| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| April 30, 2001 | Jessie Roos (651-296-9719) |
ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota House of Representatives passed a Judiciary Finance bill Monday that included a provision to continue funding for the Ramsey County Domestic Abuse Prosecution Unit, sponsored by State Representative Carl Jacobson (R-Vadnais Heights).
"This legislation ensures that the public safety needs of the people of Minnesota are met," said Representative Jacobson. "It is reassuring to me that the House to included funding to continue the Ramsey County Domestic Abuse Prosecution Unit."
In addition to the domestic abuse provisions authored by Representative Jacobson, the legislation funds the state's criminal information network, domestic abuse shelters, faith-based prison programing, and fighting meth labs, rural violence, and gang crime.
Jacobson's legislation provides $250,000 next year for the Ramsey County Domestic Abuse Prosecution Unit, which has three goals: recognize children as both victims and witnesses in domestic abuse situations; recognize and respect the interests of children in the prosecution of domestic abuse; and, reduce the exposure to domestic violence for both adult and child victims. The program is a collaboration between the Ramsey County Attorney and the St. Paul City Attorney to prosecute domestic abuse cases. The unit coordinates efforts with child protection attorneys through the use of assistant city and county attorneys, police investigators, victim/witness advocates, and law clerks.
Jacobson commented, "We must do whatever we can to protect our children from the trauma of domestic abuse. This pilot project is a great step forward in coordinating services for victims of domestic abuse."
Jacobson is in his first term as a legislator, representing House District 53B which includes the communities of Gem Lake, Little Canada, Maplewood, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, and White Bear Township. He serves on the House Health & Human Services Policy Committee as well as the full Tax Committee and Sales & Income Tax Division of the Tax Committee.
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