Report finds most local domestic violence cases dismissed or amended

5/15/2012

In a report released today, domestic violence advocacy group officials said most domestic violence cases in Toledo Municipal Court were either dismissed or amended to a lesser charge in 2011.

“The victims deserve better, defendants deserve better, and Toledo deserves better,” said Rebecca Facey, executive director of Independent Advocates.

The report states that there were 1,599 domestic violence cases heard in 2011, with 79 percent being dismissed or amended to a lesser offense. Of the total cases, 11 percent resulted in a conviction, 7 percent are still pending, and 3 percent were in a “post-conviction stage” by 2011.

The report also found that 64 percent of defendants had prior domestic violence charges.

The group, as it did last year, is calling for the implementation of a domestic violence docket in the court — just as Toledo Municipal has a special housing docket.

“There is nothing that should be stopping us,” said Celia Williamson, a social work professor at the University of Toledo.