District Attorney’s Office looks to reinstate Domestic Violence Unit
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — During the Commissioners Court meeting on April 29, the District Attorney’s Office received unanimous approval to apply for the “Office on Violence against Women” grant funded by the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to the grant submittal form, the DA’s Office is requesting to be funded $500,000 over a three-year period starting October 1. Funds from the grant would go towards reinstating a Domestic Violence Unit to prosecute cases of family and intimate partner violence.
The DA’s Office would partner with the nonprofit organization Center Against Sexual and Family Violence (CASFV) to provide survivor and victim services.
CASFV will also provide trainings to individuals who handle domestic cases such as judges, attorneys, law enforcement and counselors to better understand the dynamics of domestic violence.
“We’re looking at trauma informed care interviewing versus interrogation, the dynamics of domestic violence, just kind of how to build a rapport and what that kind of looks like because we all have different roles, right? It’s not that they’re not doing it well or don’t have the ability to do it. It’s just our outcomes are our goals are very different,” said Sandra Nevarez Garcia, executive director of CASFV.
Data from the El Paso Police Department shows that the number of reported family violence incidents in El Paso between 2019-2023 increased 33 percent.
Garcia said the number of reports may not match up to the realistic total.
“You know, statistics always say that about 10% of people report, right? But when you have those reports come in and you’re talking to those survivors, there’s been years and years of abuse unfortunately,” said Garcia.
For people like Dr. Elizabeth Richeson, the revitalization of the Domestic Violence Unit comes as a relief after she and her son worked hard to raise awareness against dating violence after her granddaughter, Jennifer Ann Crecente, was murdered.
“She was 18 years old. She hadn’t even seen this guy for two years… She obviously wasn’t aware of any danger that she was in. It was premeditated murder, he had her set up, shot her in the back of the head, and her body was found two days later,” said Dr. Richeson.
In honor of her granddaughter, Dr. Richeson and her son Drew Crecente founded Jennifer Ann’s Group to help people recognize the warning signs of intimate partner violence.
Garcia said a major component of the reinstating of the Domestic Violence Unit will be accountability.
“You speed, you get a ticket, you physically assault someone, you should be arrested and charged and hopefully you go through the judicial system. Same thing with this situation is that if you do mistreat your partner and you’re being abusive and you’re threatening, you should be held accountable,” said Garcia.
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship or looking for support services, the Center Against Family Violence has a 24-hour “Crisis Hopeline” at (915) 593-7300 or 1-800-727-0511.
More resources can also be found on their website.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
