THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 25, 1994 TAG: 9406250217
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940625 LENGTH: Medium
But not in Quincy, Mass.
{REST} In this working-class city that lies 10 miles south of Boston, the domestic violence toll has been cut to two deaths in the past seven years.
What makes Quincy special is that it treats domestic violence for what it is - a crime.
``The criminal system should prosecute criminals, and these guys are criminals. Once you decide that, the rest of it falls into place,'' said Andrew Kline, chief probation officer for Quincy District Court.
Quincy's system of uniting all forces of the criminal justice system - judges, magistrates, social workers, prosecutors, probation officers - has been around for several years but still sends ripples of shock through other municipalities.
All police cars are equipped with Polaroid cameras so officers can take pictures of evidence. ``Excited utterances'' are recorded when police arrive on the scene of a domestic dispute. The statements are allowed as evidence in court if the district attorney has to try the case without the victim's consent.
A special police unit delivers restraining orders daily, and orders are indexed on the department's computer.
If victims go to court for a restraining order, they are greeted by trained domestic-violence specialists who lead them to an office designated for victims and their children. Victims are briefed on resources, safety planning and legal options. The courts hold two special sessions each day for domestic violence cases so that victims don't have a long wait. Counselors literally walk them through the process, standing with them in front of the judge, walking them to get paperwork and escorting them to their cars.
``We've found a way to make the system user-friendly,'' said Gwen DeVasto, community educator and training coordinator.
``People aren't as terrified of the system as they used to be. . . . The DA's office focuses on victim services, while the probation department is really hard-lined in holding the batterer accountable.''
First-time offenders are usually placed on probation with strict supervision, which can mean weekly visits to a probation officer. Offenders are ordered to abstain from drugs and alcohol and they must submit to urine testing. Batterers also are ordered into treatment programs for the term of their probation, which can be for up to two years.
Offenders are required to pay for all of the treatment.
The most important restriction is there is no contact with the victim.
``We won't tolerate a postcard, we won't tolerate a phone call or roses. It's all a part of their control and manipulation,'' said Kline, who sends about six people to jail each week for probation violations.
``Many times, batterers (were excused) because they were referred to generic mental health services which reported that they were depressed and had low self-esteem,'' Kline said.
``That might be true, but one of the reasons why they're depressed is that they were caught. Our goal isn't to have healthy, happy batterers. Our goal is to end the battering.''
{KEYWORDS} SPOUSE ABUSE WIFE BEATING ASSAULT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
by CNB