Needed: A Few Good Men, And Women
The American home can be a very dangerous place, as domestic violence cuts through every race, class and socio-economic circumstance. Approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men in this country were assaulted by intimate partners in the past year, which translates into almost 25% of all American women and 7.6% of men in their lifetimes. The millions of children who witness this violence show higher rates of aggression, delinquency, truancy and other risky behaviors. In addition, 20% of female high-school students reports having been physically abused by a dating partner. These are sobering statistics indeed.
Traditionally, what went on in the home, stayed in the home. But beginning in 1994, with the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, the criminal justice system became increasingly aware of domestic violence as a crime and sensitive to the needs of all its victims: women, men and children. A reflection of these changed attitudes is the fact that October is now designated "Domestic Violence Awareness Month."
NJ mandated some 7 years ago that each municipality establish a Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT), to be comprised of highly empathetic and discrete volunteers, trained to counsel and support victims of domestic violence in specially-designated safe spaces. Captain Sheila Byron-Lagattuta, who grew up in town and was its second female police officer, was given the challenge of recruiting the first DVRT members in Glen Ridge. Of the 8 original volunteers, 7 continue to serve - as does the captain.
"These people are unsung heroes," explained Lagattuta. "They are never identified as part of DVRT and abide by a strict code of confidentiality; so they never get any public recognition for all they do - even though they play a crucial role." In order to gain the competence they need to become crisis counselors, members are required to take a 40-hour certification course; they also must be willing to drop everything and come to the Police Station when an incident occurs. Their job is nothing less than to defuse a highly emotional and intimidating process by remaining at the victim's side throughout it - even when it involves trips to the courts in Newark. However, the rewards, according to the DVRT Coordinator, are incalculable.
Interestingly, police officers see DVRT, not as a hindrance to what they do, but as an invaluable asset. They, too, receive yearly training in handling domestic violence situations; nonetheless, these calls are often among the /
Captain Sheila Byron-Lagattuta
most potentially threatening that they face. Therefore, having DVRT on hand to minister to victims and see to it that their rights are respected, allows the officer to focus on vital police procedures and paperwork.
DVRT members tend to be equally complimentary of the police and their handling of these often explosively-wrenching incidents. "The type of officer hired in Glen Ridge tends to be ideal for the kind of compassionate community policing expected in this town," explained one member. "So a victim can expect to receive caring and respectful treatment from everyone they have to deal with."
DVRT is seeking new members among the men and women of this town. No special expertise is required; indeed, having people from different ethnic and professional backgrounds on the team is a decided asset. The only prerequisites are clear-headedness in a crisis and compassion for others. If you are interested in joining this intrepid group or wish more information, please call Captain Lagattuta at 973-748-5400 ext. 134.
Domestic Abuse Confidential 24-Hour Hotlines:
973-748-5400 973-484-1704
Of course, in an acute emergency, call 911.
Glen Ridge To Launch Online Service Request System
Garbage not collected? Have a public health concern? Worried about a roadway or storm-drain blockage? Need information about a tax bill or zoning requirement? Looking for a lost pet? Residents phone or e-mail questions such as these to the municipality every day. Although town officials pride themselves on their responsiveness, a new "Citizen's Service Request" system is being added to the borough Web site to address these types of issues with even greater efficiency.
The new system will include a pull-down menu which will allow residents to categorize their requests for service. Phone requests will be logged into this same system. They will then be forwarded to the responsible department – as well as to the Town Administrator. This will allow the latter to follow up if need be, providing an extra layer of oversight. When a request is logged on, residents can specify whether they prefer e-mail or phone updates about how their concern is being resolved. Status reports will be provided on a daily basis.
It is anticipated that new system will have several benefits. Of course, it will allow for much more accountability, insuring that requests are handled expeditiously and that citizens are kept in the loop. However, it will also isolate those requests that are stymied because of policy or budgetary constraints. These can then be referred to the Mayor and Council for further consideration and possible adjudication. Importantly, it will also allow the borough to track those questions and concerns that are most persistent in order to develop better preemptive strategies for dealing with them. In other words, this new system will provide yet another means by which residents can be guaranteed the high quality of service they have come to expect.
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