John W. Olver: “I rise today in support of the amendment. Included is my amendment to authorize a grant program for court advocates for…”

“I rise today in support of the amendment. Included is my amendment to authorize a grant program for court advocates for victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence is among the most insidious of crimes. It is committed in the privacy of one's own home, behind drawn curtains and closed doors. The victims do not suffer on our streets or in our public parks but in their kitchens, their living rooms, and bedrooms all across America. Despite the private scene of these crimes, they are violent nonetheless. The brutality of this violence is clear in my own State where in just the first quarter of 1992 alone, 22 women and 5 children were killed in what authorities labeled domestic violence but what were more specifically crimes of assault, rape, mutilation, and murder. This amendment addresses the need for physical safety of the victims when they are most vulnerable. Studies prove the most dangerous time for victims of abuse is immediately after receiving a protective order or when they are attempting to leave an abusive relationship.”