By now, most of us have seen the elevator punch delivered by Ray Rice to his then fianc�. From professional athletes to film and music celebrities, to the neighbor down the street or maybe the family member in the next room-domestic violence is everywhere and affects everyone.

 

Domestic violence crosses all racial and socio-economic lines and all too often leads to a loss of life. A disturbing new report from the Violence Policy Center ranks Louisiana fourth highest in the nation for the rate of women murdered by men.

 

This cannot continue!

 

That's why United Way of Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA) has been advocating for stiffer penalties for abusers and stronger laws to help survivors-and making history in the process.

 

In late May, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed seven bills into law aimed at stopping domestic violence. Those bills make up the most aggressive package ever introduced and passed by the state legislature to address the issue.  

 

Kim Sport, a volunteer and Public Policy Committee Chair for (UWSELA), along with UWSELA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Charmaine Caccioppi, Mary Claire Landry, Executive Director, New Orleans Family Justice Center, and  Beth Meeks, Executive Director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, worked as a team 'United Against Domestic Violence'.

 

Sport, an attorney, began legal research in January and then helped write a majority of the language for five of the domestic violence bills that sought comprehensive changes to the state's domestic abuse laws.

 

New Orleans lawmakers Representative Helena Moreno (D) and Senator JP Morrell (D) agreed to sponsor the bills that received unanimous passage in every committee and at both floor votes.

 

House Bills 747, 750 and 753 authored by Rep. Helena Moreno, provide for stricter criminal penalties for domestic abuse battery and for violation of protective orders, including dispossession of a firearm during a protective order and for 10 years following any conviction of domestic abuse.

 

Senate Bills 291 and 292 authored by Sen. J.P. Morrell, provide for the award of exemplary/punitive damages for serious physical and mental health injuries caused by domestic abuse and for an immediate divorce and support. 

 

House Concurrent Resolution 197 designates the Act that originated as House Bill 753 as the Susan "Pixie" Gouaux Act. Lafourche Parish Councilman Phillip Gouaux's wife was gunned down by her former son-in-law in a shooting spree that left four dead. 

 

Just last week, a man arrested on a domestic battery charge became the first person in Lafourche Parish to be charged under the new 'Gouaux Act'. Deputies say they found a rifle at the man's home when they investigated a domestic disturbance involving him and his wife. He was previously charged four times with domestic abuse battery.

 

The new state bills are just the first steps to breaking the generational cycle of domestic violence. The issue is also being addressed on Capitol Hill.

 

 

2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, which improved the criminal justice response to violence against women. New Orleans Family Justice Center, one of UWSELA's community impact partners, is one of 120 programs from across the country being highlighted this week at a special 20th anniversary event in Washington, D.C. 

 

 

 

Last year half the six-member Louisiana House delegation voted against extension of the 1994 act designed to protect victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. Still, the bill passed 286-138.

 

In addition, there were two domestic violence related bills that were not part of United Way's original legislative package that were passed.

 

HB 1052 authored by Rep. Moreno, creates the Domestic Violence Prevention Commission. This Commission will assess the state's resources and needs for preventing domestic abuse and recommend legislation and other measures to fill the gaps.

 

HB 1142 authored by Rep. Roy Burrell (D) Shreveport, provides that a domestic violence victim may be able to have some input in whether bail is set or not for the victim's abuser. Now called Gwen's Law, it's named after Gwen Salley of Caddo Parish. In April, her husband spent less than 24 hours in jail for a domestic violence incident after posting bond. Forty-eight hours later, he shot Gwen.

 

With your continued support, United Way can reach out to help our most fragile, vulnerable neighbors.

 

Aspire to change tomorrow, starting today.

 

Michael L. Williamson

President & Chief Executive Officer

United Way of Southeast Louisiana