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| Photo: Sgt Robb Daly and Debby Hamilton |
Women fleeing violent relationships are better protected, thanks to a successful program that started in Vernon. RCMP
Sgt Robb Daly and Vernon Women's Transition House executive director
Debby Hamilton--who helped developed the Integrated Case Assessment
Team--have received community safety and crime prevention awards from
MLA Eric Foster, on behalf of the Solicitor General. Foster told a ceremony at Vernon City Hall, "Robb and Debby have
devoted countless volunteer hours to the development of this model by
sharing their expertise with other communities. They are an example of
the kind of people that are critical for making public safety a
reality." Daly says so far they haven't had any of the accused breach their conditions in about 40 high risk cases. "Everybody in the room (service agencies) has a conversation about
what they can do to support the family, and that family doesn't just
mean the victim but also the accused, so probation there offering
alcohol substance abuse training and those kinds of things that we can
be put in place, and with the Crown counsel, financial assistance and
family counseling we're seeing a better outcome of the whole process." Daly says Cranbrook, Whistler and Penticton are among other communities looking to use the program. "We've made a change in the province for the better of high risk
cases. We'll never stop them all but we certainly will provide a better
safety net to help catch them." Foster says the awards go to individuals who are passionate and dedicated to public safety in their communities, and work to inspire
others. "Thanks to the development of this team, there is better information
sharing between local justice, health and community service
agencies. This collaboration helps pinpoint risk factors that could lead
to serious harm for victims of domestic violence, allowing preventative
action to be taken."
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