December 12, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ --
Connecticut Legislature Creates Domestic Violence Task Force
The Hartford Courant reported, on November 1, an alarming statistic released by Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts: one-third of all the aggravated assaults in Connecticut's capital constitute domestic violence.
Between February and August 2009, five Connecticut women died at the hands of violent husbands or boyfriends, one survived a kidnapping and an eight-month-old girl survived after being choked and stabbed.
It's this face of domestic violence in Connecticut that lawmakers are determined to address with the recent formation of a bi-partisan domestic violence task force. According to a November 6 article in the Courant, the new task force will "open more eyes and ears to the problem and to Connecticut's overloaded system of emergency shelters and counseling services."
Connecticut House Speaker Christopher Donovan said domestic violence has not gotten the full attention it deserves, noting that "the most important role for the task force is to elevate this to the level of a major issue before the legislature."
Rep. Mae Flower (D-Killingly) is chairing the task force, due to hold its first meeting on November 30. The goal of the task force is to bring together information from law enforcement and groups working with victims of domestic violence to pinpoint areas where legislation may be necessary to improve services or strengthen protections for
domestic violence victims.
There are approximately 19,000 protective orders in effect in Connecticut as a result of domestic violence. The 2008 National Network to End Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Census shows how the problem in Connecticut compares to the frequency of domestic violence nationwide. The 2008 Domestic Violence Census, like its predecessors, sought to quantify the number of people served in domestic violence shelters nationwide in a single day and the number denied services. On September 17, 2008, the report stated that nationwide, 60,799 people received assistance to address domestic violence, including 30,433 seeking refuge in shelters or transitional housing and 30,366 obtaining nonresidential services. There were 8,927 requests for service that went unmet that day. The rate of calls to domestic violence hotlines nationwide during the 24-hour survey period was 14 per minute and 21,683 total.
The Connecticut statistics from the same census show 602 people receiving services in domestic violence shelters and 75 unable to obtain services. More than half who could not obtain service in Connecticut were denied emergency shelter or transitional housing. Domestic violence hotlines in Connecticut logged 128 calls during the 24-hour survey period.
Kim Harrison of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence told legislators that the solution requires funding for services to help those whose lives are disrupted by domestic violence piece their lives back together.
Around-the-clock staffing of emergency shelters and restoration of cuts to the judiciary's advocacy program are also on the table. Connecticut is one of five states that does not staff domestic violence shelters around the clock, a deficiency already identified by a prior legislative domestic violence task force, one focused on immigrant communities. The need for funding for translation services was also highlighted by the previous task force.
Among the more difficult issues the current task force may address is employer treatment of women who miss time from work as a result of domestic violence.
With the Connecticut Supreme Court recently ruling in State of Connecticut v. Fernando A. to extend the rights of accused to evidentiary hearings when a protective order is continued, the fear that domestic violence victim protections are being eroded is also in the spotlight. Of particular concern to some advocates is whether victims and their children may be forced to appear in court and testify against abusers.
Once the bipartisan task force on domestic violence examines available information on the challenges facing victims of domestic violence, the task force will make recommendations to the Connecticut legislature.
Article provided by Law Offices of Heidi E. Opinsky
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www.ctnydivorcelawyer.com---
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