Incident Report: Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Case

Case Summary

On Monday, July 28, Kendell Rascoe Jr., a 30-year-old male, was arrested by the Greenville Police Department in the 2200 block of NE Greenville Boulevard. The subject is accused of multiple offenses, including the physical assault of a female partner, the unlawful confinement of the woman and her children, and the prolonged detainment of a 9-year-old child in a closet. The actions reportedly caused significant fear and distress to the victims.

Official Charges Filed

• Child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury
• First-degree kidnapping
• Misdemeanor crime of domestic violence involving physical force

Analysis in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The circumstances of this case directly contravene several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting critical challenges to creating a safe, equitable, and healthy society.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

This goal seeks to promote peaceful societies and provide access to justice for all. The alleged actions represent a severe breach of its core targets.

1. Violation of Target 16.1: The alleged domestic violence and physical abuse are fundamental violations of the goal to “significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.”
2. Violation of Target 16.2: The reported child abuse and confinement directly oppose the objective to “end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.”
3. Institutional Action: The arrest and detention of the suspect demonstrate the necessary function of strong institutions (police and judicial systems) in upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability for violent crimes.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

This goal aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, with a specific target to eliminate all forms of violence against them.

• Violation of Target 5.2: The charge of domestic violence against a female partner is a clear instance of gender-based violence, an obstacle this SDG aims to eliminate from both public and private spheres.
• Impact on Empowerment: Such acts of violence fundamentally undermine the safety, security, and autonomy of women, preventing their full participation in society.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

This goal is dedicated to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.

• Detriment to Physical Health: The alleged physical assault poses a direct threat to the immediate and long-term physical health of the adult victim.
• Detriment to Mental Health: The “significant fear and distress” experienced by the 9-year-old child, alongside the trauma inflicted upon the entire family unit, is a profound violation of Target 3.4, which seeks to promote mental health and well-being.

Current Status

The subject, Kendell Rascoe Jr., remains incarcerated at the Pitt County Detention Center and is being held without bond.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues of domestic violence, child abuse, and the subsequent actions of the justice system. These issues are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

   • SDG 5: Gender Equality – This goal is relevant because the article describes an act of violence against a woman by her intimate partner.
   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – This goal is addressed through the depiction of violent crimes (assault, child abuse, kidnapping) and the response of law enforcement and the justice system (arrest and detention).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the specific events described, the following targets can be identified:

   SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres…” The article’s central event, where Kendell Rascoe Jr. is accused of “physically assaulting a woman he was in a relationship with,” directly relates to this target of ending violence against women in the private sphere (a residence).

   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The charges of “child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury” and “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence involving physical force” are clear instances of the violence this target aims to reduce.
   • Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” The allegation that Rascoe Jr. “locked one of the children in a closet for hours,” causing the “9-year-old child” to experience “significant fear and distress,” is a direct example of child abuse and violence against children.
   • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and local levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The response by the “Greenville Police Department” to arrest the suspect and his subsequent jailing at the “Pitt County Detention Center” demonstrates the functioning of the rule of law and the justice system to address such crimes.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article provides specific details that serve as qualitative data points for several official SDG indicators:

   Indicators for SDG 5

   • Indicator 5.2.1: “Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner…” The case of the woman being “physically assault[ed]” by her partner is a direct instance measured by this indicator.

   Indicators for SDG 16

   • Indicator 16.1.3: “Proportion of population subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence in the previous 12 months.” The woman and her children who were victims of physical assault, unlawful confinement, and psychological abuse represent the population measured by this indicator.
   • Indicator 16.2.1: “Proportion of children aged 1-17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers in the past month.” The 9-year-old child being “locked…in a closet for hours” and experiencing “significant fear and distress” is a case of psychological aggression and a form of physical punishment, which this indicator tracks.
   • Indicator 16.3.2: “Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population.” The article states that the suspect “remains jailed at the Pitt County Detention Center without bond,” implying he is an unsentenced detainee, a data point for this indicator.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators (as implied by the article)
   SDG 5: Gender Equality	5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls.	5.2.1: An instance of a woman subjected to physical violence by an intimate partner.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence.	16.1.3: An instance of a population (a woman and her children) subjected to physical and psychological violence.
   	16.2: End abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence against children.	16.2.1: An instance of a child (9-year-old) experiencing psychological aggression (locked in a closet, causing fear).
   	16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice.	16.3.2: An instance of an unsentenced detainee being held (“jailed…without bond”).

Source: wcti12.com