The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "domestic violence" ...
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In Harm's Way
Texas Children's Protective Services was leaving thousands of children in dangerous situations, sometimes due to racial reasons.
Tags: children protective services; dangerous situations; domestic violence; Texas
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Gone Forever: A True Story of Marriage, Betrayal, and Murder
Susan McFarland was reported missing in November, 2002. Her charred, decomposed body was found 53 days after her disappearance, and investigators suspected her husband Richard McFarland. He maintained his innocence as circumstantial evidence mounted, but finally admitted his guilt on the first day of jury selection. Author Diane Fanning examines the months leading up to the crime, and delves into information about Richard and the details of the police investigation.
Tags: Murder; domestic violence; missing persons; jury trials; plea bargains; murder confessions; non-fiction book
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Justice for Kelsey
Even though two year old Kelsey Briggs was abused, a judge ordered her to be put back into the care of her mother even though she suffered from broken bones. Shortly after, she was beaten to death. This report helped to push for better child abuse laws in the state with help from its viewers.
Tags: Kelsey Briggs; child abuse; domestic violence; state law; Kelsey's Law;
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Getting Away with Murder?
The authors investigated the death of Barbara Yaklich in 1977 that had been ruled as natural. But as the investigation delved deeper suspicions were raised about the possibility that this woman had been murdered by her husband, a local narcotics detective. The man, Dennis Yaklich, had been killed by his second wife in 1985, who claimed she had been the victim of severe spousal abuse, at that time not a valid defense.
Tags: domestic violence; spousal abuse; Barbara Yaklich; Donna Yaklich; Dennis Yaklich; murder; Department of Corrections; Pueblo County Sheriffs Department
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Charity Abuse
The authors investigated false claims from groups at Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle claiming to be fund-raising for shelters for abused women and children.
Tags: fraud; charities; domestic violence; fund-raising; Port of Seattle; Sea-Tac International Airport
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Battered Justice
This extensive investigative series examines the methods used to deal with domestic violence cases in Colorado. While domestic violence and assault laws have changed drastically over the past 15 years to help victims of abuse, advocacy groups are still unsure as to whether the laws are helpful or causing more harm to victims. Others don't want to dispute these laws for fear that old beliefs will return about domestic violence not being a crime.
Tags: assault and battery; domestic abuse laws; mandatory arrest
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Suffering in Silence
Gibby's three-part series chronicles the strides the Columbia Police Department is making with its Domestic Violence Enforcement unit. However, despite growing documentation of abuse and more arrests, she shows that the problem of intimate partner abuse isn't going away.
Tags: domestic; violence; intimate; partner; law enforcement; police; cops; abuse; assault; gun; legislation; national institute of health; bureau of justice statistics; department of justice; relationship
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Crisis in the Courts
Walsh's story focuses on a faulty criminal history database. Maine's criminal records system is in complete disrepair, and actually causes more harm than good. Judges and prosecutors find the system so unorganized, they don't know if a defendant has committed any prior crimes in the state. This results in bails set too low and sentences that are too lenient.
Tags: criminal history database; criminal justice system of Maine; Domestic Violence Advisory Committee; Maine Governor John Baldacci
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Pregnancy and Homicide: The Unknown Toll
The Post looks at the alarming trend of pregant women becoming victims of violent homicides, sometimes suffering at the hands of lovers, husbands, or boyfriends. The investigation uncovered over 1,300 cases of pregnant women who were murdered within the past 14 years. Reporters found it difficult to obtain information due to a lack of a tracking system for pregnant women as the victims of homicide. From the questionnaire: "the series presented an overview of the phenomenon nationally, looked at why it has been widely unrecognized, focused on how and why a number of recent and local cases occurred, and noted the legacy of the crimes in the children left behind."
Tags: homicide; postpartum assaults; domestic violence; assault
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"Badge of dishonor"
A five-month investigation showed that at least 41 officers in King and Pierce counties have been accused of domestic assault. Most faced few, if any, professional reprimands, and only half faced charges. Furthermore, most law enforcement agencies lacked policies about how to handle domestic violence involving law officers. Amid the newspaper's investigation, a chilling example highlighted the danger : a police chief accused of domestic violence fatally shot his estranged wife before killing himself.
Tags: domestic violence; police; domestic assault; domestic abuse; internal affairs; law enforcement; CAR; computer-assisted reporting