Upper
Marlboro, MD…Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin
C. High said that the Office of the Sheriff will mark the month of October -
Domestic Violence Awareness Month – by focusing on a variety of things that
have illuminated the scourge of domestic violence. High said because of a number of important
changes to the way we respond to domestic violence crimes, to offenders and to
victims of these crimes, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is the
perfect time to remind individuals, families and organizations that each of us
can be a force for ending domestic violence.
The
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Sheriff High says is a prime example of
legislative leadership that has been a game-changing resource for many
communities in the way they respond to domestic violence. Just the other day,
High said, the Governor’s Office on Crime Control Prevention sent out a summary
of the Domestically Related Crimes Law – HB1146/SB647 that notes on an
offender’s record whether a crime was domestic violence related. It’s a change
the Sheriff says that will help identify such offenders, potentially increasing
deputy and victim safety.
Sheriff High said the Sheriff’s Office
responsibilities in support of individuals and families, “…whether in our
Domestic Violence Intervention Division (DVID) or in our Child Support
Enforcement Unit, are a constant reminder that the future of any community
depends on strong families.”
As an agency with significant domestic violence
related responsibility, from serving protective orders countywide, to
responding to emergency 9-1-1 domestic violence calls in Police District III
and with the DVID Special Victims Assistants directing victims to the resources
they need, High says DVID is keenly focused on the quality of its response to
calls for service but also its ability to impact victim outcomes with a high
quality response to victims in the aftermath of violence.
“A significant challenge is that domestic violence
so often occurs within families. I have no doubt that nearly every individual
family knows someone who was or is a victim of domestic violence.”
“We never
lose sight of the fact that future generations grow strong, healthy and
successful in a good and safe environment and that our county’s future depends
on their success, “said High. “Among the partners in law enforcement and
professionals serving victims, we have outstanding resources at work to stop
domestic violence crime and to end victimization.”
In May of 2012, the work of the Office of the
Sheriff DVID was cited in the first Prince George’s County Domestic Violence
Fatality Review Team 2012 Report and Recommendations. In particular, the
Report’s top recommendation for law enforcement was that all county agencies
adopt and utilize its Domestic Intervention –Supplemental Report, - a detailed
report pioneered by the Office of the Sheriff for use when responding to
domestic violence calls for service.
After that Report, High sought even further
evaluation of the DVID process by commissioning an independent assessment. The
additional evaluation was conducted by Dr. Tricia Bent-Goodley, a recognized
expert in the area of domestic violence and a professor of Social Work at
Howard University. Dr. Bent-Goodley’s report, evaluated the policies and
procedures of the DVID, specifically and in comparison to other law enforcement
agencies and industry best-practices, while the County Fatality Review Team
assessed the county’s domestic violence response in the aggregate.
Dr. Bent-Goodley cited DVID’s collaboration across
disciplines to meet the needs of victims and the importance of response and
service access for victims countywide – referring to the Division’s Special
Victim Assistants. Bent-Goodley called
DVID, “…a critical force to responding to domestic violence within Prince
George’s County.”
Sheriff High said his agency was pleased to have the
benefit of an independent assessment from an expert and the recognition that it
was meeting and building on a best-practices standard in responding to the
needs of domestic violence victims.
“We value greatly the partnerships that we are
continuing to build to combat domestic violence crimes and to help victims
become survivors,” said High. ”That is what it will take to be successful and
to have a long-term impact.”
Urging every citizen to take action, Sheriff High
said, “President Obama’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
proclamation included a very easy prescription that each of us can follow. It urges us to ‘…promote healthy
relationships, speak out when we see injustice in our communities, stand with
survivors we know and change attitudes that perpetuate the cycle of abuse.’ I
think that’s exactly right and if each of us commits to doing just those things
we’ll end domestic violence.”
For more information contact
the Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff’s Communications and Public
Affairs Division at 301-780-8637.
###
5303 CHRYSLER WAY 
