|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 1, 2004
| Contact: |
Dee
Koester, Law and Justice Planner, 360-786-5540 |
|
Captain Dan Kimball, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office,
360-786-5516 |
Anti-Domestic
Violence Efforts Continue With Conference
OLYMPIA
-- The efforts of local jurisdictions and agencies to combat domestic violence
(DV) will be boosted by a one-day conference to be held next week.
The 2004 conference is a continuation of a multi-disciplinary effort
against DV offenses, which was begun in 2000 in
Thurston
County
. The program involves law
enforcement, the courts, prosecution, social service agencies, mental health
counselors, crime victim’s advocates and others in an approach to provide
for victim safety and hold batterers accountable.
The conference aims to educate the public about the complexity of
domestic violence issues, to assist victims and to develop, provide and
enhance resources for the community.
Captain Dan Kimball of the Thurston County
Sheriff’s Office says domestic violence continues to be a significant
challenge to the community. “When
you look at domestic violence in all its forms, it is an incredible strain on
the law and justice system and on society itself.
Whether it is husband-wife, parent-child, child-parent or any other
combination, these offenses can have a physical and emotional impact that
lasts for generations. That’s
why it’s so important for all of us to work together to reduce domestic
violence.”
Dee Koester of the Thurston County Prosecutor’s
office echoes Kimball’s comments. “We
have accomplished a lot with our unified approach to domestic violence but a
lot more needs to be done. Through
August of this year the Prosecutor’s Office received 801 new domestic
violence cases. Of those, charges
were filed in 343 cases. The
Thurston County Clerks office through July held 893 interviews and filed 385
cases. In
Thurston
County
, rates of sex crimes, homicides, felony assaults and felony drug cases have
steadily increased from 2003. The
new case numbers do not adequately reflect the overburdened system response
nor do they account for the trauma that victims endure.”
The domestic violence conference, to be held
Friday, October 8th at the Labor and
Industries
Building
in Tumwater, will feature a number of noted speakers.
State Supreme Court Justice Gerry L Alexander will give the opening
remarks. Other speakers include
Jeffrey L. Edleson Ph.D who is Director of the Minnesota Center Against
Violence and Abuse, Lucy Berliner, the Director of the
Harborview
Center
for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress and Jackson Katz, a nationally known
authority who will speak on the link between media images, alcohol use and
domestic violence.
Sponsors of the conference include-
§
The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
§
The
Thurston
County
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force.
§
The Washington State Crime Victim’s Compensation Program.
§
State Farm Insurance.
§
Phoenix Inn Suites.
§
Thurston Community Television.
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