Kansas City Ends Domestic Violence Ordinance - Women on the Firing Line

By Ann Waddell

In October, the District Attorney of Shawnee County, which encompasses Topeka, Kansas, announced that he would cease to prosecute domestic violence cases within the city of Topeka. 

He argued that with recent budget cuts he no longer had sufficient resources and that the city should take on the burden of these prosecutions. 

The city council responded by repealing their ordinance against domestic violence! 

After a week of adverse national publicity and vociferous lobbying from women’s organizations, the District Attorney agreed to resume domestic violence prosecutions. The speed with which the council was prepared to abolish their statute in order to defend their budget was scary, particularly after a quick look at what has been happening in the women’s shelter system nationally over the last few years. 

The Department of Justice states that families under serious financial strain are three times more likely to be affected by domestic violence. According to the “Domestic Violence Counts” 2010 survey, 82% of programs nationally reported a higher demand for services, which they attributed to the worsened economy. Yet the same survey found that 77% of programs reported a decrease in funding. 

In Kansas, on any given night, most of the domestic violence shelters are full. Many are operating over capacity. And the shelter operators expect their government budget to be cut by 10% by the end of the year. Of 103 homicides in the state in 2010, 32 were related to domestic violence, and police saw an increase of 11% in arrests arising from reports of domestic violence. Hardly the best moment for Topeka to abolish its city laws against domestic abuse. 

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