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>> I WANT TO THE ASK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE JOINED US IF YOU
LISTENED TO THE CONVERSATION IF ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR
STRUCK YOU? >> OBVIOUSLY FROM DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE AND HOW THEY GO HAND IN HAND, IS A
HUGE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND WE RESPOND TO SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 1400 AND 2,000 EVENTS EACH AND EVERYDAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, TOO MANY OF THOSE EVENTS INVOLVE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE. >> I WANT TO PICK UP SOMETHING
AMBER SAID AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD HER TALKING ABOUT
THIS, BUT SHE CALLED THE POLICE NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT
WAS ONLY THE LAST TIME WHEN DETECTIVES CAME OUT THAT THEY
ASKED ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN. IT SEEMS LIKE THAT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN ASKED EARLIER AND I THINK TELL ME IF I AM WRONG, THERE
IS NOW A PROTOCOL IN APD THAT REGARDLESS OF THE EVENT YOU'RE
GOING OUT TO, OFFICERS NOW ASK?
>> YES. >> DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN AT
HOME? >> WE STARTED THAT ABOUT TWO
YEARS AGO. OFFICERS NOW ARE SUPPOSED TO
MAKE THAT INQUIRY. IS THERE A CHILD OR CHILDREN
THAT MAY NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF?
>> SOME JURISDICTIONS HAVE PUT IN PLACE A REQUIREMENT WHEN
OFFICERS GO OUT TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL THAT SOME ACTION
IS TAKEN. EVEN IF THE VICTIM DECIDES
THAT, NO, I DON'T WANT TO FILE A RESTRAINING ORDER.
>> YES. AND, THAT, FOR US, STARTS WITH
A POLICE REPORT. AN OFFICER DOES NOT HAVE AN
OPTION TO NOT TAKE A POLICE REPORT.
IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WRITE A POLICE REPORT, THEY HAVE TO
CONTACT AN ON-DUTY SUPERVISOR, EXPLAIN TO THE SUPERVISOR WHY
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WRITE A REPORT.
>> YOU WORK WITH THE UNITED WAY AND TO BRING THE FAMILY
ADVOCACY CENTER MODEL INTO PLACE, CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT
THAT AND WHAT IMPACT IT HAS HAD.
>> WHAT IT DOES DO IS HELP STREAMLINE THAT WHOLE PROCESS.
OF COURSE, IT IS NOT JUST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILD
ABUSE, CHILD EXPLOITATION. >> ALL FAMILY VIOLENCE.
>> ALL FAMILY VIOLENCE. AND, AS WE TALKED, WE DID
TALKED ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE, BUT NOW WE
HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM AS WELL, WHAT
ARE SOME OF THE SPINOFFS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
ELDER ABUSE AND ANIMAL ABUSE. AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS BEING
ASKED TO NOW EXPAND OUR ROLES. >> THOSE ARE INDICATORS OF
DOMESTIC ABUSE OR THEY ARE ALSO --
>> BOTH WAYS. SOMETIMES THAT ANIMAL ABUSE
MAY BE AN INDICATOR OF A NON-REPORTED, ONGOING DOMESTIC
SITUATION. OR DOMESTIC ABUSE AND OF
COURSE, SENIOR, SAME THING. >> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE
LIKE AMBER OR FLORA COMES TO THE FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER.
>> THERE IS A COUPLE OF WAYS WE SEE AMBER.
WE MAY HAVE GONE ON SCENE TO THE HOUSE IF SHE HAD BEEN
THERE, BUT BECAUSE SHE WAS GOING TO THE HOSPITAL, MOST
LIKELY WE WOULD RESPOND WITH AN ADVOCATE TO THE HOSPITAL
AND START THE PROCESS THERE AND TALKING WITH HER THERE.
SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET THOSE CALLS.
AND SO YOU WOULD JUST WALK INTO THE FAMILY ADVOCACY
CENTER AND WE SEE A LITTLE OVER 3,000 WALK-INS EVERY
YEAR. IT IS ALL VERY INDIVIDUALIZED
FOR EACH VICTIM. OUR ADVOCATES CAN SIT THERE
AND HELP A VICTIM GO THROUGH THE PAPERWORK OF A RESTRAINING
ORDER. WE CAN WALK DOWN OUR HALLWAY
TO A CLERK FROM THE DISTRICT COURT.
