SafeNest CEO urges domestic violence shift toward prevention

SafeNest CEO Liz Ortenburger used a Boise State Public Radio interview to argue communities should rely less on the criminal legal system and more on early intervention, survivor safety and prevention. She said the approach matters because domestic violence and women’s homicides are not declining, and current responses often miss opportunities to stop escalation earlier.

Why it matters: - SafeNest CEO Liz Ortenburger is pushing for a broader domestic violence response that centers prevention, survivor safety and early intervention. - Ortenburger said the current system has not reduced domestic violence rates or homicides against women. - She argued that communities need more options before violence escalates, especially in cases that do not present immediate lethality.

What happened: - Ortenburger joined Boise State Public Radio’s Idaho Matters to challenge long-held assumptions about domestic violence response. - The conversation focused on shifting from a primarily reactive model to one that includes prevention and earlier support. - SafeNest serves mainly Clark County and is Nevada’s largest and most comprehensive nonprofit addressing domestic violence. - SafeNest provides prevention, protection and empowerment programs for survivors, children and abusive partners.

The details: - Ortenburger said domestic violence covers a wide range of situations, but the criminal legal system often treats them too similarly. - She said Clark County sees about 100,000 domestic violence-related 911 calls each year. - Ortenburger said only about 20% to 25% of those calls lead to an arrest. - She described those cases as opportunities for counseling, support services and help with stressors that may be contributing to violence at home. - Ortenburger also questioned mandatory arrest and no-drop prosecution policies because survivors may have limited control once law enforcement becomes involved. - She said success should be measured by whether a survivor feels safer, gains financial independence, can make decisions freely and, in dangerous situations, can leave safely. - The conversation also highlighted prevention efforts for children and young adults. - Ortenburger called for more education on healthy relationships, psychological abuse and nonviolent conflict resolution. - She said children growing up around violence need those tools early. - Ortenburger also pointed to changing expectations for boys and young men. - She encouraged parents and mentors to talk about equality, partnership and ways men can contribute to relationships without control or the expectation of being the sole provider. - She said individuals can support prevention by bringing domestic violence education into workplaces, backing survivor resources and mentoring young people. - Listeners can hear the full episode here.

Between the lines: - Ortenburger’s comments suggest the domestic violence field is wrestling with whether arrest and prosecution alone can solve a problem that often starts long before police arrive. - Her framing also shifts attention from system output, like arrests and convictions, to survivor outcomes and prevention. - That approach could widen the role of schools, workplaces, families and community groups in reducing harm.

What's next: - Ortenburger is calling for more pathways for survivors whose situations do not fit a one-size-fits-all response. - She is also urging broader community participation in prevention and education. - The bigger test is whether agencies and communities expand services that intervene earlier while still responding forcefully to serious danger.

The bottom line: - Ortenburger wants domestic violence response to be judged less by punishment and more by whether it prevents harm, protects survivors and stops violence before it escalates.