Domestic violence is a huge issue in many family law cases, and many times the victims do not feel like the system is able to help them as much as they need it to.  A recent homicide/suicide case has brought this issue to the forefront again.  According to the Star Tribune, “[s]ince 2000, more than 200 Minnesota women have died as the result of domestic violence.”  This statistic is alarming.

 Minnesota was a leading state in the development of domestic violence programs.  In 1980, the Duluth Model was created and is recognized on an international level.  This was the first program to outline multi-disciplinary procedures to protect and advocate for victims.  It looks as though Minnesota is yet again leading the way in the development of domestic violence programs.

 The latest program is called Blueprint.  It will be implemented next year in St. Paul, and should follow on a national level.  This program is described in an article in the Star Tribune from October 4, 2009.  It will assess an offender’s risk of harming again, rather than their flight risk, in setting bail.  This will hopefully keep more victims of abuse safe following an arrest of the perpetrator.

 Hopefully new programs like this will be able to help the problems we see with domestic violence victims.  Any matter that goes through the court system runs the risk of having an increased chance of abuse against a victim.  Situations such as divorce and custody hearings bring out the worst in many people, and when someone already has a propensity for violence, it is a dangerous situation.