District Attorney John Morganelli on Oct. 10 named veteran prosecutor Abe Kassis to lead the county’s busy domestic violence unit. Kassis’ unit handles 15-17 percent of the entire criminal caseload. Admitted to the bar in 1995, Kassis has been an Assistant District Attorney for the past 18 years.

Kassis is getting help. Morganelli has persuaded Attorney Judy Chaverri, a Berks County Public Defender who graduated from Villanova Law School to join Team Kassis. She is fluent in Spanish, which Morganelli believes will be a great help.

Morganelli has also assigned Detective Dean Wilson, a Bethlehem Township Police alumnus, to the unit. Wilson developed the “Every 15 Minutes” program, designed to educate teens about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Morganelli has charged Wilson with designing a similar program for domestic violence.

These moves are made as part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

When he first ran for DA, Morganelli committed to (1) increasing the number of female prosecutors; (2) expanding a Victim/Witness Assistance Program; (3) prohibiting part-time Assistant DAs from representing parties in protection from Abuse matters; and (4) creating a Domestic Violence Unit.

He has kept all four promises. In fact, 50 percent of Morganelli’s prosecutors are female.

The Domestic Violence Unit has existed for 20 years, and has been led by talented prosecutors, including Martricia McLaughlin, Teresa Miranda, Kelly Lewis, Jacqueline Taschner and Erika Farkas. Detectives assigned to that unit have included Reggie Cora, now deceased, and Frank Jordan, retired.

Since enactment of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, Morganelli has noticed a two-thirds reduction in the overall rate of domestic violence. But as the criminal caseload suggests, the problem continues.

In recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Morganelli was joined by Lori Sywesky of Turning Point and Suzanne Beck of Lehigh Valley Crime Victims.

“Unfortunately, the work of this team is as necessary today as it was two decades ago,” said Sywensky. “Each year at Turning Point, we continue to help over 2,500 of our friends and neighbors who are living in violent and abusive homes here in Northampton County. Many are just reaching out to our hotline for the first time and learning for the first time that there are options and choices available to them. For many hundreds of people, they will turn to law enforcement and the courts for help. When they find the bravery to do this, it’s critical that the helpers – investigators, prosecutors and judges – understand the seriousness of the danger in these relationships and respond to them with empathy.”

“Survivors of domestic violence present differently than victims of other crimes,” added Beck. “Many often minimize and recant or even altogether deny their abuse as a result of the power and control that permeates their relationships. Many victims have been physically, psychologically, socially and financially abused for so long that they distrust anyone who tries to help them.

“To help victims regain trust in themselves and in the justice system, it is imperative that the process offers consistency and continuity. Specially trained prosecutors and detectives, just like the ones here, have a better opportunity to build relationships with victims and ensure that consistency and continuity. Domestic violence units like those here in Northampton County are indeed best practises.

‘The ultimate goal, the reason we’re all here today, is to keep victims safe.”