Domestic violence: Marin's most prevalent violent crime

Thank you for this informative article. In 2005 the CA Attorney General's Office issued a report called "Keeping the Promise: Victim Safety and Batterer Accountability". The statistics in the report revealed that Marin County issued the lowest number of domestic violence restraining orders after hearing of all CA counties with a population of 100,000 or more, and it had the third lowest rate of issuance of such orders in the entire state. Clearly, the crimes were being committed, but the orders for protection were simply not being issued by the courts. It would be interesting to know where Marin rates now. We have a new family law presiding judge (Faye D'Opal); there is increasing awareness of the dismal Marin domestic violence statistics via reports earlier this year by the DA and the Marin Women's Commission, and increasing press coverage of the problem; and there is a legislative audit pending. Hopefully steps are truly being taken to improve the handling of all domestic violence cases, in and out of court, regardless of the wealth or ethnic background of those involved. Early and effective intervention is so important for the protection of children--because children who grow up in violent households often repeat the cycle of violence, either as a victim, or a perpetrator. From the statistics in this article, it would appear a lot of children in Marin are growing up in violent households.

1. Is the woman from Mill Valley, or Marin City. If the latter , why not state it?

2. It cuts across all socioeconomic classes, but educated white people have the lowest rates of violence.

3. I truly believe our invasive legal system has made the problem worse.

4. I also believe some women try to portray the problem as more pervasive than it really is? Why, I don't know, but some seem to enjoy talking about the problem--a little too much. Kind of like when Dr. Kevorkian got that gleam in his eyes after giving a press conference. We need education in our immigrant communities, but white men have been "hit over the head" with the bad behaviors of our grandfathers. What this obviously deranged individual did
was an aberration of statistics. White women can put on sweatshirts and
yell through Bull Horns, but do you homework and just because you life
was hell--wallowing in the misery of others is pathetic. Canvas the communities
where the real problem exists. While your advancing the Woman's suffrage movement, remind your audience verbal abuse and down right vicious statements are not a female right. Yea, even in Marin, I'm been shocked
at the verbal abuse women have directed towards their children, husbands and attractive women.
Some of it's beyond nasty and evil.'Nothings worse than a woman's scorn'
needs to stay a cliche--a bad one. Let's inform people of the facts; not
unfounded, or skewed hyperbole.

5. While your at it, lets tell the whole story; Gay men and women have a
huge domestic violence problem. Politically correct Jen conviviality left
that out.

I'd like to see a breakdown of the Marin statistics. For example:

======
Caucasion
Black
Asian
Hispanic
Arabic
Other: xxxxx
=====
Age
===
City
=====
Occupation
Spouses occupation
=====
Kids
=====
High School
Some College
AA
BA
Advanced degree
=======
Income
======
Own
Rent
=======
Religion

Break it Down wrote:

I'd like to see a breakdown of the Marin statistics. For example:
======
Caucasion
Black
Asian
Hispanic
Arabic
Other: xxxxx
=====
Age
===
City
=====
Occupation
Spouses occupation
=====
Kids
=====
High School
Some College
AA
BA
Advanced degree
=======
Income
======
Own
Rent
=======
Religion

I'd also add --

=========
Straight
Gay

Break it Down wrote:

I'd like to see a breakdown of the Marin statistics. For example:
======
Caucasion
Black
Asian
Hispanic
Arabic
Other: xxxxx
=====
Age
===
City
=====
Occupation
Spouses occupation
=====
Kids
=====
High School
Some College
AA
BA
Advanced degree
=======
Income
======
Own
Rent
=======
Religion

I'd also add: who cares?

Break it Down wrote:

<quoted text>
I'd also add --
=========
Straight
Gay

And

Drugs/Alcohol involved:

Keepin up with the Jonses is hard work

Book Em Danno wrote:

<quoted text>I'd also add: who cares?

We should all care who reports domestic abuse in this county, given it is "Marin's most prevalent crime".

Get REAL wrote:

<quoted text>
We should all care who reports domestic abuse in this county, given it is "Marin's most prevalent crime".

Thank you, Get Real. I stand corrected. Even Joe Montana threw an incompletion every now and then.

Hey all you Dudes---obviously all of you with the sarcstic,stupid remarks are males! I live in Mill Valley and have for many years. I have been a victim of domestic abuse. I got out 30 years ago. For those of you who don't know,when you are a middle class white woman you don't usually bring your situation to the attention of the courts.You don't even tell your friends. The closest you go to looking for help is a restraining order---which back in the 70's the enforcement of the law was always on the mans side.So we may not hit the front pages but there are plenty of us who are/were married to abusive, white,middle class, educated males.Back in the day, as they say,there was no help for a battered wife and children such as MAWS so I guess you could say we have come a long way.

Alcohol is involved in most of these cases. It's legal. Marijuana is not. How many DV cases are fueled by marijuana? Tax it and pay our bills. Stop the hypocrisy.

"The statistics in the report revealed that Marin County issued the lowest number of domestic violence restraining orders after hearing of all CA counties , and it had the third lowest rate of issuance of such orders in the entire state. Clearly, the crimes were being committed..."Says who? And by whom?

