Name: Sherrie Eldridge, Hope After Rape Conception
Mrs. Eldridge is a published author and speaker specializing in adoption. Ms. Eldridge testified regarding her experience of being a child conceived through rape. She did not know she was a child conceived from rape until she met her biological mother when she was 47 (now 70). When she discovered she was a daughter of a rapist, she explained the emotional and psychological effect it had on her even as an adult. She explained that learning this it was extremely tough to comprehend. However, she now spreads the message to those conceived through rape that their lives did not begin at the conception, nor at birth, but began once they have accepted the Lord into their hearts. She encourages all …show more content…
Her rapist was one of her older brother’s friends. Her and her family pursued charges against her rapist, during the investigation it was discovered that he had raped two other 13 year olds. After a trial of his conviction the Judge reduced his charges to three counts of child molestation since he was a minor himself with no prior convictions. After the birth of her son she discovered that in the state of Indiana event though the biological father of her son is a rapist and convicted child molester he has rights to be a part of his son’s life. Ashley refuses to file for any state benefits so that she can avoid having her rapist involved in her and her son’s life. In Indiana if the father is paying child support he can obtain visitation rights to see his son. Also since her rapist was only charged with molestation he does not have to register as a sex offender in Indiana, due to this it allowed him to go to the same school that she attended. Forcing her to transfer schools so that she did not have to see him every day. She asks the committee to support this legislation to allow the termination of parent-child relationship rights so that her son’s biological father is not a part of her and her son’s …show more content…
The language that has been drafted (please see PD3134 PDF) is based off the legislation that has been adopted in 10 other states, with the addition of language that will allow Indiana to pursue additional grant money provided by the federal government through the Justice for Victim of Trafficking Act of 2015. This allows the United States Attorney General to allot grant money to states that have this language adopted.
The provisions that many have expressed concern about is the language prohibiting a parent who is at least 18 years of age at the time the act of rape occurred from filing a petition more than 180 days after the birth of the child. This language was worked out with the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council (IPAC) for the purpose to prevent concern of using this in an event of a custody battle later on. The requirement for “clear and convincing” evidence takes it much further than just an allegation of rape. This will encourage women to get rape kits done, and establish what event unfolded from the
Mrs. Eldridge is a published author and speaker specializing in adoption. Ms. Eldridge testified regarding her experience of being a child conceived through rape. She did not know she was a child conceived from rape until she met her biological mother when she was 47 (now 70). When she discovered she was a daughter of a rapist, she explained the emotional and psychological effect it had on her even as an adult. She explained that learning this it was extremely tough to comprehend. However, she now spreads the message to those conceived through rape that their lives did not begin at the conception, nor at birth, but began once they have accepted the Lord into their hearts. She encourages all …show more content…
Her rapist was one of her older brother’s friends. Her and her family pursued charges against her rapist, during the investigation it was discovered that he had raped two other 13 year olds. After a trial of his conviction the Judge reduced his charges to three counts of child molestation since he was a minor himself with no prior convictions. After the birth of her son she discovered that in the state of Indiana event though the biological father of her son is a rapist and convicted child molester he has rights to be a part of his son’s life. Ashley refuses to file for any state benefits so that she can avoid having her rapist involved in her and her son’s life. In Indiana if the father is paying child support he can obtain visitation rights to see his son. Also since her rapist was only charged with molestation he does not have to register as a sex offender in Indiana, due to this it allowed him to go to the same school that she attended. Forcing her to transfer schools so that she did not have to see him every day. She asks the committee to support this legislation to allow the termination of parent-child relationship rights so that her son’s biological father is not a part of her and her son’s …show more content…
The language that has been drafted (please see PD3134 PDF) is based off the legislation that has been adopted in 10 other states, with the addition of language that will allow Indiana to pursue additional grant money provided by the federal government through the Justice for Victim of Trafficking Act of 2015. This allows the United States Attorney General to allot grant money to states that have this language adopted.
The provisions that many have expressed concern about is the language prohibiting a parent who is at least 18 years of age at the time the act of rape occurred from filing a petition more than 180 days after the birth of the child. This language was worked out with the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council (IPAC) for the purpose to prevent concern of using this in an event of a custody battle later on. The requirement for “clear and convincing” evidence takes it much further than just an allegation of rape. This will encourage women to get rape kits done, and establish what event unfolded from the