MAG Regional Domestic
Violence Plan MAG Regional Domestic
Violence Plan
Go to the Draft Recommendations
PHOENIX (March 9, 1999) — The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is seeking public input on its draft Regional Domestic Violence Plan, including 41 recommendations proposed by a group of 150 professionals and individuals who spent four months working on the plan.
The recommendations follow a year of tragic and brutal slayings in Maricopa County which left 30 women, eight men and one unborn child dead following domestic violence incidents. The 1998 murders left 66 children without mothers and seven without fathers. One victim, a mother of six who attempted to escape the violence in her home, found that all of the Valley's domestic violence shelters were full. With no place to flee, she was forced to remain in her home, where she was stabbed to death by her husband in front of the children.
The death of Laura Munoz acted as a catalyst for a community-wide response to domestic violence. As a result of this Valley-wide concern, the MAG Regional Council requested a comprehensive evaluation of the systems in place to prevent and address domestic violence and an identification of possible solutions. The result is the draft MAG Regional Domestic Violence Plan.
"The goal of the plan is simple: victim safety and batterer accountability," says Cody Williams, Chair of the MAG Domestic Violence Subcommittee and Phoenix City Council member. "The recommendations focus on prevention, early intervention, crisis services, and transitional and long term services. They also address how systems can work better together to deal with the problem of domestic violence," he says.
Through its Human Services planning process, MAG brought together representatives from shelters, advocacy organizations, police and fire departments, prosecutors' offices, offender treatment programs, the County Attorney's Office and local governments to pool their knowledge and resources and develop the recommendations. Now the authors want to know if the rest of the community agrees with the recommendations or if any areas have been missed. "The plan is only effective if it is inclusive and comprehensive," says Williams.
Individuals can review the recommendations on the MAG Web site at www.mag.maricopa.gov, under the "publications" section. An e-mail link will be provided for those wishing to respond to the recommendations via the Internet. Citizens can also call MAG at (602) 254-6300 for copies of the plan and comment forms. To provide further opportunity for public input, a public hearing will be held March 23rd at 2:00 p.m. at the MAG offices, 302 N. 1st Avenue, Phoenix, second floor, Saguaro Room. Portions of this hearing will later be aired on Phoenix Channel 11 and other public access channels.
Citizen input will be taken through April 1, 1999. The recommendations will be revised as necessary after the public comment period. Once approved, the plan will act as a Valley-wide blueprint to address domestic violence in a coordinated and effective manner.
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is a regional organization that develops policies and makes decisions in areas such as transportation, air quality, water quality, solid waste and human services. MAG is made up of Valley communities working together to ensure a better quality of life for nearly three million residents in the Maricopa region. The region encompasses metropolitan Phoenix and includes the many cities, towns and Indian communities within Maricopa County. Governed by a Regional Council that includes 24 city mayors and other lead elected officials, MAG is the forum for ensuring an effective allocation of regional resources.
For more information about the draft Regional Domestic Violence Plan, or to arrange interviews, please contact Kelly Taft at (602) 452-5020.
Go to the Draft Recommendations