Facing Cuts, a City Repeals Its Domestic Violence Law (Topeka, Kansas)

Source: NY Times

TOPEKA, Kan. — The startling vote came up at a City Council meeting here on Tuesday, provoked by a run-of-the-mill budget dispute over services that had spun out of control: decriminalize domestic violence.

Three arms of government, all ostensibly representing the same people, have been at an impasse over who should be responsible for — and pay for — prosecuting people accused of misdemeanor cases of domestic violence.

City leaders had blamed the Shawnee County district attorney for handing off such cases to the city without warning. The district attorney, in turn, said he was forced to not prosecute any misdemeanors and to focus on felonies because the County Commission cut his budget. And county leaders accused the district attorney of using abused women as pawns to negotiate more money for his office.

After both sides dug in, the dispute came to a head Tuesday night.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/us/topeka-moves-to-decriminalize-domestic-violence.html

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Anything from the typical right-wing "family values" groups? ANYTHING? Oh wait, the gay agenda is a worse threat.

except the four-letter, offensive kind.

Supposedly to ensure women's rights and safety.

The government can afford it there, but not in the U.S.

I have no idea if that would work better or not.

most state level crimes are prosecuted locally by county district attorneys.

That can't be good.

My condo neighbor is from there. I'm hoping she dies soon, from carrying around all that hate.

EVERYTHING.

Hint: the first sentence is totally misleading.

The article goes on to read:

By a vote of 7 to 3, the City Council repealed the local law that makes domestic violence a crime.

The move, the councilors were told, would force District Attorney Chad Taylor to prosecute the cases because they would remain a crime under state law, a conclusion with which he grudgingly agreed. The Council also approved negotiations to resolve the impasse.

Several victims of domestic violence spoke against the proposal at the meeting, questioning whether it would succeed in forcing the district attorney to resume prosecutions. “It is your responsibility to protect these people, and you??re failing,” said Matthew Agnew, 24, one such victim.

Eighteen people have been arrested on domestic violence charges since September and released without charges because no agency is accepting new cases. That has raised concerns among advocates for victims of domestic violence, some of whom gathered Tuesday outside government buildings to express outrage over the gamesmanship.

It's still criminal.

In your own quote: would force District Attorney Chad Taylor to prosecute the cases because they would remain a crime under state law.

Not effectively enforced, but still criminal.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5024767

And also, it's not "criminal" unless the guy gets convicted, which he won't be if the prosecutor doesn't do jack shit about it.

I'm not following this chain of logic....

Is it only criminal if you get caught, and are convicted?

Does that sum up your perspective?

That *does* register with you, right?

...stick the perpetrators in Church for a year...

Church, once a week and continue to beat the wife the rest of the week or jail.

...outrageous.

Source: The New York Times

TOPEKA, Kan. — The startling vote came up at a City Council meeting here on Tuesday, provoked by a run-of-the-mill budget dispute over services that had spun out of control: decriminalize domestic violence.

Three arms of government, all ostensibly representing the same people, have been at an impasse over who should be responsible for — and pay for — prosecuting people accused of misdemeanor cases of domestic violence.

City leaders had blamed the Shawnee County district attorney for handing off such cases to the city without warning. The district attorney, in turn, said he was forced to not prosecute any misdemeanors and to focus on felonies because the County Commission cut his budget. And county leaders accused the district attorney of using abused women as pawns to negotiate more money for his office.

After both sides dug in, the dispute came to a head Tuesday night.

By a vote of 7 to 3, the City Council repealed the local law that makes domestic violence a crime.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/us/topeka-moves-to-decriminalize-domestic-violence.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto

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Apparently, they think they have to endanger the victims in order to save them.

By repealing the law, they think that will force the county to keep prosecuting the cases because it is still a crime in Kansas, for the time being. Meanwhile, as the article says, 18 cases have been released since September because no agency will take new cases or file charges.

You'll see when you watch "reefer madness" stoned.

:sarcasm:

"Some critics pointed out that even as local governments are cutting deeper into important services, Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, is preparing a sweeping tax cut plan."

I live in Missouri but if I walk out my front door and go one block west I'm in Kansas. But in Kansas I can ride a motorbike without a helmet.

between the two Kansas Cities.

Defunding Planned Parenthood
Restricting Title X funds for family planning services
Insurers not permitted to pay for legal abortion services
No legal protection against domestic violence

Seriously, the next step will be to enslave, rape and forcibly impregnate females to fulfill the biblical mandate: breed and multiply. Then beat the crap out of them if they don't submit with a smile.

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Soon the 1% will be safe behind the walls of their gated communities with private police forces to protect them and the 99% of the rest of us will be on our own.

But hey if you ain't rich its your own fault according to Cain the pizza delivery man.

The 1% already don't give a damn if you have healthcare, a job, a future or a roof over your head. I'm sure they could care less if you have laws and police protection.