Recently the Westminster Police Department received a statewide recognition from the Maryland Networks Against Domestic Violence.
The “2009 Lethality Assessment Award” was presented to Chief Jeff Spaulding and Lieutenant Misty Budzinski on October 23 at a ceremony in which Governor Martin O’Malley and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown also participated.
The award recognizes the work of “individuals and organizations from around the State who excelled in their contributions to the safety and well-being of victims of domestic violence across the State,” according to information provided by the Westminster Police Department.
The web site for the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) says the advocacy organization “has been working since 1980 to eliminate domestic violence in Maryland through education, training, and advocacy.
“As Maryland's state coalition, the Network works together with local domestic violence programs as well as criminal justice and law enforcement personnel, legal advocates, health care and social service providers, clergy, educators, businesses, community groups, and concerned individuals to promote a coordinated community response to end domestic violence.”
The Westminster Police Department “was selected for the award because they successfully screened 93% of the domestic violence victims that they encountered during the previous year – 56% of these victims subsequently participating in follow-up services with local domestic violence counselors provided through a partnership with Family and Children Services of Central Maryland,” according to information from a media release from the department.
“The Department’s success rates were the highest in the State for the past year. This was the third year for the Lethality Assessment Award Program in Maryland. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Anne Arundel County Police Department were the two previous recipients of the award.”
Maria L. Oesterreicher, the senior assistant state's attorney and domestic violence unit Supervisor for the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office noted that Carroll County “also unanimously won a quarterly award this year that was voted on by the Lethality Advisory Board for having the highest percentage of high-risk clients coming in for services, 56%, with the next closest County being Montgomery with 34%.
“Basically that means that 56% of all victims who completed a Lethality Assessment at the scene of a domestic violence call in Carroll County followed up by seeking services from Family & Children’s Services,” said Oesterreicher.
In a recent interview with Spaulding he noted that in addition to the Westminster department’s care and concern for the welfare of victims of domestic violence; calls for such incidences are a major cause of harm for the responding officers as well as members of the family involved.
Anything that we can reduce those calls is a good thing for everyone involved, said Spaulding.
“Lethality assessment is a quick and accurate way for police officers and domestic violence counselors to determine with a high degree of accuracy the potential for future serious violence or death in a relationship,” Spaulding explained.
“Officers handling domestic violence incidents are required to screen victims utilizing a lethality assessment tool – a survey of 11 validated questions,” according to information from Westminster Police Department.
“Those victims screened as being at “high risk” of future violence, based upon their answers to the questions, are immediately placed in phone contact with a domestic violence counselor who speaks with them about their circumstances and discusses safety planning and the resources available to the victim. The assessment process is being used around the country with excellent results.”
“Having this information while they are still at the scene of a domestic dispute better prepares them to respond to the immediate safety needs of that victim and his or her family,” said Spaulding.
“A critical element of the lethality assessment process is the immediate phone contact with a domestic violence counselor. This takes place on the spot regardless of the time of day. The counselor can speak to the victim in the midst of the crisis and provide them with critical safety information.
“They can also help them understand the full array of services that are immediately available to the victim and their family. This immediate contact greatly enhances the potential that the victim will participate in follow-up services with the domestic violence service provider.”
Oesterreicher said in an e-mail and phone interview: “I think it’s wonderful that the Westminster City Police Department was recognized for their excellent results in completing Lethality Assessments…
“The institution of the Lethality Assessment could very well prove to be one of the most effective tools for victim safety in recent years. Being able to immediately link up victims with counselors is invaluable.
“When I train police officers on domestic violence investigation procedures, I often explain to them that there is a very small window of time in which a domestic violence victim may be cooperative with a police investigation. In certain instances that window may even be closed by the time the police arrive at the scene of the call.
“The Lethality Assessment provides an avenue for the officers to provide immediate intervention for a victim who can talk to a counselor on the scene and learn about cycle of violence, resources and help them develop safety plans before that window of cooperation is closed,” advised Oesterreicher.
Spaulding, Oesterreicher and other officials interviewed on background praised the interagency coordinated multi-jurisdictional approach to domestic violence in Carroll County.
“The citizens of Carroll County are very fortunate that the elected officials in this county recognize domestic violence and see it for what it is – a crime and support all the agencies efforts to hold abusers accountable and maximize the safety of victims through education, safety planning and sheltering,” said Oesterreicher.
“The agencies in this county work very well and very closely together. From the state’s attorney’s office to police agencies, to the counseling agencies, such as Family & Children’s Services, to the Family Law Administration of the Circuit Court, and the Women’s Law Center, who with grant funds, provide attorneys to Petitioner’s seeking protection by way of protective orders. Carroll County is fortunate to truly employ a Coordinated Community Response.”
Spaulding agreed: “one of this would be possible without the support and collaboration we have received from our partners which include our local Domestic Violence Advocate, Cheryl Powers of Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office and the David Sergeant of Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence.”
Oesterreicher cites that Jerry Barnes, the state’s attorney for Carroll County “recognized the gravity of domestic violence cases immediately when he was elected. In 1997 the State’s Attorney’s Office received the first of many Violence Against Women grants. The grant was originally intended to be for three years only, but we were recently awarded funds for the 13th straight year.
“To date we have received $870,811 from the Department of Justice by way of pass through grants from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. Those awards are based on best practices and results. The fact that we continue to receive funding means we are doing something right.
“The grant funds help support the State’s Attorney’s Office Domestic Violence Unit that consists of a prosecutor, an investigator, and a victim coordinator. We are also very fortunate to have always had the support of the Board of Commissioners,” noted Oesterreicher.
Spaulding said: “I also want to publically acknowledge and thank the dedicated men and women of the Westminster Police Department who have embraced this process and worked very hard to ensure that all of our domestic violence victims are afforded the benefits of this potentially life-saving program.
“I am very pleased that the Westminster Police Department has taken a leadership role in ensuring the safety of domestic violence victims in our community.”
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