Deadly domestic violence on the rise across the state

By Chet Williamson

Jane Doe Inc. is a statewide coalition against domestic and sexual violence that has been tracking domestic violence homicides since the early '90s. Last week the Boston-based organization released startling statistics indicating that murder as a result of domestic violence is on the rise across the state. If the numbers continue, Massachusetts is on track to outpace 1995, when 39 people fell victim to such violence.

In 2005, the number of domestic violence-related homicides was 19. That number increased to 34 in 2006. As of the end of last month, 39 people have been killed in 2007.

Mary Lauby, executive director of Jane Doe, says she felt compelled to release the information early after learning of the brutal murder of a Norton woman. Elizabeth Cann became this year's 39th victim when she was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, who also took the life of Cann's two daughters before turning the gun on himself.

"Right after the Norton murders, we said, ‘OK, that's it. We can't not make statements about this. We have to start saying something,'" Lauby says, noting that if the rate continues, another 17 people could possibly die before seeing the New Year.

"Sadly it is holding to be true," she says. "We have put ourselves into paying attention to domestic violence homicides and in so doing have watched this gradual trend go upward now for more than a year. Last year there was a significant increase over 2005 and the trend is getting worse. It's not that it has leveled off in any way."

Tess Sneesby, the executive director of Abby's House in Worcester, says "I think what has to happen is men have to stop abusing women. It is a cultural thing. I hate to say it because I sound like an old-time feminist, but violence against women is tolerated in our culture."

Founded in 1976, the mission statement of Abby's House reads, in part, "to provide emergency and long-term housing, as well as woman-centered advocacy and support services to homeless, battered and low-income women, with or without children."

"There is a continuum of violence," Sneesby says. "You start on a continuum and there is always the end point, which is murder. We really need to keep educating young men and women that certain behavior is not acceptable."

Ginger Navickas, director of Daybreak Resources, a program designed to meet the needs of women and children whose lives are affected by domestic violence, says "What we are looking at here is social change. It is going to take ongoing and deliberate education to individuals and organizations saying that domestic violence is unacceptable. We need to hold the perpetrators of this violence accountable and have them face repercussions for this behavior."

Lauby says because of the startling murder rate, changes in state law and overcrowded shelters, many victims of domestic violence are now moving out of Massachusetts.

"There are thousands of victims who are leaving because they can't get services here," she says. "Shelters are full. Local programs are unable to serve all of the people coming to them for help."

In terms of which perpetrators are most likely to continue the violence, Lauby says, "We know about what to look for at this point. There is research now that is very reliable around who is most likely to be a perpetrator of domestic homicide among the wide and varied pool of batterers. That is fairly new. That's within the last 5 years. We spent 30 years trying to figure it out."

In June, Gov. Deval Patrick announced the filing of an executive order re-establishing the Governor's Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.

When informed of the murder rate, Patrick recently said: "The rise in domestic violence-related deaths across the Commonwealth is deeply troubling. I have taken proactive steps in my administration to develop far-reaching and long-term solutions."

At the signing, Patrick also appointed Sheridan Haines to lead the Council and said: "I have seen first-hand, at different times in my life, the ways that violence, abuse and crime can destabilize the lives of individuals, families and communities. It is vital that victims of sexual and domestic violence receive the protection and care they need."

Two weeks ago, Haines announced that the state has launched a new 5-year training program to give veteran police officers additional instruction in the areas of domestic and sexual violence. Here in Worcester, Sneesby says that while the number of domestic assaults is high, there is an active community working hard to end the violence.

"The Worcester Police Department has been extremely proactive around domestic violence issues. It's very difficult because everyone is doing a lot already. It just says that we all have to continue the work and we can't slack off," Sneesby says.

Daybreak's Navickas adds, "One of the things that we in this community have recognized is that it is going to take a coordinated community effort to be able to respond appropriately and [in a] timely [manner] to the needs of victims."

On Tuesday, in keeping with his promise to participate and support local domestic violence advocacy and treatment groups, Worcester County Sheriff Guy Glodis hosted the Worcester Intervention Network's Domestic Violence Roundtable at the Worcester County House of Correction.

"We must do everything in our power not only to treat offenders while they're in prison, but equally as important to give victims all the support they need," Sheriff Glodis stated. "This roundtable gives a voice to those victims, doing whatever is necessary to prevent future crimes from occurring."

The Domestic Violence Roundtable is led by Daybreak's Navickas. It brings together members from the Department of Social Services, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office, the Probate Court, the Worcester Intervention Network, the Worcester Rape Crisis Center, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the city of Worcester's Office of Human Rights, the Spectrum/PAVE Program, the New Hope Program, the Legal Assistance Corporation, Community Healthlink and more.

"By having this network, we are currently developing policies and protocols that will help [people] recognize, respond and refer [victims] to services. That's our response to the crisis that continues," Navickas says.

The Sheriff's Department currently offers six one-hour domestic violence counseling classes per week. In order for inmates to receive credit for completion, they must attend all 40 classes. Glodis will also join the Domestic Violence Roundtable in sponsoring domestic violence awareness events during the Week Without Violence, Oct. 29-Nov. 2.

"Spousal abuse, harassment, intimidation and domestic violence are a plague upon the citizens of Worcester County, and a strategic plan to address these problems will be aggressively pursued by this administration," Glodis says. "Joined by Roundtable members equally as committed to this cause, I am truly optimistic that our partnership will produce very positive results." o