Victims of Domestic Violence to Be Armed With Cellular Phones

Extending a lifeline to victims of domestic violence, Ventura County prosecutors launched a program Tuesday to put cellular phones in the hands of battered women in danger of further attack.

In coming days, the district attorney’s office will start handing out the first of 30 donated phones, programmed to dial 911 or the D. A.’s victims services division with the touch of a button.

“Our No. 1 priority is to ensure the safety of victims,” said Judy Jenkins, one of two victims’ advocates who will administer the program--dubbed Cell Phone SOS--approved Tuesday by the county Board of Supervisors.

“What we’re hoping is that use of these phones will deter violent crimes,” she said. “Hopefully, just knowing that they are out there will make a stalker or someone else think twice.”

The program grew out of an incident earlier this year in which a woman was forced off the road in Simi Valley by a husband angry that she had obtained a restraining order against him.

As the man pounded on her car windows trying to force his way in, a passerby pulled over and used her own cell phone to call 911. The motorist then flashed the phone at the attacker, who bolted from the scene.

Afterward, district attorney’s officials began thinking up ways to help others in similar situations.

A call to Irvine-based AirTouch Cellular brought a promise of 30 phones, half of which were delivered Tuesday, individually tucked into hot-pink bags.

“This is a tool these victims can use to touch base with the D. A.’s office or to call 911 if they are being stalked or in threat of danger,” AirTouch spokeswoman Melissa May said. “It’s our hope that no one will ever need them. But if they do, the phones will be right there.”

Similar programs have been launched in San Diego, Washington and Florida in an effort to slow the spread of domestic abuse.

In Ventura County, domestic violence calls to law enforcement agencies more than doubled between 1990 and 1995--from 2,733 to 5,620. Last year, the district attorney’s victim services division assisted 7,627 victims of domestic abuse.

In many cases, victims’ advocates said, abusers will rip the phone out of the wall to isolate their victims.

Tuesday’s action helps circumvent such abuse, extending emergency communication to the most vulnerable domestic violence victims, advocates said.

“I think it’s terrific,” said Cecilia Cuevas, crisis intervention coordinator for the Ventura-based Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence. “I think it will be very helpful, especially in cases where you have victims in remote areas and not easily tied to utilities.”

The phones will be made available only to victims of violent crimes who have filed restraining orders against their abusers. They will be programmed in a way that allows callers to only dial 911 or the district attorney’s office.

While the program is aimed primarily at women, men are also eligible.

Crime victims will be encouraged to carry the phones at all times and will be allowed to hang on to them as long as they remain in danger.

If the program proves successful, prosecutors said they hope that AirTouch will donate more phones and air time to help victims of domestic abuse.

“For the people who have these phones, it will provide a lifeline to law enforcement during the time they are considered to be in imminent danger,” said Kevin McGee, chief assistant district attorney.