DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT

Estimates are that a woman is battered every nine seconds in the United States. The Ada County Prosecutor’s Office views domestic violence as a serious threat to the safety and welfare of our citizens. This office is committed not only to holding offenders accountable for their actions, but to providing victims with the services they need to begin the healing process. Greg Bower, the Ada County Prosecutor, implemented a Domestic Violence Unit within the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office in July, 2003. The Domestic Violence Unit provides a dedicated effort that is committed to addressing the problem of domestic violence in our community.

After a police report is filed, it is forwarded to the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office. The Ada County Prosecutor’s Office reviews that police report. If there is enough evidence to prove the case, the Prosecutor, on behalf of the State of Idaho, will file the case in criminal court.

Domestic violence is a serious crime that should not be tolerated, minimized, or mediated. For those reasons, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office will not dismiss criminal charges based solely upon the victim’s request. It is the prosecutor, not the victim, who files charges. Therefore, only the prosecutor can dismiss a criminal case.

WHO CAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS CALL FOR HELP?

Call 911 for help in an emergency situation. There are many programs in Ada County to assist you. Please contact our office for further information or assistance:

Ada County Prosecutor’s Office Domestic Violence Unit . . . . . . . 287-7700
Ada County Prosecutor’s Office Victim-Witness Unit . . . . . . . . . . .287-7700

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE ORIENTATION AND RESOURCE PROGRAM (DV CORP)

One of the missions of the Domestic Violence Unit at the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office is to hold domestic violence offenders accountable for their criminal conduct, while at the same time providing resources and assistance to victims that will enable them to make safe choices for themselves and their families.
In order to better serve domestic violence victims and to ensure a continued standard of excellence in handling domestic violence cases, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office Domestic Violence Unit offers a program called Domestic Violence Case Orientation and Resource Program (DV CORP). This program offers domestic violence victims the opportunity to obtain community resource information the day after an offender has been arrested for domestic violence. It also provides victims with an overview of the criminal court process so that victims know what to expect through the process. This program is available for victims in all felony domestic violence cases and for victims in misdemeanor domestic violence cases handled by the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office.

This program also gives domestic violence victims an opportunity to discuss the case with a deputy prosecutor and victim-witness coordinator the next business day after an arrest has been made. Victims can offer input about the case as soon after an arrest as is possible.

DV CORP provides domestic violence victims with community resource information immediately following an arrest in order to address their needs as quickly as possible.

Victims will also obtain assistance understanding the court process, which will help make a domestic violence victim’s journey through the criminal justice system less daunting.

A victim’s participation in this program is completely voluntary. If a victim is unable to attend DV CORP the day after the offender is arrested, the victim can choose to attend DV CORP on a different day by contacting the DV Unit at the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE
NO ONE DESERVES TO BE BEATEN OR HURT

Are you or is someone you know a victim of domestic violence?

Domestic violence occurs in all cultures and all classes. The majority of domestic violence victims are women. Domestic violence generally represents a pattern of behavior rather than a single, isolated event. Domestic violence is as much about the offender exercising power and control over the victim as it is about violence. Without intervention, domestic violence tends to escalate both in severity and in frequency. Domestic violence impacts not only the victim of abuse, but children who witness and hear the abuse.

Domestic violence includes:

• Physical Abuse: hitting, slapping, pushing, shoving, punching, kicking, biting, using weapons to cause injury, strangulation.
• Emotional or Psychological Abuse: verbal threats, intimidation, manipulation, name-calling, put-downs, isolating the victim from family and friends, public humiliation, devaluing, degrading, undermining, harming pets or threatening harm to pets, controlling the victim’s activities.
• Sexual Abuse: forced sexual acts or unwanted touching.
• Property or Economic Abuse: taking or destroying personal belongings, taking money, not allowing the victim to work outside the home.

ARE YOU OR IS SOMEONE YOU KNOW A VICTIM OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE?

Teen dating violence is a problem that affects a growing number of young people. One-third (1/3) of young adults between the ages of 16-24 have reported being involved in at least one dating situation that involved violence.

If you think you might be the victim of teen dating violence, consider whether your boyfriend or girlfriend:

• Is physically abusive to you. Does he/she shove, hit, slap, punch, kick, strangle or hurt you?
• Has threatened you with a gun, knife or other object.
• Is excessively jealous or possessive toward you.
• Embarrasses you by calling you names, by making you feel dumb, by making fun of you, or by using insults.
• Is constantly checking up on you.
• Prevents you from leaving when you want.
• Refuses to leave when asked.
• Blames you for his/her behavior.
• Controls what you do.
• Says that you provoked him/her.
• Acts violently or brags about hurting others.
• Abuses drugs or alcohol and then pressures you to use them.
• Makes threats to harm you, your family or friends.
• Isolates you from your family or friends.
• Pressures you for sex.
• Uses threats of violence or suicide to keep you from ending the relationship.

If you are a parent of a teenager who you believe might be the victim of teen dating violence, you should consider the warning signs noted above as well as the following:

• Has your child lost interest in things that used to be important to him/her?
• Has your child lost weight or changed in appearance?
• Have your child’s grades dropped?
• Is your child concerned about upsetting his/her girl/boyfriend?
• Has your child become isolated from family or friends?

The source of the information on Teen Dating Violence compiled here is the Public Training Institute. The information was developed by Dan Hally and Mike McCarty. It was used here with the permission of Dan Hally.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU ARE, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, IS A VICTIM
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR TEEN DATING VIOLENCE?

You are not alone. There is help in our community to assist victims of domestic violence. You should be aware that ending an abusive relationship is one of the most dangerous times for victims.

