In The News

Pols aim at ending domestic violence
By Lauren Gniazdowski/Daily News Correspondent
GateHouse News Service
Wed Oct 31, 2007, 12:31 AM EDT

BOSTON - As the rate of domestic violence-related murders climbs toward new highs, area legislators gathered at the Garden of Peace on Beacon Hill yesterday to offer a resolution to further efforts for awareness and prevention.

Lawmakers including state Sen. Cynthia Creem, D-Newton, state Rep. Peter Koutoujian, D-Waltham, and state Sen. Pam Resor, D-Acton, created the resolution to honor Jane Doe Inc., a statewide advocacy group for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The move comes as figures indicate that this year’s domestic violence homicide rate could climb by 200 percent over recent years. According to the resolution, one person has been killed in a domestic violence-related homicide each week this year in Massachusetts.

"This year has been one that has been especially tragic for those who have been victimized by domestic violence and sexual assault," Koutoujian said.

This year, according to Jane Doe Inc., there were 32 domestic violence incidents, leading to 47 deaths. Koutoujian said the trend is troubling to those in the Legislature and to those who advocate to protect victims of domestic violence. "We must as a Legislature put our resources forth in order to protect these victims. We must as a Legislature, as leaders in this issue, create more awareness so the people can understand what’s happening, not just to them but to people they care about," Koutoujian said.

Mary Lauby, executive director of Jane Doe Inc., said the use of emergency shelters is also on the rise. She said one day last month there were three beds available for 100 requests for emergency shelter. "That coupled with the homicides gives us immediately something we have to solve and have to figure out how to deal with," Lauby said.

Creem said there is always more to be done concerning domestic violence. "It’s a problem and it’s an ongoing problem," she said.

Creem crafted a number of bills that would help prevent victims of domestic violence from being victimized further. One bill would create a workplace policy to grant a victim up to 15 days leave from work. Another bill would protect victims of domestic violence from housing discrimination.

"The victim becomes a victim, and stays a victim in many instances," Creem said.

Resor said the upcoming budget process is important for domestic violence services. "We need to definitely get more money into the services. There are not enough shelters, there are not enough support systems out there," she said.

Resor also has several pieces of legislation she said she hopes to bring forward, including a bill focusing on criminal harassment. The bill would extend to victims protection from further abuse.