Greeley, Donald wrote:
I've been following this thread off and on for a few days.
I hate to state the obvious, but I'd cast my vote for those people that commit the murders as the ones to blame.
With the rare exception of serial killers the vast majority of murder victims are in some sort of relationship with there killers. (e.g. gang rivals, domestic assault situations etc.) The implication there is not, as someone will surely say, that the victims are at fault. No one deserves to be murdered. However, in prevention terms, it is nearly impossible to prevent a murder.
Donald,
As an advocate for battered women and their children for the past decade, I'd like to challenge this statement a bit, especially as it relates to Minneapolis. You are correct that blame lies with the perpetrator, and I believe you when you say you do not blame the victims in this case. But there is a system of prevention and intervention designed to prevent just such tragedies from taking place. In this case specifically, all indicators pointed toward escalating violence and likely murder and whatever prevention/intervention we have clearly failed in this case.
It is likely that officers did all that was reasonable in trying to catch this man after he was charged with rape and assault against the victim a week prior to the murder. It is difficult to assume these murders would have taken place if the officers had been successful. Now, I don't believe the MPD was lazy, lackadasical or otherwise derelict but clearly, the MPD lacked all the resources it could have wanted to apprehend this person, and more cuts are on the way.
As for the domestic violence agencies in Minneapolis, there is no comprehensive, community-based response to victims of domestic violence in Minneapolis. Prosecutors have victim-witness liaisons, but they would have been of no use to the victim in this case yet since the offender had not yet been caught. Shelter was offerred as an option, but the young woman reasonably believed she might be safe at home with her family and that the perpetrator would likely be caught. The very community-based domestic violence programs that could have made a difference here have lost nearly 50% of their state funding over the past 4 years, and many programs are shutting their doors.
Hennepin County also has the unique opportunity to examine this case in-depth due to the Fatality Review Team. This team brings all the players in the system to critically examine over the course of months everthing that led up to the crime and the missed opportunities for intervention that can be remedied in the future. In today's Pioneer Press, Ruben Rosario has a great article on the Team and what they've been able to accomplish. I've been able to work with them in the past (after a client was murdered), and can attest they are serious, committed and honest brokers looking for practical solutions to prevent the next tragedy.
In short, (though I realize it's too late), preventing horrific crimes such as these fall on all of us. Many of us other that police have the opportunity and obligation to intercede on behlaf of battered women and their children. Our system is not perfect, and we can only improve it with a willingness to see it it's flaws and failings and address them.
-Dorian Eder
Windom Park
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