THEY CAN HELP THE VICTIM FINISH FILLING OUT AND
NOTARIZE THE PAPERWORK AND WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A
RESTRAINING ORDER IN THE HAND OF THE VICTIM BEFORE SHE IS
EVER OUTSIDE THAT BUILDING. WE ALSO HAVE ON SITE SANE AND
LOS NINOS. >> SANE; *** ASSAULT NURSE
EXAMINERS. >> NEVER HAVE TO SEND THE
VICTIM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE THEY SOMETIMES GET STUCK
IN THE BACK OF THE WAITING LINE AND THEY COLLECT THE
FORENSIC EVIDENCE, STORE IT ON SITE, KEEP IT UP TO TWO YEARS
SO WE CAN SHARE IT WITH DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE.
WHEN WE GET THE RESTRAINING ORDERS BACK, IF THE
PERPETRATOR HAS BEEN APPREHENDED, OUR ADVOCATES CAN
ACTUALLY GO OUT AND SERVE THE RESTRAINING ORDER IS IN
EFFECT. >> IF THE KIDS HAVEN'T BEEN
NECESSARILY INJURED, BUT THEIR MOM, LIKE AMBER, NEEDS HELP,
THEY CAN BRING THEM TO THE FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER VERSUS
THE HOSPITAL; POLICE STATION? >> YES, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL
PLAY ROOM FOR THEM WHEN THEY ARE UPSTAIRS AND WE HAVE A
KIND OF AN INTERVENTION AND CRISIS MODE WHICH IS KIND OF
THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER AND THAT IS
WHEN DEALING WITH THE IMMEDIATE TRAUMA; THE
INTERVENTION AND THAT TYPE OF THING, AND THEN ON THE FIRST
FLOOR, WE HAVE TRAUMA THERAPISTS.
AND SO WE'LL TALK TO AMBER AND WE'LL DO CASE MANAGEMENT AND
DO YOU NEED ANY FINANCIAL RESOURCES?
WHAT ABOUT HOUSING? CLOTHING?
WE MAY EVOLVE IT INTO LOOKING FOR A JOB, HELPING WRITE A
RESUME AND BRINGING THE KIDS IN.
WE DO THERAPY WITH THREE DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS OF
CHILDREN THAT THEY CAN DO GROUP THERAPY.
WE DO INDIVIDUAL THERAPY WITH THE KIDDOS TOO.
>> BEFORE THERE WAS A FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER, THE CHOICE
FOR THE MOTHER, ASSUME THE MOTHER WAS THE VICTIM, IS YOU
CAN WAKE UP YOUR KIDS AND NOW YOU CAN GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR
TO THE MAIN POLICE STATION. WELL, THAT IS NOT A VERY
POPULAR CHOICE AND THE PERPETRATOR COULD BE RIGHT
THERE ALREADY WORKING HER, SAYING, I AM SORRY, IT WAS
JUST A MISTAKE, IT IS NO BIG DEAL, BECAUSE I WAS DRUNK, YOU
KNOW, WHATEVER. SO, THIS IS A VICTIM'S ONLY
SITE AND SO THIS IS THE PERPETRATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED
HERE. >> WHAT EFFECT HAS THAT HAD ON
THE PROSECUTION OR THE FOLLOW-THROUGH?
>> PEOPLE THAT ARE INVESTED IN THE SYSTEM THAT HAVE FAITH IN
THE SYSTEM ARE MORE LIKELY, BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT
SUPPORT, TO WANT TO HOLD THEIR OFFENDER ACCOUNTABLE AND WE
KEEP THEM IN THE SYSTEM AND WE KEEP THEM COOPERATIVE WITH THE
PROSECUTION. AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IN A LOT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, ESPECIALLY
MISDEMEANOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE A
SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE COOPERATION OF
THE VICTIM. >> HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN?
