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OREGON CITY, Or. -- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, traditionally a time when advocates for victims of abuse focus on the prevalence and impact of the problem.
Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth is a career prosecutor who has seen the devastation caused by domestic and sexual abuse. Clackamas County files roughly twice the national average of domestic violence and sexual assault cases.
Wentworth took office with one overarching goal: To make Clackamas County the national leader in providing services to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Work on what Wentworth dubbed the Gold Standard began last year. The effort brings together the best practices of programs throughout the nation.
“Why is this the Gold Standard? Because there are place places around the country doing these things individually, but no one is doing them altogether,” Wentworth said.
On Thursday, Oct. 1, Wentworth will provide a progress report on this initiative.
- When: 11:15 a.m.
- Where: Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Brooks Building Auditorium, 9101 SE Sunnybrook Road
Wentworth will be joined by Clackamas County Sheriff James Rhodes and Melissa Erlbaum, Clackamas Women's Services Executive Director who will discuss their efforts to hold offenders accountable and to connect domestic violence victims to needed services.
Clackamas County files roughly twice the national average of domestic violence and sexual assault cases.
Wentworth is standardizing training countywide for detectives, patrol officers, paramedics and prosecutors so victims all receive the best service regardless of where they live in the county.
“We are establishing a certification program for law enforcement officers and prosecutors who regularly handle sexual assault and domestic violence cases. Professionals will now receive special training that will enable them to handle these difficult cases in the most trauma-informed, victim-centered, and offender-focused manner possible,” Wentworth said.
“This month, we will offer access to crime victims on our website so they can see up-to-the-minute information about what’s happening with their cases,” Wentworth said.
“Finally, we will replace and expand our Family Justice Center, which provides a wide range of services to anyone experiencing domestic or sexual violence,” Wentworth said. The new Family Justice Center is expected to open in 2029.
The Center needs to expand to serve the growing needs of our county,” Wentworth said. “If someone reaches out for help, we need to be there for them.”
Wentworth, Rhodes and Erlbaum will be available for interviews after the news conference.