October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and a great time to announce
the re-formation of the Sacramento County Domestic Violence Coordinating
Council (DVCC).
The Office of the District Attorney along with representatives of the
Sheriff’s Department, Police Department, members of the health care
community and community based organizations have come together in an effort
to combat domestic violence. The focus of the DVCC will be to serve as the
umbrella under which all agencies working on the issue of domestic violence
can work toward common goals, to wit, reduce the incidents of domestic
violence, provide a safety net for those whose lives are impacted by
domestic violence and secure justice for the victims of domestic violence.
When the DVCC was originally formed in 1996 it met as an informal committee.
The new DVCC is more formal in that they will now report to the Sacramento
County Board of Supervisors. This new relationship with the Board of
Supervisors will give greater strength and depth to the Committee and will
help ensure that the Committee’s recommendations are implemented. The need
for a strong, coordinated approach to the devastation caused by domestic
violence has never been more important, as tragically illustrated by the
recent homicide committed in broad daylight of a State employee and mother
of three.
The first meeting of the re-formed DVCC is on Wednesday, October 26, 2005,
at the District Attorney’s Office John Price Conference room from 12:00 p.m.
to 1:15 p.m. Present at the meeting will be a former victim of domestic
violence, Donna Hurst. This year Mrs. Hurst is celebrating 10 years of
freedom from violence and fear. In recognition of her 10 years of freedom
she had a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in honor of the Sacramento County
District Attorney and Sheriff’s Departments. Mrs. Hurst will present this
flag to District Attorney Jan Scully at the start of the DVCC meeting. Since
living a life free from being beaten, terrorized, and stalked, Mrs. Hurst
has co-founded Sacramento Area Stalking Survivors, and participated in many
projects addressing domestic violence.
Contact person: Lana Wyant, Special Assistant Deputy District Attorney
(916) 874-5907
