News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Sheriff's Office participates in 6th National Family Violence Apprehension Detail

Posted: Oct. 15, 2008, 12:57 p.m.

Media Note: In an effort to prevent wanted persons from being made aware of this apprehension detail, we request all media sources hold this privileged information and not disseminate details of this domestic violence warrant sweep mission until Thursday, Oct. 16th at 10:00 p.m.

On Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT) will work with agencies throughout Oregon -- as well as agencies across the nation -- to arrest persons with outstanding family-violence warrants.

The 6th Annual Family Violence Apprehension Detail includes approximately 150 County Sheriff's Departments, Police Departments, Probation Departments, and community agencies from 28 states. All agencies will serve outstanding arrest warrants -- with charges ranging from Harassment to Murder.

For the past five years, this event has been instrumental in apprehending family-violence offenders.  Last year, there were over 200 law enforcement agencies participating nationwide -- resulting in close to 1,700 arrests and 7,600 warrant attempts. (Many of the attempted warrant services ended with an arrest, as offenders turned themselves in shortly after the SWEEP.)

This collaborative effort helps raise awareness to the problem of family and domestic violence in our communities. It also demonstrates to those offenders they will be held accountable for their violence.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 3.5 million violent crimes were committed against family members in the United States in 2005, with 1.7 million crimes being committed against spouses. Of those, over 5,200 resulted in the victims' deaths. Furthermore, between 3.3 and 10 million children between ages 3-17 witness domestic violence annually. As an unfortunate result, children who witness domestic violence are more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run away from home and engage in teenage prostitution.

On a local level, 10 percent of Oregon women, within the past five years experienced either physical or sexual assault from their intimate partner. Within Oregon alone, it's estimated that over half of domestic-violence physical-assault victims and over one-third of domestic-violence sexual-assault victims stated, children were present in the household at the time of the incident.

Additional Oregon domestic-violence facts can be obtained at http://www.ncadv.org/files/Oregon.pdf.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and agencies across the United States recognize the urgency of this social problem.  After the SWEEP, on Friday, Oct. 17th, DVERT will make available the final results of the apprehension detail.

This Warrant Sweep will begin on Thursday, Oct., 16th, starting promptly at 2:00 p.m. -- with a briefing to be conducted at the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office North Station, located at 12700 SE 82nd Avenue, in Clackamas.

Domestic-violence survivors Deputy Jason Rehling and Rebekah Burton will be on hand to motivate the troops and address the media if requested.  Deputy Paul Wade will be prepared to take a media ride-along.  In addition, Deputy Wade will also have a Clackamas County Probation Officer following in an additional vehicle, which will also be available to media sources as well.

Agencies inside Clackamas County that are participating in this years domestic violence warrant sweep are:
 

Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts welcomes all media outlets interested in reporting on this apprehension detail. If you're interested in a  ride-along opportunity with a participating agency, please contact Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Jim Strovink.

* Durose, Wolf Harlow, Langan, Motivans, Rantala, & Smith. (2005). Family violence statistics: Including statistics on strangers and acquaintances. Bureau of Justice Statistics. p. 26. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Children & domestic violence facts. Retrieved from http://www.ncadv.org/learn/Statistics_115.html on May 17, 2006.

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Jim Strovink, Detective
Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office