[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

  (Mr. BROWN of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, in the city of San Bernardino, 
CA, located in my district, police tell me that 1,814 cases of domestic 
violence were reported in 1993. That is an average of over five cases 
of domestic violence in one city of my district in just 1 day. In the 
city of Fontana, there were 1,157 reported incidences of domestic 
violence last year. In this city where 16 homicides occurred within 
that period, 2 of them were a result of domestic violence. Police in 
the neighboring city of Rancho Cucamonga report 295 such crimes; Colton 
reports 433.
  Something is wrong.
  The national statistics of domestic violence are astounding and 
appalling to me. But when I hear these numbers from my own district, 
the impact is ten-fold. Even more disturbing is to realize that these 
are just reported cases--the majority of women, men, and children opt 
to suffer silently, afraid or ashamed to come forward. Unfortunately, a 
tragic generational cycle is perpetuated as children grow up in homes 
where they are abused and become abusers themselves.
  In addition to the physical and emotional devastation experienced by 
victims of domestic violence, another grave facet of this epidemic is 
its burden on the criminal justice system. The cost in terms of 
resources and manhours is immense. Police in my district tell me 
domestic violence calls are particularly unstable and dangerous because 
of the intensity of such situations. Many involve cases of alcohol or 
drug abuse and use of weapons such as guns, knives, and clubs. A large 
majority of the perpetrators are booked, but most return to their 
families and are repeat offenders.
  We must take action. We need to create policies and provide resources 
that facilitate the working together of health care and social workers, 
law enforcement officers, the courts and governments to overcome 
domestic violence. The violence against women provisions included in 
the crime bill will begin to do this. But it is not enough--it is just 
a start. We need to offer alternative means of support for victims so 
that a life without their abusers is possible. We need tougher laws 
that effectively punish and reform abusers and protect victims of abuse 
when they seek help and justice.

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