Rise in state's domestic violence deaths prompts advisory
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
As tragic as the 2004 domestic violence death of Beth Lochtefeld was, the island has otherwise been spared the spike in such deaths that are occurring in other parts of the state. The increase caused the Department of Public Health to issue an advisory it sent to all Massachusetts health care providers outlining the problem and asking them to disseminate information on resources for victims and what can be done to prevent further abuse.

According to the advisory, there were 42 murders and 13 suicides related to domestic violence in the state last year, compared with 28 murders and three suicides in 2006 and 15 murders and four suicides in 2005. For 2008, 19 domestic violence homicides have been reported so far with five related suicides. It has been discovered that more than half of domestic violence cases that reach court are dismissed every year, statewide. That is in part because victims choose not to testify against their perpetrators for a number of reasons, including fear of retaliation, co-dependency and financial dependency, still holding loving feelings for the abusers and wanting to give them another chance and not wanting to present their situation in an open public forum.

Nantucket Police Department records list 175 cases of domestic calls officers responded to in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007. From July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 the number was 156. Police Chief William Pittman explained that those figures can include people who live together but are not related or in a romantic relationship.

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, A Safe Place provided services to 179 individuals regarding domestic violence issues and to 30 for sexual assault, according to Executive Director Kat Grieder, who noted that in July 2008 there were 28 after-hours responses by her staff to assist victims of domestic violence. Those responses generally take place at the police station and were double the number in July 2007. A Safe Place has also served over 60 individuals this July in all their programs compared to 37 in July 2007.

"That's a pretty significant increase, as well," Grieder said.

The fact that so many victims resist the opportunity to obtain protective (209A) orders or stand in the way of prosecution in court if they did obtain an order is troubling to those close to the abuse problem. Thomas Kirkman, Director of the Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit with the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office, said he believes Nantucket falls in with the rest of the state by having approximately half its court cases dismissed. He said it is difficult to classify exact figures on the number of domestic violence cases here, or elsewhere, because some victims never report incidents.

"My sense is that Nantucket is no different from any other jurisdiction. It's sad, but it's a fact of life," said Kirkman, who opened his unit 15 years ago. "I'm more interested in individual cases and that the victim gets the proper referrals. It is not up to the victim to decide if a case goes forward — they are treated as any other crime. The cases are dismissed because we don't have enough evidence to go forward if the victim doesn't want to testify. You can't force any spouse to testify against each other.

"It's not a matter of law enforcement to try to talk someone into what they don't want to do, but to work with the community to present options so they can decide what they want to do. We need more support systems for women in order for them to go into a courtroom and feel comfortable to testify."

Grieder agrees and is constantly striving to improve and expand on what her agency is capable of providing. She said this summer she has been particularly distressed by the overwhelming need for safe living accommodations. The island has no actual victim's shelter and only a few short-term housing arrangements, usually for people who are fleeing an abusive relationship and making a transition to the mainland.

"My guess is that a lot stay in their situations because they don't have anywhere else to go. That has been weighing on my mind recently," said Grieder. "If kids are involved it's more complicated. Each case differs in why they stay, but the question should be why the perpetrator acts in a violent manner and that there should be more services for abusers.

"We need to be more creative in finding ways to prevent the battering concurrently with finding more resources to help the victim so they can regain self-esteem and go on with their lives. We have noticed an improvement in our current judge reviewing cases more thoroughly and in seeing more people who apply for restraining orders having them granted. Our court system is not really set up for survivors; it's more for the accused to have the opportunity to rebut accusations. That is very intimidating, especially to somebody who has already been abused."

Domestic violence takes many forms including physical, emotional, sexual, economic and psychological abuse and is often a pattern of these behaviors. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911. A Safe Place has a 24-hour hotline for victims who need help fast or want to discuss their situation with a trained volunteer. The hotline is 228- 2111. I