Survivor Stories Series: When Protectors Become Predators — How One Father is Fighting to Close Legal Loopholes For Survivors to Get Justice with Chris McGhee

This month on Voice Lessons, I’m doing a special series where every week we’ll have a new episode sharing the voices and stories of survivors who have experienced sexual trauma. 

This week, I spoke with Chris McGee, a father of 3 daughters and survivor advocate, about his experience with the legal system after it came out that his daughter had been groomed and sexually assaulted by a local police officer. The crime resulted in a lenient plea deal where the officer unfortunately walked free. 

Refusing to accept this as justice, Chris began working to close legal loopholes that allow law enforcement officers to escape serious charges for sexual violence. Throughout this conversation, we discussed the importance of identifying grooming behavior, creating safe environments for children, and the challenges parents face in trusting their instincts. 

Although Chris doesn’t consider himself a writer, he shares a letter he wrote to himself after this experience about releasing the guilt and shame around the trauma his family endured. I think most will agree after hearing it that Chris truly is a writer, and his upcoming book, 'Finding a Way Back,' aims to provide a sense of community and support for other survivors and their families. 

Key Topics:

• Navigating the legal system after a police officer took advantage of his family
• Having the conversations nobody wants to have about keeping your family safe
• Trusting your intuition as a parent, especially with teenagers
• The warning signs that somebody might be taking advantage of your kid(s)
• Why do we need to make it easier for survivors to come forward
• Taking the responsibility from victims and putting it back onto predators
• Why Chris decided to write his upcoming book ‘Finding a Way Back’
• How Chris has navigated the guilt and shame he felt after the incident
• Why AWA works for healing after trauma
• Advice for other survivors of trauma on finding their voices

Connect with Chris online:

Website: chrismcghee.com

Instagram: @chris_mcghee_

Amherst Writers and Artists Anthology: https://amherstwriters.org/bookstore/

Find more from Jill:

Email: [e-mail]

Website: https://www.thewritersrefuge.com/

Writing Coaching Programs: https://www.thewritersrefuge.com/coaching

Sign up for my free 3x weekly writing session: write to [e-mail] for ZOOM info

Special thanks to LVDY for allowing us to use their song, Saltwater, in the intro and outro of the podcast!