NH Register: DeStefano proposes domestic violence initiatives

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NH Register: DeStefano proposes domestic violence initiatives

The New Haven Register June 30, 2006

By Gregory B. Hladky

Hartford - Democratic gubernatorial candidate John DeStefano Jr. called Thursday for a broad new state effort to deal with the increasing number of domestic violence incidents being reported in Connecticut.

DeStefano's proposal includes providing additional state funding for special police domestic violence response teams, anti-domestic violence initiatives within communities, a statewide sexual assault forensic examiner program and additional safe havens for children in danger of violence at home.

He also wants the legislature to approve a controversial state requirement that all Connecticut hospitals - including Catholic institutions - provide emergency contraceptives to rape victims. A bill on that issue died in the 2006 General Assembly after a fierce campaign against it by the Catholic Church.

"I believe Connecticut can and must do more to protect women and children from violence," said DeStefano, who is mayor of New Haven.

DeStefano said the number of reported domestic violence cases in his city fell by 10 percent last year, and he attributed that decline in part to special response teams set up to follow up on domestic violence incidents.

"There were more than 21,000 cases of family violence last year (in Connecticut) in which one person was arrested," said DeStefano. He cited statistics showing the number of domestic violence cases in this state involving children doubled between 1990 and 2003.

DeStefano is engaged in a hot primary contest for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination with Stamford Mayor Dannel P. Malloy.

Malloy campaign spokesman Chris Cooney said Thursday that Malloy "has been a champion of victims of domestic violence dating back to the time he was a prosecutor in New York City." Cooney said Malloy?s wife, Cathy, is executive director of a rape crisis counseling center in Stamford.

"Dan Malloy believes we can never do enough for victims of domestic violence," said Cooney. But he also questioned how much DeStefano?s proposed programs would cost and how DeStefano plans to pay for them.

DeStefano said he doesn't yet have a specific dollar figure for his six-point agenda for combating domestic violence.

"These are not big-ticket items," he added. DeStefano said his proposals would cost "tens of millions, not hundreds of millions of dollars."

The GOP candidate in the race, Gov. M. Jodi Rell, "has been recognized for her work on domestic violence?and has certainly been a leader on women?s issues," said Rell campaign spokesman Rich Harris.

Harris said Rell recently directed the state's Department of Children and Families to focus additional attention and resources on domestic violence programs as a way of providing additional protection for children.

DeStefano said he believes one reason for the dramatic rise in the number of domestic violence cases in recent years is the result of an increasing willingness on the part of women to report such incidents and "a willingness of police to listen."

He said changes in the makeup New Haven's police force, which is now nearly 20 percent female, has also altered the way law enforcement officials in that city handle such cases.

According to DeStefano, additional state action and funding is needed in part because federal funding for domestic violence and rape crisis centers has been sharply reduced in recent years.