Cope Volunteers Comfort Victims Of Domestic Violence

Think about all the times people around you have offered support in your time of need and how that encouragement helped you move on.

Volunteers for the Sheriff’s Community Oriented Police Effort (SCOPE) offer that support to domestic violence victims every day.

Community policing volunteers contact victims of battering immediately after the incident, while the perpetrator is still in jail. Intervention is most successful then, while the victim is feeling vulnerable, said Carolyn Morrison of the YWCA’s Alternatives to Domestic Violence. “That is when you have the greatest chance of eliciting change,” she said.

Many women are hesitant to press charges against batterers because they fear retribution, or because they believe the abuse is their fault. “(Victims) need to hear a voice that says ‘No, this is not OK. There is NO excuse for him to hit you,” Morrison said.

In 1995, there were 5,524 reported incidents of domestic violence in Spokane County. And last year, numbers rose to 6,214, according to YWCA Domestic Violence Program statistics.

There are several Spokane county SCOPE offices: Rockford, Espinola (Medical Lake), Central Valley, East (Otis Orchards), Edgecliff, University, Greenbluff (Colbert), Fairwood, West Valley and Deer Park.

Deer Park SCOPE has been the most active in connecting with victims, said Lisa Beckman, SCOPE coordinator. Three Deer Park volunteers - Doug and Melany Box and Peggy Altringer - have taken on the work, handling up to 250 cases per month. “They are very dedicated to the cause, and work every weekend,” said Beckman. All three volunteers have full-time commitments during the week. They spend their free time and weekends working at the SCOPE office.

The volunteers contact victims and guide them through the legal process, acting as their advocates.

But it’s not merely a case of contacting victims, said Morrison. Typically, victims move around a lot and volunteers must investigate to find them. Once they are located, the volunteers immediately inform victims of their options.

Besides supporting victims, the other goal of the program is to get perpetrators into treatment for their behavior. “Everyone deserves a second chance (and) an opportunity for change,” Morrison said. “But if the abuse continues, they should throw the book at them.”

The volunteers accompany victims through the legal system, and act as a community presence. “The victims need to feel empowered. With this (community) support, it helps create zero tolerance in the community,” said Morrison.

The real turning point in the project came with the support of Sheriff John Goldman, said Morrison. He helped create greater community awareness, and provides special training to deputies on how to handle domestic violence calls. “He is very committed to this issue, and has been a tremendous help to us,” she said.

The program currently has 12 volunteers, but needs additional help.

For help, more information, or to volunteer, call 326-2255.

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