LEAH THORSEN / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Sunday, October 31, 2004 6:00 pm
A record number of domestic violence victims sought help from the Lincoln Police Department's Victim Witness Unit last year, a statistic likely related to the record number of protection orders judges granted.
More protection orders being granted means more victims realize they have options to get help, said Bob Moyer, executive director of the Family Violence Council.
Both records were part of the council's 2003 annual report analyzing domestic violence in Lancaster County, released last week.
In 2003, judges granted a record 673 of 1,096 requests. The record for protection order requests was set the previous year, with 1,121.
The report also noted a record 235 arrests on suspicion of violating protection orders, which makes sense because more of these orders have been granted in recent years, according to the report.
Judges must approve requests for protection orders.
The council tracks domestic violence cases through the criminal justice system and keeps track of requests for protection orders.
Data in this report does not include child abuse cases, violence between siblings or violence between parents and children.
Police investigations of domestic violence allegations dropped slightly from 1,699 in 2002 to 1,626 in 2003.
Despite the drop, the police victim/witness unit had 847 contacts, compared with 726 the year before and 804 in 2001.
Police officers counsel crime victims, help them find emergency shelters and go with them to court, among other things, Police Chief Tom Casady said.
They also help them get protection orders against those they fear.
"We're helping someone apply for protection order, we're accompanying a victim to a hearing," Casady said.
One problem police continue to face is helping victims who do not speak English.
Police said they have started the process of hiring a part-time Spanish bilingual victims' advocate. They also plan to hire a full-time bilingual advocate to work in investigations.
Moyer said he was pleased about the police department's plans and also applauded another statistic: The number of people participating in batterer intervention programs hit a record high, 178.
He wants that stat to climb.
"I don't think a fine does much of anything at all," he said about punishments for abusers.
Among the other findings included in the 58-page report:
* For the second year in a row, the city's most domestic violence incidents took place in the area bordered by Ninth and 17th streets, A and K streets.
* More domestic violence incidents took place between 1 and 2 a.m. than any other hour.
The busiest hour for these incidents in 2002 was between 10 and 11 p.m. The year before, it was between 5 and 6 p.m.
* More incidents took place on Saturday than any other day.
Reach Leah Thorsen at 473-7246 or lthorsen@journalstar.com.