Councils set to release domestic violence, child abuse report

Appeal-Democrat - 4/4/2017

April 04--The Sutter County Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Prevention Council will release its 2016 annual report to the Sutter County Health and Welfare Committee today.

The role of both councils is to reduce all forms of domestic violence and child abuse within the county. The 2016 report details organizational response and community education efforts to reduce the occurrences of those incidents.

Most notable of the report are statistics reported by the Sutter County Sheriff's Office, the Yuba City Police Department and Casa de Esperanza.

According to the sheriff's office, domestic violence incidents decreased from 108 in 2015, to 103 last year. The reports noted these numbers are still significantly lower than the 206 reported in 2000.

The Yuba City Police Department reported the same number, 267, of domestic violence incidents in 2015 and 2016. Again, the year 2000 sets a high in reported incidents with 382.

Casa de Esperanza experienced a decline in initial client contacts for services from 506 in 2015 to 418 last year.

Chaired by Detective Robert Rawlin of the Sutter County Sheriff's Office, the Domestic Violence Response Committee is organized by the practices of law enforcement agencies.

A uniform response set by the Sutter County Domestic Violence Response Protocol for Law Enforcement Officers is adhered to by the Sutter County Sheriff's Office, Yuba City Police Department and California Highway Patrol.

The sheriff's office is a member of the Northern California Office of Emergency Services Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement team, which contacts known sex offenders to monitor their compliance with parole and probation conditions.

Offered at the Sutter County Jail is an interactive computer-based system called the Victim Information and Notification Everyday, or VINE, which provides custody status of an offender and notifies victims when the offender has been released.

"The Domestic Violence Response Committee will continue to adhere to the no-tolerance approach to domestic violence in Sutter County," said Sheriff-Coroner J. Paul Parker in the report. "The committee will continue to diligently search for state-of-the-art training for law enforcement that will enhance the skills utilized by law enforcement officers responding to domestic violence incidents."

Marsha Krouse-Taylor, executive director of Casa de Esperanza, is chair for the council's Community Education and Prevention Committee.

Krouse-Taylor said the committee's goals are to continue and expand awareness months dedicated to specific issues.

Associated with ribbons of their own distinct color, February is dedicated to Teen Dating Violence, April as Child Abuse Prevention, July as Sexual Assault and October as Domestic Violence. The ribbons are tied to the Fifth Street Bridge as a visual show of support for those impacted.

Casa de Esperanza also organizes individual events like Cookies for Cops, and Denim Day on July 4. The former event gives out cookies to law enforcement personnel for their service in domestic violence issues and the latter shows support for rape victims.

"We live in a community where we are hearing more about the violence against women and children," said Krouse-Taylor. "The awareness is there, but these campaigns give people something to do about it. Prevention is the name of the game. These awareness campaigns help people find out what resources there are and it's a way for them to do prevention, instead of feeling like its something out of their control."

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