PROGRAM BACKING SOUGHT DOMESTIC ABUSE TARGETED.

Byline: Holly Edwards Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - As a three-year state grant aimed at domestic violence prevention expires this month, Santa Clarita sheriff's officials are asking the city to foot the bill for a program they say has dramatically increased the prosecution rate for a crime that remains shrouded in secrecy.

Since a domestic violence investigator was hired and a Family Violence Task Force was formed in 1998, officials say the prosecution of domestic assaults has increased from 48 percent of the crimes reported to 75 percent.

Nearly 600 domestic assaults were reported in the city last year, officials said.

``This is a major issue in our community and we need to break the cycle of violence,'' said Capt. Don Rodriguez, commander of the Santa Clarita station. ``The nice thing about having a designated investigator for domestic violence is that he's trained to communicate and interact with the victims.''

The investigator also videotapes his interviews with domestic violence victims so if they recant, the tapes can be used in court, said Lt. Tim Peters of the Santa Clarita station.

``Victims used to give us interviews and then start thinking, Well, he's really sorry, or I can take a beating as long as he provides for me and the kids,'' Peters said. ``But there's no spouse out there who deserves to be beaten.''

Peters added that friends and family members of domestic violence victims are often reluctant to report the crimes because many still believe that what happens in the home is strictly the couple's business.

In their budget request for the coming fiscal year, local sheriff's officials are seeking $113,500 to continue the domestic violence investigator position, and $7,500 to fund the Family Violence Task Force initiatives, which include domestic violence training for psychologists and school counselors.

Marina Martin, director of the Association to Aid Victims of Domestic Violence, said the Family Violence Task Force has created an important link between law enforcement and those who work with victims of domestic violence.

``A lot of times we're the first place the victims call, not the sheriff's station,'' Martin said. ``Statistically, the victim goes back six times before she stays gone, and very few call the police. They're scared and he may be the father of their children. Who's going to pay rent and buy food if he's in jail?''

Local sheriff's officials are also seeking about $11.2 million in city funding to continue their basic service to the city, which includes 72 deputies, 55 patrol cars and five unmarked cars, Rodriguez said.

The funding request reflects a 3.5 percent salary increase for deputies countywide, he said, adding that the city also pays a portion of the salaries for the detectives, high ranking officers and desk personnel at the station.