Violence Free Florida! Ending Abuse—Improving Lives Domestic Violence Annual Report 2005-2006 Jeb Bush, Governor Lucy D. Hadi, Secretary “Floridians have demonstrated their commitment to end domes- tic violence in our state through coordinated community efforts. We can help victims of domestic violence by continuing to pro- mote and support programs that hold offenders accountable for their crimes.” Governor Jeb Bush Jeb Bush State of Florida Governor Department of Children and Families Lucy D. Hadi Secretary Dear Colleagues, The Florida Department of Children and Families is once again proud to present to the Governor and the Florida Legislature the 2005-2006 Domestic Violence Annual Report as mandated by s. 39.904, Florida Statutes. The Domestic Violence Program is committed to supporting the department’s vision to “deliver valued services to our customers” by developing partnerships with commu- nity and faith-based organizations throughout Florida. We take seriously the need to promote ideals that support the wise use of resources the Governor and Legislature has entrusted our agency to expend in order to prevent domestic violence. This year’s annual report features many achievements of the Department of Children and Families in supporting our community–based partners’ activities and programs aimed at assisting victims of domestic violence. The department demonstrates the core values and strong leadership necessary to maintain our ethical responsibility to victims of domestic violence by providing public awareness and education, funding for Florida’s 41 domestic violence centers, and technical assistance to our customers. Throughout the past year, we were able to provide emergency shelter to 14,087 women and chil- dren, 138,961 individuals received counseling services, and the statewide Domestic Violence Hotline received 136,663 calls. Through generous funding from state and federal revenue, Florida received more than $28 million, spearheading the department’s goal of providing services that enhance the opportunity to provide safe shelter and ap- propriate services for victims of domestic violence. The department has long been committed to serve the needs of the less fortunate, and as we know, the aftermath of hurricanes Dennis, Wilma, Katrina and Rita have left an indelible mark on Florida’s families, heightening our awareness of those victims already vulnerable to domestic violence. I sincerely wish to thank the Gov- ernor, Legislature and partners for your continued financial support and dedicated leadership as we unanimously resolve to protect and support strong and self-suf- ficient families in Florida. Sincerely, Lucy D. Hadi Secretary Department of Children and Families 1317 Winewood Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700 Mission: Protect the Vulnerable, Promote Strong and Economically Self-Suffient Families, and Advance Personal and Family Recovery and Resiliency Table of Contents Executive Summary 5 Legislative Update 7 • Florida's Domestic Violence Laws 10 Domestic Violence Centers 13 • Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence 17 Batterer Intervention Programs 23 Fatality Review Teams 37 Community Education and Public Awareness 41 • Governor’s Violence Free Florida! Campaign 41 • Governor’s Peace at Home Awards: Stopping Domestic Violence 41 • Domestic Violence Training 42 Grant Programs 47 • Family Violence Prevention and Services Act 47 • TANF Domestic Violence Diversion Program 47 • Violence Against Women Act 47 n Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders 47 n Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Project 47 n STOP Violence Against Women Grant 48 • Social Services Block Grant 48 • Capital Improvement Grant Program 48 Other Statewide Programs 51 • Attorney General’s Office 51 n Address Confidentiality Program 51 n Relocation Assistance 51 n Cutting Out Domestic Violence 51 • Florida Council Against Sexual Violence 52 • Florida Prosecuting Attorney's Association 52 • Office of State Courts Administrator 52 Financial Highlights 55 • Funding of Domestic Violence Centers 56 • Funding of STOP Violence Against Women Grant Programs 60 Appendices 69 FDLE Total Domestic Violence for Florida, 1996-2005 69 FDLE 2005 Domestic Violence Crime Report 70 FDLE January-June 2006 Domestic Violence Crime Report 71 FDLE 2005 Total Domestic Violence Offenses for Florida by County 72 FCADV Safety Plans 74 4 Domestic Violence Annual Report 2005-2006 Executive Summary Each year the Department of Children and Families, under Florida has come to rely on the expert knowledge and the guidance of Secretary Lucy Hadi, reports to the Florida information disseminated from the fatality review teams Legislature on the Domestic Violence Program’s adminis- review process. The