Public News Service

Justice for Janitors Day: Oregon Moves to Protect Vulnerable Workers

PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, labor organizations are honoring America's custodians with Justice for Janitors Day, a recognition of their struggle …

Sexual harassment and assault are pervasive in the janitorial industry, women's and workers' advocates say. (deepcove/Flickr)

Oregon Law Protects Vulnerable Workers from Harassment

SALEM, Ore. – Months before the #MeToo movement gained steam, Oregon lawmakers passed legislation to protect women working in the shadows…

An associate law professor at the University of Oregon says the public shaming of sexual harassers could improve the workplace for victims. (David McNew/Getty Images)

#MeToo Movement: Remaking the Workplace Legal Landscape?

PORTLAND, Ore. -- With a near daily flood of new accusations against harassers, is it possible the tide is turning against sexual harassment in the …

Oregon has a backlog of about 4,900 untested rape kits, according to a 2015 report. (April Davis/Oregon Military Dept. Public Affairs)

Justice Dept. Releases First-Ever Standards for Handling Rape Kits

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Justice Department has released a first-of-its-kind report detailing the best practices for handling sexual-assault kits…

Women in the janitorial industry are vulnerable to sexual harassment and assault because of the nature of their work. (Kanoke_46/iStock)

Bill in Ore. House Fights Workplace Harassment, Assault

SALEM, Ore. -- A bill in the state House is looking to tackle a major issue in Oregon: sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. Currently in …

Only an estimated 35 percent of victims report sexual assault cases to police, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice. (Sasha Freemind/Unsplash)

Ore. Police Department Improves Sexual Assault Reporting

ASHLAND, Ore. – A police department in southern Oregon is handling sexual assault cases in a new way, focusing on giving options to victims…

Advocates for gun-law reform believe it's possible to enact an assault-weapons ban that reaches from California north to Washington. (Pixabay)

West Coast Wall: Groups Want Assault-Weapons Ban, Calif. to Wash.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Advocacy groups, lawmakers, even the governor are calling for reform of Oregon's gun laws. The group Ceasefire Oregon, along with …

Two bills concerning sexual assault await Gov. Kate Brown's signature. (Visitor7/Wikimedia Commons)

On Governor's Desk: Bills to Test Rape Kits, Lift Rape Statute of Limitations

SALEM, Ore. - Oregon's 2016 legislative session has ended, leaving a stack of bills on Gov. Kate Brown's desk to be signed into law. Two of those …

It isn't exactly a dog's life in Oregon, but the state has some of the best anti-cruelty statutes, says the Animal Legal Defense Fund. (MarcoMaru/morguefile)

Oregon Ranks High for Animal Protection Laws

PORTLAND, Ore. - Oregon is a "top dog" for animal protection but could be doing better, according to a report that summarizes the 2015 animal welfare …

Family members want to support crime survivors, but often aren't sure what to do or say. (sgarton/morguefile)

New Online Help for Crime Survivors, Friends and Family

PORTLAND, Ore. - Getting through the holidays comes with special challenges for people who have been crime victims, and there's a new, Oregon-based …

PHOTO: The 2015 Progress Report issued by Children First for Oregon shows very little progress for the state's children, with too many still in poverty and lacking access to early education. Photo credit: amyelizabethquinn/pixabay.com

Progress Report for Oregon Children Notes Lack of Progress

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Progress Report for Oregon Children released today notes a lack of progress on issues connected to a child's success in life…

PHOTO: More help is needed to combat homelessness. Image attribution: Fray20 at en.wikipedia

Firsthand Stories of Homelessness Shared in Salem

SALEM, Ore. - Today is Housing Opportunity Lobby Day at the Oregon Legislature. Advocates for affordable housing are making their case for an …

OR Still Lags in Emergency Housing for Domestic-Violence Victims

SALEM, Ore. – It's Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and again this year there isn't enough emergency shelter for the numbers of people who …

Previously, domestic and sexual violence prevention efforts had only been funded at about 13 percent of what the shelter organizations said they would need just to meet the current emergency shelter requests in the state. Therefore, doubling it still leaves a shortfall.

