TITLE
Recommendation to respectfully request the opportunity to update the Mayor, the City Council and the public on the progress of a working group’s efforts to secure office space inside the new Los Angeles County Courthouse in support of victims of domestic violence with cooperation from local domestic violence victims’ advocate groups, City Prosecutor Doug Haubert and the Long Beach Police Department.
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND:
Nearly two years ago, I formed a working group made up of local groups who advocate for victims of domestic violence such as Interval House, Women’s Shelter of Long Beach, 1736 Family Crisis Center and Su Casa. In addition, I asked City Prosecutor Doug Haubert, Long Beach Police Department staff and Judge Michael Vicencia to meet with us on a regular basis to discuss the need for a safe and secure space inside the new County courthouse where victims could access multiple services and support in one location.
According to the California Penal Code, domestic violence is defined as ". . . abuse committed against an adult or a minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or person with whom the suspect has had a child or is having or has had a dating or engagement relationship" (Penal Code section 13700 (b)). Within this definition, abuse is further defined as ". . . intentionally or recklessly causing or attempting to cause bodily injury, or placing another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent serious bodily injury to himself or herself, or another" (Penal Code section 13700(a)). According to the Attorney General’s report on crime statistics in California (Crime in California), there were 167,087 calls related to domestic violence in 2009, with almost 60% of the cases involving a weapon.
Domestic violence can destroy the fabric of communities by weakening family structures and passing down from generation to generation, dysfunctional and abusive approaches to relationships. In fact, violent juve...
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