False Words Ruin Lives: SAVE Conference to Focus on Plight of Wrongly Accused

WASHINGTON / June 7 – In support of False Allegations Awareness Month, Stop Abusive and Violent Environments (SAVE) is holding its annual conference June 21-22 in Washington DC. Persons who have been falsely accused, advocates, lawmakers, attorneys, reporters, and others are invited to attend.

Two national surveys reveal that one in 10 persons have been falsely accused of child abuse, domestic violence or sexual assault: http://www.saveservices.org/falsely-accused/survey/. False allegations cause devastation not just to the accused, but to their families as well, SAVE notes.

One high-profile example is Atlanta Falcons linebacker Brian Banks. As a 17-year-old high school football star, his journey took a five-year detour after he was wrongly accused and convicted of rape, even with no DNA, no witnesses, and no evidence. After his release from prison, Banks’ accuser admitted on video that she had lied. Exonerated, he now campaigns for reform. https://www.facebook.com/groups/protectionformen/#!/TheBrianBanksStory?fref=ts

In another case, Gordon Smith of Delaware was falsely accused by his ex-wife 13 times, resulting in 8 arrests. The harassment by Smith’s ex-wife did not end until the GPS monitor that police made him wear proved that he had not been in the area where she cut herself and laid in the street screaming he had attacked her.
http://www.avoiceformen.com/mens-rights/activism/tiffany-marie-smith-behind-bars/

“People are devastated by false allegations of abuse,” says S.A.V.E. spokesperson Sheryle Hutter.  “They often lose their jobs, their homes, and access to their children. Even if they’re innocent, their reputations have been ruined.”

Information on the SAVE conference presenters and schedule can be seen here: http://www.saveservices.org/dvlp/annual-conference-2013/ Persons can register for theconference here: http://celebratingourprogress.eventbrite.com/

Stop Abusive and Violent Environments is a victim-advocacy organization working for evidence-based solutions to partner violence and sexual assault: www.saveservices.org.

Contact: Teri Stoddard
Telephone: 301-801-0608
Email: tstoddard@saveservices.org

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