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Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh City Code at Title 1, Article III Organization, Chapter 116: Department Of Public Safety, 116.02 Powers And Duties Of Bureau Chiefs And Director Of Public Safety By Adding A New Section At 116.02, (III) DOMESTIC ABUSE POLICY FOR THE BUREAU OF POLICE
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Whereas, Crimes classified as domestic violence are unlike most other crimes due to the intimate relationship between the victim and the accused; and,
Whereas, Domestic Violence annually produces $4.1 billion in direct medical costs; $1.8 million in indirect medical costs, $2084 average medical cost per rape, and, a $2665 average medical cost per Domestic Violence assault; and,
Whereas, through increased awareness and education, society and law enforcement now have a greater understanding of the dynamics and issues involved in domestic violence, fully recognizing it as a crime. The response of law enforcement to the crime of domestic violence, however, varies widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and officer to officer. There continue to be instances when domestic violence calls are ignored or assigned low priority, when officers fail to make arrests, and when assaults involving extensive physical injury and weapons are treated as misdemeanors; and,
Whereas, an effective law enforcement response to domestic violence must include the adoption of a comprehensive policy that (1) holds perpetrators accountable and (2) is consistently applied. Any comprehensive policy must be part of a developed, coordinated community infrastructure that can provide support to maximize victim safety, implement sanctions against perpetrators, and offer rehabilitation opportunities for abusers; and,
Whereas, on September 10, 2007, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh convened a special session on Domestic Violence as it applies to the community of Pittsburgh and within the Bureau of Police. Based upon the evidence presented at this session to the Council, there is a...
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