Columnist Sandra Thompson: Domestic violence hurts all of society

Sandra Thompson

Sunday, Jan. 30, 2000 | 10:38 a.m.

Sandra Thompson is vice president/associate editor of the Las Vegas Sun. She can be reached at 259-4025 or through e-mail at thompson@lasvegassun.com.

The entire justice system is crippled by domestic violence issues.

That grim assessment by Christina Chandler, assistant administrator of the Eighth Judicial District Court, is echoed by other court officials.

"We're in a reactive mode," says Wendy Wilkinson, temporary protection order coordinator for the court.

The increasing numbers of domestic violence incidents, arrests, requests for temporary protection orders and backlog of cases affect Family Court, Justice Court, the district attorney's office and Metro Police, Chandler says.

Consider the statistics from just one component of the system -- the domestic violence commissioner. Last year 7,000 applications for TPOs were filed, up 300 from the previous year.

In the Second Judicial Court District in Washoe County, two hearing masters handle 50 to 60 TPO hearings a month. In Clark County, Pat Doninger, the lone domestic violence commissioner, handles about 550 a month.

The Family Violence Center/Protection Order Program at Family Court, which is struggling to keep up with increased workloads, is seeking approval to hire a second domestic violence commissioner and secretary. Three new positions in Wilkinson's office also are being requested to handle the front-end processing of TPOs and extended orders in court.

TPOs, however, are only a small line of defense in the war on domestic violence. The larger issue is how to get victims past accepting that lifestyle and not getting involved in abusive relationships, Wilkinson says. It's equally important to change the behavior of batterers.

"You must address the root (of the problem)," says Amber Batchelor, director of special programs for Safe Nest, which provides temporary assistance in domestic crises. "How do you treat women and children in your culture?

"We ask, 'Why doesn't she leave?' We need to rephrase that to 'Why doesn't he stop battering?' "

In many corners of society, domestic violence is an acceptable way of life. What do we do when an argument between family members or friends comes to blows? How many of us look the other way when a loved one or friend has a black eye and bruises -- the victim of a partner's rage? It's just one fight, one injury. They were drunk. They have money problems. They're under a lot of stress.

Recognize anyone you know?

The person who is abused is not the only victim.

That was evident last Thursday when Leonard Gregory Soto was sentenced to 10 years in prison, the maximum for voluntary manslaughter in the death of Tamara Thiros. The case was profiled here last Sunday.

Both their families are suffering.

Tamara's mother, father and daughter spoke of their loss before Judge Donald Mosley imposed the sentence.

"Tamara was the joy of our lives," Gus Thiros said, choking back tears. "Over the years she endured torturous beatings which resulted in her death."

Soto told the judge he felt remorse for what happened. "Tamara was a wonderful person, beautiful and had a heart of gold," he said. "I'll miss her. I loved her very much."

He admitted their relationship wasn't perfect, but he said they "beat each other."

Mosley then asked how much Soto and Tamara weighed. She was 127 pounds; he is 250.

"Did you sense that you had an advantage?" the judge asked, dismissing the notion of mutual combat.

Soto said Tamara had plenty of time to get medical help. The beating that resulted in her death had occurred several days before. He said he tried to give her medication and convince her to go to a doctor, but she refused.

In asking for leniency for his client, attorney John Moran Jr. said that what happened was tragic, but there were mitigating circumstances. He cited a police report on a previous domestic violence incident involving Soto and Tamara that said both had alcohol and psychological problems.

Moran also pointed out that Soto has tremendous family support. Family members and his employer wrote letters to the judge asking for leniency.

In the end, Mosley told Soto: "You indicated it was a tragic thing that happened (Tamara's death). This didn't just happen. It's a tragic thing you did."