Ms. Joyce Farley

Victim

June 3, 2004

Testimony in Support of the "Child Custody Protection Act"

By Joyce Farley

Good afternoon members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee. My name is Joyce Farley and I am a resident of the state of Pennsylvania. I have been asked by Senator Sessions to come before you today to explain why I support the "Child Custody Protection Act".
Just about this time in 1995 my then 12 year old daughter Crystal was intoxicated and raped by a 19 year old male who she had met after entering the local high school as a 7th grade student. I was aware this male was trying to befriend my daughter and had requested that he not call or come to the house to visit. This male had a reputation of seeking out the 7th grade females to establish relationships for sex and unfortunately Crystal had become one of his victims. This male is currently in prison for a similar rape conviction. Unfortunately many perpetrators have more than one victim. I was at the time and still am a mother working full time away from home. Both parents working full time or single parent families are not unusual in our society and why your support of the "Child Custody Act" is so important. People of our nation need to know that our children are a blessing and that we will protect them from harm. On August 31 1995 I discovered my 13 year old daughter Crystal was missing from home. An investigation by the police, school officials, and myself revealed the possibility that Crystal had been transported out of state for an abortion. I can't begin to tell you the fear that enveloped me not knowing where my daughter was, who she was with, if she was in harms way, and to learn in this manner that my young daughter was pregnant. By early afternoon Crystal was home safe with me but so much had taken place in that one day. The mother of this 19 year old male had taken Crystal for an abortion in the state of New York. Apparently this woman decided this was the best solution for the situation caused by her son with little regard for the welfare of my daughter. Situations such as this is what the "Child Custody Act" was designed to help prevent. I am a loving responsible parent in whose parenting was interfered with by an adult unknown to me. My child was taken for a medical procedure to a physician and facility that I had no knowledge. When Crystal developed complications from this medical procedure this physician was not available and refused to supply necessary medical records to a physician that was available to provide Crystal the medical care she needed. I ask you to please in considering the "Child Custody Protection Act" to put aside your personal opinions on abortion and to please just consider the safety of the minor children of our nation who's lives are put at risk when taken out of their home state to avoid abortion laws that are designed to protect them from harm. Please don't allow harm to our children in order to protect abortion or any other medical procedure. Please allow loving, caring, responsible parents the freedom to provide the care their adolescent daughters need without interference from criminals or people who may think they are helping but actually cause more harm than good. In many ways time is a great healer but as imperfect human beings we don't always know the effect of our actions or how deep the physical and emotions scars actually dwell. I urge you again to help avoid the scarring of America's adolescent girls by voting in favor of the "Child Custody Protection Act".

Thank you