July 21, 2008, 11:15PM

Funds to hasten protective orders, train officers and refer services

By RUTH RENDON
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Beaten and stabbed last month, Jan Wilson Hardy finally concluded enough was enough.

The 54-year-old teacher sought and received a protective order against her alleged attacker — a live-in companion of two years. Hardy joined nearly 6,000 others, men as well as women, in Harris County who request help every year keeping alleged abusers at bay.

Advocates hope a new three-year, $850,000 federal grant to the Houston Police Department's family violence center and to the Houston Area Women's Center will speed up how quickly these protective orders are handed out. Funded by the Department of Justice, the Domestic Violence Enforcement Program also will provide more information about available services for abuse victims.

"It improves the system to make sure (fewer) victims fall through the cracks," said Kelly Boros, manager of communications for the Houston Area Women's Center, which provides shelter and other services to abused women and their children.

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