ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN KROGER HIRES EXPERT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTOR

Posted by abby on March 10, 2010

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

For Immediate Release:                                         
March 8, 2010                                                
                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                   
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN KROGER HIRES EXPERT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTOR
Erin Greenawald brings more than a decade of experience prosecuting domestic violence
Attorney General John Kroger today announced the hiring of prosecutor Erin Greenawald to lead the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat domestic violence.
“Erin Greenawald has prosecuted domestic violence for more than a decade. She brings just the type of experience we need at the Department of Justice,” said Attorney General Kroger. “There is an overwhelming need for state and local agencies to work together to prevent domestic violence homicides. The Department of Justice recognizes this need and its importance by the creation and support of a new Domestic Violence Prosecutor’s position.”
Domestic violence homicides in Oregon are up significantly by historic standards, with at least 22 in 2009 and 9 so far this year. By contrast, there was an average of 18 domestic violence homicides a year from 1997 to 2003, according to a Department of Human Services study.
Erin Greenawald fills a new position at the Department of Justice that is modeled on DOJ’s very successful coordinated statewide approach to DUII. Greenwald will increase the capacity of Oregon’s criminal justice system to stop domestic violence by providing training, technical assistance and legal expertise to prosecutors, police officers, sheriffs and service providers. She will also assist local district attorneys in the prosecution of complex cases. Greenawald will be responsible for developing training materials, best-practice policies and other publications to improve the identification, investigation and prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
Greenawald, a graduate of Willamette University College of Law, has worked since 1999 as a domestic violence prosecutor, first inMarion and then in Yamhill counties. She has also worked on county Domestic Violence Task Forces and a Multi-disciplinary Child Abuse Assessment Team.
Greenawald’s position is funded by a federal STOP Violence Against Women Act grant obtained by the Oregon Department of Justice.
Attorney General John Kroger leads the Oregon Department of Justice. The Department’s mission is to fight crime and fraud, protect the environment, improve child welfare, promote a positive business climate, and defend the rights of all Oregonians.

Massive Google Privacy Flaw

Posted by Greg on February 12, 2010

Do you use Google’s Gmail?  With the release of Google Buzz this week, the people you frequently e-mail or chat with are automatically published to your public Google Profile.

Just to be clear: the names of people you frequently communicate with via Gmail or Google Talk may be published for all the world to see.

Here’s one example of why this is so bad.  A DV survivor has her activity exposed to her abusive ex: http://fugitivus.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/fuck-you-google/.

Here’s detailed information on what Google is doing and how to disable it: http://www.businessinsider.com/warning-google-buzz-has-a-huge-privacy-flaw-2010-2.  Unfortunately, disabling it is complicated and confusing.

I rely very heavily on Google tools.  Every single e-mail account I have - both personal and professional - is routed to a Gmail mailbox.  Google is an extremely generous organization that spends millions of dollars every year to help make the world a better place.  The Google employees I know personally are all good trustworthy people.  Which is why this gross breach of privacy is so shocking.  Instead of defaulting to having users opt-in to exposing their activity, Google Buzz has violated their mantra of “don’t be evil” and done a great deal of harm.

Google: please change the default behavior for exposing personal information to “opt-in”.