Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Community wants violence offenders arrested

Magdalena schools to purchase bullying program to combat home violence

Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

At the June 10 commission meeting, Bobbi Jo McIntire from Socorro County Options Prevention and Education presented the results of SCOPE's domestic violence survey to Socorro County Commissioners.

McIntire said surveys were handed out at local public events. Of the 251 surveys returned, 70.1 percent of responses said law enforcement should arrest domestic violence offenders. Most did not think victims of domestic violence are responsible for their situations nor did they think that domestic violence is best handled privately instead of by police. Most people, 55 percent of those surveyed, said the best option to reduce domestic violence is an increased community awareness through public education.

McIntire said Magdalena schools are purchasing a program on bullying as a symptom of domestic violence at home. She suggested Socorro schools might benefit from that sort of program.

Another non-action item to come before the commission was the subject of juvenile detention facilities. Nago Lucero from the Socorro County Detention Center said the administration is working on a contract with McKinley County to house juveniles. He said the McKinley County contract is the least expensive. He said, as of the meeting date, the county was housing two juveniles in Bernalillo County and had one juvenile on a courtesy hold in Doña Ana. He said the jail is also working on a contract with Doña Ana County. Lucero said plan is for two beds in McKinley County, two beds in Bernalillo County and three or four beds in Doña Ana County.

Commissioner Phillip Anaya pointed out that the juveniles can not be held in Socorro County because Socorro County has no certified juvenile detention facilities and no facilities that could be certified.

County Attorney Adren Nance said the problem is not just one of adding a juvenile facility to the existing detention center. He said it would have to be a entirely separate facility.

"It's not going to be long before we're forced to do it," Nance said.

Commission Chairman Jay Santillanes said the initial costs for such a facility would be in the $8 million to $10 million range.

In other business: