Residents light candles for victims of violence

Only a fifth of the people arrested for domestic battery were convicted during the six years prior to District Attorney Mark Jackson's taking office on Jan. 1.

"One of my biggest complaints when I was a deputy district attorney was that most of the domestic violence cases were lost before the case was even charged by the assigned prosecutor," he told a group of nearly 100 people who walked in the 10th annual candlelight vigil to commemorate the victims of domestic violence.

Jackson told the crowd that four-fifths of domestic batteries were not being held accountable.

"Needless to say, a 20 percent conviction rate for any type of crime is unacceptable," he said.

Monday's candle light vigil in Heritage Park was hosted by the Purple Ribbon Coalition and the Family Support Council.

Jackson said the No. 1 reason why domestic battery cases is that with each passing hour after the incident, the victim increasingly feel pressure to recant.

While a victim might initially report being hit in the face, Jackson said later testimony would be that there was an accident.

"Prosecutors feel powerless in these situations, which unfortunately are the norm, not the exception," he said. "I have had too many cases in my career where I was convinced that the perpetrator's actions and arrest were just a snapshot in the daily life of the criminal and the victim."

Jackson said fear often outweighed the victim's desire to see justice done.

"The fear can be of retaliation, abandonment, or most commonly, financial," he said. "The victim does not believe she cannot make it on her own. Without accountability of the offender, I am convinced that the cycle of violence will continue."

Jackson said he has received a $500,000 federal grant to battle domestic violence. He goes before Douglas County Commissioners on Oct. 18 to accept the grant and approval for an investigator and officer to intervene in the first 12 hours after an incident. He urged residents to contact their commissioners in support of accepting the grant.

Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said combating domestic battery was a priority in her office.

"You should be proud to have law enforcement personnel willing to go after domestic batterers," she said.

Family Support Council Executive Director Kristie Traver said that in the year between July 2006 and June 2007, there were 395 victims of domestic violence who sought assistance from the organization.

Each person was represented by a purple pinwheel in the lawn of Heritage Park.

The ceremony started with an invocation by Chaplain Pete Nelson during which Carson Valley resident Nancee Goldwater released eight doves to symbolize peace.

Marchers with candles walked around the park singing "Amazing Grace" before taking their places for the speakers.

Sheriff Ron Pierini talked about the Nov. 19, 2006, death of Jazmin Gonzalez, who estranged boyfriend lay in wait for her as she was cleaning rooms at the hotel and stabbed her more than 60 times.

"That case was successfully prosecuted," he said. "Domestic violence is a critical issue and all of us need to do our part to prevent it."

He said his deputies responded to 815 calls in 2006 for domestic battery cases, with 102 in the month of July alone. Pierini said the trend is up from 769 the year before.

-- Kurt Hildebrand can be reached at khildebrand@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 215.