By Jackie Jadrnak
Albuquerque Journal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Law enforcement officials aren’t always contacting victims of domestic violence when their abusers are released, so the state may hire a private company to do the job.
New Mexico is seeking a two-year federal grant for $1.3 million to set up an automated telephone system to inform victims when perpetrators are due to be back on the street.
At a recent Legislative Finance Committee hearing, Sen. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, wondered why someone in local law enforcement can’t just pick up a phone and call. “I don’t understand why there’s such a problem notifying people,” he said.
Apparently it’s not that easy.
State law says victims of domestic violence are supposed to be told when their abusers are back on the street.
“Unfortunately, that (law) is often ignored,” according to Sharon Pino, the governor’s domestic violence czar.
Under victims’ rights laws, such notifications must be made for a variety of crimes and not just domestic abuse. Sometimes people have moved or changed phone numbers. Time spent on those notifications takes time away from other law enforcement and victim support efforts.
State prison officials do a pretty good job of reporting inmate releases, according to Pino, but victims often don’t hear when offenders are released from county jails.
Jail officials generally notify the arresting agency of an inmate’s release, and that agency contacts the victim. It’s not clear where the ball is being dropped in these cases.
Sherry Spitzer, interim director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said an abuser who is released often will be angry and want to retaliate against the accuser.
“The moment a woman does something that shows the person he no longer has control, she is in serious danger,” Spitzer said.
Frank Casaus, domestic violence coordinator for the State Police, said he thinks metropolitan areas probably do a good job of complying with the notification law. But many jails, especially in rural areas, are understaffed and have high employee turnover, he said, so workers may not have the time or training to notify the proper people.
“We do our part,” said Capt. Heather Lough, spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque. She said the jail consistently does inform arresting agencies about releases.
Dona Ana County has turned to Appriss, a Louisville, Ky., company that provides the data bank and automated phone calls to inform victims of an offender’s release. It’s the only New Mexico community that has done so, according to Pino.
“It would tie up the Sheriff’s Department to find a victim to be notified,” and the contract freed deputies for other duties, according to Donna Richmond, executive director of La Pinon, a rape crisis center.
Richmond worked with the Dona Ana County sheriff and district attorney a few years ago in adopting the system. It had some startup glitches, but has been working well since then, she said. The system is funded by local agencies, such as the sheriff’s and district attorney’s offices.
The Administrative Office of the District Attorneys is submitting a proposal for federal funding to set up a similar system statewide. If funded, the contract would go out to bid, according to Randy Saavedra, executive director of the office.
He estimated that once established, it would cost law enforcement and related agencies no more than $500,000 a year to keep it operating.
In the meantime, advocates for victims of domestic violence may ask lawmakers next year for changes in the notification law, making it clear who is required to notify victims.
“I think the law may be a little misunderstood,” Spitzer said.
Copyright 2008 Albuquerque Journal