Dawn Krantz-Watts, Private Investigator » Sex Abuse Work

Am I an Investigator or a Trial Consultant….

admin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:57:42 +0000

Most of the time I blog about interviews or communication because that is the central part of my job as an investigator. Many of you may not know that Investigation is not my only talent. Because I understand the dynamics of sex abuse claims so well I am always thinking of the case in the big picture sence. I work my cases as if they are going to trial tomorrow. I work the investigation in sections: 1) interview and evaluate wwitnesses, 2) locate evidence, and 3)I formulate how the story will be told. I suggest that the attorney use a combination of pPowerPoint presentations, large board exhibits (graphs, maps and photographs) and live testimony. It takes an intuitive sense of the case: history, case specific details, client personality combined with visual evidence and expert witnesses to really grab a jury. I understand this process. So the whole time I am in the field I am always thinking about how this process will formulate for the current case.

This past weekend while I was out interviewing people for my case it hit me, I need to find a way for the jury to see the size and scope of this case and not just hear it. The fact is this case starts in a neighborhood and the size of this neighborhood is small but the amount of victims is large. The families all lived within a 1/2 mile radius of the pedophile who abused their children. I mapped out the neighborhood and went back to all the homes and photographed them. All this can be set up within a PowerPoint presentation with a map to show the jury the numbers vs the size. This can be very powerful. This information may not get used but it is something the attorney may need and they may not even know it. I gather all the information I can, suggest the many ways it can be used and the rest is up to the attorney. I do know they hire me for a reason and the reason is I am an expert in this type of litigation.

SNAP- The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:21:00 +0000

SNAP Mission Statement

Our most powerful tool is the light of truth.

Through our actions, we bring
healing and justice.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is a volunteer self-help organization of survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their supporters.

We work to end the cycle of abuse in two ways:

By supporting one another in personal healing;
By pursuing justice and institutional change by holding individual perpetrators responsible and the church accountable.

Our most powerful tool is the light of truth. Through our stories and our actions, we bring healing and justice.

Specifically, we:

Reach out to survivors, their families, and supporters;
Build mechanisms to support our life-long journey of personal healing including individual contact, peer counseling, support groups, written and web-based information and materials;
Work through education and persuasion to change the structure and culture of abuse in the church and society at large.

# # #

http://www.snapnetwork.org

Remembrance

admin — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:02:12 +0000

Sometimes in my work I get good news and some times I get really bad news. This week brought bad news. Michael, one of my past clients died this weekend. He had been abused as a young boy by clergy, that abuse was so powerful that even in his 40s he could never escape the pain of his nightmare. That nightmare became so unbearable that he took his life.

Michael was a handsome, bright, creative, loving person. He was also a lost child searching for peace. His devoted companion, a loving dog was his angel on his worst days. He told me once she always gave him something to live for. He loved his family, his parents and his friends and he tried to hang on for those people. It is a tragic day when an abuse survivor gives up, but the loss of Michael is even more profound knowing how truly loved he was by so many.

I am grateful for knowing Michael and I am grateful for the trust he placed in me while I worked with him during a difficult time. I know he finally has the peace that he has longed for in his life. Michael we will all miss your smile and we will especially miss seeing you walk into a room with your beloved dog. I smile knowing you are that beautiful young boy again surrounded by angels. Rest in Peace my friend!