At the beginning of the year, St. Clair County State's Attorney Brendan Kelly instructed his assistants about a new way to pursue domestic violence cases.
The state's attorney's office became much more aggressive on cases where children were involved. The office requested that law enforcement officers arriving on the scene of a domestic violence call start regularly videotaping the crying, battered victims, immediately interviewing them on the scene and videotaping the damage done to property.
Because so many domestic violence victims have "second thoughts" after their abusers are charged with a crime, the cases often end without an abuser being punished.
But with the help of the videotaped interview of a victim in distress, Kelly's office can now successfully prosecute more cases without having to depend on an often reluctant victim to testify.
The process, referred to as a victimless prosecution, is working in St. Clair County.
Since this time last year, the St. Clair County Domestic Violence Unit, now known as the Tracy Fogarty Center, has prosecuted 117 percent more domestic violence cases, according to data from the St. Clair County Clerk's office.
From July 2011 to September 2011 there was a 91 percent increase in guilty pleas from defendants accused of violating an order of protection compared to the same period of time in 2010.
The most significant increase comes in guilty pleas from defendants charged with felony domestic battery. Between July 2011 and September 2011, there was a 533 percent increase over the same time last year.
"We're seeing fewer second time clients," said Ron Padgett, president of the board of the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois. Second time clients are victims who return to the center for help after seeking help previously in connection with domestic violence.
The Violence Prevention Center provides support, information and resources to those affected by domestic violence. The center has a 24-hour crisis hotline, an emergency shelter, individual and group counseling for adults and children, court and police advocacy, information and referrals.
"We're really excited," Padgett said. "We are seeing these huge increases in the cases and the violations of orders of protection that are being prosecuted and the whole thing has just been great. It makes it easier for us to do our job because we feel like we are getting some support and that someone does care from that side of it. The morale of the staff here is so much better because there is a difference, because they know that people do care."
Before Kelly took a hard stance on domestic violence, Padgett said many of the offenders felt like nothing was going to happen to them if they violated an order of protection or abused a spouse or girlfriend.
"They knew they would just be told to go home and they were convinced the prosecutors weren't going to bother with the little crimes," Padgett said. "So they kept doing it."
Donations to help fund the work of the new St. Clair County State's Attorney's Domestic Violence Unit, the Tracy Fogarty Center, can be sent to the State's Attorney's Office at 10 Public Square, Belleville, Ill., 62220-1623.
Facts about domestic violence
By the numbers
* More than 53 percent of male abusers beat their children.
* As violence against women becomes more severe and more frequent in the home, children experience a 300 percent increase in physical violence by the male batterer.
* If male children see domestic violence, they are 700 times more likely to repeat violence. If male children experience domestic violence, they are 1,000 times more likely to repeat violence.
* Approximately 95 percent of all domestic violence assaults and crimes are committed by men against women.
* Domestic violence occurs among all races and socioeconomic groups.
* 47 percent of husbands who beat their wives do so three or more times a year.
* Data from the National Crime Survey indicates that once a woman is victimized by domestic violence, she is at high risk for being victimized again. During a six month interval following an incident of domestic violence, approximately 32 percent of women are victimized again.
* 14 percent of never-married women report being raped by their current or former husbands, and rape is a significant or major form of abuse in 54 percent of violent marriages.
* Women who leave their batterers are at a 75 percent greater risk of being killed by the batterer than those who stay.
*An estimated 52 percent of female murder victims were killed by a current partner or ex-husband.
* Weapons are used in 30 percent of domestic violence incidents.
* An estimated 50 percent of all homeless women and children in the United States are fleeing domestic violence.
Why do victims stay in an abusive relationship?
* Fear of more severe abuse or fear of losing belongings, social status or children.
* Learned helplessness by being kept dependent by abusers. Victims believe they cannot do things for themselves.
* Women don't want to disrupt the children's lives or fear they cannot provide for their children.
* Belief in traditional roles that dictate the man is the "boss of the house" and women should obey and not make trouble.
* Low self-esteem causing victims to feel they don't deserve love or that they deserve to be beaten.
* Religious beliefs that prohibit divorce, even in an abusive situation.
* Abuse as children and learned behavior that women are hit and men have a right to beat them.
* Economic dependence on the abuser.
* A hostage psychology, bonding them with their abusers, and converting to their abuser's way of thinking in an attempt to survive. It is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder found in concentration camp survivors and prisoners of war.
Getting help
Are you or someone you know at risk for domestic violence?
Contact the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois' 24-hour crisis line at: 235-0892 in Belleville. Those in Monroe and Randolph counties can call 800-924-0096.
More information about the Violence Prevention Center can be found online at www.vpcswi.org.
Source: Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois
