Dallas releases alarming domestic violence report

DALLAS - Leaders in Dallas are taking a closer look at domestic violence and trying to address the problem.

City council member Jennifer Staubach Gates chairs the city’s domestic violence taskforce, which works collaboratively with police, the city, the district attorney’s office and local judges. She said Mayor Mike Rawlings is very passionate about the issue.

“We in Dallas have stood up as a city. I’ve very proud to work with a mayor that says it’s not going to happen in our city, in our community and in our neighborhoods.

Still, Staubach Gates shared some alarming statistics from a new report.

Between June 2015 and May 2016 there were more than 15,000 emergency and non-emergency calls to Dallas police related to domestic violence. More than 4,000 domestic violence cases were filed by Dallas police and there were 16 domestic violence murders.

Transitional and emergency housing for domestic violence victims is not even close to meeting the need. More than 10,000 people were turned away from shelters.

Staubach Gates said the report helps the taskforce identify where it can make improvements.

“There’s always room for improvement. We work specifically from dispatch to disposition, so from when that case is called in to when the batterer is held accountable. And how can we work better together?” she said. “We know we don’t have enough beds, but most importantly we’re working together.”

Click here to read the full report.