You can seek help in the following ways:

• Law Enforcement: a domestic violence victim can seek the assistance of law enforcement and can report domestic violence to the police as soon as possible. Make every effort to preserve any evidence of the crime and share that evidence with the police.

• Protection Orders: a protection order is a civil court order that can help protect domestic violence victims by preventing offenders from contacting victims. Domestic violence victims do not need an attorney to request a protection order. Violation of a protection order is a misdemeanor. Petitions for protection orders are available at the clerk’s office at the Ada County Courthouse at 200 W. Front St. The Women’s and Children’s Alliance (WCA) Court Advocate Program can assist you in seeking a protection order. You can reach the WCA's 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at: 343-7025. Please click here for link to On-Line Application for a Protection Order.

The law permits the following people to request a protection order:

 

• spouses, former spouses, or persons related by blood or adoption;
• persons who live or have lived together;
• persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have ever been married or have ever lived together;
• adults who have had or are in a dating relationship;
• parents, non-custodial parents, or guardians on behalf of minor children who have had or are in a dating relationship.

• Cassie’s Law: provides a method to help protect minor children who are in an abusive dating relationship. Parents, non-custodial parents or guardians may petition for a protection order on behalf of minor children in a violent dating relationship.

• No Contact Orders: a no contact order is similar to a protection order because it also helps protect victims by preventing offenders from contacting victims when there has been a criminal case filed. However, a no contact order is only imposed as part of a criminal case. The judge may issue a no contact order as a condition of bond in a pending criminal domestic violence case or as part of any sentence imposed in that criminal case.

Offenders who are arrested for any felony or misdemeanor domestic violence, stalking, violation of a No Contact Order, or violation of a Protection Order will appear before the Judge the next business day after the arrest at 1:30 p.m. at the Ada County Courthouse for an arraignment, bond setting and a decision on whether to impose a No Contact Order as a condition of bond. If the offender was arrested for an outstanding warrant for which a bond was set, the offender will be arraigned the day after the arrest if the offender does not bond out. If the offender bonds out, the offender will be given a date to appear.

The terms of a No Contact Order vary depending upon the Judge’s order. You should not attempt to contact the offender when there is a No Contact Order in place unless there is a specific provision in the order that allows contact. If there are multiple No Contact Orders and/or Protection Orders or any combination of the two, the offender must abide by the most restrictive provisions of those orders.

Violation of a No Contact Order is a misdemeanor. You should report violations of a No Contact Order to the police.

Only the Judge can “lift” or remove the No Contact Order. Only the Judge can modify or change the terms of the No Contact Order. You can request that a No Contact Order be lifted or modified. You must complete a form called a Motion to Lift or Modify the No Contact Order. The Court will set a hearing on your Motion to lift or modify the No Contact Order at which time the Judge may ask you questions about lifting or modifying the No Contact Order. After hearing your statements and the arguments of both the defense and the State, the Judge will make the final decision. This Motion to Lift or Modify the No Contact Order can be obtained at the clerk’s office at the Ada County Courthouse, 200 W. Front Street.

• Victim-witness Coordinators: victim-witness coordinators are victim advocates who work within the criminal justice system and assist victims of crime throughout the criminal justice process. For more information on the Ada County Prosecutor's Office Victim-Witness Unit, please click here.

• Shelters: there are shelters in our community that can assist victims both in providing shelter and in educating domestic violence victims about making safety plans. Please click here for a full list of resources.
  
  
  

FACES
(Family Advocacy Center and Education Services, Inc.)

 

Family Advocacy Center and Education Services (“FACES”) is a non-profit organization that arose from collaboration among law enforcement, prosecution, healthcare providers, and social service agencies in Ada County in order to improve victim services for the most vulnerable of crime victims.  FACES seeks to improve the criminal justice, healthcare and social service responses to victims of child abuse, domestic violence and adult sexual assault crimes through coordinated and co-located delivery of services.  FACES provides an integrated multidisciplinary approach to the investigation and intervention of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault crimes by virtue of the co-location of law enforcement, prosecution, healthcare providers, and social service agencies.  In addition to coordinating comprehensive law enforcement, prosecution, healthcare and social services for these most vulnerable crime victims, FACES and its partners will provide a forum to raise awareness in our community in an effort to reduce the incidence of these crimes. 

Purpose

To work as a team to strengthen our community by serving individuals affected by child
abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence. 


Mission

FACES provides proactive, team-oriented, victim-centered services,
support and education to those affected by child abuse, domestic violence and
sexual assault, in a dignified and respectful environment.


Vision

FACES is the community's center of services for families and individuals affected
by child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence crimes.  Our scope of services
is victim-centered to provide safety, justice, hope and the beginning of a healing process. 
Through the delivery of services, education of the communities we serve, and a focus
on prevention, FACES will support the people it serves, increase awareness of this
public health issue, and decrease the incidence of these crimes.

 

Programs On-Site

• St. Luke’s CARES program (Children at Risk Evaluation Services)
• St. Luke’s Foster Care Clinic (full health care assessments for children entering foster care)
• SAFE nurses on-call 24/7 for sexual assault exams
  (St. Luke’s & Saint Alphonsus partnership)
• Health & Welfare Risk Assessments
• Specialized Law Enforcement Detectives
• Ada County and Boise City Prosecutors
• Community resources for domestic violence victims, including on-site assistance from the Women’s and Children’s Alliance (WCA)
• Catholic Charities of Idaho to assist immigrant domestic violence victims
• Ada County Prosecutor’s Office Domestic Violence CORP (Case Orientation and Resource Program)
• Victim-Witness Coordinators
• Crime Victims Compensation Program
• Coordinated effort among partners to serve clients
• Education programs for participants
• Education programs to raise community awareness