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LOCAL | STATE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
TASK FORCE FROM PAGE A1 state’s domestic violence problem is unknown. The task force discovered there’s no uniform reporting system. Some of the recommendations are aimed at
SUMTER FROM PAGE A1 cases always be prosecuted by deputy solicitors or prosecutors, something that is already being done in Sumter, Held said. South Carolina is one of only four states that allows law enforcement to prosecute domestic violence cases, according to Haley. Finney said in jurisdictions where law enforcement prosecutes its own cases, it can be a problem to get a conviction. “Nine times out of 10, the police officer is prosecuting a case against a well-experienced defense lawyer,” Finney said. “But, the domestic violence problem in South Carolina has been so bad, we thought we could have our conviction rate go up if we did not have police prosecuting their own cases.” He said the state has given solicitors additional money in the last several years to hire more prosecutors. Held said there is now a special domestic violence court within Summary Court in Sumter. “I like to keep the domestic violence cases all together,” she said. “We have our own court, and no other cases
supplying reliable numbers. The Legislature passed a law in June that increased penalties for domestic violence convictions and gave prosecutors more options for punishment. Haley asked her group to come up with systemic, cultural changes to combat the problem. “We want to make sure anyone from
come unless they are domestic violence related. In other cases, everyone is together in Magistrate Court whether it is disturbing the peace or driving under suspension, and we don’t do that.” Held said Sumter Police Chief Russell Roark also has a designated detective to handle domestic violence cases, and the sheriff’s office has a similar arrangement. “We can have somebody in court helping the victims and helping the police officers get prepared and get the cases prosecuted,” she said. “We have a collaborative approach.” That helps put Sumter ahead of the curve, Roark said. “Many of the things in the task force report are already in play,” he said. The task force report also recommended more victims’ advocates, shelters and safe housing, a point Roark echoed. He said additional housing support would be a great help to victims of domestic violence as well as law enforcement. “Many victims have no resources to lift themselves outside of their situation,” he said. “It is something we spend an inordinate amount of time with.”
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a hairdresser to a dentist to a doctor can recognize the signs” and knows what to do with that information, she said. At least 135 people from dozens of agencies, nonprofits and associations participated in the task force. Once new guidelines are created, Haley said, she’ll create a checklist for sher-
Finney said additional tools to deal with mental health issues would help in the fight against domestic violence. “South Carolina has been one of the poorest states in terms of dealing with this issue, and I think it falls in line with the reduction in our communities in mental health type resources,” he said. “I think a lot of these cases have a mental health component. People are frustrated; people are depressed; people are stressed out by things that happen on the job or in the community, and they take that home and take it out on family members.” He said it is important to make sure people in the system get treatment “If a person acts out violently toward a family member or a child, it is something that can be repeated over and over unless we educate that person and give them treatment,” he said. He said there are some cases that can qualify for a dismissal, but only if the offender completes a treatment program and if the treatment program is available. “This task force is the first step in seeing how we can go back to solving the problem before it becomes a problem,” he said.
iffs and police chiefs across the state and ask them to sign a letter committing to implement them. “I think law enforcement is doing all they know to do. We have no uniform processes on what they should be doing,” she said. “They do what we tell them to do. What we need to do now is educate them.”
BADGES FROM PAGE A1 Donors do not have to be affiliated with any of the sponsoring departments, but can choose to vote for an agency when they give blood at the donation center today and Thursday at the Sumter County Library on Friday, he said. Donations will be taken at the Sumter Donation Center, 1155 N. Guignard Drive, today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Friday, donations will be taken at the Sumter County Library, 111 N. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Duggan said the donor week is like the play-off season before the super bowl on Friday, the last day of donor week. Although walk-ins are welcome at the local donation center, Duggan encourages donors to schedule an appointment, especially on Friday. According to a news release from the Red Cross, the department with the most votes will be honored with a commemorative plaque. Chasity Humphries, Red Cross account manager, said about 175 people donated blood during last year’s
WANT TO SIGN UP? Enter code BattleoftheBadges at redcrossblood.org
competition, and she hopes more donors will come out to support the local departments. She said the goal on Friday is to collect 58 units and to see more than 60 people donate at the library. Humphries said she is appreciative of the help from the five departments, especially going into the Labor Day weekend when people may have plans to go out of town. Humphries said last year’s winners, the fire department, might have a head start as quite a few firefighters made their way to the donation center on Monday, but it’s too early to determine the outcome. Anyone interested in donating can call the donation center at 803-458-8821 or visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “BattleBadgesSumter” to make an appointment to donate on Friday. For more information about the Battle of the Badges contact Joey Duggan at (803) 720-7654 or Chasity Humphries at (843) 992-4808.
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