One reason Marin has such a low number of R.O.s is that there is a high rate of education here. DV is prevalent with less educated people, especially immigrants. Educated white people don't go around beating their wives, it's too obvious and too expensive. There may be more subtle forms of it like not buying her that new car every year but that's not violence. Concentrate on the Central Americans and the Blacks, that's where the action is, stop painting the whole county with the actions of a small subset of people taken advantage by activists clamoring for more grant money.

Funny, when the laws were balanced to make the Primary Agressor acountable, more women started to get arrested. Org's like N.O.W. cried foul; seems they can dish it, but not take it???? Let the nasty responses begin!

spicey wrote:

Hey all you Dudes---obviously all of you with the sarcstic,stupid remarks are males! I live in Mill Valley and have for many years. I have been a victim of domestic abuse. I got out 30 years ago. For those of you who don't know,when you are a middle class white woman you don't usually bring your situation to the attention of the courts.You don't even tell your friends. The closest you go to looking for help is a restraining order---which back in the 70's the enforcement of the law was always on the mans side.So we may not hit the front pages but there are plenty of us who are/were married to abusive, white,middle class, educated males.Back in the day, as they say,there was no help for a battered wife and children such as MAWS so I guess you could say we have come a long way.

Well, I don't mean to be mean, but those in abusive relationships MUST enjoy it... why else would they EVEN allow it?

Albert wrote:

"The statistics in the report revealed that Marin County issued the lowest number of domestic violence restraining orders after hearing of all CA counties , and it had the third lowest rate of issuance of such orders in the entire state. Clearly, the crimes were being committed..."Says who? And by whom?
One reason Marin has such a low number of R.O.s is that there is a high rate of education here. DV is prevalent with less educated people, especially immigrants. Educated white people don't go around beating their wives, it's too obvious and too expensive. There may be more subtle forms of it like not buying her that new car every year but that's not violence. Concentrate on the Central Americans and the Blacks, that's where the action is, stop painting the whole county with the actions of a small subset of people taken advantage by activists clamoring for more grant money.

Violence cuts across all ethnic and socioeconomic levels. What appalls me is that women STAY in the relationships instead of just hitting the high road. This is ONE reason why it is imperative for women to go to college - so they have choices.

Those who stay in abusive relationships, DO play a part in the ongoing abuse. If you choose to stay with an abuser, than you face the consequence. More abuse.

Every woman I met that has been beat goes back to her abuser...there are those who accept it ...and maybe even those who invite it...it always takes two to tango.

"It's happening in Ross, it's happening in Novato, it's happening in Belvedere, it's happening everywhere," Berberian said.
"It's just very tragic - the cost to the family and to our community."
The critics claimed Marin's family law court was a cesspool of cronyism and corruption that favored well-connected lawyers in child-custody disputes.
"What is a criminal issue is being decided in the family courts and it's inappropriate," Kauffman said."Perhaps if these cases were not handled in family court, and they were handled in criminal court, maybe they would be taken more seriously," she said.
I agree.
Violence upon innocence is unacceptable, especially when that person is a trusted family member, a father. Murder is murder.
I tried to stop domestic violence/child abuse, but MCFCS made risky rulings and increased harm/danger instead.
I received a TRO from MCFCS, was refused a permanent RO.
"Your Mommy is dying soon".~Children told by father.
Stalking of me and my children picked up, the court failed to protect us.
I installed security cameras and system, helped secure property, but did not stop other stalking/phone calls/intimidation/threats of me and children's bodies.
Then MCFCS granted more custody to the children's father who was stalking us and harming the children. Increased to 50/50, the children suffered many serious injuries MCFCS there after. Hard evidence was ignored and our endangerment was not taken seriously.
We are lucky, as the threats to myself and my children by their father, have not yet become our reality, but the risk is our reality thanks to MCFCS. My children's father violates court orders frequently and endangers the children, but i have no way to enforce the pieces of paper. Other then to use them as paper airplanes to protect us and he laughs often at his own disregard for the children's well being and flagrant abuse of the system.
Our hearts go out to brave Danielle Keller, who achieved a great feet in obtaining custody of "Samantha" and obtained R.O's, to then be killed just 2 days later, after she followed all the right channels is symptomatic of the futility of the present system.
Thank you IJ for putting this out into the world, may this deep ugly wound in our society soon be healed.

`Deliberate action`. That is exactly what it is. Please no tears for the animal that strikes a woman. Mitchell does deserve one thing, however. The death penalty.

`Deliberate action`. That is exactly what it is. Please lefties, no tears for the creep who strikes a woman. Mitchell does, however, deserve one thing. The death penalty.

Jeff wrote:

Alcohol is involved in most of these cases. It's legal. Marijuana is not. How many DV cases are fueled by marijuana? Tax it and pay our bills. Stop the hypocrisy.

Yes, I agree.

Often too, new assignment in AA, is used to obtain custody by known violent alcoholics and works.

Also, zero address for diagnosed mental illness, even when that known illness creates violent tendencies, no safe guards exist to protect the families.
Unless you call the sherade of "Kid's Turn" and "co-parenting counseling" address..that requires the whole family attend therapy, while the abuser still abuses them..violence upon innocence is unacceptable.