| Michael
was referred to me by the State Victims of Crime
Compensation Board. His case was
not unlike many abuse victims. He had been bounced
from one foster home to the next. His
family of origin had outright turned him away
at age 11, stating that he was "uncontrollable."
In
his last stay in foster care, Michael was raped
repeatedly by the father of the home. By age
15,
Michael had summoned up enough courage to go
to the police and file charges. Two years later,
and two months into our treatment, Michael and
I were informed that the Prosecutor was
dropping the case for lack of evidence. The
impact on Michael was overwhelming. Although
our
work was focused on "walking" into
the fearful images/memories, and subsequent
acceptance and
forgiveness, Michael was far from ready to accept
this most recent abuse. To him, the State was
announcing that they didn't believe him or didn't
care. His response was anger, violence,
indifference, and self-mutilation. He informed
me that there was no need for further treatment,
as
he had decided to become "a sniper for
any government that will take me" because
he "wanted to
kill."
Those of us who work with child victims of abuse
are constantly reminded of the weaknesses in
the foster care system. Perhaps it's time to
turn our attention to the legal arena as well,
and how
it impacts our patients.
The system is filled with people of good intention.
Conversely, we must understand that it is in
fact a political system, and many prosecutors
with their eye on higher office, will not take
a case
that is a potential loser. With circumstantial
evidence, interpretive medical records, hesitant
cooperative witnesses, and intimidated victims,
litigation becomes a 50/50 proposition - and
that
is just too close to chance for many politically
inclined prosecutors. As the states continue
to
allow abusers to walk free and continue their
criminal activity, victims are getting the message
that coming forward is not as helpful as we
are attempting to have them believe. Couple
this with
the incredible fear that most abusers permeate
in their victims, and the potential for our
society
reverting to the days when rape and other crimes
of sexual violence were hushed up begins to
emerge as a frightening and very real possibility.
We are, I am afraid, sending the message to
both victim and perpetrator that the law is
impotent, and that this most vicious of crimes
is okay.
As for our patients, how can we offer them a
safe environment to be able to express all of
their
innermost torments when our efforts are being
undermined by the surreptitious innuendoes of
a
judicial system that is basically implying that
they are on their own? If, in Michael's case,
I were
to report his homicidal ideation, he would be
picked up! The insanity is layered with insanity.
And, can we honestly tell our patients that
they, by seeking revenge, are wrong if the only
penalty
for their assailant is recourse by their own
hands? Ideally, we try to explain that what
happens to
their abuser is not germane to their finding
peace within. It's not going to "fix"
their memory,
flashbacks, nightmares, etc., and that their
peace will come in acceptance and forgiveness.
But in
the real world of the victim, can we honestly
look into their eyes and tell them that they
can and
must continue their life knowing that the person
who so invaded their emotional self is not going
to be held accountable? Isn't this another reinforcement
of the classic distorted belief by the
victim that he or she must be "bad"
or in some way deserved what happened to him
or her?
I may have lost Michael. I'm not sure. But I
do know that if he comes back, our work together
has just taken on another obstacle. In a mind
so fragile and already filled with confusion,
the legal
system has just heaped on a bit more junk to
be sorted through in search of the evasive truth
that
is essential to heal.
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