Opinion ID: 2520371
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Nature of Domestic Violence and Need for Privilege

Text: In order to analyze the statute, we must first put it in context. The General Assembly acted around a time when domestic violence had been recognized as a disease of epidemic proportions eating at the fabric of our society. Dale R. Harris, The CBA Addresses Family Violence Issues, 26 Colo. Law. 27 (1997) (citing statistics from 1996, a year after the 1994 omnibus domestic violence bill became effective); see also U.S. Dep't of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Crime Data Brief: Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001 (2003) (noting 1.1 million nonfatal violent crimes by an intimate in 1993); Developments in the Law: Legal Response to Domestic Violence, 106 Harv. L.Rev. 1498, 1501 (1993) (noting Surgeon General's report that abuse inflicted by intimates constitutes one of the leading causes of emergency room visits). Domestic violence is defined in Colorado as an act or threatened act of violence upon a person with whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate relationship; see section 18-6-800.3(1), C.R.S. (2004), and includes harassment, injury, control, terrorism or damage to property, see Leslie A. Hagen & Kim M. Rattet, Communications and Violence Against Women: Michigan Law on Privilege, Confidentiality, and Mandatory Reporting 17 T.M. Cooley L.Rev. 183, 188 (2000). Moreover, domestic violence often does not consist of a single incident; it is recognized instead as a continual state of victimization that involves several crimes. See U.S. Dep't of Justice, Office of Justice Program, National Institute of Justice Research Report, Domestic and Sexual Violence Data Collection: A Report to Congress Under the Violence Against Women Act (1996). Significantly, for purpose of this case, and contrary to common understanding, most victims of domestic violence attempt to flee from their abusers but are hampered by enormous economic hurdles, particularly if they have minor children. Joan Zorza, Recognizing and Protecting the Privacy and Confidentiality Needs of Battered Women, 29 Fam. L.Q. 273, 276 (1995). In 1990, the United States Senate Judiciary Committee reported that 50 percent of all homeless women and children were fleeing abuse. Id. Thus, the availability of services provided by domestic violence organizations, including housing assistance and counseling, is essential to helping victims escape from abusers. Near the time the General Assembly promulgated and implemented the 1994 omnibus domestic violence bill, Colorado battered women shelters housed over 6,000 clients. See Harris, supra, at 28 (citing 1996 statistics); see also Colorado Dep't of Human Services, Domestic Abuse Assistance Program Statistics for Calendar Year 2004 (citing the figure at about 5,500). The same year, Colorado shelters turned away almost 8,000 persons escaping abuse. See id. Non-shelter housing assistance furnished by domestic abuse agencies fills the gap where temporary shelter housing might be unavailable. Domestic violence organizations also help to reduce the economic gap between abuse victims who can and those who cannot afford to secure the services of paid therapists. Concerning Methods to Facilitate the Prosecution of Sexual Offenders by Affecting Statutes in a Manner Designed to Assist Sexual Assault Victims: Hearing on Senate Bill 95-153, (Colo. February 22, 1995) (hereinafter  Hearing on SB 95-153 ) (statement of co-sponsor, Senator Wham); see also Jaffee v. Redmond, 518 U.S. 1, 15-18, 116 S.Ct. 1923, 135 L.Ed.2d 337 (1996) (holding that the rationale for recognizing privilege for treatment by psychiatrists and psychologists apply with equal force to clinical social workers because their clients are often the poor and those with modest means who cannot afford the assistance of psychologists and therapists). Maintaining and handling client records and collecting information from and about victims of domestic violence are a critical function of any victim advocacy program. See Ronald B. Adrine & Alexdria M. Ruden, Confidentiality and Liability Concerns, Oh. Domestic Violence L. § 16:4 (2004). The disclosure of the victim's residence or location can make the victim accessible to an abuser from whom he or she is hiding. Id. It is within this unique societal setting that the General Assembly acted to create the victim-advocate privilege. Much like the psychologist-patient privilege, the assumption of confidentiality is essential to fostering trust between the parties to the relationship. Hearing on SB 95-153 (statements of Senator Wham); see also U.S. Dep't of Justice, Report to Congress, The confidentiality of Communications Between Sexual Assault or Domestic Violence Victims and Their Counselors: Findings and Model Legislation (1995) (hereinafter  DOJ Model Legislation ) (recognizing that without assurances that communications made by the victim of domestic violence or sexual assault will be kept confidential, victims will be even more reluctant to seek counseling or to explore legal and social remedies). Concerning the psychologist-patient privilege the United States Supreme Court observed: Effective psychotherapy ... [d]epends upon an atmosphere of confidence and trust in which the patient is willing to make a frank and complete disclosure of facts, emotions, memories, and fears. Because of the sensitive nature of the problems for which individuals consult psychotherapists, disclosure of confidential communications made during counseling sessions may cause embarrassment or disgrace. For this reason, the mere possibility of disclosure may impede development of the confidential relationship necessary for successful treatment. Jaffee, 518 U.S. at 10, 116 S.Ct. 1923. Indeed, we have likewise validated Colorado's psychologist-patient privilege, concluding that the disclosure of confidential counseling communications can cause the victim embarrassment and shame. People v. Sisneros, 55 P.3d 797, 800 (Colo.2002); People v. Dist. Court, 719 P.2d 722, 725 (Colo.1986). We have noted in addition, that, although similar, the privilege is even more critical in the counseling context than in the physician-patient arena because a doctor may sometimes treat a patient's physical symptoms without the need for trust. See Bond v. Dist. Court, 682 P.2d 33, 38 (Colo.1984). If victims fear that their abuser may have access to victim impact statements, pre-sentence reports, and compensation files, they are less likely to seek assistance. see U.S. Dep't of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Privacy of Victims' Counseling Communications: Legal Series # 8, 1 (2002) (hereinafter  Legal Series # 8 ). Accordingly, having considered the framework of domestic violence and the privilege, we now proceed to examine the parameters of Colorado's statutory victim-advocate privilege and its application to this case.