Domestic violence reports increase

Tuesday, May 2, 2000 | 10:08 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Domestic violence cases jumped by 15 percent in the last six months of 1999, but that may be due to better reporting by law enforcement agencies.

The state attorney general's office Monday said law enforcement agencies responded to 9,325 incidents of domestic violence, an increase of 1,399 over the final six months of 1998.

"The increase in the number of reports may be a reflection of improvements in reporting by law enforcement," said Veronica Frenkel, domestic violence ombudsman for the attorney general's office.

"Greater familiarity with the reporting form and process has likely resulted in more consistent and complete participation by local agencies and, therefore, greater accuracy in their reporting."

She said 74 percent of the incidents occurred in Clark County but "that is likely a reflection of the well-developed system in place to respond to victims of domestic violence in the region."

Arrests were made in 53 percent of the cases, consistent with the first half of 1999 and slightly higher than the 50 percent rate for 1998.

On Jan. 1, 1998, Nevada law enforcement agencies began using a standardized domestic violence statistical form.