Reports of domestic violence on the rise Police cite population growth, tougher laws and increased awareness

Reports of domestic violence on the rise
Police cite population
growth, tougher laws and increased awareness

By natalie m. vena

Staff Writer

 

FFor local communities in Middlesex County, it appears that the number of domestic violence incidents reported to local police departments has increased from 1998 to 1999.

According to the annual Uniform Crime Report released by the state police, East Brunswick, Monroe, Old Bridge, Sayreville and Spotswood have all seen their numbers rise, with Monroe showing the highest increase of 53.84 percent and Spotswood showing the lowest increase of just 6.15 percent.

Local police departments have cited population growth, increased awareness and tougher legislation as the main reasons for the increase in the number of cases reported.

According to Jackie Marich, executive director of Women Aware Inc. of Middlesex County, a service agency for victims of domestic violence, better training of local police and professionals, such as doctors and nurses working in hospital emergency rooms, has improved communications between professionals and victims seeking help.

"There has always been domestic violence. It’s in the Bible — it has never gone away," Marich said. "But now people know they have a right to help. Good reporting of domestic violence cases by police has led to [higher] numbers."

The increase in cases reported in local towns may be attributed to police recognizing and reporting more domestic violence incidents.

According to Marich, a state law passed in 1994 required police and judges to receive training regarding domestic violence bi-annually. Police participate in training programs two times per year and judges receive training every other year.

In addition, a state law passed in the early 1990s enabled police officers to sign complaints against suspected abusers. Prior to the law, only a victim could sign a complaint against an abuser. The majority of police departments questioned agreed that in the past women were afraid to file complaints against a husband or live-in partner because of the repercussions they might receive. Now, the burden has been lifted off the victim, and police can sign a complaint against a suspected abuser. Police claim that this may be another reason for the increase in reported cases.

Also, following the lead of Minnesota, a state that set the ground work for domestic violence, according to Marich, New Jersey domestic violence laws made arrests mandatory should police have probable cause when responding to a call. Examples of probable cause include bruises on one of the parties, a house that has been torn-up, or a child or children that appear to be in a state of fear. These are examples of that would cause police to arrest the persons suspected of abuse right on the spot.

Prior to the law, it was at a police officer’s discretion whether or not to arrest a person on the spot. Many times police officers tried to diffuse the situation at the home.

From 1998 to 1999, reports of domestic violence in Old Bridge have increased a little more than 20 percent.

"It is hard to say why the numbers went up," said Old Bridge Capt. Jeff Robbins. "A couple of years ago, several offenses were added to domestic violence offenses including stalking, terroristic threats and kidnapping."

Robbins believes awareness and better reporting, not an increase in actual cases, may be the cause for the increase.

In Sayreville, the cases of domestic violence reported went from 188 in 1998 to 208 in 1999. That is not much of an increase for a town with a population of roughly 50,000 people. According to Sgt. John Pachkowski, spokesman for the Sayreville Police Department, the majority of calls received involving domestic violence are from young people in their 20s who are living together.

"A lot of people moving into the town are from different cities and may not have been aware of the help that is available to them," Pachkowski said.

Helmetta reported a decrease of 33.33 percent in domestic violence cases last year. According to Lt. Cully Lewis, a 15-year veteran of the Helmetta Police Department, a better economy and less financial strain on families may be one reason for the significant decrease.

"Finances and children are the major reasons for the domestic violence calls we receive," said Lewis. According to Lewis, the town receives about one or two calls a month.

"When we can, we try to solve and diffuse a situation [at the home]," added Lewis. "But when there is an obvious injury or if a restraining order has been violated, according to law we have to make an arrest."

Milltown also showed a decrease in domestic violence cases for the year, which were down 11.11 percent. According to Sgt. Clifford Kumpf, liaison to the county on domestic violence, it is difficult to pinpoint one specific reason for the decrease.

"We have a lot of repetitive cases," said Kumpf. "One week a couple loves each other and another week they hate each other."

Sgt. Tom Karaniewsky of the South River Police Department agrees with Kumpf. South River cases are down a little more than 30 percent and Karaniewsky maintains that it could be due to a combination of factors.

"A majority of our cases are repeat offenders. It takes a while for a court to address these types of cases," he said.

Kumpf attributes a myriad of reasons that could lead to domestic violence in a home.

"It is strange, we run into all kinds of problems," said Kumpf. "Gambling, alcohol, a cheating spouse or even a full moon could tick people off."

When it came to pinpointing a reason for the increase in cases in local towns, the majority of police agreed that awareness is probably the No. 1 cause.

Towns with larger populations have domestic violence response teams that have trained volunteers on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to counsel and meet with victims.

"As a police officer, we take domestic violence very seriously," said Karaniewsky.

The number of cases reported in Monroe Township for 1999 nearly doubled, from 26 in 1998 to 40 in 1999. According to Sgt. Kenneth Huard, a 15-year veteran of the police department, the biggest factor possibly contributing to the 53.84 percent increase is the "tons of development" going on in the town over the last few years.

Huard states that there has been a significant number of single-family homes built in the town in recent years.

According to Huard, domestic violence is prevalent throughout the community, from lower income families to higher income families.

"The type of people reporting domestic violence cases runs completely through the population," said Huard.

East Brunswick has also seen a significant increase in domestic violence cases, 21.38 percent in 1999.

"That is not a lot for a town this size," said Patrolwoman Jane Matarangelo, liaison to the county on domestic violence. "For a town of about 50,000 people, an increase from 173 cases to 210 is not a lot," said Matarangelo.

Matarangelo also cites an increase in population as one of the main causes for the increase in reported cases.

According to Karaniewsky, a lot of the cases that South River police come across involve what is referred to as a "cycle of violence."

"Violence is a learned experience through childhood; it is a learned behavior," he explained.

Karaniewsky has taught domestic violence issues to prospective police officers for five years at the Middlesex County Police Academy. Through his experience as a police officer, he has put abusers in touch with mental health counseling, and alcohol and gambling counseling. He has also put women in touch with Women Aware in the effort to help women and children escape abusive situations.

According to Marich, of Women Aware, 50 percent of the women that contact her were referred through local police departments. A number of victims either come from domestic violence crisis response teams or from nurses working in hospital emergency rooms, and the third biggest source is through word of mouth.

According to state law, the location of Women Aware’s facilities and the names of their clients are kept confidential for safety reasons.

Women Aware has a 24-hour hot line that handled 8,000 calls last year. The group offers counseling, support groups and child therapy programs to families in need.

Women Aware serves Middlesex County only, but there are numerous programs throughout the state that specialize in domestic violence, added Marich.