Editorial: Trying to S.T.O.P. domestic violence

Ten years ago in South Carolina the Department of Public Safety presented its findings regarding victims of domestic violence.

According to a report, there were 128,897 reported victims of violence as defined for the purpose of the study. “The single most frequently occurring victim/offender relationship among domestic violence victims was boyfriend/girlfriend.”

South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster said domestic violence is the number one crime problem in South Carolina. According to the Attorney

General’s web site, more than 36,000 victims annually report a domestic violence incident to law enforcement agencies around the state.

Also during the course of eight years, an average of 38 women have been killed each year by an intimate partner. South Carolina rates among the worst states in the nation for the rate of men killing women.

Two programs have been organized to combat the issue.

The S.T.O.P. Violence Against Women program was established in 1996 with funding from the Violence Against Women Act grant. The program offers a special prosecutor, a program coordinator and a technical assistant.

The primary goal of the S.T.O.P. program is to educate law enforcement, judges and prosecutors on CDV. The program hosts several trainings throughout the year and across the Palmetto State. Employees of the program quite regularly give speeches at other trainings or seminars in the state, as well.

S.T.O.P. Violence Against Women program also acts as a clearinghouse for CDV statistics. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division provides data informing the public.

Marion County law enforcement officers participated in a daylong training session July 21. Sponsored by the Pee Dee Coalition, a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to the reduction of rape, family violence and child abuse and to the needs of its victims. The event featured helpful presentations Lisa Hyatt, Marion County coordinator and advocate with the Pee Dee Coalition, said.

The “Responders to Domestic Violence In-service Training” gives 7.5 hours of continuing education credit to those who attended, Hyatt said. The training covered criminal domestic violence, its dynamics, the laws and the first responders’ protocol. 

Domestic violence is said to affect as many as one in four women in the nation.  The Federal Violence Against Women Act signed in 1994 was the first national legislation to specifically target CDV and other abusive behaviors toward women and a grant was established in the Department of Justice.

The Pro Bono program provides prosecutors for summary court level CDV cases. Private attorneys under the program can be trained and certified through the Office of the Attorney General to become a special prosecutor for these cases. The Attorney General’s office then assigns cases and maintains a database of information about each case. To date, the program and its 50 active volunteer attorneys have tried over 1900 cases with a 70 percent conviction rate and are working to expand its jurisdiction.

This past February the issue of domestic violence found a national spotlight as celebrity music recording artist Chris Brown and Rhianna made headlines in an assault case.

On Nov. 6, Rhianna revealed a major portion of her side of the story and details of the highly publicized relationship in a televised interview with Diane Sawyer.

Brown’s career faltered over the course of several months, as he was charged with felony assault and making criminal threats. He pleaded guilty and accepted a plea deal, which included domestic violence counseling.

As both artists promote albums scheduled for release in the coming weeks, the incident remains a hot topic but both maintain a devoted fan base, with friends of Brown also being vocal that he may have suffered his share of blows as well.

Rhianna said her motivation for speaking candidly about the incident was because of her influence with young girls and wanting to help victims and potential victims of domestic violence build up the courage and common sense to separate themselves from abusive relationships.

So the question is does it take a celebrity to make the public aware of criminal domestic violence? What should be done be done to combat these violent acts against women and men?