When an act of domestic violence makes the news, sometimes it seems like nothing could have been done to stop it. What good does legislation that punishes the offender after the fact do to prevent the crime altogether, we might ask ourselves.
But the small — and not so small — steps that lead to domestic violence are worth examining so that women who are or might be victims of the crime have a chance to save their lives and rebuild them. At least partly in response to the killing of Crystal Brame by her husband, Tacoma Police Chief David Brame, some good bills made it out of the recent legislative session and were signed into law Monday by Gov. Gary Locke.
The most prominent bill was Senate Bill 6161, which requires law enforcement agencies in this state to develop a plan for dealing with domestic violence when it involves one of their own. The Washington State Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs must develop a state model by the end of the year. The other police agencies must have theirs in place by June 1, 2005. The policies will include staff training on reporting incidents and how to investigate officer-involved incidents.
The bill should not be seen as an attack on law enforcement, but as another tool to protect people from becoming victims of this crime. Such policies, as long as they are clear and enforced, should increase public trust in law enforcement and even help restore it in some cases. Another bill prohibits officers from bringing weapons into a courthouse if they’re there for a civil or criminal action of domestic violence or harassment involving themselves. That seems fairly clear and obvious.
The final bills don’t involve law enforcement but they’re important, too. House Bill 1645 helps victims terminate rental agreements without paying more rent. The bill included input from various groups impacted by it and it makes sense since victims often have to move quickly and hide from their abusers. Saddling them with more fees for breaking a lease early might discourage many low-income women from leaving an abusive situation. Another bill required offenders to pay a $100 penalty. The money will go toward paying for desperately needed domestic violence programs.
The efforts to end domestic violence can seem so daunting because of the fear and family ties involved. While these bills will not prevent every awful act, they send strong messages to the offenders and the victims that domestic violence isn’t ignored in this state, even if the offender is a police officer — or a police chief.
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