be advised that the Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW (the “Act”) does not apply to the judicial branch.”

Of course, this response in and of itself is a violation of the Public Records Act, which requires Ms. Ridge to show exactly where in the act she is not required to respond.  They page she references in Washington’s laws has no less than 60 different sections for one to parse through - but this is a standard practice when someone wants to confuse the public.  It’s an attempt to give a broad response, when a specific very response is required by Washington State law.

One thing is clear - the construction of the Public Disclosure Act - “The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may maintain control over the instruments that they have created. This chapter shall be liberally construed and its exemptions narrowly construed to promote this public policy and to assure that the public interest will be fully protected. In the event of conflict between the provisions of this chapter and any other act, the provisions of this chapter shall govern.”

It seems clear the courts are operating improperly when they have their own investigative unit in Family Court Services.  These services should be operated by King County, and not the courts.  And, the records should be available like all other agencies in the State. 

It is unreasonable for the Courts in King County to think that the people of Washington State meant to intentially exclude them from open government.  The question here is this - will our legislature stand up to the courts, and stand up for the people of Washington State, and create an open form of Government within our Courts, or will King and Thurston County be allowed to continue to operate under their own Cloak of Darkness!