Senate Committee released bill establish a DV task force/NJ Domestic violence panel proposed
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
By MATT DUNN
Staff Writer
MILLVILLE -- We'll never cure domestic violence, said Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew on Monday. But we can make things better.
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee has released a bill sponsored by Van Drew and Assemblyman Nelson Albano that would establish a domestic violence task force.
The task force would look at ways to improve the state's policies on domestic violence.
The last time such a group was established was 1998.
"Eight years is a long time to go without a full-scale review of the laws and policies meant to protect victims of abuse," said Van Drew, in a press release Monday.
The idea to create a domestic violence task force came after a meeting between Van Drew, Albano and Myrna Durand, a Vineland resident and sister of domestic violence victim Tina Labriola.
Labriola's story is tragic.
The 35-year-old woman had filed a set of restraining orders against her ex-boyfriend William Severs in 2002.
But the restraining orders did Labriola no good, according to Van Drew.
Shortly after getting engaged to another man, Labriola was shot dead by Severs.
Severs was convicted of first-degree murder in 2005 and sentence to life in prison in connection with her death.
"This is a typical example of something not working," Van Drew said.
The domestic violence task force would look at ways to strengthen legislation pertaining to restraining orders, according to Van Drew.
It would look at ways to improve education to children and teenagers about domestic violence.
This isn't the first time Van Drew has used a task force to investigate a pressing local issue.
A prison violence task force, established shortly after a Jan. 1, 2005 riot at Bayside State Prison, has already met three times.
A presentation of its findings will take place next with legislation to follow.
Although a task force isn't the most direct road to change, Van Drew said it's important to help make sure your facts are straight before putting together laws.
"It's not like you're afraid to be proactive," he said. "But you don't want to do what's wrong.
"You want to introduce legislation that's functional."
http://www.nj.com/news/bridgeton/local/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1147772507126380.xml&coll=10
Forumer™ is Voted #1 Free Forum Hosting provider
Build your own community today with the largest message board hosting company.