Louisiana :Women's Murders highest rate in U.S.

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2009/09/report_louisiana_women_get_mur.html

Report: Louisiana women get murdered at highest rate in the U.S.
By Ramon Antonio Vargas, The Times-Picayune
September 22, 2009, 12:00PM
More women get murdered by men in Louisiana than anywhere else in the United States, according to a new report by the Violence Policy Center.
While the national rate of women being murdered by men stands at 1.30 per 100,000, Louisiana’s rate in 2007 was 2.53 per 100,000, highest in the nation, the report says. In second was Alaska with a rate of 2.44 per 100,000, and in third place was Wyoming at 2.33 per 100,000.
The report drew its information from the FBI’s unpublished Supplementary Homicide report. The most recent data available is from 2007.
That year, men killed 57 women in Louisiana. Seven victims were less than 18 years old. Four victims were 65 years of age or older. The victims’ average age was 36, according to the report.
Thirty-four of the victims died from gunshot wounds. Six were stabbed or cut to death; two were clubbed to death; and six were beaten to death.
"These findings alarmingly demonstrate how domestic violence can escalate to homicide," the center’s Legislative Director Kristen Rand said in a news release. "More resources need to be made available to protect women and prevent such tragedies."

WA Congressman Inslee on Cop DV to House of Representatives

Louisiana needs to follow Washington- Put a stop to Police Officer Domestic Violence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFMZgOWdz9k

It is very common for cops who abuse to be overlooked and not investigated for criminal activity. It is up to us to demand change by INSISTING that Officer Involved Domestic Violence in every state of this nation will not be tolerated. Most officers are honest. It only takes one bad apple to give a bad name to police officers.

I am currently working with lawmakers in Louisiana to draft protocol that would require all officer involved domestic violence allegations to be investigated by the Louisiana State Police
or the Louisiana State Attorney General's Office. I believe we're making strides. Unfortunately, it will be one year until the state senate and congress meet again to enact new laws. My next meeting with lawmakers will take place in August. Please pray that we can put a stop to OIDV that gets swept under the rug. Eventually, our message will get the right attention.

Lane and Patty Judson

Lane & Patty Judson's daughter Crystal was fatally shot by the husband she was divorcing - Tacoma Washington's Police Chief David Brame - one day after city officials publicly announced that her claims of abuse and threats would not be investigated. It was a very public murder-suicide, executed in a shopping center parking lot with their 2 young children running to them. Chief Brame died that day but Crystal lingered. All of us here in Tacoma held our breath praying for what couldn't be. She had taken a contact headshot with a police-issue glock. Her family stayed with her in the hospital for that week before she died, and it was during that time Lane was given the time to whisper to his daughter... Please take time to visit their website: http://www.lanejudson.com/index.htm

Lane and Patty Judson have been helping victims in other states fight for legislation involving Officer Domestic Violence. They have agreed to help us reach out to lawmakers in Louisiana. God Bless them!

Thank you Lane and Patty!

State of LA- Domestic Violence Resources

This link will take you to a list of resources available for victims of domestic violence in Louisiana.

http://www.aardvarc.org/dv/states/ladv.shtml