Consolidation of courts for domestic violence eyed

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002 | 9:30 a.m.

A task force recommended two alternatives that would create a special consolidated court to handle domestic violence cases.

The Clark County Commission accepted final recommendations on Tuesday from the Southern Nevada Domestic Violence Court Task Force.

Domestic violence accounts for 15 percent of all crime nationwide and accounts for $67 billion annually from absenteeism, lost productivity, stress, health care costs and employee turnover, the task force said, and it affects women and men of every age, race and social status.

The task force found that a major overhaul consolidating the 48 organizations involved with domestic violence cases was "daunting" and that every court that handles such cases operates independently of the others.

"However, the cost of such an overhaul, given current budgetary constraints in the state of Nevada, is not a practical reality," the task force report said.

Instead, the task force recommended that a specialized consolidated domestic violence court be created.

As alternatives, the county could appoint dedicated domestic violence judges in each court who were educated and trained in domestic violence cases.

The task force also recommended improving the court's computer system so each court knows what others are doing.

The County Commission created the task force earlier this year. The task force began meeting in March.

The task force met six times. A committee was formed on Sept. 23 to combine the subcommittee reports into recommendations included in the final report.