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“ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S3698 on April 6, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY
Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, domestic violence is often the crime that victims don't want to admit and communities don't want to discuss. However, almost 15,000 domestic violence victims in South Dakota last year secured help from the Department of Social Services. This represents a low estimate of the number of South Dakotans who are victims of domestic violence, as many victims fail to seek help.
Since enactment of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, the number of forcible rapes of women have declined, and the number of sexual assaults nationwide have gone down as well. Despite the success of the Violence Against Women Act, domestic abuse and violence against women continue to plague our communities. Consider the fact that a woman is raped every 5 minutes in this country, and that nearly one in every three adult women experiences at least one physical assault by a partner during adulthood. In fact, more women are injured by domestic violence each year than by automobile accidents and cancer deaths combined. These facts illustrate that there is a need in Congress to help States and communities address this problem that impacts all of our communities.
Last year, I was pleased to join the successful effort to reauthorize the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. In addition to reauthorizing the provisions of the original Violence Against Women Act, the legislation improves our overall efforts to reduce violence against women by strengthening law enforcement's role in reducing violence against women. The legislation also expands legal services and assistance to victims of violence, while also addressing the effects of domestic violence on children. Finally, programs are funded to strengthen education and training to combat violence against women.
This year, I am cosponsoring legislation, S. 540, that would establish a permanent Violence Against Women Office in the Department of Justice. This bill would guarantee that the office will continue its work into future administrations and ensure that the Congress' goals regarding domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking will be carried out.
As a State lawmaker in 1983, I wrote one of the first domestic violence laws in South Dakota which dedicated a portion of marriage license fees to help build shelters for battered women. I was also a cosponsor of the original Violence Against Women Act in 1990 in the House of Representatives. Even at that time, many people denied that domestic violence existed in our state. Finally, in 1995, the President signed legislation to strengthen federal criminal law relating to violence against women and fund programs to help women who have been assaulted.
Since the Violence Against Women Act became law, South Dakota organizations have received over $6.7 million in federal funding for domestic abuse programs. In addition, the Violence Against Women Act doubled prison time for repeat sex offenders; established mandatory restitution to victims of violence against women; codified much of our existing laws on rape; and strengthened interstate enforcement of violent crimes against women.
The law also created a national toll-free hotline to provide women with crisis intervention help, information about violence against women, and free referrals to local services. Last year, the hotline took its 300,000th call. The number for women to call for help is: 1-
800-799-SAFE.
I am hopeful that, with my support, the Senate will approve S. 540 this year so that we can continue fighting domestic abuse and violence against women in our state and communities.
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