Abuse law article inaccurate

The article “Stricter abuse law takes effect” published Dec. 2, 2004, was not only inaccurate, it was damaging.

The author and editor failed to convey the main purpose of the article—that House Bill 1354 now makes non-fatal strangulation a felony offense. Rather, the article, in an example of irresponsible reporting, egregiously states twice, that strangulation is now legal in North Carolina.

Furthermore, I was saddened by the author’s choice to create an imaginary division between victim services and batterers treatment when in actuality, the two work very closely in Durham County as part of a coordinated community response to domestic violence. As a batterers’ treatment provider, I unconditionally support the work of victim service agencies in addition to providing crisis counseling and referrals to victims of program participants on a weekly basis.

In the same vein, victim service providers emphasize that no matter what a victim does or does not do, she cannot stop the violence- only the batterer can.

Thus, perpetrators need to be held accountable either through treatment, or when treatment doesn’t work (as it often doesn’t), through incarceration. While I encourage The Chronicle to continue covering the issue of domestic violence and make increasing awareness of the issue on campus a priority, it must be done thoughtfully and accurately or the effect can reinforce myths and spread misinformation.

Amily McCool, MSW

CHANGE Program Coordinator