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So apparently it is legal to beat your wife in Topeka, KS

Oct 12, 2011#1

GasBandit

More copypasta from the daily what -

This Is All Kinds Of Wrong of the Day: In a move that is certain to stir controversy far beyond its borders, Topeka’s City Council voted yesterday to repeal the Kansas state capital’s ban on domestic battery.

The move is a purely political one: Budget cuts have compelled Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor to transfer all misdemeanor domestic battery cases to the city, which has refused to handle them due to the added cost.

Interim city manager Dan Stanley believes the ban’s repeal is exactly the sort of kick in the junk the DA’s office needs to start prosecuting domestic battery cases again.

Some 30 abuse suspects have had their charges dismissed since the dispute began, with one offender being released twice.

The so-called “decriminalization” of domestic violence has stoked the ire of many local and national organizations that feel people’s lives are being risked for a game of political chicken.

“I absolutely do not understand it,” National Coalition Against Domestic Violence executive director Rita Smith told the Kansas City Star. “It’s really outrageous that they’re playing with family safety to see who blinks first. People could die while they’re waiting to straighten this out.”

Adding insult to injury, October happens to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
While domestic abuse remains a crime in the state of Kansas, and therefore in Topeka, with no one in the city willing to foot the bill for prosecution, it is likely cases will continue to be dismissed until city and county officials agree on a resolution.

Oct 12, 2011#2

strawman

"Tuesday’s repeal wouldn’t “decriminalize” domestic violence in Topeka, because it is banned by state law and would remain a crime here."

It's a little like Ann Arbor repealing most of its marijuana statutes. The university police do not arrest for, nor report, small amounts of the drug. The city police don't either. If the state or county police or sheriff happen to catch someone, they get to get their DA to prosecute - but the city doesn't have to deal with it.

Same deal with dispensaries - they are illegal on a federal level, but the states no longer pursue those cases.

There is always going to be friction regarding who prosecutes which cases, and who has jurisdiction.

Oct 12, 2011#3

Chibibar

So no more money to prosecute domestic violence cases on the local level, and the city level don't want it either? (or can afford it) so it goes to the state level? but from what I read that some cases are being "dismiss" since the local/city can't handle it. That is bad news.

Oct 12, 2011#4

AshburnerX

Chibibar said:
So no more money to prosecute domestic violence cases on the local level, and the city level don't want it either? (or can afford it) so it goes to the state level? but from what I read that some cases are being "dismiss" since the local/city can't handle it. That is bad news.

Basically, they are currently in a pissing match about who gets the check. The City can't afford to do it, but the County doesn't want to waste it's money on the problem ether. It's going to go back and forth until something very public and terrible happens, in which case the State will step in and fix the budget problem.

So yeah... someone's gonna have to die to fix this.

Oct 12, 2011#5

Chibibar

AshburnerX said:
Basically, they are currently in a pissing match about who gets the check. The City can't afford to do it, but the County doesn't want to waste it's money on the problem ether. It's going to go back and forth until something very public and terrible happens, in which case the State will step in and fix the budget problem.

So yeah... someone's gonna have to die to fix this.

That is a scary prospect

Oct 12, 2011#6

Frankie Williamson

That's....not good.

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