SAFE HOUSE • Juab
County Attorney, Jared Eldridge, and Annette
Lovell, county victim's advocate, attended Nephi
City Council to request the city not charge the
center for utilities as the city's contribution to
a safe house for abuse victims
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
A much needed safe house for victims of domestic abuse
is being established in Nephi.
Juab County Attorney, Jared Eldridge, and Annette
Lovell, county victim's advocate, attended Nephi City
Council to request the city not charge the center for
utilities as the city's contribution to the program.
City council members agreed the plan to develop a safe
house in the community was a good one and were willing to
offer support.
Mayor Chad Brough, however, said he thought it would
be wise not to waive the utility charges.
"I would not want to set a precedence by waiving the
utility bills," said Brough. "Instead, I would prefer that
the city make a monetary donation for you to use at your
discretion."
Eldridge said he had asked Lovell to take on the job
of working as a victim's advocate representing the county
attorney's office. Amy Taylor was selected as a victim's
advocate from the county sheriff's office.
In the past, said Eldridge, when a victim of abuse was
removed from the home for safety reasons, they were,
including children, taken to the county jail. The jail,
while a good place for those arrested, was not really the
best place for victims.
The county obtained some grant money to begin the
victim's advocacy program. That grant money has been used
mostly for salaries.
Lovell and Taylor had been called out for people who
needed an advocate in 26 cases, to date.
"I carry a kit in my car which has information a
protective order and a stalking packet in my car at all
times," said Lovell.
When she and Taylor are contacted, they respond
immediately and provide the advocacy which the victim might
need.
Eldridge said the Jan. 7 slaying of Ogden architect
Brett Richards had a profound effect on his brother, Reed
Richards, a former chief deputy in the Utah Attorney
General's Office, who also was on the same tour of
Guatemala.
In addition, the relating of that experience by
Richards had a profound effect on Eldridge.
"Reed Richards said he had worked in the court system
with victims but had never understood the trauma a victim
goes through," said Eldridge.
Richards had suffered after seeing his brother
murdered and had reacted with mental confusion.
"That is from a man who is well-seasoned in dealing
with victims of crime and abuse," he said.
Victims of abuse often stay in the bad relationship
because they have no where else to go, One reason a safe
house is needed is because women are often intimidated by
the abuser and are afraid. At times, their lives are in
danger. Sometimes they are injured and need medical
help.
The same is true of children who are afraid and
worried as well as, at times, physically injured.
Lovell said there was one recent case in the community
where three little children had to be removed from their
home. They were taken to the jail.
"They were already traumatized and they did not have a
warm and cozy feeling at the jail," she said. She and Taylor
did their best to make those children comfortable and to
reassure them but a home is a better place to accomplish
that task.
The victim's advocacy program is non-profit and is
under the umbrella of the Women In Crisis Center. The fee
for the home's use will come from that source.
The safe home would have, in addition to shelter,
hygiene kits, blankets, and other supplies for those in need
including a place to fix a meal.
There had been a lot of community support for the
advocacy program, said Lovell. For example, she contacted
local motels about the need to set up some emergency kits
for victims who are taken from their home without even a
toothbrush. Within hours, local motels had donated little
soaps, small tubes of toothpaste, toothbrushes and other
supplies.
The organization is obtaining use of the Cowan home
which is located just east of Kimo's Kamera on Main
Street.
The home will also have an interview room where those
who have been abused may talk about what has happened and
where their options can be explained.
"This is a safe house," said Lovell. "Victims will
typically stay at the facility for only a few hours, two to
three, and if further time or protection is needed they will
be transferred to shelters in Provo or Richfield."
Following the shelter, with money from the crime
victim reparation fund, victims can even been relocated.
"We just need a place to keep them safe for a few
hours," she said. "The local safe home will provide that
service."
Eldridge said the facility may be needed as a safe
home two to three times in a week and then may not be used
for a month.
"We will set up an office for Amy Taylor and Annette
Lovell there," he said.
There may be a contract with a psychologist who would
provide counseling for victims who would also have office
space at the home.
Lovell said materials for the program will be stored
at the safe house.
Eldridge said that domestic violence occurs among all
age groups, genders, races, educational backgrounds,
denominations, and socioeconomic groups.
According to a Domestic Violence Incidence and
Prevalence Study performed by Dan Jones & Associates,
Inc., April-May 1997, one in five women in Utah relate that
their children witness or hear verbal abuse, while one in
fourteen report their children witness or hear physical
abuse.
"I wish I could tell you that this will happen less
and less but I am afraid it will happen more and more," said
Lovell.
|
