July
1, 2014
Visalia
Times-Delta
By
Eric Woomer
The
grand jury is asking the Tulare County District Attorney's Office to seek more
resources to combat domestic violence.
In
its recently released 2013-14 report, the grand jury investigated domestic
violence in Tulare County and found local law enforcement is providing
"critical and valuable" education to bring awareness to the issue of
domestic violence. The crime accounts for more than 8,000 calls for service to
police in Visalia and Tulare.
About
10 percent of those resulted in an arrest.
The
investigation looked at the number of calls to each of the local law
enforcement agencies and what people can do if they've been a victim of
domestic abuse. The report also glanced over the social side of domestic
violence, denouncing those who use such factors as stress, alcohol and drugs
and family issues.
"Domestic
violence is a learned behavior, a conscious choice, and it is found in every
level of society," the report states. "The county of Tulare and city
law enforcement, provide critical, valuable and available educational and
awareness resources relating to domestic violence."
When
it came to noting resources for victims in Tulare County, the report fell short,
according to Caity Meader, executive director of Family Services of Tulare
County, for failing to mention the nonprofit which is the largest provider of
domestic violence resources in the county. Milt Morrison, the jury's foreman,
said he believes the omission was based on a lack of exposure and a simple
mistake.
"Somehow
they got missed. The intent was to serve the public and the public would have
been served to include them," Morrison said.
Meader
said she was disappointed that after representatives spent several hours with
the grand jury last fall that they weren't included in the final report. Family
Services, a $3.8 million nonprofit organized 31 years ago, serves more than
3,000 victims each year. It's one of just two domestic violence emergency shelters,
including Central California Crisis Center in Porterville.
"We
are extremely proud to partner with many local government departments to
accomplish our work, including the Tulare County Health and Human Services
Agency, the District Attorney's Office, the Sheriff's [Department], the
Probation Department, as well as many other incredible collaborative bodies and
partner organizations," Meader said.
The
grand jury pointed readers to Tulare County courts and the Self Help Center,
which can help people file restraining orders and the center in Porterville.
The grand jury also recommended people contact the National Domestic Violence
Hotline, which offers a variety of information and links to local service
providers.
The
grand jury recommends that the DA's office apply for any grant that could boost
awareness or make more services available for victims of domestic violence.
Dan
Underwood, an assistant district attorney, said the recommendation made by the
grand jury is something his office already does. They currently have one grant
for $184,238 to combat domestic violence. The DA's office will be required to
respond to the report.
Other
2013-2014 reports:
•
Charter schools
•
Small school districts
•
Water issues
•
Delta Vector Control District
•
Public Defender's Office
The
grand jury ended its session officially on Monday. A handful of current members
will continue to serve on the jury and as many as 10 will be chosen for the
next group. Morrison said while his term is over, he is considering putting his
name in the hat for the 2015-16 grand jury.
A
set of alternates will also be chosen. The 2013-14 grand jury went through a
dozen alternate members after some members didn't like the way the jury was
being run. Morrison said once the "power-grab kerfuffle" was resolved
and a considerable amount of time was spent assigning new jurors, they
"went to work."
The
random-drawing for new jurors will be held at 1:30 p.m. today in Department 10
at the Tulare County Courthouse in Visalia.
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