Domestic Violence Can Reach Beyond The Home Front

The Greek Star
April 17, 1997
By Diane Lymberopoulos

Article Courtesy of The Greek Star

Cook County State's Attorney Richard A. Devine has now given domestic violence crimes an unprecedented priority in Cook County: This past February, Devine established a Domestic Violence Unit, which will employ 22 specialist attorneys to prosecute stalking, domestic battery and other domestic violence cases. Named by Devine to head the team of prosecutors is national expert Pamela Paziotopoulos.

Paziotopoulos, 32, was formerly a senior attorney with the American Prosecutors Research Institute's Criminal Prosecution Division.”

Pam Paziotopoulos has the expertise and dedication to help lead the fight in Cook County against domestic violence," Devine said.

A specialist in domestic violence and stalking, Paziotopoulos is an author and a frequent lecturer to law officers, judges and medical personnel. From 1993 to 1995, she served as domestic violence coordinator for the Cook County State's Attorney Office, overseeing the prosecution of more than 400 cases daily and litigating numerous bench and jury trial. A $539,460 grant from the US Department of Justice under the Violence Against Women Act will fund the special prosecution team at 13th Street and Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The team will focus on high-risk cases with a history of violence and provide these victims outside legal assistance from Life Span, and the help of an advocate from Hull House. The team will also provide on-site consultation to victims about obtaining civil remedies from abusers.

"Our domestic violence effort will be greatly strengthened because of this grant, which came because the Justice Department recognized the excellence of the program," Paziotopoulos said. "Because of it, we will be able to serve some of the most vulnerable of the victims of domestic violence."

"Domestic violence is different from other crimes that prosecutors handle," Devine said. "It can be overwhelmingly difficult for victims to seek help from us when their abusers are entwined in their lives. This effort will enable us to provide greater protection for those men, women, children and seniors for whom home is not a refuge but a prison."

Devine said Illinois judges entered 46,076 domestic orders of protection in 1995, and more than half were filed in Cook County. The new unit within the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau will provide vertical prosecution, threat assessments and advocacy for victims as part of an effort to improve prosecution of cases in both Chicago and suburban Cook County.

“Utilizing verticle procecutions in domestic violence cases will eliminate one of the greatest problems for victims different prosecutors handling their cases along the way," Paziotopoulos said. "Now, a single prosecutor will be in charge of a case, from start to finish."

Paziotopoulos, who said she grew up in a "warm Greek family," understands that the background of the victims and offenders in these cases, though, is much different. "Growing up, my home was so safe," she said. "There are people out there who, when they unlock the door to their home, it's the most frightening thing.”

Born in Oak Park, Paziotopoulos grew up wanting to be a broadcast journalist. She received her bachelor of arts in speech communications from the University of Illinois at Champaign, but one of her professors encouraged her to pursue law. She received her J.D. from Chicago Kent School of Law-Illinois Institute of Technology.

It was during her teenage years that she faced a tough challenge. At 19 she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease, which she successfully overcame.

"That year made me who I am. It gave me courage," Paziotopoulos said. She also said that the support in her home and family "helped me get through it."

Turning to her career, she said encouragement has also been important, and just as Odysseus had Mentor, his loyal friend and advisor, Paziotopoulos quickly credits personal friend and co-worker Anna Demacopoulos, deputy supervisor for the first municipal district of the state's attorney's office.

“We [Greek Americans] are proud and it's very hard to admit that there's a problem, but we need to start talking about it,” Paziotopoulos said.

"Anna was a true mentor," she said with a smile as she recounted the days when Demacopoulos was her cheerleading coach at St. Nicholas Church in Oak Lawn, IL.

"She helped me to understand these cases and I'm able to bounce things off her," she explained.

Paziotopoulos, who has been to Greece and speaks Greek, said the Greek-American community is not exempt from domestic violence. "It crosses all boundaries. We [Greek Americans] are proud and it's very hard to admit that there's a problem, but we need to start talking about it." She pointed out that "a lot of Greeks who don't speak English feel trapped. We must educate the community."

Paziotopoulos knows that challenges lie ahead and understands that "it's going to take time." With over 46,000 domestic orders of protection in 1995, Paziotopoulos said it can become "overwhelming" and it's important to stay focused.

"You can get too administrative and that's not always good," she said of the struggle involved. "You begin to ask, did you do the right thing? But in situations where you help just one person - it's enough to get you going again."