More Funding for Domestic Violence Prevention in OR

SALEM, Ore. - At the very end of a long legislative session, Oregon lawmakers acknowledged the growing problems of domestic violence and sexual abuse …

Sexual Assault Prevention Advocates Urge Sentencing Leeway for Judges

SALEM, Ore. – It's Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and at a hearing today in Salem, advocates for victims say they're supporting a shift in …

PHOTO: Oregon's Child Welfare caseworkers respond to more than 75,000 reports of child abuse and neglect a year. They're asking lawmakers to support Gov. Kitzhaber's proposed budget increase for their work. Photo credit: Chris Thomas

Caseworkers Make a Case for More Child Welfare Funding

PORTLAND, Ore. - More state requirements and fewer people to carry them out. That's how child welfare workers summarize what's happening in Oregon…

Valentines Day? Just Another Tough One for Domestic Violence Victims

SALEM, Ore. - Valentine's Day doesn't mean hearts, flowers and candy when you're in an abusive relationship. This is also Teen Dating Violence …

PHOTO: Ellen Rosenblum spoke at the PSJ statewide gathering.

Public Safety and Prison Savings for Oregon?

KEIZER, Ore. - A weekend conference focused on rethinking Oregon's justice system, to invest fewer dollars in prison beds and more for services to …

OR Groups Wait Out Stalemate on Violence Against Women Act

PORTLAND, Ore. - In Oregon, groups that provide services to domestic-violence victims say their plans and budgets are on hold, as long as the …

Where are Kids on the Campaign Trail?

PORTLAND, Ore. - Advocates for children in Oregon and across the country say the youngest Americans are being ignored so far in the presidential …

New Year, New Approach to Public Safety for OR?

PORTLAND, Ore. - The year isn't quite over, but it's looking like another record-breaker for domestic violence shelters in Oregon, with about 50 …

Study: One in Four Kids Exposed to Violence at Home

PORTLAND, Ore. - Scarier than any Halloween costume is a new report that says at least one in four children has been exposed to physical violence …

OR Groups Call for Prison "Services Not Sentences"

SALEM, Ore. - Crime survivors' groups are asking state lawmakers to shift money designated for more prison beds into programs that prevent crime and …

When Valentine's Day is Anything But Romantic...

SALEM, Ore. - Valentine's Day is anything but romantic for victims of domestic violence - and in Oregon, their numbers are increasing. According to …

How "Tough on Crime" Can OR Afford to Be?

PORTLAND, Ore. - One of the more controversial issues on the Oregon midterm election ballot is Measure 73. It's a "tough on crime" initiative to …

Is "Secure Communities" Program Living Up to its Name...

CLACKAMAS, Ore. - Arizona has been making most of the immigration-related headlines, but today, an Oregon protest calls attention to Latinos' …

Domestic Violence in OR: Needs Increase, Donations Drop

PORTLAND, Ore. - Almost two-thirds of Oregon domestic violence programs participated in a recent National Census of Domestic Violence Services…

OR Teens Learn Early that Some Dates are Dangerous

PORTLAND, Ore. - Valentine's Day is anything but "hearts and flowers" when one partner can't control their temper, and dating violence can happen at …

The Color Pink Highlights Health Care Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The health care reform debate has taken on a shade of pink. First Lady Michelle Obama held a White House event today (Friday) to …

Lawmakers Reach Public Safety Budget Compromise

SALEM, Ore. - The "will of the voters" had to bend a little over the weekend to accommodate Oregon's budget woes, as the Senate passed a major public …

OR’s Domestic Violence Survivors Protest Service Cuts

Salem, OR – Oregon women are ending this Sexual Assault Awareness Month on the statehouse steps in Salem, asking lawmakers to not cut too …

State Cutbacks Affect Domestic Violence Survivors

Salem, OR – Access to safety and shelter is critical when you're in an abusive relationship. In Oregon, however, state budget cuts may mean …

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OR: Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault