West Boylston – In keeping with promise to participate and support local domestic violence advocacy and treatment groups, Sheriff Glodis hosted the Worcester Intervention Network’s Domestic Violence Roundtable at the Worcester County House of Corrections today.  For the first time in the Sheriff’s Departments’ history, Sheriff Glodis joined the Roundtable earlier this year, volunteering to host members at the jail to see firsthand how domestic violence services could be improved.

“We must do everything in our power not only to treat offenders while they’re in prison, but equally as important to give victims all the support they need,” Sheriff Glodis stated.  “This Roundtable gives a voice to those victims, doing whatever is necessary to prevent future crimes from occurring.”

The Domestic Violence Roundtable is led by Ms. Ginger Navickas of Daybreak/Y.W.C.A. and brings together members from the Department of Social Services, the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, Probate Court, Worcester Intervention Network, Worcester Rape Crisis Center, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, City of Worcester Office of Human Rights, Spectrum/PAVE Program, New Hope Program, Legal Assistance Corporation, Community Healthlink, et al. 

Sheriff Glodis continued: “Spousal abuse, harassment, intimidation and domestic violence are a plague upon the citizens of Worcester County, and a strategic plan to address these problems will be aggressively pursued by this administration.  Joined by Roundtable members equally as committed to this cause, I am truly optimistic that our partnership will produce very positive results.”

The Sheriff’s Department currently offers six one-hour domestic violence counseling classes per week.  In order for inmates to receive credit for completion, they must attend all 40 classes. 

Sheriff Glodis will also join the Domestic Violence Roundtable in sponsoring domestic violence awareness events during the Week Without Violence in late October, early November.