August 6, 1980

Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Human Development Services
Grants Management Branch
Room 345F, Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, S. W.
Washington, D. C. 20201

Attention: Ms. Mary White

Dear Ms. White:

We are writing to express our support for a "safe house" to be established for Anderson County. This is basically a rural area with no established emergency housing facilities for the victims of domestic violence.

Because of the lack of such housing facilities and the counseling services they provide, we have a large number of criminal warrants taken in the immediate aftermath of domestic violence. Most of the victims are wives who then seek dismissal of the warrants stating that all they desired was some "help" for themselves and their spouses, not incarceration. Their problems involve alcoholism, financial stress, and psychological problems which the criminal system cannot handle. The lack of legal aid for indigents in this county in domestic matters such as divorce, support, and custody contributes to this situation because the victims are effectively locked into their dangerous home situations.

There is no place now that we can refer the victim with small children who comes in and states that she has been assaulted by her spouse, has no money for an attorney, no place to go, and just wants to keep him away or get a divorce or get him some "help" for his problem.

The situation is frustrating for the criminal justice system and certainly for the victims.

Please contact our office if there is any way we may be of help in establishing the suitability of this county for the "safe house" project.

Very truly yours,

James N. Ramsey
District Attorney General

JNR/hm