On the wake of Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn’s Wednesday announcement that he would recommend new funding for domestic-violence victims (three years after getting rid of the city’s domestic-violence prevention director and folding the independent office into another division within the Human Services Department), SQ Attorneys was able to secure two dismissals on DV related cases, one in Bothell and one in Seattle.
McGinn claimed that in 2011 he cut the director position because of city budget shortfalls; he did not, however, reduce city funding for domestic-violence prevention programs. Curiously, now that the Seattle mayor is up for re-election, he says that due to an improving revenue forecast he can legitimately recommend adding a program manager and other new services in his 2014 budget. At a City Hall news conference, Mayor McGinn proposed adding $438,000 to the 2014 budget to fund housing for victims, a domestic-violence response center and the new program manager. The funding would support long-term housing assistance for domestic-violence survivors and their children and dedicate $125,000 to create a coordinated, one-stop location to link victims to services. Executive director of the King County Coalition Against Domestic, Merril Cousin, said a survey this year of domestic-violence survivors and service providers identified lack of emergency and long-term housing options as the greatest service gap. Cousin was one of the advocates who protested the elimination of the city’s domestic-violence prevention office in 2011. She said that she and others active in preventing domestic violence were concerned then about the impacts of the city’s changes.
Sounds like things in the domestic violence arena are going to get super intensified, just like Washington’s recently modified DUI laws. Those facing a DV charge best get prepared to protect themselves, or face the specter of the government causing havoc in their life; folks in Washington who face a domestic violence based criminal charge would best be served by hiring a qualified Seattle domestic violence criminal attorney to help them with the meanderings of our criminal court system. The Seattle domestic violence attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified and reputable Seattle domestic violence lawyers that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those arrested for crime all across Western Washington and the Greater Puget Sound region. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the criminal allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible in light of all the surrounding circumstances of the given case. So, whether cited for assault, property destruction or some other domestic violence related crime, protect yourself … call SQ Attorneys immediately.
