Stephen Ryan, Assistant Attorney General, Unit Chief
Daniel Guglielmo, Special Assistant Attorney General
Kathleen Keating, Special Assistant Attorney General
Shannon Signore, Special Assistant Attorney General

The Attorney General's Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit (DV/SA Unit) specializes in investigative oversight and the prosecution of cases involving domestic violence related crimes. The DV/SA Unit oversees the handling of all Providence County felony domestic violence cases and prosecutes misdemeanor cases that require special attention by the Unit. Each prosecutor within the Unit handles an average caseload of eighty cases and investigations. In addition, the DV/SA Unit participates in the statewide training of law enforcement personnel, medical personnel, and city/town solicitors. In large part, the unit training focuses on the improved collection of evidence by law enforcement and the successful prosecution of cases without the participation of the victim.

The DV/SA Unit is funded by the Violence Against Women Act. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), is set forth in Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. VAWA reflects a firm commitment toward changing the criminal justice system response to violence against women. Rhode Island was the second state in the nation to receive funding under VAWA I, and the Rhode Island State Implementation Plan was the first in the nation to be approved by the United States Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs. This plan has become a nationwide model.

Since the implementation of VAWA I, the Unit has grown from one to three prosecutors and has implemented an evidence based prosecution approach to cases (the case will not be dismissed because the victim does not cooperate or recants her prior statement- the State will proceed with the prosecution of the matter if there is sufficient evidence). The Unit has organized and participated in three separate statewide solicitor/prosecutor trainings. The Unit has created and distributed a solicitor/prosecutor prosecution protocol (April 2001) and through the Attorney General's Domestic Violence Task Force has cosponsored an educational forum on the effects of witnessing domestic violence on children (May 2000 Forgotten Victims: Child Witnesses to Domestic Violence, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI). The Unit has also drafted, introduced and testified before the legislature on bills affecting domestic violence and sexual assault and has been instrumental in our State passing some of the strictest domestic violence laws in the country.

The year 2000-2001 successes include many prosecutions, notably the continued prosecution of cases without the participation of the victim and a successful prosecution of a domestic violence murder to which the defendant was sentenced to life without parole. The Unit is also committed to focus on child witnesses to violence. A successful Attorney General's Domestic Violence Task Force subcommittee to focus on juveniles exposed to violence has developed a pilot program to provide 24-hour on-scene crisis/counselor assistance to a child that witnesses domestic violence. A request for funding this initiative has been submitted. Finally, a plan to restructure of the DV/SA Unit to better serve these children has been devised and awaits further input and implementation.

Offender accountability and victim safety remain the goals.

The Department of Attorney General works closely with the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) and the Sexual Assault and Trauma Resource Center (SATRC). The RICADV's six member agencies provide services and shelter to victims of domestic violence.