Conference topic: Sex abuse in insular religious communities

By Steve Lieberman
Journal News
November 5, 2014

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/2014/11/04/sex-abuse-insular-religious-community-conference-topic/18480409/

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RAMAPO – Cracking a sexual or physical abuse case within an insular religious community is filled with pitfalls, with law enforcement often dealing with victims and witnesses who fear retaliation from community leaders.

Rockland law enforcement and prosecutors say they have encountered such cases here. On Thursday, they will hear from investigators who worked a case under similar circumstances in Arizona.

Rockland STOP F.E.A.R. Coalition's 17th annual criminal justice conference at Rockland Community College on Thursday will hear from Chandler, Arizona, detective Sgt. Chris Perez and Pinal County prosecutor Matthew Long about the investigation and prosecution of Susan Brock.

Brock, the former wife of Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock and a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, sexually molested a teenage boy for more than three years, starting in 2006 when the boy was 11. She ultimately was sentenced to 13 years in prison in April 2011. Her daughter, then 17, also was implicated.

Advocates hope the seminar will become a general teaching model for prosecutors and police.

"These investigations are complicated, as well as working with victims," said Kiera Pollock, deputy executive director of programs and services at the Rockland Center for Safety & Change. "We're not specifically talking about any one specific religious community."

Last year, Pollock noted, the forum focused out human sex trafficking with a speaker from Las Vegas. The forum coincided with the Super Bowl – a magnet for prostitution and trafficking – being held at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

Pollock said some religious communities employ threats to silence people. She said victims lose support of their families and friends, viewed as violating the community code. Colleges also are trying to get victims to speak out.

"Sexual abuse and violence happens in every community, regardless of religion, socio-economic conditions, race. No one wants to point the finger," she said. "We hope to shed light."

Rockland STOP F.E.A.R. Coalition 17th Criminal Justice Conference

• 8:30 a.m. Thursday

• Rockland Community College Technology Center

• Register by email: registration@centersc.org, or to R.S.V.P. by calling 845-634-3391.

The Center for Safety & Change, formerly the Rockland Family Shelter, offers prevention programs such as its Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program, as well as services such as advocacy, legal accompaniment, children's services, support groups, sexual trauma services and special victim's advocacy with the Rockland District Attorney's office.