A panel of lawyers and scholars gathered at ASU’s law school Saturday to share information about domestic violence and how to combat the issue.
The conference, titled “Domestic Violence Prosecutions: A Fresh Look at Routine Responses,” featured a seven-speaker panel that discussed misconceptions of domestic violence victims and how to increase awareness of the topic.
Allie Bones, executive director of the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said domestic violence is often overlooked. She spoke on the panel and said the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s mission is to lead, advocate, educate, collaborate and end domestic violence in Arizona.
“We have a long way to educate people about domestic violence and their victims so we can hold perpetrators accountable,” Bones said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, domestic violence affects more than 32 million Americans per year.
Bones said it is incredibly challenging to change people’s attitudes about domestic violence because there are so many false impressions and questions about the issue.
Bones said people often misjudge or blame victims. Sometimes the victims are looked down on for staying with their abusive partner, she said.
Also, she said people tend to think that most domestic violence cases revolve around low-income families or minorities. This is not true, she said, because domestic violence can occur in every class or ethnic group.
To help people better understand the topic, she said that the coalition conducts a survey every year. The survey asks domestic violence awareness groups across the state to express what issues they are noticing. The coalition later develops curriculum from the survey responses.
“We want professionals to have the opportunity to recognize, respond and refer victims of domestic violence,” Bones said. Sarah Buel, clinical professor of law and director of the Diane Halle Center for Family Justice, also participated.
Buel, a former prosecutor and survivor of domestic violence, spoke about how many victims are afraid to testify in court because their partners threaten them. She shared her experiences with the audience, saying that she was one of the many women who were threatened by her husband.
She said that she is excited that many people are taking strides to reach out to victims instead of penalizing them. She added that victims have the right to feel safe in the community.
“When it comes to domestic violence prosecution we should stop asking why do they stay or cooperate with their partner. Instead, we should reach out to them,” Buel said.
The conference was hosted by the Diane Halle Center for Family Justice. Paul Schiff Berman, dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, said that the center was established at the beginning of the fall semester.
Berman said the conference’s goal was to share information about domestic violence. The panelists also talked about counseling, legal services, advice and referrals on domestic violence and other consumer protection issues.
“We are uniquely positioned to have scholars who are both perceptive and innovative [at the conference],” Berman said.
Berman said that the conference connects and bridges the gap between practitioners — people who are on the frontlines of domestic violence — and the scholarly community that is working on the same issues.
Reach the reporter at khillhou@asu.edu
