Jane Doe Inc. - Voices For Change

In The News

Chilling murders hit home
Advocates: Burdened system can’t keep up with tragedies
Boston Herald Two-part Series
By Laura Crimaldi
Sunday, September 2, 2007

The murder of Norton mother Elizabeth Cann by her ex-boyfriend last week was the 39th domestic violence-related death in Massachusetts this year, putting the state on track to set a grim 12-year milestone.

If the violence continues at its current pace, Jane Doe Inc., a statewide coalition against domestic and sexual violence, estimates another 17 people will die before the end of year.

“It’s absolutely alarming to see the rates of homicides associated with domestic violence skyrocketing,” said state Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian (D-Waltham), who is on the board of directors at Refuge Education Advocacy Change in Waltham, a domestic violence service agency.

In more than a dozen interviews with the Herald, advocates, law enforcement and state officials said the following factors are fueling the bloodshed:

* A clogged domestic violence emergency shelter system that leaves a mere 376 beds funded by the state Department of Social Services set aside for families who wish to escape a batterer and scarce affordable housing opportunities for people wishing to move out of shelters. The state Department of Transitional Assistance also funds shelter beds. A disjointed state funding system for domestic violence shelter and support services that is spread over at least four state agencies
* Understaffed anti-domestic-violence programs that have scaled back on community and legal advocacy, preventative programs, clinical services and financial and housing assistance for victims
* A criminal justice system that relies heavily on victims to protect themselves through restraining orders or police action
* Gaps in training on domestic violence for veteran police officers
* A reduction in batterers’ programs statewide from 24 to 17 in five years due to low referral rates.

A national victims’ advocacy group says conditions in Massachusetts are reaching the crisis level. Experts note that when the Elizabeth Stone House in Jamaica Plain shut down after a fire last month, the closure represented only the latest blow to the network of 32 emergency shelters in the state.

“As a matter of course, it is difficult, if not nearly impossible, to find open shelter beds in Massachusetts on a daily basis,” said Rose Pulliam, president of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, who spoke based on anecdoctal information from hotline operators.

The hotline has fielded 6,421 calls from the Bay State since January 2005.

“There are other states that certainly have a problem with bed availability that I do hear about, but Massachusetts is a particular problem,” Pulliam said.

Last month, advocates say, domestic violence killed eight people, including Elizabeth Cann. She was shot by her ex-boyfriend, Robert McDermott, 39, who also shot in the head two of Cann’s daughters, leaving them critically injured. He then shot himself.

In 2006, there were 34 domestic violence-related homicides and suicides, according to Jane Doe Inc. figures. There were 19 deaths in 2005.

“The rise in domestic violence-related deaths across the commonwealth is deeply troubling and this is an issue that Diane and I are both concerned about,” said Gov. Deval Patrick of he and his wife. “I have taken proactive steps in my administration to develop far-reaching and long-term solutions.”

Last week, the state launched a five-year training program to give veteran police officers additional instruction in the areas of domestic and sexual violence, said Sheridan Haines, executive director of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.

The help can’t come too soon. During a November 2006 census of 40 percent of all domestic violence services in Massachusetts, the National Network to End Domestic Violence found that during a 24-hour period a startling 111 requests for services were turned down by local programs due to a lack of services.

“There are whole sectors in this state and across the country that we are just failing,” said Mary R. Lauby, Jane Doe’s executive director.

Advocates see the state budget as the key battlefield. While the main funding area for shelter and support services has increased from $16.3 million to $21.7 million since fiscal year 2003, Jane Doe provided budget figures they claim show that no more than $13.2 million has been set aside annually to pay for “core” domestic violence services.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1028832

Other articles in series:

Author says control issues drive men to kill spouses
Sunday focus: Domestic Violence Homicides 2007
Sisters in Norton shooting expected to be OK
Program offers hope in domestic abuse cases