Blog 3

Sexual Assault/ Rape

1.       Delaware has a population of 907,135 with 289 reported incidents.

2.       All sexual offense statuses, except incest and unlawful sexual contact (third degree), which are misdemeanors, are felonies in Delaware. There is no time limitation for class A felonies. There is a time limitation for any felony other than murder within five years after commission of the offense except the following: incest, unlawful sexual contact in the 1st-3rd degree, rape in the 1st-4th degree, sexual extortion, and dangerous crimes against a child. There is no time limitation for these offenses. There is a time limitation within three years after the commission of any class A misdemeanor.

3.       Delaware law defines rape in the first degree as a person over 18 having sexual intercourse with a person under 12, or a person having sexual intercourse with a person under 16 when they have authority over them (Class A felony). Rape in the second degree is defined as a person having sexual penetration or oral sex with a person under 16, and causing serious bodily injury or displaying a weapon (Class B felony). The third and fourth degrees vary in the class of felonies depending on the ages of the defendant and victim. Unlawful sexual contact in the first degree is defined as a person having any sexual contact with a person under 16 and causing physical injury to the victim or displaying or claiming to have a weapon (Class F felony). Unlawful sexual contact in the second degree is when a person has any sexual contact with a person under 16 (Class G felony).

4.       Delawareonline.com reported that Katheryn L. Carmean, 35, from Berlin, Md. has been charged with 10 counts of third-degree rape. She is also facing charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child and endangering the welfare of a child. Carmean allegedly had sex with a 14-year-old friend of a relative repeatedly over 10 months last year. She was taken into custody from her job at Seaford Middle School where she helps handicapped students. The police were notified of the crime after the boy told his mother earlier in the week and she contacted them. The abuse started in November 2011, and continued once a week until August 2012. Carmean admitted to the relationship. She is suspended from her job at the school until the outcome of the investigation is determined. She was held at Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution until her Feb. 14 court hearing because she could not post her $57,000 bail.
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013302080048

5.       “Date Rape” by Sublime is a song about a guy who uses a date rape drug on a girl who later reports him and gets him thrown in jail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeMeDihwyrg

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a book, also was recently turned into a movie, about a boy whose aunt sexually assaulted him when he was a little boy. He faces depression and social problems throughout his life until high school, when he meets new friends and is finally able to confess this dark secret.

http://perks-of-being-a-wallflower.com/

Blog 2

   Hate Crimes

1.       Delaware has a population of 907,135 with 15 incidents reported. 

2.       State law here covers bias-motivated violence and intimidation, race, religion, and ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and institutional vandalism. Delaware state law does not cover data collection, training for law enforcement personnel, gender and some other civil actions. 

3.       Delaware state statues say that further penalties will be put in place if the victim was sought after because of their race, religion, skin color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry. Disorderly conduct involves a person congregating with others in public while wearing anything that would make their face unrecognizable in order to deprive any one of any of their privileges, rights or immunities recognized in the Constitution or U.S. laws. Cross or religious symbol burning is committed when someone causes one to be burned without the consent of the owner and without notification 48 hours prior to the burning to the fire board or call board of the county where it is taking place. Desecration takes place when a person intentionally causes damage to or mistreats a public monument or structure, a place of worship, a national flag or object of veneration of the public, in a public place in a way that is insensitive to others. There are no statues on data collection or law enforcement training. 

4.       6abc.com reported that, on March 26, 2012, two teenagers were charges with hate crime and other offenses after they vandalized several cars, homes, and fences with red spray paint. Some of the victims’ cars and houses were spray painted with anti-gay sentiments. A state trooper located the suspects in a residence near to where the crime occurred. The two teens, whose names and pictures were not released due to their ages, were placed in custody. They were literally caught “red-handed” with spray paint on their hands and faces. They were each charged with one count of Hate Crime, Conspiracy 1^st, Conspiracy 3^rd, and six counts of Criminal Mischief under $1,000. They were later released to their parents pending a hearing in the Family Court. 

5.       Where is the Love by The Black Eyed Peas is a song about how we should love people of all races, not just our own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc

       Mississippi Burning is a very well-known movie about the story of three civil rights workers who were murdered.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_Burning