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One in 10 women in Kansas will be the victim of domestic violence at some point in their life, according to a report by Tiffanie Askew, the victim/witness coordinator for the Ford County Attorney's Office.
Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior used to control a partner or former partner. It takes many forms, including emotional, verbal, sexual and physical abuse, as well as isolation, stalking and financial abuse. Abuse happens to people of every age, race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and ability.
In Ford County, 223 people were arrested for domestic violence in the past four years, and there were 304 domestic violence calls for help in 2011 alone. This is the highest it has ever been, according to statistics from the Dodge City Police Department.
Victims of these types of crimes deserve to be treated with respect and sensitivity throughout their involvement with the criminal justice system, according to Askew's report. This is where the federal Violence Against Women Act comes in. Under VAWA, a women's violence prosecutor can handle all cases involving crimes against women with respect and sensitivity while constantly holding offenders accountable.
That is why the county attorney's office, with Askew's help, applied for a VAWA grant to fund a prosecutor dedicated to prosecuting of crimes against women. After being denied the past two years, the office was one of only three in the state to receive the grant in this year, thanks to Askew's hard work and determination.
The grant provides funds for the county attorney's office to hire a new prosecutor for one year to deal specifically with cases that involve violence against women. The prosecutor will also develop and implement more effective prosecution protocols for identifying and responding to crimes against women.
"Violence against women is a very distressing problem," said Ford County Attorney Terry Malone. "It's also very complicated. Women who are in these situations often feel trapped and that they just have to accept this violence. Oftentimes, they don't want to report this abuse.
"This new attorney will be trained to handle these situations and will be sensitive to the feelings and emotions the women have during this complicated process."
Federal funding
The grant is worth $50,207, but the federal government is only responsible for 75 percent of that, or $37,655. The remaining 25 percent, $12,252, will be provided by the county.
Malone said he hopes the grant will be awarded again next year, but his office will have to reapply to be considered.
Funding will begin April 1, and Malone said he hopes the position will be filled by that time. If it is not, the office will lose funding each month until someone is hired.
"Having this grant will be a terrific asset to our office," said Malone. "We will be able to provide better service to victims of these crimes and develop a consistent approach to the cases now.
"I am so grateful that the county has approved the grant funds, and to Tiffanie for all the hard work and dedication she put into writing the grant application."
Reach Julia Kazar at (620) 408-9913 or e-mail her at julia.kazar@dodgeglobe.com.
One in 10 women in Kansas will be the victim of domestic violence at some point in their life, according to a report by Tiffanie Askew, the victim/witness coordinator for the Ford County Attorney's Office.
Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior used to control a partner or former partner. It takes many forms, including emotional, verbal, sexual and physical abuse, as well as isolation, stalking and financial abuse. Abuse happens to people of every age, race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and ability.
In Ford County, 223 people were arrested for domestic violence in the past four years, and there were 304 domestic violence calls for help in 2011 alone. This is the highest it has ever been, according to statistics from the Dodge City Police Department.
Victims of these types of crimes deserve to be treated with respect and sensitivity throughout their involvement with the criminal justice system, according to Askew's report. This is where the federal Violence Against Women Act comes in. Under VAWA, a women's violence prosecutor can handle all cases involving crimes against women with respect and sensitivity while constantly holding offenders accountable.
That is why the county attorney's office, with Askew's help, applied for a VAWA grant to fund a prosecutor dedicated to prosecuting of crimes against women. After being denied the past two years, the office was one of only three in the state to receive the grant in this year, thanks to Askew's hard work and determination.
The grant provides funds for the county attorney's office to hire a new prosecutor for one year to deal specifically with cases that involve violence against women. The prosecutor will also develop and implement more effective prosecution protocols for identifying and responding to crimes against women.
"Violence against women is a very distressing problem," said Ford County Attorney Terry Malone. "It's also very complicated. Women who are in these situations often feel trapped and that they just have to accept this violence. Oftentimes, they don't want to report this abuse.
"This new attorney will be trained to handle these situations and will be sensitive to the feelings and emotions the women have during this complicated process."
Federal funding
The grant is worth $50,207, but the federal government is only responsible for 75 percent of that, or $37,655. The remaining 25 percent, $12,252, will be provided by the county.
Malone said he hopes the grant will be awarded again next year, but his office will have to reapply to be considered.
Funding will begin April 1, and Malone said he hopes the position will be filled by that time. If it is not, the office will lose funding each month until someone is hired.
"Having this grant will be a terrific asset to our office," said Malone. "We will be able to provide better service to victims of these crimes and develop a consistent approach to the cases now.
"I am so grateful that the county has approved the grant funds, and to Tiffanie for all the hard work and dedication she put into writing the grant application."
Reach Julia Kazar at (620) 408-9913 or e-mail her at julia.kazar@dodgeglobe.com.
