by Mary-Kate Roan
Staff Writer
There were two major items on the agenda for Sherriff John Rutherford and other leaders of a North Florida coalition against domestic violence yesterday: changes to the domestic violence statute and the release of the 2007 Domestic Mortality Review Report.
Changes to the statue allows the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office’s Intimate Violence Enhanced Services Team (InVEST) to expand so that they aren’t limited to married couples.
“InVEST reviews police reports daily to identify victims,” said Rutherford. “They offer them safe shelter, track the abuser and help with financial plans among other things. And their interventions have not had a homicide victim.”
InVEST will also focus on elder abuse. According to Rutherford, this domestic related crime will be fought and justice will be delivered to the victims as in other domestic violence cases.
In related legislation, the dating violence statute, House Bill 313, was approved unanimously in the Florida House and becomes law today. Before it was approved in July by Governor Charlie Christ victims of unmarried domestic abuse did not qualify for the services offered by InVEST. Instead, they had to follow up with the State Attorney’s Office and the abuser would be charged with battery.
“Children from domestic violence homes show signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” said Sharon Youngerman, executive director of the Quigley House in Clay County.
Youngerman also said children could be protected through early intervention and prevention.
“We can’t pretend that we’re not living in violence,” said Ellen Siler, the chief executive officer of Hubbard House. “As long as there is violence in the homes, it won’t leave the streets.”
Siler also said, “no child should live in fear,” and that anyone that wants help or is in danger should call 1-800-500-1119. A call to that number will ring at the nearest domestic violence shelter.
“Awareness is the first step,” said Shandra Riffey, executive director of Micah’s Place in Nassau County. “It will end when we work together as a community.”
Rutherford added that while the expansion will help with arrests, the prosecution of the abusers is the most important step in the process. That’s where Julie Schlax, special assistant director of the State Attorney’s Office, comes in. Schlax presented the 10th annual study done by the Duval County Domestic Violence Mortality Review Team, which is a subcommitee of the Domestic Violence Intervention Project.
“In 2007, five out of 10 homicides had a history of violence with other loved ones,” said Schlax. “None of the 2007 victims and only 8 percent in 10 years had injunctions for protection in place.”
The report found that men were the most common perpetrators of domestic violence. Also, increased public awareness would help prevent homicides in domestic violence cases. It was recommended in the report that there should be stricter enforcement and accountability in the event that an abuser refuses a court-ordered batterers’ intervention for domestic violence offenders.
“It’s unfortunate that we even have to have this report,” said Schlax. “But as a community we can come together.”
For more on the report and the reports from the last 10 years, visit www.ndvfri.org.
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