Second quarter stats show increase in domestic violence

As the state enters Domestic Violence Awareness Month, statistics show Carson City incidents are down from a year ago.

In Carson City, there were 116 incidents (120 last year) reported through June of this year. Douglas County reported 57 incidents (42 a year ago); Lyon 62 (102); Churchill 41 (26); and Washoe 597 (545). Storey reports were not available.

Numbers show that statewide there were 4,431 reports of domestic violence filed with law enforcement agencies. That is an increase of 4 percent (4,253 incidents) from the same period a year ago.

"These domestic violence statistics indicate that we are dealing with a problem of epidemic proportion in Nevada," said Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa.

Throughout the country, private businesses, public agencies and unions will hold programs and distribute information to call greater attention to domestic violence prevention.

"Anything that anyone of us can do to break the cycle of violence is important," said Del Papa.

The Domestic Violence in Nevada report covers statistics for first and second quarters of 1999. Arrests were made in about 54 percent of the responses. The report indicates that children were present in about 38 percent of the reported cases, an increase of 2 percent from the same period in 1998.

Roughly 75 percent of the incidents statewide occurred in Clark County, where 68 percent of the state's population lives.

The author of the report, Veronica Boyd-Frenkel, said that while this number is high it could be a little misleading.

"Some of the rural jurisdictions of our state probably experience a certain degree of under-reporting, which indicates the need to support and strengthen victim services in these regions," she said.

Nevada now has 15 major domestic violence organizations which sponsor counseling, prevention education and victim shelter programs. In Carson City, Advocates to End Domestic Violence is available at 883-7654.

Del Papa said, "Domestic violence does not stay at home when its victims go to work. Domestic violence is recognized today as having tremendous impact on the workplace in terms of productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher risk of violence taking place on the job."

Special events are planned in communities across the state to bring domestic violence awareness to the forefront.

A Day of Unity candlelight march and vigil will be Monday at 7 p.m. at the Lampe Park pavilion. Participants will walk to the Family Support Council parking area where Judge David Gamble will speak. Others scheduled to speak include Father Bill Nadeau of Saint Gall Catholic Church, and a victim of domestic violence who will describe her experiences.

For information, call 782-1045 or Liz Bricker at 265-3539.