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Show than the other-all are in a learning curve that will eventually lead to a system that works more like a "well-oiled machine" working together rather than fragmented parts trying to handle the job alone. A call to police does not automatically put the perpetrator in jail. The police will investigate the case; if there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed, the police will arrest the abuser, take them to jail, issue a no-contact order or jail agreement order in which the batterer is to have no contact with the victim until the end of the next court date, upon signing the agreement the perpetrator is released; the prosecutor will file charges if and only if there is enough evidence to convict. If charged, a perpetrator can plead guilty to the charges and prosecutors may offer what is called a plea in abeyance, in which the plea will be set aside and the perpetrator ordered into treatment-if the treatment is successfully completed, the charges may be dropped against the defendant/perpetrator, Utah Code Annotated, § 77-2a-l, et. seq. There are all kinds of constitutional rights and protections afforded the abuser-once again, the idea is to stop the violence, protect the victim and hold the perpetrator responsible for the crime. If the system works well the victim and the family can begin to heal rather than be torn apart. New Developments Recently, the University of New Mexico Medical Center in Albuquerque added this question to their emergency room forms: "Is this visit related to domestic violence?" Yes or No. The university found a substantial increase in the recognition and diagnosis of domestic violence related injuries. In addition, it reminds emergency room physicians of the opportunity to intervene in the cycle of violence, perhaps prevent further abuse, and educate the victim on the fact that if the abuse is allowed to continue it will increase in frequency and severity, not to mention the fact that it is a crime and there is something wrong with violence (Colburn, 1996). If this question were added to ER forms, this may indicate a silent cry for help even though the patient would not admit they want the injury reported. The San Diego prosecutors office is working on a cooperative agreement with health care providers. If the injury report meets a certain standard of evidence, the health care provider will not be subpoenaed to testify at court, the written report documenting the extent of the injury will be enough. Body mapping has been around for a long time to help with the documentation of injuries-that is something health care providers might want to see made a standard part of the injury report form. The Women's Mental Health Task Force for Alta View, Cottonwood, LDS, and Wasatch Canyons hospitals focused on domestic violence training for staff last year. This year, they are expanding their approach to include a look at violence connected with or stemming from domestic violence, more of a family violence approach. Violence related to spouse or domestic violence includes pet abuse, child abuse, gang violence, elder abuse and suicide (Martin & Bennet, 1996). The Utah Academy of Family Physicians has teamed up with the Department of Health, the Utah Prosecution Council, Utah Domestic Violence Advisory Council and Peace Officers Standards and Training to do statewide combined training with groups who interface when dealing with domestic violence. And the Utah Medical Association is doing a series of training around the state on domestic violence. The Attorney General's Safe At Home: Domestic Violence Workplace program is being presented in many hospital facilities throughout the state. Other trainings are taking place through Utah Medical Alliance, Intermountain Pediatric Society and the Utah Department of Health. Related issues trainings: The Women & Children's Services at McKay-Dee is going into the high schools in Weber County talking about dating violence. Logan Regional Medical Center has a program called Options for Youth, designed to give adolescents alternatives to gang involvement and violence. Mandatory reporting: the next step-the Women's Mental Health Task Force for IHC Hospitals held a conference in November with an open forum looking at the strengths and weaknesses of our current reporting laws. They entertained the ideas on how to improve the law or the reporting methods. The Utah Medical Association is looking at a pilot program to be implemented in several hospitals throughout the state in which multi-disciplinary teams would provide victims of domestic violence with the needed care, attention and resources necessary to help the situation. Details are forthcoming as to how the mandatory reporting would be satisfied by the law enforcement representative on the team. 4 Impact of Domestic Violence |