Report on Law Enforcement Actions in New Hampshire and Their Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report details the recent arrests of two individuals in New Hampshire on charges related to sexual crimes against minors. The actions taken by the New Hampshire State Police directly support several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on justice, gender equality, and health. The ongoing investigation and judicial process underscore a commitment to building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.

Incident Details and Law Enforcement Response

On Friday, New Hampshire State Police troopers executed two separate arrests following criminal investigations into sexual offenses. The details of the arrested individuals and their charges are as follows:

• Custer Reed III, 38, of Rumney: Arrested on a charge of felony aggravated sexual assault involving a juvenile female.
• Jeremiah Godfrey, 38, of Wentworth: Arrested on multiple charges, including possession of child sexual abuse material, felony sexual assault, and sexual assault related to an incident involving a juvenile female.

Both individuals are currently being held pending arraignment at Plymouth District Court. Authorities have not released further details regarding the timeline or specific locations of the alleged crimes.

Alignment with SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

These law enforcement actions are a critical implementation of SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

1. Target 16.2: The arrests directly address the goal to “end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” By investigating and prosecuting alleged perpetrators, the state is actively working to protect its most vulnerable citizens.
2. Target 16.3: The progression of this case through the judicial system, from arrest to the scheduled arraignments, demonstrates the promotion of the “rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.”

The public appeal for information, directed to Detective Michael Bruno at 603-846-3333, further engages the community in strengthening these institutions and ensuring justice is served.

Contributions to SDG 5 and SDG 3

The nature of the alleged crimes highlights the importance of other interconnected SDGs.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The charges involve violence against juvenile females, making this a matter of critical importance to SDG 5, which seeks to “eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.” Protecting girls from sexual assault and exploitation is a foundational step toward achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Recognizing the profound impact of sexual violence on victims’ physical and mental health, the provision of support resources is an essential action in support of SDG 3. This goal aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” The availability of resources through organizations like the National Sexual Violence Resources Center (800-656-4673) is vital for survivor recovery and well-being.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

The article on the arrest of two men for sexual crimes in New Hampshire touches upon several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that focus on justice, safety, gender equality, and well-being.

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   This goal is central to the article. It focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions. The article’s content—detailing criminal investigations, arrests for violent crimes like sexual assault, and the subsequent legal proceedings (“held pending their arraignments”)—directly relates to the justice system’s role in combating violence and upholding the rule of law.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   This goal aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The article explicitly mentions that the victims were a “juvenile female.” The crimes of “felony aggravated sexual assault” and “felony sexual assault” are forms of gender-based violence, which SDG 5 seeks to eliminate.

3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   This goal aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Sexual assault has severe and lasting impacts on the physical and mental health of survivors. The article’s inclusion of a blockquote with “Resources for victims of sexual assault,” including the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline, acknowledges the need for support systems to address the health and well-being consequences of such trauma.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Based on the article’s content, several specific targets under the identified SDGs are relevant.

1. Targets under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

   • Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The article discusses severe forms of violence, specifically “felony aggravated sexual assault” and “possession of child sexual abuse material.” The arrests represent an action by institutions to address and reduce such violence.
   • Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” This target is directly addressed, as the crimes involved a “juvenile female” and “child sexual abuse material,” which are explicit forms of child abuse and exploitation.
   • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The article illustrates this target in action through the state police investigation, the arrests of the suspects, and the fact that they are “being held pending their arraignments that are scheduled for Monday in Plymouth District Court.” This demonstrates the justice system’s process.

2. Targets under SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

   • Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.” The arrest for sexual assault against a “juvenile female” is a direct example of the type of violence this target aims to eliminate.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article, being a news report on specific incidents, does not provide statistical data but implies the relevance of several indicators used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

1. Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.2 (Indicator 16.2.3): “Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18.” The case involving a “juvenile female” is a data point that would contribute to this indicator, highlighting the prevalence of sexual violence against children.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.3 (Indicator 16.3.1): “Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities…” The entire article is a result of such reporting, leading to a police investigation and arrests, which signifies that the justice system was engaged.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.3 (Indicator 16.3.2): “Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population.” The statement that both men are “being held pending their arraignments” refers to the status of unsentenced detainees within the justice system, a key metric for this indicator.

2. Indicators for SDG 5 Targets

   • Implied Indicator for Target 5.2 (Indicator 5.2.2): “Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner…” The crime of sexual assault described in the article against a “juvenile female” is an instance of the violence measured by this indicator.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nbcboston.com