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Introduced Version House Resolution 13 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. R. 13


(By Delegates Webster, Brown, Hatfield, Guthrie, M. Poling, Mahan, Fleischauer, Anderson, Argento, Ashley, Border, Barker, Browning, Burdiss, Campbell, Cann, Caputo, Cowles, Craig, Crosier, DeLong, Duke, Ellis, Ennis, Evans, Fragale, Gall, Hamilton, Hartman, Higgins, Hrutkay, Hutchins, Iaquinta, Kessler, Klempa, Kominar, Lane, Long, Longstreth, Manchin, Marshall, Martin, Michael, Miley, J. Miller, Moore, Moye, Palumbo, Purdue, Pethtel, Pino, D. Poling, Porter, Proudfoot, Rowan, Schadler, Schoen, Shaver, Shook, Spencer, Staggers, Stalnaker, Stemple, Swartzmiller, Tabb, Talbott, Tansill, Tucker, Varner, Walters, Wells, Williams, Wysong and Yost)




Recognizing that domestic violence is a significant problem affecting West Virginia families and communities.

Whereas, All persons have a right to be safe in their homes with their families; and
Whereas, During the fiscal year 2006-2007, 15,619 persons were served by one or more of the fourteen (14) licenced domestic violence programs in the state; and
Whereas, According to the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence, three (3) out of every four (4) people that sought services from these programs were women; and
Whereas, A recent study released by the West Virginia Criminal Justice Services, Statistical Analysis Center found that although women comprised fifty-one (51) percent of the state population, they accounted for Seventy-five (75) percent of all domestic violence victims; and
Whereas, The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cite domestic violence as a major health problem in the country with medical cost surpassing 5.8 billion dollars; and
Whereas, Domestic violence is also a major law enforcement complication within West Virginia, accounting for eighteen (18) percent of all crime victims in 2005 according to the Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center; and
Whereas, According to statistics from the West Virginia State Police, in 2005 6,533 incidents of domestic violence ended in the arrest of an offender; and

Whereas, Statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicate that thirty (30) percent of all assaults on law enforcement officers in 2005 were committed while the officers were responding to domestic violence emergencies; and
Whereas, According to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, in the last ten (10) years, eighty-one (81) law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty while responding to domestic violence emergencies; and
Whereas, According to the West Virginia State Police crime report, in 2005, thirty-four (34) homicides in our state were the result of domestic violence; and
Whereas, Recent statistics from the West Virginia state police indicate that six (6) children died as a result of domestic violence in 2005; and
Whereas, A published and often cited study of family violence by Strauss, Gelles, and Smith by the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire found that boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults; and
Whereas, Domestic violence affects people of both sexes, all races, ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic classes; and

Whereas, Domestic violence can be deterred, prevented, and reduced, through a large network of private, public, and non-profit entities working together to form a coalition providing social, legal, medical, educational and protective services for victims of domestic violence; and
Whereas, for twenty-five (25) years, the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence has been working to provide safe space, quality services, and systematic change to assure families options for building lives free from violence; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the House of Delegates recognizes domestic violence as a significant problem in West Virginia and commits itself to addressing this problem with the seriousness that it deserves and working to achieve solutions that deter, prevent and reduce domestic violence.
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