Custody dilemma

Trish Wilson is outraged that an Indiana rape victim has to take her kids to rape visit her attacker (their dad) in prison.

Trish writes:

The man who attacked and raped her is the father of her children. The judge in her case didn't care that this man had attacked and raped her. He ordered that, as Linetty's children's father, he deserves his precious visitation. Now Linetty is forced to take her children to the prison were her attacker and rapist is being housed. She has to see her attacker because the judge decided that fathers' rights trumps attack and rape.

Fathers' rights activists of course think that the children should see their father in jail.

Fathers' rights activist Jeffrey Leving said, "The court has determined that it is in the best interest of the children that they visit their father. In part, it's about the right of fathers, but the real focus is children's rights."

Oh, spare me. It's in the children's best interests to be forced to see a father who, as Linetty describes it, has shown little interest in them up until this time? It's in their best interests for them to have contact with the man who attacked and raped their mother?

I see this case as very sad, but not outrageous. Incarcerated parents should have visitation rights unless the authorities decide that it would be harmful for the children to be exposed to the parent. We may question the judge's decision in this particular case. I have to wonder whether it's good for children to visit a dad who's doing time for raping their mom. But as long as the court believes that visits are in the best interests of the children, then the dad has a right to see his kids.

I feel for the victim in this case. She shouldn't have to escort her children to the prison and face her attacker. The Indiana courts should arrange for a case worker to take the kids to visit their dad if the mom doesn't want to take them.

[Trish Wilson]

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