When the Violence Against Women Act was enacted in 1994, the federal government for the first time adopted a comprehensive approach to fighting violence against women. The Act imposed new funding eligibility requirements on state and territorial governments and authorized grants for education and training for criminal and civil justice personnel. The Act provided new or increased funding for a range of programs including safe homes for women, shelter grants, rape prevention, and other community programs.
The purpose underlying all these funding efforts was to encourage community service agencies to work together to develop cohesive and coordinated services for victims of domestic violence. The Family Resource Center in St. Thomas, the Women's Coalition in St. Croix and the Safety Zone in St. John have all benefited from the funding established under the Violence Against Women Act.
The programs created under the Act have made an incredible difference in the lives of many Americans. Services have been created that directly impact and enhance safety for countless battered women and their children, and society throughout the United States and in the Virgin Islands in particularly now view domestic violence much differently than in 1994.
Domestic violence is no longer acceptable. "There is no excuse for domestic abuse" is no longer an empty phrase. Our Virgin Islands law enforcement officers have been trained to respond to domestic violence as the violent crime it is. Our courts now seriously consider domestic violence in both criminal and civil cases. Medical providers view domestic violence for the health care issues it presents. Child protective workers acknowledge the extreme and devastating impact domestic violence exacts on children, and agree that violence intervention in homes results in safer schools and streets. Even our island business community recognizes that domestic violence not only impacts the safety of victimized employees, but may also jeopardize other employees and business patrons—not to mention the company's bottom line. We are all safer and more productive because of the Violence Against Women Act.
The Act is, however, scheduled to expire on Oct. 1, 2000, unless Congress reauthorizes it. Reauthorization has been negotiated throughout the 1999-2000 legislative session, with committee action finally taking place in June. No real disagreement now exists over whether the Act should be reauthorized. But there are only 22 legislative days left in this legislative session. We desperately need our Delegate to Congress' help, as well as those of all members of Congress. Congress must act without further delay to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.
Editor's note: Tom Bolt is an attorney with the St. Thomas firm of Tom Bolt & Associates, P.C. and serves as Delegate at Large to the American Bar Association House of Delegates.