>> ABOUT 85% OF THE TIME. >> 85%.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT 85%, IT IS ASTONISHING, THE DISMISSAL
RATE IN METRO COURT ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES,
MISDEMEANOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, BECAUSE THE VICTIM
MOVES, WE CAN'T CONTACT THEM, THEY ARE UNCOOPERATIVE, THEY
WON'T GIVE A PRETRIAL STATEMENT, WHICH MAKES THEIR
TESTIMONY SUPPRESSIBLE BY A JUDGE, OR THEY RECANT AND SAY,
I LIED IT DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN.
AND YOU CAN'T WIN A CASE WITH THAT.
IN A FELONY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION, BECAUSE WE HAVE
MEDICAL REPORTS AND SOMETIMES PHYSICAL INJURIES THAT ARE
VERY VISIBLE IN PHOTOGRAPHS, EVEN WITHOUT A VICTIM'S
COOPERATION, WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GOING FORWARD AND
OUR CONVICTION RATE IS ABOUT 85%, SO IT IS JUST ABOUT THE
OPPOSITE. >> HAS THIS MODEL HELPED MAKE
THE FIGURES BETTER? >> WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO
TRACK BECAUSE OUR NUMBERS ARE ALWAYS GOING UP AND DOWN SO IT
IS REALLY HARD TO SAY IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS THAT WE HAVE
THIS RESULT. GOVERNOR RICHARDSON GAVE US
MONEY TO DO A PILOT PROJECT YEARS BACK AND HE GAVE US
ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATORS AND VICTIM ADVOCATES AND WE FOUND
WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THE DISMISSAL RATE BY HALF.
>> THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS ARE INCREASING.
WE NEED TO DO A LOT OF PUBLIC AWARENESS TO GET MORE VICTIMS
TO COME IN AND SEEK SERVICES, BUT, YET, THE FUNDING IS
DECREASING, AND SO IT BECOMES DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO GIVE
ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO.
>> WHERE ARE THE DECREASES COMING FROM; THE COUNTY LEVEL
OR STATE LEVEL? >> MOSTLY FROM THE STATE AND
FEDERAL LEVEL AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS ARE NOT GIVING AS
MUCH. >> ROSEMARY, CAN I ASK ABOUT
YOUR ROLE IN THIS. >> ORDER OF PROTECTION PROCESS
IS INITIATED BY THE VICTIM. IT IS A CIVIL PROCESS THAT
ALLOWS THE VICTIM TO COME TO COURT AND SAY, I NEED AN ORDER
OF PROTECTION AGAINST THIS PERSON.
I HAVE BEEN ABUSED, AS DEFINED UNDER THE STATUTE.
AND IF THERE IS A PROBABLE CAUSE TO FIND THERE HAS BEEN
AN ACT OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, A TEMPORARY ORDER OF PROTECTION
IS ISSUED. MY ROLE IS TO REVIEW
PETITIONS, AND THEY MAY COME FROM PEOPLE COMING TO THE
COURTHOUSE OR COME FROM FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER AND THEN IF
THERE IS A TEMPORARY ORDER, A HEARING IS SET.
AND SO EVERYDAY, WE HAVE BETWEEN 25 AND 30 HEARINGS SET
ACROSS FOR THE THREE COMMISSIONERS, ON PEOPLE
COMING IN FOR ORDERS OF PROTECTION OR COMING IN FOR
OTHER THINGS UNDER THE FAMILY VIOLENCE PROTECTION ACT.
>> ARE YOU SEEING MORE? >> THERE IS A DECREASE, BUT
THEY CHANGED DEFINITION OF WHO COULD FILE AND THAT WAS ONLY
YEAR WE HAVE EVER SEEN A DECREASE.
EVERY OTHER YEAR WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN FILINGS.
>> WHEN WE DECIDED TO DO THIS WORK, WHAT WE KNEW WAS THAT
85% OF VICTIMS NEVER SEEK SERVICES.
OF THE 15% THAT DID SEEK SERVICES, THE AVERAGE LENGTH
OF TIME FROM ONSET OF VIOLENCE TO WHEN THEY SOUGHT SERVICES
WAS 12-AND-A-HALF YEARS. SO, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN
IMPACT, WE HAVE TO REACH FURTHER INTO THE 85% AND
SHORTEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES FOR THEM TO, FROM THE
ONSET OF THE VIOLENCE TO THE TIME THEY SEEK HELP.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE THE SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM
BETTER. WE ALSO KNEW THAT A VICTIM WHO
SUCCESSFULLY GOT OUT OF A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION,
USED 25 TO 32 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
PUTTING 12 OF THEM UNDER ONE ROOF IS A GOOD START BUT IT
ISN'T THE WHOLE ANSWER. >> WHEN YOU GO SEEK ORDERS OF
PROTECTION, ARE YOU IN A POSITION THEY COME TO YOU AND
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROCESS AS YOU'RE HELPING GO THROUGH
IT, THEY ARE LIKE, WELL, MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.
>> IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. JUST AFTER THE FILING OF THE
PETITION, 25% OF THE PEOPLE WILL DROP OUT OF THE PROCESS
THERE. WHERE WE FIND OUR VICTIMS DROP
OUT A LOT IS THEY ARE AFRAID TO GO TO COURT BECAUSE, A,
THEY DON'T KNOW THE SYSTEM AND PROCESS, BUT, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE GOING TO SEE
THEIR OFFENDER SINCE THE INCIDENT.
>> OH. >> AND THE OTHER PIECE OF IT
IS, YOU GET THE DISTRICT COURT TO ALLOW VICTIMS TO TESTIFY
FROM THE FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER IN AN OFF-SITE SETTING,
WHY CAN'T -- >> VIDEO.
>> YOU KNOW, THE PERPETRATOR CAN STILL SEE THEM BUT THEY
ARE NOT IN THE SAME ROOM. >> WHEN THEY ARE GOING THROUGH
THE PROCESS, WHAT HAPPENS WITH KIDS?
>> NEW MEXICO STATUTE ALLOWS THE COURT TO TAKE JURISDICTION
OVER CHILD CUSTODY ISSUES AND THAT IS ACTUALLY UNUSUAL.
THERE IS MANY STATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT
ISSUE ORDER OF PROTECTION BUT NOT ADDRESS CHILD CUSTODY AT
ALL. YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS CUSTODY
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE A FATHER OR A PARENT, A MOTHER,
BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE CHILDREN FROM THE OTHER PARENT
BECAUSE ONCE YOU DID THAT, THE SCARIEST THING YOU CAN SAY TO
ANY PARENT IS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE YOUR CHILD AGAIN.
I AM GOING TO HURT YOUR CHILD IF YOU DON'T COME BACK.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF RESEARCH NATIONALLY TO
LOOK AT NEWS TO SEE THAT THERE ARE CHILDREN MURDERED, IF NOT
DAILY, WEEKLY, BY ONE OF THEIR PARENTS.
AND YOU LOOK DEEPER INTO THE NEWS STORY, IT IS BECAUSE MOM
WAS TRYING TO LEAVE, OR THERE WAS AN ORDER OF PROTECTION OR
DAD JUST FILED FOR DIVORCE, AND THESE KINDS OF SITUATIONS
TRIGGER THE WORST IN PARENTS BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING YOU
CAN DO WORSE TO A PARENT THAN TO KILL THEIR CHILD.
BECAUSE IF YOU WERE TO KILL ME, THAT WOULD BE A BAD THING
FOR ME. IF YOU WERE TO KILL MY CHILD,
YOU WOULD KILL ME EVERYDAY OF THE REST OF MY LIFE.
>> AS A MOTHER AND AS AN IMMIGRANT, I WAS AFRAID.
THINKING THAT I AM NEVER GOING TO SEE MY CHILDREN AGAIN.
>> WHICH IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT.
>> BECAUSE I AM HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
I DON'T ASK HELP TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOTHING.
EVEN I DON'T HAVE PAPERS, THAT IS MY SITUATION.
>> WHICH IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ADDRESS
ISSUES OF CHILD CUSTODY. ONE OF THE EDUCATIONAL THINGS
WE DO FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, IS THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND HOW DAMAGING IT IS TO THE CHILDREN.
I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE KIDS
AWAY FROM HIM. THE KIDS MISS HIM, THE KIDS
NEED TO SEE HIM. >> ONE OF THE PIECES WE ARE
MISSING HERE THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IS WHAT THAT
ABUSE DOES TO THE MOTHER OVER TIME.
BECAUSE, PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW, WHY DID SHE GO BACK AND FIRST
OF ALL, I JUST THINK IT IS UNIVERSALLY TRUE THAT WHAT YOU
KNOW IS ALWAYS GOING TO FEEL SAFER IN YOUR MIND AND THAN
WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW. OKAY?
SO, AS A KID GROWING UP IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, I LIED TO
THE COPS WHEN THEY CAME TO MY HOUSE.
I MADE THEM COFFEE, I NEVER WANTED THEM TO LEAVE, BUT I
LIED THROUGH MY TEETH AND WOULD CONTINUE TO LIE THROUGH
MY TEETH BECAUSE NOBODY WAS GOING TO TAKE FIVE OF US.
PERIOD. IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
MY FATHER WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO MADE AN INCOME.
FOR HIM TO LEAVE, THAT LEFT US FIVE PEOPLE AND MY MOTHER WITH
NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
SO, THE DYNAMIC IS ONE THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO APPRECIATE
THAT FOR THE VICTIM, THEY HAVE BEEN BEATEN PHYSICALLY,
EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, HOWEVER, ALL OF THE ABOVE,
INTO BELIEVING THAT THEY DESERVE THIS.
OKAY? THIS IS LIKE WATCHING, IF YOU
HAVE EVER SEEN A DOG THAT HAS BEEN KICKED AND KICKED AND
KICKED AGAIN, THEY COWER WHEN ANYBODY COMES BY.
THAT IS THE FEELING THAT MY MOTHER HAD AND MANY OTHER
VICTIMS HAD. THAT YOU'RE NOT -- IF YOU JUST
DIDN'T BURN THE DINNER; IF YOU JUST DIDN'T RAISE YOUR VOICE;
IF YOU JUST; IF YOU JUST; IF YOU JUST.
AND THE MOTHER IS THINKING THAT AND SO ARE ALL THE KIDS.
EVERYBODY IS WAITING FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO FALL.
IT IS AN EXPERIENCE UNLIKE IF YOU'RE AFRAID IN YOUR OWN HOME
OF BREATHING. >> SEEMS TO ME THE PREVENTION
OF THIS COULD BEGIN EARLIER WITH KIDS IN SCHOOL.
>> IF THERE IS ANYBODY WHO IS A PARENT WHO IS NOT LIVING IN
THAT CIRCUMSTANCE, IF YOU THINK YOUR KIDS ARE NOT
AFFECTED BAY THOSE CIRCUMSTANCE, THEY GO TO
SCHOOL WITH KIDS THAT ARE IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.
YOUR KIDS ARE DEALING WITH IT. WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? >> THERE IS A MIDDLE SCHOOL
AND FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, I GO AND TALK TO THE GIRLS
ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND LAST YEAR, I WAS
APPROACHED BY THE TEACHER WHO RUNS IT AND SHE SAID, HOW
ABOUT WE BRING THE BOYS IN? I NEVER THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE USUALLY IN MY TALKS, I AM NOT TOO NICE ABOUT SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT THE BOYS DO AND SO, WE BROUGHT THE BOYS IN
AND AFTER THE CLASS, ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, I GET LETTERS.
SHE HAS THE CHILDREN WRITE LETTERS TO ME AND THESE BOYS,
I REALIZED THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THE THINGS THAT THEY
WERE DOING WERE ABUSE OR THAT THEIR FATHERS WERE DOING WAS
ABUSE. LIKE ONE BOY WAS LIKE, I DID
NOT KNOW THAT IF YOU PUSH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER, THAT IS
CONSIDERED ABUSE. YOU KNOW.
LIKE I WOULD TELL THEM, A PUSH, ONE PUSH THAT I ACTUALLY
GOT, I FELL OVER AND HIT MY HEAD ON A STATUE AND I HAD A
GRAPEFRUIT SIZE KNOT AND THE DOCTOR SAID, YOU COULD HAVE
DIED. A LITTLE BIT OVER MORE, YOU
COULD BE DEAD, SO THAT IS HOW A PUSH CAN BECOME SOMETHING SO
HORRIBLE. SO, IT IS LITTLE THINGS LIKE
THAT, THEY THINK, I THINK WITH THE YOUNG GIRLS TOO, WE KIND
OF ARE RAISED WITH, IF A BOY IS MEAN TO YOU, THAT MEANS HE
LIKES YOU. NO.
