| OCR Text |
Show Al2 TheSalt Lake Tribune NATION Friday, November23, 2001 Missouri’s Domestic Abuse Law DrawsFire Even someprosecutors are concernedthat the mandate may be too tough and could be misused BY JOE LAMBE convictions or evidence of broken bones, perma- KNIGHTRIDDER NEWS SERVICE nent disfigurement or other serious physical injurybefore they could file felony charges. KANSASCITY, Mo. Missouri prosecutors that could lead to felony charges. Kansas City are using a tough new lawagai abusers oneso tough that even some prosecu- tors say it goes too far. Thestate felony charge can be used in any domestic-violence tempted slapfrom afirst offend up tosevenyearsin prison. Sincethelav about 14 months ago, it has sent 44 people to prison with average sentences of4.4 years. State Rep. Carson Ros: BlueSprings, Mo., ican, praised prosecutors for using the sponsored. Thesecond-degree domestic It law was intended to stop batterers before they maimed or killed, he said. “Wedon't want you to have bro- kenbones before we prosecutepeople.” Previously prosecutors needed There are plenty of domestic violence crimes police alone make morethan5,000 sucharrests a year. That meansprosecutors have to decide where to drawtheline. Last week Jackson County Prosecutor Bob Beairdsaidhis staff would use the lawin cases suchas broken noses,stitches and chokinginjuries. Hewill alsouse it against those with any prior state domestic/violence convictions or sault your wife or girl 5 aright to step in,” Beaiirdsaid. i ome prosecutors say thela misused. ‘One prosecutor might do themall as felo- three .” said Richard Callahan, director of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. It will also coerce peopletoplead guiltyto lesser charges,he said. Kansas City défense lawyer Sean O’Brien called the law an uncreative attack on a social problem. He noted that the punishment for punchinga stranger on thestreet is one year at most. “Tt is now seven times moreserious to hit a family memberthan perfect stranger,” O’Brien said. “Yet someone whogoes around punching perfect strangers is probably moreof a threatto society.” Missouri's new law fits a pattern of states getting harsher on domesticviolence,said Juley Fulcher, public policy director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “There has been increasing intert ing domestic violence as a serious crime,” she said, especially because recent studies show court-ordered counseling did not stop batterers. Sue Else, president of Hope House, a battered-women’s shelter in Independence, Mo., lobbied for the new law and said {it should be used. “The only thing that seems to workis incarceration,” shesaid.“If you slap him onthe wrist and let him out, he’s going to hit her again.” Curbing domestic violence will reduce other social ills, experts say. For example, children in homes with domestic abuse are more likely to becomecriminals andbatterers. Missourihas a serious problem with the consequences of domestic violence. A study last month by the Violence Policy Centerfound that in 1999 Missouri was in the top 10 states in the incidenceof men killing women. Provisionsin the newlawhave madeit easier for prosecutors to bring more serious charges against abusers.It specifically makes domestic chokinga felony. Rosssaidthat the legislation was not intended to solve all problems in domestic violence and that the legislature might need to make adjustments. “We need to get the word outthatthisis on the books,” he said. “We want feedback from prosecutors and judges on howwellit is working.” SHOP SPECIAL HOURS TODAY 8 A.M. TO 9 P.M. as hanksgiving z Claiborne’ “Wilder” “Golding” Orig. 69.00. Orig. 69.00. Nine West’ ENZO’ “\leenda” “Stater” Orig. 99.00. Steve Madden’ Orig. 99.00. “Boxer” Orig. 109.00. NOW 99 Liz Claiborne’ Nine West° Nine West’ “Weston” “Teman” Orig. 139.00. Orig. 139.00. , Orig. 99.00. “Ardon” Pm) Sra Limited to stock on hand. re CME Mi mle ls ile! Seu CC Ceee) PCT Celie |
