[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NEW WEAPON FOR FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
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HON. NEWT GINGRICH
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, July 30, 1996
Mr. GINGRICH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to
inform my colleagues of a new initiative in the fight against domestic
violence.
Six municipal police departments in Cobb County, which is in the 6th
District of Georgia, are being equipped with special instant camera
packages for use in their police cars. The camera packages, which are
being purchased with donations as part of a public/private partnership,
will be used to document cases of domestic violence, leading to
undeniable proof of abusive activity.
As we are all aware, domestic violence can cause irreparable harm
with the most devastating effects on our children. Children who grow up
in an abusive home environment often demonstrate abusive relationships
later in life with their spouses or children. It's important that we
break the cycle of violence that is so damaging to the families of
America.
I believe that the use of the camera packages will be of great
assistance to police officers in their fight against domestic violence,
and I commend Solicitor General Ben Smith, the Polaroid Corp., and
citizens and civic groups like the Acworth Carrie Dyer Woman's Club for
their efforts in this endeavor. I would encourage all of my colleagues
to support similar programs in their own districts.
[From the Marietta Daily Journal, Apr. 25, 1996]
Using Pictures to Prosecute
police use cameras to battle abuse
(By Dennis Smith)
In the early morning of July 20, 1994, Glen Troy Bramlett
entered the Paulding County home of his estranged wife,
Nancy, and their three children, bent on making good on a
previous threat to kill his wife.
Armed with a shotgun, a .44-magnum pistol, a knife and
nearly three gallons of gasoline, the Smyrna man murdered his
wife of 22 years with two 12-gauge shotgun blasts as the
victim slept next to their 2-year-old daughter.
The slaying occurred just days after Nancy Bramlett filed
for divorce, seeking an end to a long and abusive marriage.
The toddler was not injured, but evidence at the scene
indicated Bramlett intended to kill his children as well. But
those plans changed, and Bramlett shot and killed himself
instead.
On Wednesday morning, 16-year-old Jessica Bramlett
recounted the story of her shattered family to about 20
elected officials and about 30 city and county police
officers, as well as a handful of domestic violence victims.
The group had gathered in a Cobb County courtroom to kick
off a fundraising campaign, as both county and municipal
officials are focusing their efforts on domestic violence
with plans to equip every police cruiser in the county with a
new weapon--a Polaroid Instamatic camera.
Through a public/private partnership with Polaroid,
officials hope to raise funds to buy the cameras through
donations.
In honor of Mrs. Bramlett and other victims of domestic
violence, authorities are hoping both individuals and
businesses will contribute to the Nancy Bramlett Domestic
Violence Memorial Fund--which is set up to fund the purchase
of at least 230 Polaroid police packages.
The price tag for each camera package--which includes
special lenses, film and other tools for police to gather
domestic violence evidence--has been reduced from more than
$200 to $59.95.
The Polaroid Corp. also has agreed to train officers in use
of the cameras, which officials say will be used to take
pictures of battered women to be used in the prosecution of
the men who inflicted the wounds.
The officers present Wednesday got a crash course in use of
the cameras and were allowed to practice their skills on
models, whose faces were made up with fake bruises and bloody
cuts.
Cobb Solicitor General Ben Smith, whose office prosecutes
most cases of domestic violence and is spearheading the
fundraising effort, said the cameras are an important tool in
making the case against a wife beater.
``Cases of domestic violence are the most difficult to
prosecute,'' said Smith, referring to victims who often
refuse to cooperate with authorities after the initial
incident.
As an assistant district attorney in 1991, Smith prosecuted
Bramlett for making terroristic threats, as the man told his
wife he would shoot her when she picked up their children
from an elementary school in Smyrna. When Bramlett was
arrested at that time, he was armed with two handguns.
Smyrna police had also investigated incidents of spousal
abuse at the couple's home.
``Nancy did not want to prosecute,'' Smith said. ``All she
would tell me was, `Mr. Smith, you simply don't understand.'
''
``Hard evidence is the way to solve these problems,''
Superior Court Judge Mary Staley told the group of officers.
``When you show [the pictures] to a person and say, `You did
this!'', it's a very powerful message.''
Once each police car in Cobb and its six cities is equipped
with a camera, Cobb County will be the first community in
Georgia and one of only 15 nationwide which have cameras in
every police cruiser, said Barbara Poremba, a marketing
representative with Polaroid.
Only a handful of other Georgia communities use instant
photography in documenting domestic violence injuries, she
said.
Angela Straker, who survived a gunshot wound to the head
that was inflicted by her husband, suffered years of torment
at the hands of Charles B. Straker. She told the officers
that victims are often reluctant to come forward because they
are in an embarrassing situation.
``It's very difficult. It's much different than trying to
stop a cigarette habit . . . it's like brainwashing,'' said
Ms. Straker, who was nearly paralyzed and still has a bullet
lodged in her head.
``Whenever you're in a situation where you're being choked,
beaten,'' she said, ``it's humiliating. It has destroyed my
whole life, my whole family''.
Mrs. Straker, choking back tears, added that when her
husband is released from his 20-year prison sentence, her
``nightmare'' will begin all over again.
Those who wish to contribute to the camera fund can call
Jennifer Christian in the Cobb Solicitor's Office at 528-
8554. Smith said those purchasing a camera can dedicate that
purchase in memory or honor of a family member or friend, and
an inscription will be placed on that camera.
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