Chad Taylor, Shawnee County, KS District Attorney has chosen to discontinue prosecuting misdemeanor domestic violence offenses in response to a 10% budget cut for his office, rather than seek alternate avenues to save money.

When domestic violence is not addressed, it escalates and endangers the lives of women, children, elderly people and those who cannot defend themselves. In 2009, there were 23,864 incidents of domestic violence reported in the state of Kansas, the highest per capita in over 19 years. Can we afford to increase the number of women brutalized to save money for the county and city governments? Surely the budget can be addressed in other ways.

From 2008 to 2009, Kansas saw an 84.2% increase in homicides related to domestic violence. If women do not feel that they can contact police for the help they need because they know their brutal attackers will not be held or charged with a crime, the pattern of behavior in these relationships is allowed to continue and escalate. With such an increase in recent years, it is clear that the government needs to do more to protect these women, rather than allow their abusers to immediately return and repeat the behavior.

Stand up for those who cannot defend themselves. Make Topeka and Shawnee County, KS uphold the law and prosecute those who break it.