Kansas receives $750,000 for anti-domestic violence efforts
Governor leads coalition seeking end to domestic violence

Domestic violence remains a problem in Kansas, with thousands of incidents reported to law enforcement each year.

To coordinate efforts to stop domestic abuse, Governor Kathleen Sebelius and a coalition of law enforcement, corrections, judiciary and victim assistance groups have received $754,026 from the federal government.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our state,” Sebelius said.  “We’ll be able to provide coordinated and consistent training to professionals working to end domestic violence, which will improve our ability to help victims and punish offenders.”

Sebelius’ office has partnered with the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, Kansas County & District Attorneys Association, Kansas Office of Judicial Administration and Kansas Department of Corrections on the effort. 

These partners will establish a comprehensive training curricula regarding domestic violence for professionals in the criminal justice system.  The purpose is to provide uniform training for all professions of the criminal justice system serving victims and offenders from the time of a 911 call reporting the incident, through the investigation, arrest, prosecution, probation or parole and release of the offender. 

Domestic violence continues to be a threat to Kansas families.  Kansas law enforcement agencies reported 18,042 incidents of domestic violence in 2004.  The number of domestic violence related homicides rose by 66.7 percent that same year, from 15 in 2003 to 25 in 2004.  In 2004, a total of 7,914 protection from abuse orders and 3,036 protection from stalking orders were filed with Kansas courts.   

In October 2004, Governor Sebelius established the Governor’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board to examine domestic violence homicides in order to inform and motivate the public about the insidious nature of domestic violence and to identify ways to improve the response to domestic violence.

In December 2005, the board released its first report and this grant will help provide the training it recommended.

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