In the News

Gov. Declares Domestic Violence Emergency

By State House News Service
Boston Herald
June 06, 2008

Citing a tripling in domestic violence homicides in the past two years, Gov. Deval Patrick yesterday declared a “public health emergency” and directed health and safety officials to review data over the past three years and produce a trend analysis.

“Everybody can and should do something to prevent domestic violence,” Patrick urged at a press conference announcing the review and the strengthening of training for police officers on domestic violence and sex crimes.

In 2007, there were 42 murders and 13 suicides related to domestic violence, averaging almost one a week and the highest rate since the early 90s, according to Jane Doe Inc., an advocacy group. In 2005, there were 15 murders and four suicides.
This year has seen 19 domestic violence homicides and five suicides, according to the group.

Patrick called the figures a “dramatic spike,” and Mary Lauby, executive director of Jane Doe Inc., said the brutality of the violence is “more horrendous than ever.”
The state Department of Public Health released a public health advisory in several languages, including Haitian-Creole, Vietnamese and Chinese, pointing to the statistics.

The advisory also noted that a 2003 Centers for Disease Control study estimated national “intimate partner” violence costs $5.8 billion a year, including medical and mental health costs and lost productivity.

Patrick also announced that he had signed into law a bill creating statewide guidelines for hospitals dealing with violence victims. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Byron Rushing (D-South End).

Patrick and Lauby pointed to a lack of coordination in the state’s anti-violence infrastructure as one factor in the rise.

“We’ve let it fall apart,” she said.

Lauby said an “anti-immigrant environment” was another factor, with immigrants afraid to approach police officers.

“Immigrant victims are afraid to reach out for help,” she said. “It is literally killing people because they’re afraid to come forward.”