I AM A BIG ENFORCER FOR THAT. NO, IF HE LIKES YOU, HE BRINGS
YOU FLOWERS. HE DOESN'T PUSH YOU AND CHASE
YOU AND CALL YOU HORRIBLE NAMES.
IF WE GET TO THEM WHILE THEY ARE YOUNGER, BECAUSE IF
SOMEONE WOULD HAVE COME TO ME RIGHT BEFORE I MET HIM AT 14
AND SAID, THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER IS ABUSE, AND WHEN HE
DID, I WOULD HAVE SAID, "OH, WOW, MAYBE THIS IS ABUSE.
I BETTER CALL MY MOM OR GIRLFRIENDS OR SOMEBODY."
I DIDN'T KNOW. WE NEED TO TEACH THEM YOUNG
THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR TO ACCEPT OR TO DO AT
ALL. >> THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE
PEOPLE LIKE YOU GOING INTO THE SCHOOLS AND DOING THAT KIND OF
TALKING BECAUSE YOU'RE SPEAKING FROM YOUR HEART AND
THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE THAT.
>> SOME OF THESE GIRLS ARE LIKE, BECAUSE OF YOU, I WILL
NEVER LET A MAN DISRESPECT ME AND THE BOYS, BECAUSE OF YOU,
I WILL NEVER HIT A WOMAN. PEOPLE DON'T SEE THE PAIN OF
IT. SOMETIMES THEY LOOK AT VICTIMS
LIKE, WELL, YOU STAYED, YOU PUT UP WITH IT.
YOU GET THAT LOOK, LIKE, WELL, WHATEVER.
YOU KNOW. BUT I WOULD PLAY THE 911
CALLS. I SHOW THE PHOTOS.
IN A WAY, I KNOW IT TRAUMATIZES THEM BUT IT IS
ALSO SHOWING THEM, YOU DON'T WANT THAT AND YOU DON'T WANT
TO DO THAT TO SOMEBODY, BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT HE DID
TO ME, THE SCARS HAVE ALL HEALED BUT, INTERNALLY, LIKE I
HURT. AND I AM SCARED OF LOUD NOISES
AND TALL MEN AND THERE IS SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS
I HAVE TO LIVE WITH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE BECAUSE I
CHOSE TO STAY. SO, I LIKE TO TALK TO THE
YOUNG ONES BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN YOU START GETTING IN A
RELATIONSHIP IN YOUR TEENAGE YEARS AND YOU STICK THROUGH IT
BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER.
>> THAT IS GREAT. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER
THINGS WE CAN DO TO CURTAIL HIGH RATES OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE HERE? >> RAISE SELF-ESTEEM OF
TEENAGE GIRLS THAT A BAD BOYFRIEND IS, IN FACT, NOT
BETTER THAN NO BOY FRIEND AT ALL.
THAT BEING IN A RELATIONSHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT IN YOUR TEEN
YEARS BUT TEACHING BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS WHAT A RELATIONSHIP
LOOKS LIKE. SO IF YOU CAN RAISE
SELF-ESTEEM OF TEENAGE GIRLS, YOU CAN DO A WHOLE LOT AND THE
FIRST TIME IT HAPPENS IS THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENS.
>> WHAT ABOUT OTHER INDICATORS, CHIEF, I WAS GOING
TO ASK YOU THAT MIGHT POINT TOWARDS A DOMESTIC VIOLENT
SITUATION. >> WE HAVE A NEW TOOL THAT IS
GOING TO BE A MAJOR GAME CHANGER WHEN IT COMES TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INVESTIGATIONS.
