The chairwoman of the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission opened the commission’s meeting Thursday by praising fellow members for giving voice to domestic violence victims.
Chairperson Charmaine Caccioppi said that “no greater community health crisis is facing us because domestic violence is devastating.”
The Women’s Policy and Research Commission collects facts and statistics about the well-being of women. It also studies the conditions pertaining to the employment, health and safety of Louisiana’s women.
The commission consists of state representatives, state senators, members of non-profit organizations and representatives from the governor’s office on Women’s Policy.
The members reviewed policies that both directly and indirectly …show more content…
This is not to say that domestic violence in Louisiana is solved, Kim Short, chair of United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s Public Policy committee, said.
“We are actually in a nation of crisis,” Short said. “Almost every mass shooting that has taken place across the country were carried out by men with a history of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a precursor to more heinous acts of violence.”
Short said that domestic violence in Louisiana is not considered a crime of violence, which allows abusers the option for early release and the ability to communicate with the victim while awaiting trial.
District attorneys also allow abusers to plea down from domestic abuse battery to simple battery, Short said. This means the abuser does not have to face jail time or have his firearms dispossessed. This put the women who report abuse in harm’s way because the abuser is likely to retaliate.
However, Caccioppi has hope that the commission will be able to change these laws during the upcoming legislative session. She said that the fact that many domestic violence-related policies passed last year means that this is a bipartisan
Chairperson Charmaine Caccioppi said that “no greater community health crisis is facing us because domestic violence is devastating.”
The Women’s Policy and Research Commission collects facts and statistics about the well-being of women. It also studies the conditions pertaining to the employment, health and safety of Louisiana’s women.
The commission consists of state representatives, state senators, members of non-profit organizations and representatives from the governor’s office on Women’s Policy.
The members reviewed policies that both directly and indirectly …show more content…
This is not to say that domestic violence in Louisiana is solved, Kim Short, chair of United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s Public Policy committee, said.
“We are actually in a nation of crisis,” Short said. “Almost every mass shooting that has taken place across the country were carried out by men with a history of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a precursor to more heinous acts of violence.”
Short said that domestic violence in Louisiana is not considered a crime of violence, which allows abusers the option for early release and the ability to communicate with the victim while awaiting trial.
District attorneys also allow abusers to plea down from domestic abuse battery to simple battery, Short said. This means the abuser does not have to face jail time or have his firearms dispossessed. This put the women who report abuse in harm’s way because the abuser is likely to retaliate.
However, Caccioppi has hope that the commission will be able to change these laws during the upcoming legislative session. She said that the fact that many domestic violence-related policies passed last year means that this is a bipartisan