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While Life Span primarily works
with Chicago and suburban Cook County victims of police domestic violence,
victims and advocates from around the country contact us for advice and
support. One of the great difficulties in addressing their questions is
the diversity of law enforcement agencies. Urban and rural, state,
federal, and local government, they range in size from a few officers to
thousands of officers. What works with one department may not work with
another.
Being a victim in a large city is worlds apart from
being a victim in a small town or rural area, so counseling and advocacy
require different approaches. Each domestic violence agency is faced with
the task of responding to the needs of the victims in their specific
community, and determining whether they are able to work cooperatively
with their local law enforcement agency.
Domestic battery is a criminal offense. An officer
convicted of domestic battery is prohibited by federal law from possessing
a weapon, whether on or off duty. When an officer is accused of domestic
battery, several players become involved in the case, and it is important
that the advocate educate the victim on each player's role. Each player
will look at her case from the perspective of that role. For example,
Police administrators are concerned with the
department's responsibility to protect the victim, but also consider
liability issues from their perspective as the officer's employer. The
department may be invested in either saving or terminating an officer's
career, depending on many factors.
The abuser's fellow officers may be responsible for the victim's
safety, but also have a strong sense of loyalty to protect the abuser's
and their own careers.
The prosecutor is concerned with fulfilling the requirements for
building a case that will win a conviction, but may at the same time may
have political reasons for being reluctant to prosecute a member of law
enforcement.
Members of the community are alarmed that an abuser may be
responding to domestic violence calls and that officers are above the law.
The advocate is there solely to provide information and to support
the victim in making her own informed decisions according to her own best
interest. In order to do this, the advocate must be familiar with the
policies and attitudes of the players in the local criminal justice
system.
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