NCJ Number
138322
Journal
Judges' Journal Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1992) Pages: 2-8,29-32
Date Published
1992
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The Westminster, Colorado Municipal Court established an accelerated domestic violence docket, or "fast-track" domestic violence program.
Abstract
Before the fast-track program, a domestic violence defendant would usually be released with a summons to appear; these defendants often stayed with their victims, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, received a short suspended jail sentence, and were required to complete a counseling program. Temporary restraining orders were rarely issued and bond hardly ever required to be posted. However, despite the difficulties in prosecuting wife abusers, the court began to recognize the cycle of violence in which abuse victims are often caught, the phases of which are tension building, the acute battering incident, and the post-violence stage in which victims are often reluctant to prosecute. The fast track program was developed to encourage the complaining witness in her initial resolve to prosecute the batterer. The fast-track program planners tried to balance the defendant's right to interview witnesses and prepare an adequate defense against the unusual nature of domestic violence cases. After a year's experience with the fast- track program, it seems that the program is more beneficial to both defendants and victims than a slower approach. However, for the program to be effective, chief judges need to assume a leadership role in dealing with the bar association, police, court administrators, district attorneys, public defender, service providers, probation service, and jails.