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A new look at domestic violence

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Contributed by: Sheriff Ted Mink on 9/21/2007

Domestic violence is a harsh and heartbreaking reality for millions of victims throughout the United States. According to the National Institute of Justice, one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Domestic violence (DV) may include harassment, stalking, assault, or worse. The sad truth is that nearly one third of female homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner, according to the FBI.

DV offenders are not only monsters within the confines of their homes. Research has shown that as many as half of domestic violence offenders commit other crimes outside the home and represent a problem for the entire community. In the interest of safety and justice for DV victims, as well as safety and quality of life for all residents, the Sheriff's Office has implemented new methods for handling domestic violence cases. Because October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this month's column will outline some of those methods and how they can help victims of violence.

Threat Assessment
Today, deputies are trained to better identify the predominant aggressor in a domestic altercation. Although statistics show that the primary aggressor is usually male, that is not always the case. Sometimes, a single incident does not reveal the "whole story." Deputies are trained to dig deeper into the history of each relationship, using threat assessment techniques and research into past police reports. Today, first responders are better prepared to identify patterns and share information about offenders among the many other criminal justice agencies.

One of the immediate results of the new training has been a spike in the number of stalking cases identified. From the beginning of 2007 through the end of August, deputies had identified 27 stalking cases. In contrast, there were a total of 11 stalking cases in 2006 and eight in 2005. When deputies are better trained to identify the elements of a crime like stalking, they make arrests that they would not have made in the past.

Jeffco's Most Wanted
A few years ago, the Sheriff's Office revamped its most wanted list. Today, the list mainly features men and women wanted for DV-related offenses. The new list reflects the agency's emphasis on finding and managing violent offenders.

Victim Advocacy
The Sheriff's Office victim advocates have also changed the way they interact with DV victims. All DV victims are assigned a victim advocate who offers support in the aftermath of a traumatic incident. However, where multiple police reports exist, victim advocates invest additional time and effort to contact the victim on an ongoing basis. The advocate will reach out to check on the victim's well-being, express concern, or offer resources, with the hope that the victim will someday be ready and willing to escape the abuse.

Resources
The Sheriff's Office continues to work with victim advocacy groups, counseling centers, shelters and law enforcement agencies to develop the most advanced methods for identification and intervention with violent offenders. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, there are many resources out there. For a list of area victim resources, please visit our Web site at www.jeffcosheriff.com or call 303-271-5339.

Ted Mink is the sheriff for Jefferson County.

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