Fort Collins – A magistrate in Larimer County is ordering victims of domestic violence to meet with their abusers. Several women say the move is both damaging and dangerous.
Magistrate John Jostad handles domestic cases. In certain cases involving custody of minor children, he has ruled that the parents should engage in “cooperative training.”
Sara Blom of Fort Collins said that, in her case, that means meeting face-to-face with her ex-husband, who pleaded guilty to domestic violence harassment. It also means, she said, that she has to give over her telephone number and e-mail address to her ex-husband.
Jostad wrote in his ruling that such sessions are “in the best interest of the child,” but Blom said, “(It’s) like a rapist and a rape victim forced to be in the same room together.”
Rosemarie Fritz agrees. She’s the director of Alternatives to Violence in Loveland, which is a group that supports domestic violence victims.
Fritz said Blom isn’t alone. She said Jostad is putting several other victims of domestic violence in a similar position.
“We have four women right now who are in similar kinds of situations who are being re- victimized by the judicial system because they are being required to give confidential information to their abusers, which puts them in physical risk and in danger,” Fritz said.
Fritz said face-to-face meetings can result in intimidation or violence. She said those in the judicial system should be trained to learn more about the effects of domestic violence.
“Any time a victim is required to meet with her abuser, it’s traumatic for her and it’s unnerving for her because she has had a history of being abused by this person,” she said.
Jostad did not return phone calls for comment. Through his assistant, he told the Fort Collins Coloradoan that he could not comment on specific cases.
Blom’s appeal of Jostad’s ruling was dismissed on a technicality, but she plans to appeal.
“The only option I have is to hope other people who have this experience with judges will come forward and not be afraid to speak the truth,” Blom said.