WE OPENED UP A REALTIME CRIME CENTER ON FEBRUARY 1 OF THIS
YEAR AND ORIGINALLY IT WAS TO HELP PROVIDE OFFICERS WITH
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CALLS THEY ARE GOING TO, TO
HELP HAVE A BETTER OUTCOME. ONE CALL THAT IS VERY CLEARLY
RISING TO THE TOP AND HAVING MORE IMPACT AND WE'RE ABLE TO
PROVIDE FOR IMPACT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THERE IS A TEAM OF ANALYSTS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES THAT
ARE RESEARCHING INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOCATION, ABOUT THE
PEOPLE THEY ARE GOING TO AND ESPECIALLY IN DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MAY HAVE HAPPENED AT
THAT PROPERTY, THAT LOCATION OR MAY HAVE HAPPENED SOMEWHERE
ELSE. NOW OFFICERS ARE KNOWING THAT
WE HAVE ALREADY DEALT WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL, THIS ABUSER,
TWO OR THREE OR FOUR TIMES. THEY CAN'T BAMBOOZLE US
BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY GOOD AT, NOTHING GOING ON HERE,
OFFICER. >> WHEN THEY ARE DISPATCHED TO
ANSWER A CALL, THIS CENTER CAN SAY, OKAY, THIS IS THE RECORDS
WE HAVE GOT, YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WALKING IN.
>> ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OR BERNALILLO COUNTY HAS BEEN OUT
WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL THREE TIMES BEFORE, ARRESTED TWO
TIMES BEFORE FOR BATTERY ON A HOUSEHOLD MEMBER.
HE FIGHTS, HE LIKES TO DRINK, HE HAS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
EVERYDAY I GET A REPORT ON THE CALLS WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO
PROVIDE MORE INTERVENTION. DOMESTIC EVERYDAY IS NO. 1
CALL. AND NOW WE'RE ALSO DOING
ADDITIONAL THINGS WITH MAPPING OVERLAYS WHERE ALL THE ORDERS
OF PROTECTION ARE, WHERE ALL THE RESTRAINING ORDERS ARE SO
OFFICERS KNOW IN ADVANCE THERE IS ONE AT THE LOCATION OR
MAYBE THERE IS ONE ACROSS THE STREET.
SO, A PERFECT EXAMPLE WHERE IT HAS A BIG IMPACT,
YOU GET A CALL SOMEONE HEARS SOMEONE SCREAMING.
THE PERSON WHO CALLS IT IN DOESN'T WANT ANY CONTACTS.
PRIOR TO THE REALTIME CRIME CENTER, OFFICER WOULD DRIVE
THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IF THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING
SUSPICIOUS, DON'T HEAR ANYTHING, THEY GO BACK INTO
SERVICE. NOW, IF THERE IS AN ACTIVE
RESTRAINING ORDER, OR ORDERS OF PROTECTION IN THAT AREA,
WE'RE GOING TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR TO MAKE SURE THAT PERSON
IS OKAY. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
THAT AMBER? >> WHEN I SAID THAT I HAD
CALLED SO MANY TIMES THAT WAS NO DISRESPECT TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. BECAUSE WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL THEM,
PERPETRATOR, THEY ARE VERY CLEVER AND THEY KNOW THE
SYSTEM. SO HE KNEW THAT THE SAME COP
THAT CAME IN THE MORNING WOULD NOT BE THE SAME COP THAT CAME
AT NIGHT. HE WOULD TAKE ME TO DIFFERENT
HOSPITALS IN RIO RANCHO, BERNALILLO, ALL OVER, BECAUSE
HE KNEW IF I KEPT GOING IN THE SAME PLACE, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD
SEND AN ALERT. WHEN HE HIT ME THE FIRST TIME,
I DID CALL THE POLICE. IT WAS THE NEXT DAY.
I WENT HOME AND CALLED POLICE, AND THEY CAME OUT TOOK A
STATEMENT, FILLED OUT THE APPLICATION, THEY WENT AND
ACTUALLY ARRESTED HIM BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF BRUISING AND
CUTS. HE WAS ARRESTED AND TWO DAYS
LATER HE KNOCKED DOWN MY DOOR AND THE SWAT TEAM HAD TO BE
CALLED. AS A VICTIM I THOUGHT I
REPORTED IT AND HE ONLY WENT AWAY FOR A DAY OR TWO AND
THERE WAS NOBODY TO PROTECT ME.
I MEAN, ONE TIME HE WAS LITERALLY BEHIND THE DOOR WITH
A KNIFE, LIKE, IF YOU TELL THEM I AM HERE, YOU'RE DONE.
LIKE I'LL DO IT IN FRONT OF THEM.
