MOST DOMESTIC-ASSAULT VICTIMS DON'T CALL POLICE

ARMED WITH a forensic camera, a team of on-call nurses has for the last two
years, documented domestic abuse.

The nurses do their examinations in a secure room at Sault Area Hospital
and in most cases police aren't involved.

In what Sgt. Jane Martynuck said is a typical case, one local woman had her
injuries examined by nurses twice without contacting police.

A third, more serious assault changed that.

"She said 'that's it', she'd had enough," said Martynuck, who was until
recently domestic violence co-ordinator for Sault Police Services.

Because prior injuries had been logged, all that was required was to sign a
release form for the clinic's records, she said.

Charged with aggravated assault, assault causing bodily harm and common
assault, the man pleaded guilty and received a sentence of more than two
years - enough to warrant time in a federal penitentiary, said Martynuck.

"Lots of times women go back to their partner for whatever reason, so if
another occurrence happens then we have documentation of all those
occurrences," said Beth Desaulnier, project co-ordinator for the Sexual
Assault Care Centre/Partner Assault Clinic.

Desaulnier said the clinic's nurses see "the whole gamut", from physical
injuries to suicide attempts. Expectant mothers are also common, showing up
at the hospital in premature labour following instances of violence or
abuse. The number of times nurses are called out each week can vary from
none to as high as four, Desaulnier said.

There are, however, "peak times" for abuse during the year, she said.

"We see a lot after the new year; it seems to be a peak time, but
definitely the summer months are the busiest," Desaulnier said. "There
isn't any rhyme or reason."

The centre, which secured annual funding only last year, doesn't keep
statistics, but definitely the majority of victims don't want the police
contacted, she said.

"It's a huge number."

As of the end of July, city police had recorded 678 domestic incidents, 180
of which led to charges. Four years ago, there were only 175 incidents and
the number that led to charges simply wasn't recorded, said Det. Mike
Kenopic, the city's domestic violence co-ordinator.

What may have been classified as mischief - a man kicking his
ex-girlfriend's car - now sets in motion a more-detailed effort on the part
of police, the courts and a number of other groups in the community. Police
are now also documenting instances where charges aren't laid. It's
Kenopic's job to keep track of them for when charges do come.

Less than two years old is the city's domestic violence court, which he
says has streamlined the process, and focused resources.

Assistant Crown attorney Kelly Weeks is the lead prosecutor in the new
court, held each Wednesday.

"I don't think that (domestic violence) is worse, I think the problem is
being recognized and addressed," she said.

As a result of all this, referrals to the Children's Aid Society are "right
through the roof," said Jim Baraniuk, executive director for the local CAS.

"We've actually had a 36-per-cent increase in the number of families we've
been dealing with over the last year, and a lot of it's related to domestic
violence," he said.

When parents are involved in crimes like robbery, theft, fraud or dealing
drugs, often the children have to be taken into CAS custody, at least
temporarily, said Baraniuk. "Often, if it's adults who have children, we're
going to be involved," he said.

Saturday: Protecting your family from sexual predators.