''Sin by Silence'' is a
domestic violence
Domestic violence is violence that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes r ...
documentary film by Olivia Klaus about women who have killed their abusive husbands. Based on the first inmate-initiated and led support group in the entire United States prison system, the film reveals the history and stories of the members of the group
Convicted Women Against Abuse created by inmate Brenda Clubine in 1989. By following five women's abusive experiences that led to their incarceration, the film take viewers on their journeys from victim to survivors, reveals the history of the
Battered Women Syndrome in the state of California, and shatters misconceptions. This documentary is a production of Quiet Little Place Productions.
The film premiered at the
Cleveland International Film Festival 2009, and went on to screen nationally as part of the grassroots tour, entitled Stop the Violence, that took the film to over 40 communities in 10 states through the United States.
In 2011, the film had its television premiere on
Investigation Discovery
Investigation Discovery (stylized and branded on-air as ID since 2008) is an American multinational pay television network dedicated to true crime documentaries, similar to corporate sibling HLN. It is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery's netw ...
to over 2.2 million viewers.
In 2012,
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma introduced AB 1593 and AB 593
The Sin by Silence Bills inspired by the documentary.
AB 593 seeks to clarify Penal Code 1473.5 to include the domestic violence victims that were unintentionally denied their original writ of
habeas corpus
''Habeas corpus'' (; from Medieval Latin, ) is a legal procedure invoking the jurisdiction of a court to review the unlawful detention or imprisonment of an individual, and request the individual's custodian (usually a prison official) to ...
due to limited expert testimony evidence. AB 1593 seeks to provide victims of domestic violence who have suffered
Intimate Partner Battering (IPB) a chance to present their evidence in an effective way during the parole process. Both bills were signed into law by Governor Brown on September 30, 2012 to ensure the path to freedom for over 7,000 domestic violence survivors currently serving time in California prisons.
Press
Press Coverage of ''Sin by Silence''
NPR "All Things Considered" - Domestic Abuse Victims Get Chance At FreedomHLN, Dr Drew on Call - Women tell Dr. Drew why they killed their partnerFox News - Film explores world of abused women put behind bars
See also
*
Domestic Violence Documentaries
* ''
The Conspiracy of Silence,'' a Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) documentary
* ''
Defending Our Lives'', a short documentary
* ''
Power and Control: Domestic Violence in America'', a documentary about domestic violence and the community-based
Duluth Model to reduce domestic violence
* ''
Silent Voices,'' a United Kingdom documentary
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sin By Silence
2009 films
American independent films
American documentary films
Documentary films about violence against women
Films about domestic violence
Violence against women in the United States
2000s English-language films
2000s American films
English-language documentary films