I DON'T CARE. SO, OF COURSE, OH, I SAW A
MOUSE. I LITERALLY SAID THAT I SAW A
MOUSE THAT IS WHY I WAS SCREAMING, BECAUSE THE
NEIGHBORS SAID, A GIRL IS SCREAMING RUNNING AROUND HER
YARD. WELL, HE WAS CHASING ME WITH A
KNIFE. THAT IS GOING TO REALLY HELP,
BECAUSE SOMETIMES IF YOU TAKE THAT CHOICE AWAY FROM US THAT
YOU ARE GOING TO COME IN AND CHECK, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW
MUCH WE WANT YOU TO. YOU KNOW.
WE REALLY DO, BUT IF WE SAY IT, THEN WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT
LATER WHEN HE COMES HOME, SO I AM SO EXCITED FOR THAT.
>> MORE THAN JUST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE'RE ALSO CAPTURING 911 HANG-UP CALLS BECAUSE SO MANY
TIMES THAT IS AN INDICATOR. SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE DOING A
LOT MORE WORK WHEN IT COMES TO LETHALITY ASSESSMENTS AND
FOLLOWING FOLKS THAT WE IDENTIFY THAT HAVE A HIGH
PROPENSITY FOR VIOLENCE THAT ARE TURNED INTO THE AGGRESSIVE
ACTIVE STALKER AGAINST VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND MAKING ARRESTS. >> I ALSO WORRY ABOUT
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC SO WE CAN GET JURIES THAT CARE.
WE HAVE LOTS OF JURIES THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, AFTER THEY
ACQUIT OR HANG ON SOMETHING, ON A CASE THAT WE CONSIDER A
SLAM DUNK, THEY'LL SAY, WHY DID YOU WASTE OUR MONEY IN
PROSECUTING THIS CASE? IF THAT WOMAN WANTS TO GET
BEAT UP, IT IS HER PROBLEM. WHY SPEND OUR TAX DOLLARS --
>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT? >> WE TRIED TO EXPLAIN THE
IMPACT ON CHILDREN, THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND WHETHER
IT IS HAPPENING TO US OR NOT, WE'RE ALL PAYING THE PRICE FOR
IT. IT ERODES ALL OF OUR QUALITY
OF LIFE. >> IF WE HAD A MAGIC WANT AND
UNLIMITED RESOURCES, WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW.
>> I WOULD INVEST EVERY PENNY AVAILABLE IN CAMPAIGNS TO
EDUCATE A COMMUNITY ABOUT THE VALUE OF WOMEN AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IS NOT OKAY. THAT IT AFFECTS EVERY MEMBER
OF THE COMMUNITY. I WOULD JUST INVADE EVERY
BILLBOARD, EVERY RADIO STATION, EVERY TV CHANNEL.
>> LIKE SMOKING AND DWI? >> EXACTLY, LIKE SMOKING AND
DWI, UNTIL EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES THAT WE NEED TO
CHANGE. >> I THINK THAT IS CLEAR THAT
YOU CAN START GOING IN AND ASSESSING CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS
CAN BE. YOU HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE
WOMEN SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO GO PICK UP OUR CHILD
FROM DAY CARE, OUR CHILD HAD BEEN THROWN OUT OF DAY CARE
FOR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. WHEN I GOT HOME, THERE WAS AN
INCIDENT AND HE BEAT ME. I SAID, DO YOU SEE HOW THOSE
THINGS INTERACT, THAT YOUR CHILD IS REPLICATING IN
PRESCHOOL WHAT SHE IS SEEING AT HOME.
WHICH IS THAT IF YOU'RE BIGGER AND STRONGER THAN SOMEBODY
ELSE AND YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY DO, YOU GET TO HIT THEM.
YOU CAN ASSESS THE CHILDREN AND THEN PROVIDE SERVICES
THROUGH THE SCHOOLS, THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY, AND HAND IN
HAND WITH THE CAMPAIGN, BUT CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPOSED TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHETHER GIRLS OR BOY, IT AFFECTS THEM.
IT IS HARD TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE CAPITAL OF NORTH DAKOTA IS
IF YOU'RE NOT SURE YOUR MOM IS SAFE AT HOME.
>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND TALKING ABOUT THIS,
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.