• Project Safe House targets worst abusers who thumb their nose at system

Many of the worst domestic abusers in Wayne County who have thumbed their nose at the system after being arrested or convicted are getting a message this week that they can run but they can’t hide. 

As part of Project Safe House, Sheriff Warren Evans, Prosecutor Kym Worthy and County Executive Robert Ficano have targeted more than 300 hundred of the most recalcitrant individuals across the county who have failed to show up for court on a domestic violence related charge or have violated their probation on a domestic violence related conviction.  This week authorities are targeting those abusers whose cases involved a high level of physical violence, who have dodged counseling or jail time and are considered the highest risk for re-offending.

“This effort is about protecting past and future victims of domestic violence and we are doing so by applying pressure to the abusers at every turn,” said Sheriff Warren C. Evans. “If they have failed to show for court, we are re-arresting them. If they have failed to complete a community based treatment program, we’re putting them in jail based treatment. If they are on parole or probation, we’ll be visiting their homes unannounced to make sure they are complying with the conditions of their supervised release and not re-offending.”

Growing Need
According to the most recent available statistics, reports of domestic violence in Michigan swelled to more than 70,000 in 2005, up from just over 55,000 the year before.  Tragically, during that timeframe domestic violence-related homicides nearly doubled from 30 in 2004 to 58 in 2005.  Of the 70,000 abuse cases reported in 2005, more than 21,500 were in Wayne County, which accounted for 30 percent of the statewide total.

Project Safe House is a multi-faceted effort that addresses all of the key areas of domestic abuse-related cases in an attempt to reduce those numbers by:

• Systematically identifying and apprehending the area’s most violent domestic abusers who have active felony warrants. 
• Coordinating warrant arrests with serving personal protection orders, thus giving police an enforceable court order to protect a potential victim, even if the abuser posts bond on the warrant.
• Making periodic unannounced visits to the homes of convicted abusers on active parole or probation to look for any signs of new abuse (to be conducted throughout the year). 
• Expanding jail based domestic violence awareness & treatment programs to include first time offenders (implemented earlier this year).  
• Providing victims with instant referrals to domestic violence support agencies. 
• Strengthening accountability by having prosecutors request longer jail time for suspected or convicted abusers who disregard court orders, such as PPOs, who fail to show for court or who violate their probation.

Reports increase during Holidays
It is an unfortunate reality that cases of domestic violence tend to increase during the Holidays, when families find themselves under increased financial strain.  One of the goals of Project Safe House is to intervene before at risk families reach the boiling point.

“This is an important initiative because we know that domestic violence escalates during the holiday season,” said Prosecutor Worthy.   “It is very hard to protect citizens from the criminal they know.  We have to keep talking, keep educating, and keep spreading the message about domestic violence.”

Greater focus on intervention & counseling
One of the components that have been integrated into Project Safe House is the use of immediate referrals to Curtains and Comfort, a local non-profit agency that provides support and transitional assistance for women and children who have fled – or are seeking to flee – abusive homes.

Abusers – usually men – now receive more counseling in the form of proven jail-based programs designed to help them more appropriately process and express their emotions. Earlier this year, the Transitions program was expanded to include first time domestic violence offenders as opposed to just felony offenders.  The program, which boasts a high success rate, is funded through the Wayne County Department of Children and Family Services and managed by the private company Education Training Resource Services.

 “From senior citizens to our youngest citizens, domestic violence is a horrific fact of life for many of our citizens leaving physical and emotional scars for generations,” said Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano.  “Domestic violence crosses all income levels, neighborhoods and communities.  We take very seriously the root causes and affects that domestic violence has on families. Through Wayne County's department of Children and Family Services (CAFS), many children who come to into our care for violent acts have been victims themselves or have witnessed violence in their families. Aggressive efforts in prevention, treatment and law enforcement are a priority for all Wayne County departments that touch the lives of so many families in need of assistance and support,” Ficano said.