One of Senator Patrick Leahy's top priorities in the current lame duck session of Congress is the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Peter Welch say they're trying to extend a law that protects women from violence.

Senator Patrick Leahy is pushing legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

Facing federal spending cuts, a program that provides representation for domestic violence victims, Have Justice Will Travel, has laid off staff in Bennington and Randolph, but that hasn't stopped lawyers from showing up in court.

Small communities can be particularly vulnerable to embezzlement.  We find out how the theft of public funds is prevented and detected.  Also, a Vermont organization that helps Iraqi victims of domestic violence.

The problem of domestic violence continues to persist across Vermont. Now, advocates say, a whole new approach is needed in treating men who've been violent in the home.

But per capita, Vermont ranks second in the nation when it comes to men killing women. And an alarming percentage of all police calls involve domestic violence.  Because of that, Vermont passed a law two years ago requiring that every law enforcement officer in the state go through comprehensive domestic violence training. 

When police officers respond to calls that involve domestic violence, their safety and the victim's well-being are at high risk. That volatile scenario requires skill to handle, and it's the reason behind new increased training requirements for Vermont law enforcement officers.