Animal abuse not among convictions for man.
Byline: Karen McCowan The Register-Guard After a day and a half of deliberation, a Lane County Circuit Court jury convicted Eugene resident Anthony Lee Weber of several domestic violence offenses, but acquitted him on a felony count of aggravated animal abuse and three other charges. ...

Divided U.S. Supreme Court decides that phrase "convicted in any court" in federal statute penalizing gun possession by felons applies only to prior U.S. convictions.
In 1994, a Japanese court convicted Gary Small (defendant) of smuggling firearms and ammunition. After serving a five-year sentence there, he returned to the U.S. and bought a gun in Pennsylvania. When the authorities found out about his conviction, they charged him under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(1). It prohibits...

The imprecise draftsmanship of the Lautenberg Amendment and the resulting problems for the judiciary.
In 1996, Congress passed the Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban ("Lautenberg Amendment"), a controversial amendment to the Gun Control Act (1) that makes it unlawful for individuals previously convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence offense to possess a firearm. (2) Legislative history shows that Congress intended to address state...

The paradox of hope: the crime and punishment of domestic violence.
INTRODUCTION In 1995, a Chicago district court judge allowed Samuel Gutierrez to enroll in a batterer treatment program in exchange for pleading guilty to choking his girlfriend Kelly Gonzalez. This was one of nine incidents of abuse documented by Chicago police reports. Then, in August...

Shelter from the storm: using jurisdictional statutes to protect victims of domestic violence after the Violence Against Women Act of 2000.
"[M]other has no lodging, no money and constant oppression. If [she] wants to try for a better life with the two children, the court gives her its blessings. Slavery was abolished 125 years ago and so was oppression. The mother's condition following her divorce has been analogous to that...

Understanding, investigating and prosecuting strangulation cases.
TEN PERCENT OF VIOLENT DEATHS in the United States are attributable to strangulation. (1) The fatality risk for women and children is alarming. (2) Despite the high fatality risk of strangulation, it is often misunderstood or misidentified as something far less serious. Frequently, in adult domestic violence cases, in...

Misdemeanants, firearms, and discretion: the practical impact of the debate over "physical force" and 18 U.S.C. (section) 922(g)(9).
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I. "PHYSICAL FORCE" AND THE COURTS OF APPEALS A. Majority Interpretation: "Any" Physical Force B. United States v. Belless: "Violent" Physical Force C. United States v. Nason: State Court Interpretations D. Clarification or Confusion?: The Legislative History of 18 U.S.C. [section] 922(g)(9) II. COMBATING DOMESTIC...

Help for victims of abuse.
Byline: The Register-Guard The 2007 Legislature was a productive one for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. But lawmakers still have important work left to do in future sessions. Three months ago, Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed Senate Bill 946, which expanded the existing...

Domestic violence cases may go in limbo.
Byline: Bill Bishop The Register-Guard Domestic violence victims soon may lose some of their strongest allies unless Lane County finds more money for parole and probation officers. State funding pays for probation and parole officers to supervise only felony offenders, and most domestic violence offenses...

Victimless prosecution of domestic violence in the wake of Crawford V. Washington.
Introduction Domestic violence is unquestionably a massive social problem in American society. The United States Department of Justice has described domestic violence as the most common but least reported crime in America. (1) Because of the complex interpersonal relationships between victims and offenders, domestic violence cases include...