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The History of the Domestic Violence Task Force

In 1994, the California Judicial Council convened the Family Violence and the Courts Conference to bring the courts, law enforcement, victim advocates, prosecutors, and other community partners together to focus on domestic violence. The goals of the conference were to encourage the courts’ leadership and involvement in county family violence coordinating councils and to provide a venue for discussion and collaboration. In the ensuing years, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has sponsored reunion conferences to bring together the courts and their communities in an effort to enhance the response to domestic violence cases on a state and local level.

In Tulare County, the members who participated in the first conference returned and formed the Tulare County Domestic Violence Task Force. They asked members of the community and related agencies to participate in regular meetings to address domestic violence in Tulare County. This task force became an official Task Force of the Superior Court of California, County of Tulare, and it has met regularly since 1994. Its mission is to prevent and reduce the incidence of domestic violence in Tulare County by improving the effectiveness of the approach to this problem through education and a coordinated, collaborative, county-wide response.

At present, the task force conducts quarterly meetings that address primarily training and outreach to the community. Current projects include the revision of a Victim’s Information Card for use by law enforcement, the development of a web site for the task force, and training for law enforcement officers and dispatchers.

Mission Statement: To advance community-court collaboration and intervention and maximize resources around domestic violence.

Objectives:

• Address the global picture of domestic violence.
• Understand all agencies' approach to domestic violence, by and of the courts.
• Create a forum for community input on court protocols.
• Promote a collaborative, consistent response to domestic violence in Tulare County.
• Raise community awareness.

Paul Vortmann, Tulare County Superior Courts – Presiding Judge
Lloyd Hicks, Tulare County Superior Courts – Civil - Judge
Elisabeth Krant, Tulare County Superior Court – Criminal - Judge
Brett Alldredge, Tulare County Superior Courts – Family Law - Commissioner
Norma Castellanos Perez, Tulare County Superior Court – Child Support - Commissioner
Charlotte Wittig, Tulare County Superior Courts – Juvenile Division - Referee
Patricia Foster, Tulare County Superior Courts – Director - Family Court & Special Services
Carla Khal, Tulare County Superior Courts - Family Law Facilitator
Lisa Bertolino, Tulare County Public Defender’s Office – Assistant Public Defender
Todd Haywood, Tulare County District Attorney’s Office – Deputy DA
Sara Bratsch, Tulare County District Attorney’s Office – Deputy DA
Gayle Cain, Tulare County District Attorney’s Office – Victim Assistance
Christie Myer, Tulare County Probation Department
Vern McNair, Tulare County Probation Department
Elizabeth Lawrence, Tulare County Department of Child Support Services – Deputy DA

Bob Browne, Tulare County Department of Health and Human Services
Sgt. Cheri Lehner, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department
Sgt. Curt Mitchell, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department
Det. Esmeralda Ramos, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department
Capt. Tom Munoz, Tulare Police Department
Det. Mark E. Lightfoot, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department
Det. _________, Visalia Police Department
Sgt. John Hall, Porterville Police Department
Chris Schneider, Central California Legal Services – Executive Director
Janie Munoz-Tafoya, Central California Legal Services
Lana French, Central California Legal Services
Pauline Mychalk, Central California Legal Services
Suzanne Swenk, Central California Legal Services
Joan Cuadra, Proteus Inc.
Karen Cooper, Family Services of Tulare County – Executive Director
Linda Campo-Blazich, Family Services of Tulare County
Cinthia Saucedo, Central California Family Crisis Center

Dolores Aldaco-Cercado, Healthy Start, Lindsay

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings for 2006 will be held at CASA of Tulare County, 1146 North Chinowth Street, Visalia, CA. Telephone: 625-4007.

• January 24, 2006, 4:00 p.m.
• April 25, 2006, 4:00 p.m.
• July 25, 2006, 4:00 p.m.
• October 24, 2006, 4:00 p.m.
  

• Community Outreach
• Training and Education
• Tulare County Domestic Violence Task Force web site