Event Alert: INVITATION to H.E.A.L. on Feb 20

Source: H.E.A.L.

HEAL – VA- Organizational Flyer

You are invited to join H.E.A.L.’s Zoom meeting on February 20. Our purpose is to reform unjust and outdated sex crime laws.

Our meeting will discuss:

• Explain WHAT we propose to be and WHY
• Explore need & rationale for “another new group”
• Gauge “levels of interest & effort” members want to put
• Define organizational mission

For some years now, we who have been impacted by “sex” crimes have been fighting in the shadows, unknown to each other, and feeling alone. Through our individual efforts, many of us encountered a growing list of people experiencing incredible abuse from Virginia police, the courts, probation & parole, and even our elected leaders in the General Assembly.

At times, police, courts, probation, public, and the media seem united against people who have merely been accused of a sex crime. Some “offenders,” however, made youthful indiscretions and were led to believe that they would “pay their debt to society” and their lives would eventually improve, but there has been no improvement, and they are still paying.

Some remain incarcerated, long after they were told their “debt” would be paid. Others have lost it all after false accusations of sexual immorality, such as those accused of marital rape or infidelity that ruined lives, careers, and shattered families. Almost all later experience the stigma and indignity of many years on the Sex Offender Registry. They suffer discrimination in housing, employment, in healthcare, and experience numerous restrictions as to where they may travel, public buildings they may enter, where they may live, and even whom they may love. Some suffer long-term mental and emotional trauma, impending divorce and further isolation, and even end up living in motels, public parks, their cars, or in situations that perpetuate the cycle of further unspeakable abuses. Others stop the pain by stopping their lives.

Still others are entirely innocent, but the corrupt and pitiless system grinds them down anyway. Retribution is always swift, and honest rehabilitation virtually nonexistent. The fact that few re-offend is unknown or ignored by family, friends, neighbors, and the media. In fact, the media and the public has bought into much of the rhetoric, and this has helped to prevent meaningful change from occurring.  We intend to change all of that. But we are not naive as to how challenging it will be. 

You are invited our organizational principles, and management philosophy, which a core group of us have distilled from many, many conversations we have had over the years. The topics or areas of concern listed have been shared with us by those who are currently incarcerated, those who have been released, those fighting the system, as well as by family and friends of those suffering denials of basic rights and liberties. Finally, if you know anyone who might benefit from this meeting, please forward this on.  We would love to see you.  And if you cannot make this meeting, please contact us anyway.  You are valued.  We are more powerful than we believe.

Sunday, February 20, 2022, 7:30 PM EST, est. 1 hour

Topic: H.E,A.L. Organizational meeting
Time: Feb 20, 2022 4:30 PM Pacific Time, 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87230546600?pwd=K28wNG5rNUJhSFdadXJZeGtiZ3pZZz09

Meeting ID: 872 3054 6600
Passcode: 619026
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