Prosecutor: Pandemic makes resolving domestic violence cases harder Since April, 165 first-degree domestic violence charges have been filed, 11 have been resolved. Share Updated: 6:49 PM EST Feb 25, 2021 Since April, 165 first-degree domestic violence charges have been filed, 11 have been resolved. Share Updated: 6:49 PM EST Feb 25, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript COUNTY PROSECUTORS SAY THE PANDEMIC IS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BRING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES. A RESOLUTION BUT IN A WIF OF NEWS FOR INVESTIGATION DANA GRIFFIN FOUND THAT THE LONG ROAD TO JUSTICE DATES BACK TO WELL BEFORE COVID-19 GROUND THE WHOLE SYSTEM INTO A HOLE. SINCE LAST APRIL 165 FIRST-DEGREE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED IN GREENVILLE COUNTY, BUT 11 HAVE BEEN RESOLVED MORE THAN 11 CASES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED BY NOW. OH A NORMAL SET NORMAL TIMES. OH, ABSOLUTELY. THOSE CASES WOULD ALMOST MOST OF ALL OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO BEING RESOLVED RESOLVED HAD WE NOT HAD COVID. BUT WE’RE WE DON’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESOLVE THAT CASE BECAUSE I CAN’T TRY THAT CASE TO A JURY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC MAY HAVE SLOWED THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, BUT IT HAS NOTHING, LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ABUSERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND AND GREENVILLE COUNTY ARE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE. IT’S INCONSISTENT SAFE HARBOR LEADERS WANT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY IF YOU THINK ABOUT HOW WE TYPICALLY LOOK AT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE HAVE WE TELL THE VICTIM TO GO TO A SHELTER AND SHE HAS TO LEAVE HER HOME. WHY AREN’T WE LOOKING AT WHAT THE PERPETRATOR OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NEEDS TO DO INCREASE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY ON HIM WYFF NEWS 4 INVESTIGATES FOUND INCONSISTENCIES EXISTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS IN 2015. THE AVERAGE FIRST DEGREE. THE VIOLENCE CASE TOOK 394 DAYS TO RESOLVE IT WAS AT A SIMILAR LEVEL THE NEXT THREE YEARS. IT GETS MORE DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW LONG IT TYPICALLY TAKES TO RESOLVE A CASE AFTER THAT BECAUSE MORE THAN 200 OF THE CASES FILED SINCE 2019 ARE STILL PENDING IF YOU’RE A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND YOU CALL. A PARTNER HAS STRANGLED YOU TODAY AND YOU’RE SCARED THAT YOU’RE GOING TO BE KILLED TODAY. YOU MAY NOT GO TO COURT. FOR THIS INCIDEN FOR ANOTHER SIX TO NINE MONTHS FOR THIRD DEGREE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRIMES THAT DO NOT INVOLVE PHYSICAL HARM THE COUNTY ESTABLISHED A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT. THE BOTTOM LINE IS ARE WE SOLVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? NO. BUT ARE WE ARE WE GIVING VICTIMS RESOURCES? ARE WE PROSECUTING DEFENDANTS FOR IT? AND ARE THEY PAYING PENALTIES AND AND CRIMES AND ARE THEY GOING TO JAIL OR HAVING TO DO COUNSELING? YES, THE GOAL IS TO RESOLVE THE CASE IN FOUR WEEKS OR LESS OUR INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT TIMELINE IS TYPICALLY NOT MET IN THE YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC COUNTY RECORD SHOW 174 CHARGES FILED IN THE SPECIAL COURT OF THOSE WITH THE RESOLUTION IT TOOK AN AVERAGE. 72 DAYS 44 CASES WERE RESOLVED IN FOUR WEEKS OR LESS FOUR CASES ARE STILL PENDING.