Huntley launches domestic violence program

When victims of domestic violence call police to their homes, officers can defuse the situation, take abusers into custody and help the victims find a place to stay.

But all too often, the abuse continues, and officers have to return to the same house when a spouse turns violent yet again.

In hopes of cutting down on the number of repeat visits and intervening before abuse escalates, the Huntley police department has launched a new domestic violence program.

Under the program, Huntley police officers make follow-up visits to the victims of severe domestic abuse within 24 hours of the incident that triggered a call to police.

On the follow-up visits, officers can collect more information about the case, check up on the victims and provide them with information about local resources for them.

"We can start to reduce the amount of domestics and get counseling to help the victims out," said Sgt. Linda Hooten, who coordinates the program.

Huntley police have seen an increase in domestic violence calls in the past few months, and the department's call volume has increased as much as 30 percent in the past two years, Hooten said.

"This is one way we're trying to be proactive in reducing those numbers," Hooten said. "Our hope is that our call volume per residence will go down."

The department's effort to fight domestic violence could be aided by the recent reorganization that assigns each officer to a specific neighborhood.

"They can build a rapport and get comfortable with that officer," Hooten said.

So far, Huntley police have made one follow-up visit since the program started this month. On the visit, police provided the victim with information about domestic violence resources.

One of the biggest area resources is Turning Point, a nonprofit emergency shelter that serves victims of domestic violence in McHenry County.

Executive Director Jane Farmer said she hopes Huntley's effort would lead more victims to take advantage of Turning Point's services.

"I'm confident they'll really push the referrals here so we can work with the victims and their families," Farmer said. "I really applaud them for taking a proactive look at it."