National studies have shown that children are involved in 60 percent of domestic violence cases with more than three million children witnessing acts of domestic violence each year.
In fact, more than 53 percent of abusers beat their children. Unfortunately, the cycle continues, resulting in one of every three abused children becoming adult abusers or victims themselves. It is estimated that more than one million women seek medical assistance each year for injuries caused by battering. A study at Yale New Haven Hospital indicated that battering was the single most common cause of injury for which women sought medical attention. This places a tremendous burden on our medical resources. Many victims miss work or lose their jobs, placing a financial burden on their employers. The health related costs of rape, physical assault, stalking and homicide committed by intimate partners exceed $5.8 billion each year. This includes medical expenses as well as lost productivity or wages. Domestic violence is a significant underlying cause of poor health, injuries, mental illness, substance abuse and disability in women. The end result is domestic violence affects all of us in some way. Domestic violence is finally being recognized for what it truly is: a violent crime with the potential of having deadly consequences. This is being acknowledged nationwide and here at the local level. More laws are being established to prevent domestic violence and to address it properly. In Connecticut, the domestic violence law mandates police officers to arrest an aggressor in an incident involving domestic violence, where probable cause exists. Studies have shown that this decreases the chance of further violence. Furthermore, it places the proper emphasis on the seriousness of domestic violence. Also, the police must report all incidences of domestic violence to the State Police, Crime Analysis Unit, for research. This helps us understand the scope of the problem in our individual community and in the state as a whole. What is the Stamford Police Department doing to address domestic violence in our community? First, they are recognizing the magnitude of the problem and making a commitment to combat the problem. Towards this end, the Stamford Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit was recently expanded. Also, the Police Department was instrumental in establishing the Domestic Violence Docket in the Stamford Superior Court. This docket has the same judge and same prosecutors working on all domestic violence cases involving arrests. This has the end result of making the arrested suspect accountable for his actions and safeguards against them getting “lost” in the system. They are held accountable by the same judge they saw the last time, they are remembered by the prosecutor and are dealt with in a serious and professional manner. They are closely monitored and must abide by their penalties. This docket also assists the victims in obtaining services they may need - including victim services, protective orders, etc. Members of the Stamford Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit meet with prosecutors regularly and attend court during the domestic violence docket. As a consequence, offenders see first hand the partnerships between the court and the police. The Stamford Police Department and the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) have been awarded a grant to address domestic violence from the US Department of Justice. The goals are to reduce the incidence and severity of domestic violence in Stamford and to safeguard victims and ensure offender accountability. The Domestic Violence Unit has made hundreds of home visits along with advocates from the DVCC. This has strengthened their partnership with DVCC, ensured victim safety and provided available services to them. This grant has also enabled the department to: strengthen legal advocacy services for underserved victims, enhance translation services for underserved populations, develop and implement a database for tracking domestic violence, train clergy to recognize and respond to domestic violence, develop and implement increased training for police officers and implement protocol for using digital cameras at domestic violence crime scenes. The Police Department is also updating their website to include a section on domestic violence along with links to various community organizations. They work closely with the Child Guidance Center in referring children for counseling and with the Department of Children and Families to make proper referrals for suspected abuse of children who witness domestic violence or are victims themselves. The Domestic Violence Unit is also establishing a community outreach program to educate the public about domestic violence. They are outreaching to the entire community, however, the focus is on special populations who have experienced an increased trend in incidences of domestic violence.
The Stamford Police Department Domestic Violence Unit is also looking internally to see what can be done to improve police officers’ understanding and training in domestic violence. The training lesson plan is being reviewed and improved. They are partnering with DVCC and the court system to provide the best training possible to their officers. Also, the Domestic Violence Policy and Procedure of the Stamford Police Department is being reviewed and updated to include all revisions in the law. It is a very complex law with mandated requirements for police officers. It is essential to have a clear and updated policy in order to expect the highest standards of performance from officers. The last study conducted by the Stamford Police Department indicated that more than half of all assaults in Stamford were domestics. The Department understands that family violence accounts for a high percentage of their calls for service and is an escalating crime with the potential for severe consequences. They understand that domestic violence is a crime that must be dealt with accordingly. They understand the need to educate the community and do all they can to prevent domestic violence in the future, all the while protecting victims. They will continue to work to develop strategies to stop the violence and provide more protective mechanisms for women and children who are battered. It is an essential part of their job in addition to being a moral obligation to the community they serve. |