Legislation presently making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives may give victims of domestic violence another means to find support and guidance within their communities.
Two new pieces of legislation announced last Thursday by Rep. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) will attempt to prevent domestic violence and protect its victims.
The two bills - H.R. 3901, which reauthorizes funding to local law enforcement agencies, and H.R. 3699, which reinstates funding for a national toll-free telephone hotline for victims of domestic violence - are still waiting for passage in the House of Representatives.
Matthew Frankel, Stabenow's press secretary, said these two pieces of legislation have been active for four years, but their funding may have grown obsolete without Stabenow's sponsorship.
Frankel also said that passage should not be exceptionally difficult.
"This type of legislation gains bi-partisan support and is usually passed quickly," Frankel said.
The bills follow the passage of the Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act, which was also co-sponsored by Stabenow and incorporated in the Financial Services Modernization Bill.
In a statement released by Stabenow, she said these three bills make "a clear and strong statement."
"If you commit domestic assault, you will be prosecuted; if you are a member of law enforcement, you will be assisted; and if you are a victim, you will be supported and not discriminated against by insurance companies," Stabenow said.
The Stabenow legislation, up for vote this summer, calls for $340 million over the next five years to reauthorize a grant program that would help develop police training programs, strengthen legal services for victims of domestic abuse, educate judges regarding the issues of domestic violence and create computer tracking systems to ensure communication among police, prosecutors and criminal and family courts regarding domestic violence.
Grants are awarded on a competitive basis, depending upon local law enforcement proposals and applications to the Department of Justice.
Frankel said this type of grant and application procedure "gives local police forces and judicial courts the freedom to find the most effective ways to combat domestic violence."
He added that Stabenow's legislation, if reauthorized by the House "will give local communities the power and the tools to deal with domestic abuse."
Last year, through legislation similar to Stabenow's recent proposals, Bay City was awarded a $369,999 grant by the Department of Justice that enabled Bay City and County to create a domestic violence investigation team to centralize and coordinate responses to victims of domestic violence.
Bay City Police Department Deputy Chief Gary Hect said he was ecstatic about the program.
"We're exceedingly pleased," Hect said. "The Bay City Police Department, the Bay County Women's Center and the Bay County Prosecutor's Office are all working extremely close to combat domestic abuse." Hect said the program's success can also be seen in Bay City's endeavor to renew the grant for next year.
Inkster also received a $211,118 grant from the Department of Justice, and participants in the application procedure said the results are very promising.
Director of YWCA/Interim House Mary Lu Lewis explained that this program is a "well coordinated effort" between several local organizations including the Inkster Police Department, the Wayne County Coordination Council to Prevent Domestic Violence, the Wayne County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and First Step (the Western Wayne County Project on Domestic Assault).
Lewis said the grant facilitated the creation of a special domestic violence unit.
"Legal advocates are now available to walk women through the legal process and provide encouragement," Lewis said.
05-26-98
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