In the hope of curtailing domestic violence and sexual assaults,
the district attorney’s office is teaming up with a Santa Clara
County-based Community Solutions to educate community members about
how to avoid becoming a victim.
Hollister – In the hope of curtailing domestic violence and sexual assaults, the district attorney’s office is teaming up with a Santa Clara County-based Community Solutions to educate community members about how to avoid becoming a victim.
Each year the DA’s office handles an inordinate number of domestic violence and sexual assault cases, according to District Attorney John Sarsfield. Last year there were 130 incidents of domestic violence in Hollister alone, according to Hollister Police Department figures.
“We’re hoping the training might lower those numbers,” Sarsfield said.
Community Solutions will offer classes to San Benito County residents on how to protect themselves and avoid becoming a statistic.
“They’re designed to provide education to interested members of the public about those issues,” Sarsfield said.
The 90-minute classes will alternate between domestic violence prevention, sexual assault prevention and self defense. Attendees will learn techniques that can be used if they are attacked, said Community Solutions Spokeswoman Cecila Clark.
“These are preventative courses, you don’t have to be a victim of domestic violence,” Clark said.
Among the topics to be covered in the domestic violence and sexual assault prevention classes is an exploration of what constitutes those crimes. Attendees will also learn how to help victims of violence find helpful resources, as well as how to offer those victims emotional support.
The classes are open to anyone.
“Traditionally San Benito County has really lagged in prevention programs,” Sarsfield said. “This is our attempt to continue to drag the county into the modern era of law enforcement.”
The program will run to July 30, 2006 and includes 48 classes. It will be paid for with money from the DA’s asset forfeiture fund, which contains money seized from drug dealers. The fund currently contains about $10,000, which is also the price tag of the contract with Community Solutions.
Founded in 1972 as a place for teens to “drop-in,” Community Solutions has grown to offer prevention, intervention and other services to San Benito County, Santa Clara County and South San Jose.
For more information on course times and locations, call (831) 637-1094.
Luke Roney covers politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com
