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<br />- <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />CJD Grant Application - Page 11 <br /> <br />PART 6: PROJECT SUMMARY: <br />Need Heln?l <br /> <br />Type the project summary here.. <br /> <br />The City of Paris, Texas, has a population of approximately 25,000 people. The police department <br />responded to more than 1200 calls involving domestic violencelviolence against women in 2000. The police <br />department has found in the past that the specialization of units within the police department has been <br />successful. When the alJto theft division was started, there was a 33% reduction in auto thefts the first year <br />and approximately 60% reduction over the first four years of the division. Specialization does work. <br />Admittedly, with a domestic violence unit, a reduction may not be seen for several years due to the fact that <br />there is a stigma associated with domestic violence that makes it more difficult for these victims to report the <br />crimes that they are victims of. The Crime Against Women Unit's goal, through community education <br />presentations, will be to eliminate the stigma and provide victims with information to remove themselves <br />from the violence. Domestic violence is often under reported since the perpetrator often resides with the <br />victim and the victim may love the perpetrator; thus, making it more difficult for the victim to come forward <br />than if this crime were perpetrated by a stranger that the victim does not have to face. As the existence of <br />this program becomes more well known and the community is educated and gains confidence in the unit,a <br />rise in the number of reported domestic violence cases will be seen. Due to the rise in the reports of <br />violence, the police officer will work diligently to increase the number of follow-up reports done, to insure <br />prosecution for the perpetrator and justice for the victim. Through the continuing community education, the <br />Family Haven liaison and the officer would seek to build the necessary public confidence that is so <br />necessary to have a successful program combating domestic violence. The Family Haven liaison will <br />continue to work hand in hand with the officer, providing emergency legal advocacy, emergency shelter, <br />counseling and many other necessary services for those victims who require it and give those victims an <br />option to leave their situation. The officer assigned to this unit will dedicate full time to the investigation of <br />violent crimes against women and assist the victims of these crimes. Since most of these victims are <br />female, many of them may find a police officer, especially a male officer in uniform, intimidating. The Family <br />Haven liaison will continue to assist the police officer by acting as a buffer between the often fragile victims <br />and the criminal justice system. Additionally, the officer will act as a liaison for the victims and the victims' <br />advocates to the justice system to see that the victims get the best results possible. The officer will continue <br />to work with the local county attorney's office, judges. and other local law enforcement officers to ensure the <br />safety of the victim is the priority to all facets of the system. <br />'" <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />Issue Date: Oelober 2002 <br />