In The News

Report on domestic violence in state released
B y Tony Lee / Metro Boston
December 6, 2006

BOSTON — There were 19 known victims of domestic violence homicide in Massachusetts in 2003, according to a report released yesterday by Jane Doe Inc. (JDI), the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.

Surrounded by 19 faceless figurines representing the victims, researchers, law enforcement officials and the authors of the report spoke of the importance of the landmark study they hope will act as a catalyst for improved efforts in the area.

“The thing to remember about domestic violence homicide is simple — it’s so predictable that it’s preventable,” said Diane Rosenfeld, a lecturer at Harvard Law School and one of the study’s editors.

The report cited five additional domestic violence deaths in 2003, each a perpetrator who committed suicide after their crime. It also details the story of each victim, often in the gruesome details associated with such tragedy.

Mary Lauby, JDI executive director, said the 2003 numbers showed Massachusetts in good standing relative to the rest of the nation, but there have already been 28 domestic violence homicides this year in Massachusetts and victims still struggle to find help.

“We continue to hold victims responsible to end the violence. We blame them,” Lauby said. “That has to change.”