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Involved in DV since 1998
My first experience in working with the domestic violence movement was
in 1998 when, as a law student, I interned for the Domestic Violence
Unit of the Cook County State Attorney's office in Chicago. One
of my jobs as an intern was to count and catalogue all of the cases
that had come in the Unit in the past year - the amount of cases that
Unit handled was staggering. Even more disturbing was the rate
those cases turned over to the homicide division.
Since then I have volunteered with a non-profit organization in NYC,
helping DV victims file for divorce. Since arriving in Colorado,
I have received training from Project Safeguard in obtaining protective
orders and I volunteer every month via that program, offering legal
advice to domestic violence victims filing for divorce and/or custody
of their children.
I have been on the Board of Directors of Gateway since November of 2004
and am thrilled to be a part of this vital organization that offers its
services in such a compassionate and professional way.
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I want to help victims of domestic violence because there's far too
little education, poor enforcement and insufficient group and
individual services available today to serve the needs of DV victims.
Without the benefit of intervention, education, court advocacy,
counseling and residential services such as those provided by Gateway,
it seems our society is sure to see the horrible behaviors of today's
abusers replicated in future generations. I believe Gateway and its
broad range of services make a tremendous impact on domestic violence
here in Colorado (specifically in Aurora), and it's been a great honor
for me to be able to contribute in small ways toward that result.
-Jim Bartlett
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Volunteer Voices 
