Dear friends and supporters: I am asking for your help with the effort to create a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit in the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office. The item has not been included on the Board of Commissioners' agenda since I presented the proposal to the CEO's office in late March. The District Attorney's Office has received several letters, calls and emails in support of this project. Now, the Commissioners need to hear from DeKalb County citizens so that they know this specialized prosecutorial unit is not only desperately needed, but also a priority of DeKalb voters. Please allow me to share some information with you that will outline the need for a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit:

STATISTICS

• DeKalb County has a population of close to 700,000 people.
• Our county has the second highest violent crime rate in metro Atlanta.
• In 2003, DeKalb had the highest domestic violence fatality rate of any of the 159 counties in Georgia.
  • According to the Georgia Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project, there were 17 deaths related to domestic violence in 2003.
  • That represents an increase of four deaths from 2002.
• There are more than 16,000 reports of domestic violence per year in DeKalb.
  • Because of severe under reporting of this crime, the actual number of domestic violence incidents is likely double that number.

  CURRENT D.A. RESOURCES

• The District Attorney's Office is mandated by statute to provide victim services in all criminal cases.
• Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault cases are simply taking too long to be indicted because the office has been understaffed in this area.
  • There are only two full time domestic violence investigators on the District Attorney's staff.
  • There is no attorney designated and specially trained to handle domestic violence and adult sexual assault cases in court.
  • Currently, non-jail domestic violence/sexual assault cases can take up to 8 months to a year to be indicted.
• Because of an overwhelming number of domestic violence cases, victims are dying while they wait for justice. It will only be a matter of time before the justice system fails another one of the victims that we work so hard to protect.

  REQUEST

• A designated Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit will help the District Attorney's Office enhance the services that we provide to victims and increase the accountability of offenders.
• Why does the D.A. need a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Attorney?
  • Cases require a specialized knowledge of law and evidence.
  • Cases involve complex facts and evidentiary matters.
  • Cases usually go to trial and require extensive preparation and advanced trial ability.
  • Cases and victims require greater attention from an attorney.
  • Cases require a smaller caseload and courtroom/attorney ratio.
• Why does the D.A. need a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Investigator?
  • Cases must be expedited due to dangerous relationship between the victim and the defendant.
  • Cases require further and more detailed investigation than is performed by the police department.
  • Cases must be expedited because many defendants re-offend. " Victims and witnesses are reluctant and must be contacted and interviewed immediately after the crime occurs.
  • Cases require more time and energy to investigate.
  • The District Attorney's Office has already reassigned positions and restructured the handling of domestic violence cases to give priority to the most dangerous cases, but this is still not enough to protect victims.

  TIMELINE

• After just three months in office, the District Attorney recognized the deficiencies in the criminal justice system and began discussions with the CEO's office to bring improved service to citizens.
• In March 2005, the District Attorney's Office presented a proposal to the CEO's office to create an 11-person Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit to be paid for out of the Victim Assistance Program fund (a 5-percent surcharges levied in all criminal court fines), and not taxpayer dollars.
• In June, members of the Board of Commissions asked that the proposal be cut in half, reducing it to only a five person unit.
  • After reducing the proposal as suggested, the County Commission still did not include the request for a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit in the Mid-Year budget review.
• The District Attorney was asked to slash the unit further in August. Now, only two critical additional positions remain.
  • At the August 23, 2005 County Commission Meeting, again the District Attorney's Office Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit was not addressed.
• On the 1st of September, the District Attorney's Office submitted the second agenda item for the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit
  • This is the third attempt to have the County Commission take up this proposal.

  The next scheduled County Commission Meeting is on September 13, 2005 at 9 a.m. and I need your help to let the Commissioners know that the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit proposal is important and should, at the very least, be brought to the table for a vote. Please come to the meeting and speak during the public comments section or contact your CEO and County Commissioner and let them know that you care about Domestic Violence.

  Very Truly Yours,

   

  Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming

  District Attorney Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit