Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Trauma Bonding: Why Some Victims Stay In Abusive Relationships
Why stay in an abusive relationship? The question has been asked by families and friends of abuse victims over the decades. It seemingly makes no sense for anyone to opt to continue giving abusive individuals more and more opportunities for cruel and/or violent acts. What gives? Trauma Bonding It may seem hard to believe,… Read More »
When Mental Health Issues Impact Criminal Justice
Half of the people behind bars in jails across America suffer from some type of mental health issue. The same is true for two-thirds of people in prisons. Why are we incarcerating people who need mental health assistance? What gives? Senseless Incarceration We know that when mental health problems plague an individual, those problems… Read More »
Understanding Search Warrants And Affidavits
The nation was riveted to the news: Former president Donald Trump’s Mara Lago resort had been the location of an FBI search. There were reportedly dozens of agents on the property, going through various rooms, and even Trump’s safe. Since then, the media has been flooded with words like “warrant” and “affidavit.” Understanding these,… Read More »
The Road To Financial Recovery After Bankruptcy
If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, it may feel like the worst day of your life. The future seems bleak, and you feel like you’ve lost your footing in life. How can you move forward? What chance do you have to regain financial stability down the road? While it may seem that you… Read More »
10 Reasons Abusers Abuse
How could anyone do this to me? Victims of abuse struggle to understand how someone who supposedly loves them can justify the abuse they dole out. It’s a simple question, but with a complicated answer. Abuse To be clear, the types of abuse—physical, mental, emotional, sexual, financial, verbal and spiritual—may exist in isolation, although… Read More »
What Are Special Masters, And Why Are They Appointed?
Here in Florida, as across the nation, many people have heard a new legal term of late: special master. Former President Trump was granted one to evaluate materials that were seized by the FBI, and that is being challenged by the U.S. Attorney General. What’s this all about? Are special masters used with regularity… Read More »
Domestic Violence And Substance Abuse
Is there a connection between intimate partner violence (IPV) and substance abuse? While the two exist in tandem quite often, there are plenty of instances where one or the other occurs and the other does not. Furthermore, there are cases where the two issues present themselves in a relationship, and the violence continues even… Read More »
Bankruptcy And Single Mothers
What is the number one risk factor to predict poverty in America? The answer may surprise some people: being a single mother is the biggest indicator of poverty. This is true regardless of race or education. Single mothers—even middle-class mothers—are more vulnerable to financial crises, in fact, than any other group in this country…. Read More »
Can Being In Debt Lead To Incarceration?
Having bill collectors pounding down your door is exceedingly stressful, to say the least. But could things get even worse? The unfortunate truth is that yes, excessive debt could actually lead to incarceration in this country. The History of Debtor’s Prisons Centuries ago over half of the people in jails in England were there… Read More »
Revlon’s Bankruptcy Forebodes Trouble
Revlon has been selling cosmetics for 90 years. So when they filed for bankruptcy in June 2022, it gave many observers cause for concern. Yes, the company was having some serious problems with debt, and has certainly been surprised by some of its modern competition. Those issues were specific to Revlon. But there were… Read More »