Taking Spousal Abuse Seriously

Increasing recognition of the large number of spousal abuse cases has rightly prompted increasing training for doctors, counselors and police, who confront the problem on the front lines.

In Westminster, police are using federal funds to crack down on abusers and get help for the victims and their children as soon as possible. Helping spouses exit an abusive relationship obviously is important, but it often is difficult for a physically or psychologically battered spouse to break free.

Westminster police are listing the names and ages of all children present at every domestic abuse call. That will let children be referred to special counseling if needed. Schools can also be alert for problems experienced by children from abusive families.

The city also is establishing prosecution teams similar to those that have pioneered successful anti-gang prosecutions. A deputy district attorney and domestic violence specialist will work with the Police Department full time to help ensure that no cases fall through the cracks and convictions are more likely.

Police in Fullerton and Santa Ana have been seeking additional charges of child endangerment when batterers abuse a spouse in front of children. Those departments and the ones in La Habra and Huntington Beach also have trained emergency response teams of volunteers to ride with officers on domestic violence calls and offer immediate counseling to victims.

That sort of assistance to those suffering abuse is important; victims need reassurance that they will be helped by people aware of the violence they have suffered. They also need assistance in overcoming the trauma.

O.J. Simpson’s alleged abuse of his wife, Nicole, was spotlighted at his murder trial and helped focus more attention on the problem of battered spouses. But even before that, California was a leader in enforcing laws against spousal abuse and prosecuting violators.

Abuse of wives or, less usually, husbands strikes at the heart of the family, the basis of society. It demands attention from friends, neighbors, churches and schools, not just police and prosecutors. The efforts of Orange County’s police departments to bring greater resources to combating the problem are warranted and deserve support.