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Briefs
Texas Certification for Domestic Violence Victims
Domestic violence is a pervasive, pernicious, and multi-faceted problem in the state of Texas. According to the Texas Health and Human Services Division, there were over 185,000 reported cases of abuse in 2003, resulting in the deaths of over 150 women. The legion of barriers women face when trying to gain independence from their abusers simply perpetuates the problem. The Texas Public Utility Commission recently took steps to eliminate one of those barriers, authorizing legal services organizations that receive funds from the Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation (TEAJF) to certify victims of domestic violence. Once certified, victims are exempt from the deposits usually required for electricity and phone service. The new policy was championed by the Texas Legal Services Center, which provides training, litigation support and other services for legal aid advocates. Randy Chapman, Executive Director of the Center said, "Victims of abuse should not be chained to their abuser because high utility deposits prevent them from setting up their own homes." The new policy means "that when women meet with legal aid attorneys for protective orders, those same attorneys can also provide practical help in securing affordable shelter." The TEAJF distributes more than $11 million per year to the 38 legal aid organizations across the state who close more than 11,000 domestic violence cases a year. This new policy will allow them to do even more for their clients. Betty Balli Torres, the Foundation's Executive Director said, "A victim of domestic violence needs a whole range of services when attempting to extricate her family from an abusive situation. With a legal aid office's certification, you have one less problem to deal with when you are facing an already overwhelming situation."
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