Violence Against Women

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Violence Against Women: Impact on Public Policy

Approval of DPW Regulations Secures Critical Protection For Domestic Violence Victims

On April 22, 2010, the Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) approved a Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) proposed regulation that “officially codifies the Family Violence Option (FVO)” in Pennsylvania. The FVO regulations will insure that Pennsylvania provides critical support and protection to domestic violence victims who need TANF.

Adopted by Congress in 1996, the FVO allows states to facilitate access to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) for needy victims of domestic violence. The FVO was adopted because of research demonstrating the importance of public assistance in achieving economic independence from abuse but recognizing the risks of further abuse that welfare requirements may impose.

Pennsylvania adopted the FVO in 1997 and established a task force to assist DPW in its implementation. The Women’s Law Project, a member of this task force, is pleased to see the approval of these regulations, the culmination of many years of cooperative and productive work with the Department of Public Welfare. Consistent with the federal FVO, the regulations provide for the identification of victims of domestic violence who may be in need of help, the referral to appropriate services, and the waiver of TANF and General Assistance requirements that would place a victim at further risk of domestic violence, make it more difficult to escape domestic violence, or unfairly penalize a victim because of domestic violence. (See comments to IRRC by the Women's Law Project, Community Justice Project, and Community Legal Services.)

Philadelphia Adopts Legislation Providing Unpaid Leave for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking

On January 5, 2009, Philadelphia joined the ranks of thirteen other jurisdictions that provide unpaid leave for victims of domestic and sexual violence to take steps to protect themselves from further violence without risking loss of employment. The ordinance passed unanimously by Philadelphia City Council on October 23, 2008, and was signed into law by Mayor Michael Nutter on November 5, 2008. The ordinance amends Section 9-1103 of the Philadelphia Code to require all employers to provide employees unpaid time off from work to obtain medical attention, victim services, counseling, relocate or take other steps to increase their safety and seek legal assistance or participate in legal proceedings without retaliation. Terry Fromson, Managing Attorney of WLP, along with other victims' advocates, had appeared before a Philadelphia City Council in support of Bill 080468. See copy of Terry Fromson’s testimony before City Council.

Philadelphia Domestic Violence Task Force/Law Enforcement Committee

The WLP's Executive Director, Carol Tracy, and the Philadelphia Police Commissioner, Sylvester Johnson, co-chaired the Domestic Violence Task Force, a group charged with improving service delivery and coordination of services for domestic violence victims. The Task Force surveyed existing service gaps and obtained city funding to consolidate the multiple domestic violence hotlines within Philadelphia and to double the shelter beds for domestic violence victims and their children. The group acquired a $1 million grant from the Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women to improve Philadelphia’s criminal justice response to domestic violence. This funding purchased new training for police, computerized the emergency protection from abuse court process and expanded the criminal justice system to more effectively address domestic violence. See a full copy of the Domestic Violence Task Force City of Philadelphia Year One Report

Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Committee Oversees DOJ Grant

The Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Committee, co-chaired by Carol Tracy of the WLP, has continued the work of the Domestic Violence Task Force and is focused on the improvement and coordination of domestic violence services in the City of Philadelphia. The committee is responsible for overseeing a second, two-year grant from the Department of Justice, which the WLP prepared for the City of Philadelphia. The grant is used to improve coordination of services and law enforcement response to domestic violence.

Pennsylvania Domestic Violence Task Force

In 2008, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare invited the WLP to serve on the Pennsylvania Domestic Violence Task Force, sponsored by the Department of Public Welfare, to help develop recommendations for legislative and government responses to domestic violence.

Pittsburgh Police Department

In 2008, the western Pennsylvania office of the Women’s Law Project worked with other local women’s organizations in the “Pittsburghers Against Domestic Violence” coalition. Through the coalition, organizations committed to ending domestic violence successfully advocated to amend the Pittsburgh City Code to include a Domestic Abuse Policy for the Bureau of Police.

The issue came to the forefront in June 2007, when three police officers accused of committing violence against family members were promoted in the police department. The Women’s Law Project joined other area advocates for women in urging the passage of an ordinance dealing with domestic violence committed by police officers.

The new policy prohibits the hiring of individuals with histories of violence or the promotion of officers with pending abuse investigations. If a call comes in alleging abuse against a family member by a police officer, the police supervisor must go to the scene and, if the officer is arrested, confiscate his or her service weapon. The officer may be reassigned and will be intensely monitored by the police department.