teams’ experience and quality reviews trative activities related to domestic violence intervention assist policy-makers and law enforcement in their efforts and prevention services. Fiscal year 2005-2006 was a year to prevent future deaths. of notable achievements considering Florida continued to suffer from hurricanes, furthering the Through increased support and already existing need for domestic funding, domestic violence centers violence support programs and ser- have been able to enhance their ser- vices. Secretary Hadi and the depart- vices to women, children, and men ment acknowledge the unforeseen and continue to offer a wide array of obstacles that have created addition- additional services, including trans- al burdens on an already vulnerable portation, transitional housing, and population of women and children, life skills training. In FY 2005-2006 and remain strong in their commit- two domestic violence centers were ment to support community-based able to build new and larger shelters programs aimed at assisting victims and outreach offices or to improve of domestic violence. and upgrade their existing facilities. Of particular importance is Florida’s The Florida Department of Law concern for the elderly population Enforcement (FDLE) reports for where abuse occurs at an alarming calendar year 2005 a total of 126,386 rate. In FY 2005-2006, 101 individu- domestic violence incidents. The als 60 years and older were served FDLE Uniform Crime Reports An- in emergency shelters and 1,200 nual Report indicates that domestic were served in outreach programs. violence in Florida accounted for 39 Domestic violence centers continue percent of all comparably reported to play a pivotal role through their violent offenses and simple assault. expert knowledge, empathy, and Twenty-four percent of all domestic advocacy in procuring and offering violence crimes were committed by specialized services for domestic the victim’s spouse. Based on national violence victims and survivors. research conducted by Michael Johnson, PhD for the Center for Law and Social Policy-2006, “it is estimated that The Domestic Violence Program Office remains commit- more than two million women are victims of intimate ter- ted to supporting the Governor’s personal conviction that rorism in the US each year.” Florida is no exception to this “through heightened education and awareness, we can alarming statistic. help identify victims of domestic violence and work to put an end to this crime.” During October 2005, domestic vio- Domestic Violence accounted for 176 (20 percent) of the lence awareness month, the department hosted training state’s 881 murders during 2005. These figures are up a in Orlando that featured Lydia Walker, national domestic half percent from 2004, when there were 946 homicides, of violence advocate and child welfare expert, who present- which 184 were domestic violence related. The spouse or ed on the importance of child welfare workers and do- live-in partner was the victim in 54 percent of these offens- mestic violence advocates working together to support es. Children accounted for seven percent of the victims. In women and children suffering from violence in the home. order to combat this serious problem, many communities Additionally, in June the department sponsored a training in Florida have formed Domestic Violence Fatality Review event in Ocala designed to educate community–based Teams. In 2005, there was one new and fourteen active do- programs wishing to establish a coordinated community mestic violence fatality review teams covering 23 counties. response to domestic violence. The presenters were from Domestic Violence Annual Report 2005-2006 5 the Duluth, Minnesota Domestic Abuse Intervention Proj- Violence Free Florida! initiative through earnest legislative ect and nearly 200 people attended this event from central achievements that hold perpetrators of domestic violence Florida communities. accountable for their crimes. The Legislature has dem- onstrated compassion for domestic violence victims and The Department of Children and Families and Governor their children by recognizing the need to protect the vul- Bush remain steadfast in the view that perpetrators of nerable citizens of Florida by passing laws and supporting domestic violence will be held accountable for crimes programs that provide education, public awareness, safe against women and children in Florida. The depart- housing, and offender accountability. ment monitors the state’s certified batterer interven- tion programs, which provide services to offenders of We know from research that over two million acts of domestic violence. Forty six percent of the 7,936 bat- domestic violence take place in the United States every terers enrolled in FY 2005-2006