2004 AWC Municipal Achievement Awards

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1 Here s your entry form for the AWC Municipal Achievement Awards Please check the category you are entering (a separate entry form must be filled out for each entry). General Entry Category: Up to 1,499 population 1,500 to 4,999 population 5,000 to 14,999 population 15,000 to 39,999 population Over 40,000 population Special Award (open to all populations): Doing a Lot with a Little My city has implemented a creative program that was developed with limited resources. Under 40,000 population Over 40,000 population Please type or print clearly: Title of Project City Population Form Completed by: Name Title Address City State Zip Phone Date Submissions must be received by Friday, April 30, 2004 to: ATTN: Sarah Walkowski Association of Washington Cities 1076 Franklin Street SE Olympia, WA AWC 2004 Municipal Achievement Awards

2 Project Statement The is a unique partnership with the City of Vancouver s Attorney s Office, the Clark County Prosecutor s Office and the YWCA of Clark County that provides victims of domestic violence with a unified support system to help them bring to an end to the violence in their lives. The Center includes prosecutors, victim advocates and support staff whose sole focus is to provide victims of domestic violence with a coordinated combination of understanding and legal assistance.

3 Project Summary Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors, some causing physical injury, others not, some criminal, others not, but all psychologically damaging. It is a crime that carries both social stigma as well as serious legal consequences. For the offender, domestic violence is about control. For the victim, domestic violence affects mind, body and spirit. Domestic violence cuts across lines of race, nationality, language, culture, economics, sexual orientation, physical ability, and religion to affect people from all walks of life. Children are affected by domestic violence both in the short and long term. The bottom line is that domestic violence is a serious problem not only for the victim, but for the entire community. Since 1998, the number of domestic violence abuse cases in Clark County has risen 23 percent from 1,495 cases to 1,837 cases. Abusive relationships escalated into three murder-suicides in Clark County in the past nine months. The City of Vancouver and Clark County believe that domestic violence is a serious social problem that needs as many resources as a jurisdiction can give it. In 2000, the City Attorney s Office and the Clark County Prosecutor s Office joined forces to create the Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit. Among other benefits, the Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit ensured the flow of information between jurisdictions. Before that, there was little coordination between the City and County. Now, prosecutors from both the City and the County are cross-deputized and handle all misdemeanor and felony domestic violence cases regardless of where they arise. The Unit works closely with Clark County District Court's specialized domestic violence court, which began operating in Because of limited funding, the Unit was originally located in an old apartment building with leaky pipes, mildewed walls and torn carpet. Today, the unit has an expanded home on the lower level of Vancouver City Hall. In 2003, new additions were made to the Unit and it became the Domestic Violence Prosecution Center (DVPC). In addition to the prosecution team from the Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit, the DVPC now includes victim advocates from the YWCA of Clark County and an investigator dedicated to domestic violence cases. The DVPC now brings law, safety, justice and community agencies in Clark County together to collaborate in developing a coordinated response to domestic violence. The DVPC offers victims one place to turn to where they are supported, listened to and helped. The effective work of the Center has sent a message to the community, especially abusers, that domestic violence will not be tolerated in Clark County.

4 The DVPC benefits victims in many ways other programs or systems don t. The collaboration between the City and the County strengthens our community s ability to assist victims by allowing all systems in Clark County dedicated to the prevention of domestic violence to work together toward a common goal. A coordinated response from the DVPC uses the expertise of police, prosecuting attorneys, judges, court personnel, court advocates, community advocates (including those providing individualized services for special populations), and batterer treatment providers. Improved communication between the legal system, victims, and community advocates creates an atmosphere in which abusers are less able to manipulate the system and escape the consequences for their abusive behavior. A coordinated response also offers victims and their children a wider selection of options so they can choose services that meet their individual needs for legal and for community support services. The key to a coordinated response is continuous, ongoing training of all agency personnel. This ensures appropriate, consistent responses that hold offenders accountable for their abusive behavior and protect the victims and their children from further violence. The United States Department of Justice has said that the DVPC is a model they want other jurisdictions to follow. They have awarded the Center with a three-year grant to pay for a police investigator and a victim advocate. The grant will also allow the Center to develop a training module to assist other jurisdictions interested in creating a similar program. In addition, there will be outreach efforts to train officers, provide community education and additional assistance to non-english speakers. In 2003, the provided services to over 3,000 victims of domestic violence and their children. The Center also held the first annual Kids and Cops event at a local Wal-Mart where 22 children affected by domestic violence shopped for gifts for themselves and their families with a Vancouver Police Officer or an officer from the Clark County Sheriff s Office. This successful program was funded by a $1,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Southwest Washington. The consists of: 4 full-time attorneys 1 part-time attorney 3 victim advocates 2 paralegals 4 support staff 1 investigator

5 Costs (City of Vancouver Contributions) Title Salary Benefits Total Annual Costs Attorney II $58,320 $14,623 $72,943 Attorney II $50,376 $13,834 $64,210 Legal Assistant II $36,252 $12,432 $48,684 Office Assistant.50 $16,020 $6,007 $22,027 FTE Legal Investigator $55,032 $14,297 $69,329 Victim Advocate.75 FTE $25,546 $6,970 $32,516 Rule 9/Temp Help $25,559 $25,559 (24 hrs per week) Office Supplies $7,800 $7,800 Telephone, pager $1,500 $1,500 and Cell phone Travel $5,500 $5,500 Printing $1,500 $1,500 Misc. Expenses $5,000 $5,000 Building/Utilities $5,000 $5,000 Subtotal $361, 568 Grant Funded Positions Police Investigator $58,044 $14,596 $72,640 Victim Advocate $30,566 Included $30,566 TOTAL with Grant Funds $464,774 NOTE: the City of Vancouver would have incurred these costs with or without the creation of the. The creation of the Center makes these dollars go farther.