NASHVILLE — Officials in Nashville are trying to improve how the city handles domestic violence cases.
The city, which had 12,686 domestic violence cases reported last year, is in the midst of an audit to identify changes the city could make to offer better protection for victims. The examination includes looking at how the crimes are investigated and prosecuted to services that are offered to victims.
The Tennessean reports Mayor Karl Dean has proposed adding two domestic violence prosecutors to the city’s payroll in an effort to better prosecute cases.
Last year, the city’s two domestic violence attorneys handled most of the more than 12,000 cases, each averaging about 250 cases per week. Dean says they need help.
“We need to send a message that Nashville is a safe city for women and children,” Dean said. “And I don’t think it’s just a message; I think we’re going to get results.”
Tennessee has ranked in the Top 5 states where women are killed by men five times since 2001, including the past two years, according to the Violence Policy Center, a nonprofit Washington-based public safety research and advocacy organization
Davidson County District Attorney Torry Johnson said additional staff would allow prosecutors to spend more time on each case.
See related:
Dealing with Domestic Violence:
Cure or Cover-up? By Jordan Riak, June 7, 2012
