By ROBERT RIZZUTO

Special to the OBSERVER

In an effort to reduce domestic violence rates across New York and the nation, Sen. Charles Schumer is pushing legislation that would tackle the issue on multiple fronts.

According to statistics released by the Democratic senator Thursday, the local population is at the top of the list with Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties ranking second and fifth respectively with the highest per capita domestic violence rates in the state.

"We must send an unequivocal message that violence against women - and all domestic violence - has no place in our society. And we also must aggressively and relentlessly pursue those who commit these awful crimes," Schumer said. "If you look at the New York numbers, it is clear that we need to address this problem now more than ever, and to make sure that our law enforcement agencies have the resources they need, and that victims get the help they deserve."

Schumer said that although domestic violence can't be pinpointed to one specific cause, he believes that increased resources for law enforcement can help reduce overall rates and limit the possibility of a repeat offender.

"With local governments strapped for cash and property taxes already too high, it's an opportunity for the federal government to step in and lend a hand with an ongoing problem," he said. "Part of the plan is to allocate an additional $35 million to the (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) grant, which local governments could apply for to create specialized domestic violence units in police departments."

In the Jamestown, the Project Crossroads program aims to educate community members about domestic violence while investigating all allegations of abuse and working to assist the victims. It is an investigative branch of the Jamestown Police Department that works with The Salvation Army's Domestic Violence, Rape and Sexual Assault program, and frequently refers victims to the local shelter.

Since the JPD program is limited in scope to the city of Jamestown, this grant could potentially make funding available to other law enforcement agencies in the region since domestic violence penetrates jurisdictional and socioeconomic borders.

Schumer said that enforcement is extremely important because studies show that batterers who are not apprehended are more likely to become repeat offenders and that suspects who flee are less likely to be arrested unless law enforcement has sufficient specialized, trained staff.

"It is critical to catch offenders after the first offense, to prevent the problem from escalating," he said. "A misdemeanor arrest may turn out to be homicide protection."

Another facet of Schumer's overall plan involves pushing the Improving Assistance to Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims Act, which makes amendments to the Violence Against Women Act, including enacting a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison for aggravated sexual abuse.

The third point Schumer made doesn't directly affect residents of New York, but could go far in protecting victims of domestic violence in other states from being denied health coverage simply because they are victims.

The Security and Financial Empowerment Act introduced in October by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., would protect people in Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wyoming, where it is still legal for health insurance companies to deny coverage or charge higher premiums for an applicant with a suspected history of domestic violence.

"For too long, domestic violence victims have been victimized twice - first by their abusers and then again by financial and insurance constraints that punish them for their abusers' crimes," Murray said. "As we work to reform our health care system to eliminate discriminatory practices against victims of domestic violence, we also need to look at the larger financial system and ensure that no victim ever has to choose between personal safety and economic security."