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.