Report on Domestic Violence Prompts Call For More Social Services

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KCBS)  -- A federally funded report of domestic violence cases in San Francisco found that most incidents either go unreported to authorities or are not documented in police reports.

The study by a non-profit ETR Associates, as detailed in the San Francisco Chronicle, found that more than 50 incidents of domestic violence that take place in the city each day involve children.

The health and research company’s study found that fewer than half the reported cases are prosecuted, a finding disputed by the district attorney’s office.

Social services, not criminal proceedings, are often what families need, said Debbie Lee of the Family Violence Prevention Fund.

“It does have an impact on kids to see one parent, the father, hitting the mom, can be devastating and then the child is then fearful of and very cautious of how they’re going to act,” Lee told KCBS reporter Barbara Taylor.

“What’s really needed is a system through counseling, crisis intervention with the kids, helping the caretaker, whoever that is, to better be able to respond to a child who’s been exposed to violence,” Lee said.

Both the district attorney’s office and the city police department have dedicated family services units that handle domestic violence cases, but Lee points out domestic violence cases are tricky because removing a child from a family can also be psychologically damaging to the child, especially if one of the parents is healthy and protective.

(jro)