We are honored to have Robert Bentley, the Governor of Alabama, join us in urging the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole to deny parole to Don Corley!
Read below or click the image to view a PDF.
Can we ask for your support as well? Write a Letter TODAY!
This letter from the Mayor of our hometown, Homewood, AL, is very meaningful to all Don Corley’s victims. Read below or click the image to view a PDF.
Can we ask for your support as well? Write a Letter TODAY!
We are pleased to have the Alabama State Senate Majority Leader on our side. Read below or click the image to view a PDF.
Can we ask for your support as well? Write a Letter TODAY!
As Victim #2 of I don’t know how many of Don Corley’s victims, I have to tell myself that “It is not my fault” every day. Some days I believe it, some days not as much as I would like. However, due to the manipulation techniques the molester uses to groom its victims, feeling this guilt is common in those victimized by childhood sexual abuse.
Let me begin by saying that from the outset, the cards are stacked against victims of childhood sexual abuse in several ways:
Many studies, such as this one from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, indicate that “Impulse control, planning, and decision making are largely prefrontal cortex functions that are still maturing during adolescence.” Also from the study, “Adult response to stimuli tends to be more intellectual, while teens’ is often more ‘from the gut.’ This suggests that while the changeability of the adolescent brain is well suited to meet the demands of teen life, guidance from adults is essential while this decision-making circuitry is being formed.”
What this means is that mentally, children and teenagers are not yet equipped to process what is happening to them before, during, and after the molestation. You cannot judge your childhood actions with your adult brain without taking this into account! Otherwise, it is just not a fair judgment. It is not your fault; it is always the role of the adult to protect the child.
Adolescence is, for many, a time to gain much sought after independence and quest for finding their individuality. It can be a very confusing and trying time and a great opportunity to be mentored by a non-parental adult such as a coach or youth group leader. Having a mentor can assist children in making good decisions as well as provide non parental adult supervision when both parents and children need to take a break from each other.
Don Corley used mentoring as his guise to gain the trust of parents and their children. Don’s concern for a child who could use mentoring was welcomed by parents. Children were more than willing to accept his attention, times, trips, and gifts. Parents, children, as well as the community was “groomed” in order for Don to misuse the trust bestowed on him.
One misconception is that only “troubled” or “children of divorced parents” are at risk.
I can proudly say that I came from a perfect nuclear family with lots of love and my parents did EVERYTHING right. It was Don that knew how to create an issue if there wasn’t one already to position himself as the “good guy” who was interested and wanted to “help”. This is important for parents to know as this can happen to even the best of families.
A major ingredient of molestations is the imbalance of power in the adult-child relationship. As a child, you are taught to “Listen to adults and do what they say.” You do this because you trust that they know what is right and as an adult will protect you from any harm. In fact adults are those who have the power to discipline children. As an assistant Scoutmaster, Sunday School and youth leader in the church, chaperone on trips, and “adult in charge” Don had all the power. You did what he said or you were in trouble.
A well-respected adult in several positions of authority over children used manipulative behavior (or brainwashing) to perpetrate crimes against those he was supposed to be protecting.
Don Corley not only brainwashed his victims, though. He brainwashed the whole community in which he was highly revered. If he could brainwash a community of fully developed adults, his developing child victims didn’t stand a chance.
Thanks to counseling as well as the natural maturity process I understand more and more each day that “It is NEVER the victim’s fault that they were molested.”
Don Corley’s parole date is January 31st, 2012. The day has finally arrived where we know when the parole date will be. Less than four weeks away!
Part of me is relieved – I’m glad to know this is nearing the end. I’ll be happy to sleep well at night again, to focus on life’s more trivial things. But the little boy in me has a growing fear. What if he is granted parole and ends his jail sentence with just half his time served? What if the Parole Board doesn’t get our message and lets him out early? What if we don’t succeed in getting a significant amount of letters? What if people care from a distance, but don’t actually send in a letter?
I know that’s my fear talking, but I’m being honest with my feelings. So I ask you one more time. If you haven’t sent in your letter yet, now is the time. If you have done a letter… can you do a petition too? Can you get someone else to send in a letter? 10 minutes of your time and the cost of a stamp can truly make a difference – every signature counts (and you don’t have to be in Alabama!)
Even though the date is January 31st, it’s critical we get everything in the mail by January 21st so the letters and petitions get in his file and are reviewed by the Parole Board.
A Sample Letter & Petition are available below.
