Domestic Violence Coalition of Oswego County

History of Domestic Violence Coalition of Oswego County (DVCOC)

The Domestic Violence Coalition of Oswego County (DVCOC) has been in existence since 1990. Initially the involved parties were from SAF, the Oswego and Fulton City Police Departments, the Oswego County Sheriffs Department, Family Court, and the Oswego County Probation Department. Membership has expanded to include the District Attorney, Phoenix and Pulaski Police Departments, S.U.N.Y. Oswego Police Department, the State Police, and the Oswego County Department of Social Services, Arbor House, C.O.C.O.A.A., and Farnham, Inc.

The first task the Coalition took on was determining what the appropriate law enforcement response would be to a variety of family disputes. Thereafter, the Coalition recognizing that all the members could accomplish more together then by working independently focused on other, broader domestic violence issues. This lead to the development of a Manual on Orders of Protection and Violation of Orders of Protection. Five sessions of training were offered to all the law enforcement departments (including Public Safety, the State Police, and village officers) and Probation Officers. All the sessions were team taught by staff from law enforcement officers from Oswego City, Fulton City, and the Sheriff's Department; SAF; and domestic violence survivors. Working with several county-level judges the Coalition later provided training to the city judges and the town justices on the issues covered in the manual.

Thereafter, the Coalition expanded its efforts in several areas but always continued as a major focus understanding and implementing new domestic violence legislation. An information sheet was developed for sexual assault survivors that each department reprinted and distributes to all victims. Serving as the Advisory Committee to the county's victim witness program (during the term of the project and again for the Victim Support Project) the Coalition reviewed client service priorities and outreach efforts.

From March 1993 to March 1995 Coalition members worked in tandem to provide domestic violence prevention education to school aged students in 7 of the 9 Oswego County school districts. A subcommittee of the Coalition consisting of D.A.R.E.© Officers, SAF staff, teachers, school counselors, and staff from C.O.C.O.A.A. worked together to develop and present three separate curricula, varying in length and content, depending on the age of the students. During that same time period the Coalition hosted Community Forums on the topics of adolescents and their sexual abuse and the impact of domestic violence on children.

During 1999, DVCOC and the Substance Abuse/Domestic Violence Prevention DVCOC history. Subcommittee members met to develop a mission statement for DVCOC and reorganize its structure. As a result, DVCOC has several subcommittees with separate goals; including the Justice System Committee and the Substance Abuse/Domestic Violence Prevention Committee. The Justice System Committee meetings occur monthly while the Substance Abuse/Domestic Violence Prevention Committee meets quarterly. Joint meetings between the Substance Abuse/Domestic Violence Prevention and Justice System Committee occur twice a year. Based on the activities of the Coalition more committees will be created to address specific problems, such as the Date Rape Subcommittee.

Over the course of the last few years the Coalition has focused on publicizing, training, and implementing all aspects of the domestic violence legislation to insure appropriate responses from law enforcement, attorneys representing indigent clients, and Assistant District Attorneys. Developing a base line for the number of domestic violence incidents and survivors in the county has also been a role for each committee. Advocating for additional legislative changes and sharing information about the impact of policies and activities on domestic violence and sexual assault survivors is another task of the Coalition.

Additionally, the Coalition has provided support to the Victim Support Project, a combined project of the Oswego County District Attorney's Office and SAF, a division of Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. recent activities include pamphlet writing and distribution on topics relating to victimization as well as participating on a countywide outreach campaign.

Perhaps the most thought-provoking portion of the Coalition's regular business is to review complaints that domestic violence and sexual assault survivor's hue with the justice system components in Oswego County. Members problem solute common issues faced by survivors and work to insure a more professional, thorough response to frequent areas of complaint.