Voices Against Violence
Giving Circle in Collaboration with
The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham and Area Attorneys
2010
Alabama ranks 12th in the nation for intimate partner homicides. Therefore, The Women's Fund invests in systemic changes that reduce the incidence of domestic violence (DV) in our community and the number of homicides resulting from domestic violence. Voices Against Violence, now in its 4th year of oversight by The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham, is an initiative comprised primarily of female attorneys, TWF Board Members and countless community friends. Convened in 2006, the Voices Against Violence Giving Circle is committed to five years of fundraising and grant-making with the goal of reducing the incidence of domestic violence in our community by 25% by the year 2015.
In spite of intervention services, victims’ rights laws, safety education for women and girls, and heroic efforts on the part of domestic violence service providers, the incidences of DV have diminished only slightly, and the number of homicides has stayed constant.
Voices Against Violence (VAV) has become a powerful group of impassioned women, who have taken on the challenge of changing the system so that perpetrators are held accountable and there is swift intervention when the crime is at the misdemeanor level to prevent DV homicides. To date The Women’s Fund has invested over $327,000 to reduce the incidence of domestic violence by taking the following actions:
Problem: Prior to this initiative, there was no separate docket for domestic violence in the Birmingham Municipal Court.
Solution: Established a docket for DV in the Birmingham Municipal Court, presided over by Judge Agnes Chappell, and for the first time ever, funded a YWCA Advocate for that Court. Because 2.5 days per week are now dedicated to DV cases, the Birmingham Municipal Court has been able to clear a backlog of over 800 DV cases. VAV also funded nationally sanctioned specialized training for DV judges.
Problem: The criminal justice system has had difficulty holding perpetrators accountable because subpoenas went unserved, and victims routinely were not notified of hearings. This resulted in high recidivism rates because of an overall lack of ability to prosecute cases effectively and to make records accessible across 34 municipalities.
Solution: Leveraged a federal Law Enforcement Grant to initiate a shared information system to enable judges to see perpetrators’ prior arrests across all municipalities. VAV also purchased a laptop computer for the Bessemer Domestic Violence Court Judge so that she can instantly access perpetrators’ prior arrest records. In 2010 the ACADV received an additional $30,000 to provide technical assistance to Birmingham Municipal Court to continue striving for best practices.
Problem: Prior to VAV, there was little follow-up on perpetrators, and little coordination among law enforcement officials, court officials, city officials and the community.
Solution: Along with partner, Verizon Foundation, VAV has funded the policy analyst’s position for the Jefferson County Family Violence Coordinated Community Response (CCR). VAV has funded the lead agency, the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV), to provide training for courts and law enforcement, and has purchased digital cameras for the Birmingham Police Department to be used at crime scenes. The ACADV used VAV’s funds as the local match to attract federal money to: 1) purchase a shared information system so local courts could look up perpetrators’ previous convictions and 2) for seed money for warrants and subpoenas to be served in Operation Hit Back.
Problem: DV has been considered a “women’s issue” by our culture.
Solution: VAV sponsored a Men’s Breakfast engaging author and male DV advocate, Jackson Katz, who spoke at the this event. Participants joined the Verizon Wireless national campaign, “There’s no excuse for abuse.” These men came to understand that instead of asking “Why doesn’t she leave?” the question should be “Why does he batter and what can we do?” Twelve local corporations are instituting Domestic Violence Safety Policies in the workplace and have created a PSA featuring a man telling other men to get help instead of using violence.
Problem: Because of the language barrier, Latina victims of DV have had no advocate in the legal system.
Solution: VAV is offering the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Central Alabama (HICA) a challenge grant of $4,500, extending through 2011, to help fund the hiring of a part-time bi-lingual court advocate, a case manager, or other professional who works with Latina women who need support when leaving a DV environment.
Problem: There was a critical lack of communication among DV service providers resulting in serious roadblocks in domestic violence services.
Solution: Now in its 4th year, The Women’s Fund is continuing to fund the YWCA Court Advocate in Birmingham Municipal Court and to fund the policy analyst position for Jefferson County Family Violence Coordinated Community Response (CCR), which works with professionals in the domestic violence arena to align policies. This ensures that victims are served effectively and that perpetrators are held accountable. The Women’s Fund is also working with Jefferson County Family Court to provide technical assistance to identify juveniles whose behavior stems from domestic violence in the home. “As a result of the collaborative, coordinated effort, we are trying more cases and convicting more perpetrators,” said Judge Agnes Chappell, Birmingham Municipal Judge.
Accolades for Voices Against Violence
The Women’s Fund’s Voices Against Violence initiative was selected to receive the Critical Impact Award from The Council on Foundations, one of two awards made nation-wide in 2009. President Steve Gunderson of the Council said, “The Women’s Fund has demonstrated the commitment and vision needed to address this important issue affecting society. Because of its innovative leadership and bold vision, Voices Against Violence rose to the top among local initiatives due to its broad implications for social change.”
The Women’s Fund needs your support to continue this important work to reduce the incidence of domestic violence and resulting homicides. Please get involved and help support this heroic work.
