Yunker - In May, 2012, Brian Shortmeier laid out the anticipated process that IHART would go through in an investigation. Here is what he wrote concerning the steps, which I have taken the liberty of numbering so the progression is easier to follow:
"As I understand it, here is an overview of the IHART investigative and reporting process. 1. After gathering as much background data as possible regarding the school being investigated, 2. IHART investigators begin interviewing MK’s and other relevant persons. 3. When those interviews are completed, the investigators interview all available leaders from the era when the abuse was perpetrated. 4. Finally, the investigators question accused perpetrators if possible. 5. After reviewing potentially thousands of pages of notes, the investigators will submit their reports to IHART. 6. Pat Hendrix will compile one report to be sent to the Recommendations Panel. 7. The Recommendations Panel will compile disciplinary recommendations and follow up recommendations for NTM. (Note: Pat Hendrix is the one who selects the investigators and is also the one who will select the members of the Recommendations Panel.) 8.In addition to this, Pat Hendrix will write a summary report to be given to the MK’s interviewed by IHART investigators. This will be written and sent by Pat, not by NTM. It will not be the full report because everyone does not want their personal details disclosed."
So the Recommendations Panel now being described by Pat Hendrix (of IHART) in my previous post, is this panel mentioned by Brian in #7. As I understand it, this group of seven people will look over the report submitted by Pat Hendrix and the group of investigators (in this first case, that will be a report of the findings on abuse at Vianopolis). The Recommendations Panel is supposed to compile disciplinary recommendations and follow up recommendations for NTM.
What has been glaringly missing is any sort of "teeth" in this process. That is, will anyone hold NTM accountable for whether or not they even carry out the recommendations made by the panel? Who is going to be allowed to see those recommendations? How will anyone know whether, in the end, NTM is responding in an honest and ethical way to the recommendations that are made?
Until I see how this process is going to pan out, all the way to the very end of it, I am unsure about the value of all the time, money, stress and tears being invested by many people: some who simply need to be heard, and need to see some justice, and others who in some cases are volunteering their services to try to help uncover abuse.
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