Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Commission
PUBLIC HEARING

Thursday, January 27, 2005
6:00 p.m.
Orange County School Board Boardroom, 1st Floor
445 W. Amelia St., Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. (January 24, 2005) – Residents are invited to participate in a public hearing to offer comment and input to the Ninth Judicial Circuit's Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Commission.

The Judges of the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange County founded the Commission in June with Orange County Government to take a more aggressive and active role in reducing domestic violence and child abuse in our community and to offer solutions for improving the process, both in and out of court.

Circuit Judge Robert M. Evans and former State Legislator Mr. Dick Batchelor, president of Dick J. Batchelor Management Group, co-chairs for the Commission, will welcome attendees to the public hearing and introduce Commission members in attendance before taking public comment.

Commission members include judges, constitutional officers in the court system, law enforcement, victim advocates and community leaders. When the Commission's work is complete, they will make recommendations and oversee the implementation of better ways to respond to domestic violence and child abuse in our community.  

“The public hearing will allow for crucial input and suggestions from the residents of our community who have been personally touched by domestic violence or child abuse,” Judge Evans said. “It is absolutely necessary that we include the people of Orange County in our dialogue, not only to create solutions that will empower victims, but to assist our community in moving toward a zero tolerance policy when it comes to violence.”

The Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Commission, though waylaid by the storms in its work last fall, will endeavor to provide services and interventions that will help battered men, women and children to lead lives free of fear and violence. The Commission's goal is to break the cycle of abuse and provide innovative answers.

Some facts on domestic violence in Orange County: there were more than 8,000 domestic violence arrests in 2002. It is estimated only one-seventh of all domestic-related assaults are reported to police. Each month, more than 200 domestic injunctions are filed at the Orange County Courthouse. National statistics are just as alarming: 1 in every 5 women in affected by domestic violence; 4.5 million assaults are committed against women, related costs are in the millions. Victims' lives are often at stake.

Members of the media are invited to advance this event in an effort to notify the public when the hearing will take place and cover this special event.

If you have any questions, concerning the media, call Susan Clary with Court Administration at 407-836-6348 or email at ctadsc2@ocnjcc.org. If you have questions about the public hearing, please call Helene Welch at 407-836-0471 or ctadhw1@ocnjcc.org.

For more information on the Domestic Violence Commission, go to www.ninja9.org and click on Information.