New Task Force Offers Justice For All Victims Of Violence

KEVIN HALPERN, Courier Co-Editor


A number of local agencies have teamed up to form a local task force whose mission is to combat domestic and other forms of violence.

Spearheading the Cannon County Task Force are the Cannon County Sheriff's Department, the Woodbury Police Department and Cannon County S.A.V.E.

The task force is a multidisciplinary team of professionals working collaboratively to provide services for the community by offering specialized domestic violence crisis and intervention services.

Teams are specialized to fit the needs of each community and generally have goals of increasing the reporting and conviction of domestic violence while countering the experience of domestic violence with a sensitive and competent response.

Typically, teams consist of key responders such as advocates, law enforcement officers, medical personnel, and prosecutors.

"The task force provides support and assistance to all victims of violence in a professional and compassionate manner," Lisa Baird, director of S.A.V.E., said.

Baird said these professional include, but are not limited to, the Cannon County sheriff, sheriff deputies, detectives, Woodbury Police Department, S.A.V.E. advocates, task force administrator and team members, Cannon County District Attorneys and the Cannon County Clerk and Master.

Some of the benefits the task force provides victims of violence are:

• Ensuring that all the needs of victims are met.

• Ensuring that justice is being served and that the respondent is being held accountable.

• Providing more avenues to the community for better education regarding domestic violence and sexual assault.

• Working as a unit to better provide services in an efficient yet comprehensive manner for victims at a time that is challenging regarding the dynamics of the legal system.

• Opening the doors for financial assistance in bringing new awareness and education programs to the community, without burden to the county funds.

The S.A.V.E. program offers domestic violence victims assistance with orders of protection, provides counseling and court advocacy, emergency shelter and transitional housing, and training programs.

For more information about the Cannon County Task Force and S.A.V.E., call 615-563-6690. S.A.V.E. information is also available online at www.cannoncountysave.org.