Archive for County Prosecuting Attorneys

A Conversation about Violence

This is a email exchange between King County Prosecuting Attorney Senior Deputy David Martin and Domestic Violence Treatment Provider Doug Bartholomew.

 

From: Martin, David

Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 10:51 PM

To:   Doug Bartholomew

Subject:    RE: Gary Ruffcorn

Gary is the poster child for sentencing reform.  Unfortunately, I dealt with this son as well (also with a troubling history of DV) before his passing.  With each of them law enforcement had serious safety concerns (not surprising given how Gary’s son passed).  I would not spend too much time contemplating Gary.   We can help make people safer, we dont make them safe. 

I know there are many areas of agreement in how to move forward in DV.  Its not easy but I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and ideas.  I dont have all or even some of the answers, but I feel as though things have changed.  I guess we will see what the legislative session brings.

 

David D. Martin

Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney

Chair, Domestic Violence Unit

(w) 206-296-9503

(c) 206-898-9416

 

 

 

—–Original Message—–

From: Doug Bartholomew [mailto:doug@doug-bartholomew.com]

Sent: Wed 12/2/2009 10:38 PM

To: Martin, David

Subject: Gary Ruffcorn

 

Well, crow is a meal best eaten cold.  And karma is a …

I was looking something up this evening and stumbled upon your article about tougher sentencing guidelines.  I would like to say I have an excuse for what Gary did.  The pictures were horrible.  He was one of mine in 2006.  He did what he was supposed to do and I truely believe he was sincere.  I don’t know what I would have done differently.  He was an old dog.  But it still is a failure, and one in which someone got horribly hurt. 

 At the same time as he was in group I had a cop in the group which met right before his.   One day the early group was late and Gary was already in the waiting room.  The cop took one look at Gary and came back into the therapy room and said “you’re in over your head, and I want to be on a different night because I don’t even want to be in the same building as him.”

I’m going to be doing a lot of soul searching on this one.

On a happier note the meetings that are going on are the most exciting I’ve seen since the WAC’s were passed in 1992.  You are giving me hope!  We have a chance here to make history and prove  that if we all work together asnd we all take responsibilty for our role in stopping violence (and keep good statistics) we can show the world that it can be done right and it is worth still trying.  Thank you.

 

Doug Bartholomew MS, LMHC

1750 112th Ave. NE # B-218

Bellevue, WA 98004

Phone: 425-635-0188

email doug@doug-bartholomew.comcastbiz.net

FAX 425-451-8184

website www.doug-bartholomew.com

 

So, who is Gary Ruffcorn? He is a convicted serial abuser, he had SIX prior convictions for Assault in the 4th Degree Domestic Violence and THREE Convictions for violation of a No Contact Order, details and pictures of the aftermath of his violence can be found here.

The system placed this clearly troubled man in the same program as countless fathers who have merely been accused of the most petty offences, and I may add accused by only one person in a 10 minute long DVPO hearing with no rules of evidence allowed.

Bartholomew ever so casually comments about how bad he feels, how he wishes it were different, implying how he was duped by this person. This is not the case DB and Martin have been involved in DVPT for far to many years, The 2012 Washington State Recidivism study TomGeorge (2012) DV Sentencing Conditions Recidivism_FINAL_042412 paints the picture black and white, Domestic Violence Perpetrator Treatment as it exists today in Washington State is a failure, it does not work. If the average person who completes DVPT is slightly more likely to commit and get charged with a act of Domestic Violence what are the percentages going to look like for someone who fits this profile?

Violence and accountability, every single person who failed should have a place at that table include private profiteers like Mr. Bartholomew.

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The SCJA is short for Superior Court Judges Association a Washington State licensed business, we are in no way affiliated with or a agency of the State of Washington, we provide fee based and no fee based Judicial accountability consulting, but here all you will find is plenty of free citizen focused resources all designed to enlighten the average person concerning the activities of our Judiciary.

Given the requirement we the people have for information about what our government is doing and how it conducts the business of the people this resource is born. The foundation of our republic is based on the principle that our government is for the people, of the people, and beholden to the people who created it not the other way around.

The last couple decades have brought enormous change to one branch of our government that has gone mostly unnoticed and has largely escaped public scrutiny, the Judiciary. Formation of many sub-groups from the “Board of Judicial Administration” (BJA), the “Administrative Office of the Courts” (AOC), to the re-animation of long since dormant associations (District, Municipal Court Judges), and “The Association of the Superior Court Judges of the State of Washington“.

The most powerful tool available to the average citizen is knowledge, simply put one cannot control abuse of power if that abuse is shielded from inspection, what information posted here should be considered bread crumbs because the Supreme Court in our state has decided, under the color of law, that they are somehow immune and exempt from the single most powerful tool created in the last 50 years by the people- The Washington State Public Records Act (codified as RCW Title 42.56).

RCW 42.56.030 The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may maintain control over the instruments that they have created. This chapter shall be liberally construed and its exemptions narrowly construed to promote this public policy and to assure that the public interest will be fully protected. In the event of conflict between the provisions of this chapter and any other act, the provisions of this chapter shall govern.

Nothing contained on this website nor any comments are intended to be legal advise and should not be confused for such, the legal arena is a complex and often confusing place, will a lawyer help you or become part of the problem for your specific case I can’t answer that question. Knowledge is power and if you have to interact with the legal system learn everything you can, it is cheaper online than in front of a black robe. If you need legal help for your case please seek those professionals, usually a phone number for one can be found on the back of most transit buses.

Many mistakenly believe our Justice system is Adversarial in design and construction between only the litigating  parties, do not fool yourself because everyone in the Courtroom is your adversary and deserves to be treated as such, including all Judicial Officers present.

Protection of your rights is your responsibility, never forget. No Judge or Lawyer should ever be relied on to protect you and your family from abuse or deprivation of rights, question this statement- just ask any father who has been through the Family Law system in our State.

Whether your visit here today is based on being thrown into a unfamiliar and frightening family law courtroom, a legal researcher, a member of the Judiciary, or simply have a passing interest in our Judicial branch of government please accept my warm and sincere welcome and comments are always appreciated.

 

 

Chris Hupy, Principal
Superior Court Judges Association