The 2012 Georgia Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project Annual Report discusses gaps in the community’s response to domestic violence and put forth recommendations for change in services, resources, policies, practices, information, collaboration, and training.

Georgia’s unfortunate distinction is to be ranked 10th nationally for the rate at which men kill women in single-victim homicides. Georgia has ranked among the top 20 states in this category for all 13 years the study has been conducted and among the top 10 for seven of those years.

This year’s report focuses on the complexity of domestic violence and the importance of taking a holistic approach to victim services. Some domestic violence cases do escalate to homicide with no prior involvement with the criminal justice system or social service agencies; however, our report reveals that victims and perpetrators of domestic violence more often interact with a variety of systems and agencies in the years leading up to the homicide. Unfortunately, the systems in place to respond to victims and perpetrators usually provide a single focus response and do not address the complex nature of this problem. Issues that frequently co-occur with or compound domestic violence go unresolved, leading to missed opportunities to address the life experiences of domestic violence victims and the barriers they face.

We encourage communities and service providers to develop partnerships and work to provide victims of domestic violence with comprehensive support that addresses all of the challenges they face in achieving safety.

Click here to read the report.

For Immediate Release:
March 5, 2012

MEDIA ADVISORY

Press Contact
Maggie Reeves
Office: 404.463.0350
Cell: 317.695.3371
maggie.reeves@gaaoc.us

Majority Whip Edward Lindsey Denounces 108 Deaths
Georgia Domestic Violence Deaths Examined, Progress Reported

WHAT:     House Majority Whip Edward Lindsey, Judge Peggy Walker, and Dr. Mesha Ellis will issue the Georgia Domestic Violence Fatality Review Report. With Georgia 6th in the nation for men killing women, the speakers will discuss recent domestic violence homicides and will share how Georgia is changing for the better. Rep. Lindsey will highlight HB 711, which awaits hearing in the Senate.

WHEN:     Monday, March 12, 2012, 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Capitol Rotunda, Atlanta, GA

WHO:       House Majority Leader Edward Lindsey; Judge Peggy Walker, Juvenile Court Judge of Douglas County and Chair of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence; and Dr. Mesha Ellis, Board Member of the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Assistant Professor, Morehouse School of Medicine.

WHY:        In two months, over 20 people have died because of domestic violence in Georgia. Last year, 108 Georgians died because of this epidemic. The Fatality Review Report offers solutions to current gaps in services as well as ideas for the prevention of these unnecessary tragedies.
 
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS, at 12:50 p.m.:
                  – House Majority Whip Edward Lindsey
                  – Judge Peggy Walker
                  – Nicole Lesser, MSW, LCSW, Executive Director, Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
                  – Greg Loughlin, Executive Director, Georgia Commission on Family Violence
                 
 

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-9jxlPrJvg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6vhuMVeUsA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsATsokFRlA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF-1I_4aaBs

WHAT: Attorney General Sam Olens will speak against domestic violence in Georgia, as the Georgia Commission on Family Violence and the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence host a press conference to release their 7th annual Domestic Violence Fatality Review Report. The report focuses on the gaps in response to domestic violence and ways to prevent future fatalities.

WHEN: 8:30-9:00am, Wednesday, March 23, 2011

WHERE: Georgia State Capitol, South Wing, 206 Washington Street SW, Atlanta, GA

WHO: Attorney General Sam Olens, Judge Peggy Walker, Chair of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, Nicole Lesser, Executive Director of the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Frank Mack, domestic violence fatality review chair for Bibb and Houston counties.

WHY: Georgia lost 129 citizens last year to domestic violence. Georgia ranks 10th in the country for its rate at which men kill women in single-victim homicides, most of which are domestic violence murders. Effective work in Georgia has helped to decrease this rate over two times more than the US’s average rate since 2003. However, much work remains to be done: the Report identifies current gaps in the state’s response and offers recommendations for the prevention of these unnecessary tragedies.

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS, at 9:00am.:

• Nicole Lesser, MSW, LCSW, Executive Director, Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Greg Loughlin, Interim Associate Director & Fatality Review Coordinator, Georgia Commission on Family Violence
• Frank Mack, Chair, Macon Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team
• *Attorney General Sam Olens, available for questions during press conference only
• Taylor Tabb, Fatality Review Project Coordinator, Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Judge Peggy Walker, Chair,

Press Contact:
Georgia Commission on Family Violence, Maggie Reeves, Office: 404.463.0350