Sunday, September 05, 1999
Magistrate follows up on domestic violence
Counseling center awards diligence
BY TOM O'NEILL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BATAVIA — Clermont County Magistrate Victor Haddad trains an eye on domestic violence offenders long after they've left his courtroom.
That diligence prompted the Clermont Counseling Center to recently name Magistrate Haddad this year's recipient of its Corbett Award, established two years ago to reward effective prevention of domestic violence.
Magistrate Haddad handles bond and preliminary hearings for misdemeanor domestic violence cases entering the municipal court system. But he also spearheads post-conviction follow-ups with agencies such as the probation department and Clermont Counseling.
No more Nice Guy
Offenders who see Magistrate Haddad a second time, for noncompliance of ordered treatment, often find a far less lenient magistrate than the one they initially encountered.
“You're not always sure they're telling you the whole story,” the magistrate said. “If I see them again, I can sentence them to the length of the suspended sentence.”
About seven out of 10 domestic violence cases involve alcohol, he said, so one of the keys to the program is ensuring that suspects — and victims — get the necessary treatment.
“If you can stop the one (alcohol),” Magistrate Haddad said, “you often stop the other (violence).”
Domestic violence is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by a maximum 180 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. If a convict is again arrested, the charge becomes a fifth-degree felony and is handled in common pleas court.
Magistrate Haddad and police say the increase in domestic violence cases primarily reflects better enforcement and public awareness, and it's difficult to know if violence occurs more frequently.
The extra mile
He also is known to place a restraining order on a suspect even without the consent of victims, who sometimes feel intimidated by suspects.
“What sets Victor apart is that he goes the extra mile to help the people who come through his court break the cycle of violence,” said Tricia Burke, executive director of Clermont Counseling. “He doesn't just refer people into counseling and go on. He sets up follow-up court dates and keeps track of people's progress. He does this on top of handling a full docket.”
The Corbett Award is named in memory of Marilyn Corbett, a Clermont Counseling Center staff therapist who pioneered the agency's domestic violence treatment program. Clermont Counseling is a private, nonprofit mental health facility and is funded by the Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board and the United Way.
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