DV Commission Member and Staff Present National Webinar on Safety Audits

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Susan

Safety and Accountability Audits – Transforming Communities to End Violence Against Women: Bellingham – Whatcom County, Washington

Sue Parrott, DV Commission Program Supervisor, and Bruce Van Glubt, DV Commission member and Whatcom County District Court and Probation Supervisor, are presenting a national webinar on Safety Audits.  The webinar is sponsored by the Battered Women’s Justice Project, and is on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 from 12:00 – 1:30 pm, Pacific time.

Over the past nine years, the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence has conducted four Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audits (now known as Community Safety Assessments).  These Audits have provided a foundation for the DV Commission and the community to implement systemic changes in the criminal and civil legal system response, as well as in domestic violence services.

Bruce Van Glubt and Sue Parrott will talk about the Audit process and changes that have resulted from these Audits, such as a standard law enforcement risk assessment tool, a shared system-based DV advocate for the five small municipalities in Whatcom County (Blaine, Everson-Nooksack, Ferndale, Lynden, and Sumas) , updated law enforcement DV policies, and numerous changes in court processes for DV protection order petitioners.  The presenters will discuss both the opportunities and challenges the DV Commission has faced in its efforts to promote, build, and maintain institutional changes that place victim safety at the center.

Whatcom County, WA, population 170,000, is a mix of urban and rural communities, with nearly 10 different county, municipal, and tribal jurisdictions.  Much of the population is low income.  The immigrant population is from many countries and is rapidly growing in the county, particularly in the rural, agricultural areas.

This entry was posted in awareness, education, events, recognition, staff, training, victims. Bookmark the permalink.

← Dating and Domestic Violence: An Information and Resource Handbook Whatcom County employers recognized for DV policies →