Domestic Violence

Marylanders might soon be able to erase from the public record any evidence that they were falsely accused of domestic violence. A bill moving rapidly through the General Assembly would still allow victims' rights groups to view such information, a nuance that allowed the measure to pass without opposition in the House of Delegates. It is set for a Senate hearing today. "The bill allows us to continue to help victims," said Lisae C. Jordan of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Sen. Ben Cardin used a roundtable discussion in Prince George's County on Thursday to call on House Republicans to pass the Senate version of a bill that would reauthorize hundreds of millions of dollars of spending on domestic abuse shelters and violence prevention programs. Both chambers of Congress have passed legislation to spend $660 million a year over five years to combat violence against women -- funding programs that have been reauthorized twice before with bipartisan support.

Baltimore police are expanding a program aimed at curbing domestic violence, thanks to a $750,000 federal grant, officials said Monday. The grant will allow a pilot program, called the Domestic Violence Reduction Initiative, in three police districts - Northeastern, Northern and Southern - to be expanded to include the entire city, said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. "It's a problem that can't be solved by City Hall alone," she said. The grant would also provide overtime pay for the police department's Family Crimes Unit, which serves warrants and high priority protective orders and meets with victims at their homes.

The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence will receive a $1 million Department of Justice grant to expand a program that identifies women who are at high risk of domestic violence, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski said Wednesday. The statewide initiative trains police and hospital staff to assess the possibility of domestic violence homicides when they first confront victims and quickly direct those women to shelters or other services. Vice President Joe Biden mentioned the effort during an event in Montgomery County this month.

Victims of domestic violence across Maryland have a new team of advocates within the Maryland State Police. On Wednesday, State Police Superintendent Col. Marcus L. Brown announced a new position of domestic violence investigations coordinator at all 22 state police barracks. The specially-trained coordinators will be tasked with following up with victims, informing them of their legal rights - involving peace or protective orders - and putting them in touch with counselors, police said.

My cousin Cathy was a teacher. Four years ago this past August, she spent part of her Friday getting her classroom ready for her students. The next day, her estranged boyfriend showed up at her home unexpectedly and shot and killed her in front of two Montgomery County police officers, who in turn shot him. That day, I learned that no family is immune to the horrors of domestic violence. As we recognize Domestic Violence Awareness month this October, we take the time to remember women like Cathy, who have lost their lives as a result of domestic violence.

Maryland has received a $375,000 federal grant to help launch a program to curb domestic violence, state officials announced Wednesday. The state is one of six that received grant money, which it will use on  a program to help health care providers play a larger role in helping those who may have been victims of domestic violence. Under the program to launch later this month, health care providers will have access to training to help identify and assist domestic violence victims.

A Baltimore-based therapist who was disturbed by the response to the murder-suicide committed by a Kansas City Chiefs player has taken her cause national. Gretchen Tome, who works at House of Ruth, posted a petition on Change.org demanding NFL commissioner Roger Goodell mandate players convicted of domestic-violence related charges receive counseling. As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, more than 6,700 people had electronically "signed" the petition. Each time someone endorses the petition, an email is sent to Goodell and three members of his staff.

The entire governing board of Howard County's Domestic Violence Center is resigning to make way for a new, county government-selected group of volunteers after several weeks of turmoil, its president said late Monday Bernie Bradley, the board president, said all but six board members resigned Friday, and she and the remaining five others plan to step down as soon as Tuesday if county officials can find enough volunteers to replace them. Organization and county officials said victims of domestic violence will not be affected.

What would you do if your spouse punched out your television? What if he (or she) threw a table across the room and it smashed to pieces against the wall in a fit of rage? Even if you weren't touched during this episode of violence and intimidation, aren't you a victim of it? Do you deserve protection? By Maryland's narrow definition of abuse, you may not. It virtually all cases, it will take more than destroyed property, incessant and harassing text messages, or even your abuser coming to your home uninvited to convince a judge that you deserve the protection of the state.