Why Do they abuse?

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Debra Bezner, Program Manager for the Domestic Violence Diversion Programs in the Tarrant County Criminal Courts Administration office. She graduated with a Master’s of Arts in Counseling from Amberton University in 2002 and from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice in 1989. Ms. Bezner has worked for Tarrant County over 27 years, working with the Community Supervision Corrections Department for 10 years, she supervised high-risk offenders: MHMR, Sex Offenders and DWI cases. Since 2002, she has managed the Domestic Violence Diversion Program and helped in the development and implementation of the In Custody BIP program and the Youth Offender Diversion Alternative Program.

Judge Jamie Cummings graduated with a J.D. from Baylor Law School in 1986 and from Texas A&M with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 1982. Judge Cummings served for 1 year in the Potter County District Attorney’s Office in Amarillo, TX before moving to Tarrant County where she served for 12 years in the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office. She was elected as Judge of Tarrant County Criminal Court Number 5 and sworn in January 1999. Since her time on the bench, she has developed several programs: The Domestic Violence Division program, the In Custody BIP program and the Youth Offender Diversion Alternative Program. Through these programs she has made it available for offenders to receive some type of counseling/therapy for their abusive behavior. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVERSION PROGRAM This is a 12-month program for first time offenders who assault an intimate partner (spouse or dating relationship). The defendant receives intense counseling and case management while in the program and because it gets dismissed after successful completion it is a requirement to have the victim give consent allowing the defendant to participate in the program. YOUTHFUL OFFENDER DIVERSION PROGRAM This is a diversion program for youthful offenders who are charged with Assault Bodily Injury of a Family Member, such as a sibling or parent, but not an intimate partner. The program completion can range from 4 to 6 months. Through individual and family counseling the program is set up to help young offenders work through the issues that culminated in the violence. If successfully completed the charge is dismissed. IN-CUSTODY BATTERER’S INTERVENTION PREVENTION PROGRAMS This program gives the defendants serving their time in jail a chance to attend BIP- counseling program. These services are provided by the Tarrant County MHMR.

LaTasha Jackson-McDougle was awarded; 2019 Best of Fort Worth, Texas Philanthropist, 2019 Women’s Center Community Recognition, 2018 Fort Worth Business Press Minority Leader, 2017 Winner of Case Manager for her work in Judge Carr's RISE program helping victims of human trafficking; and 2016 recipient of Mitch Poe Public Service. LaTasha is a proud graduate of the UT Arlington where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work, two Honors Masters one in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Science in Social Work. She is a published contributing author of “Dethroning Domestic Violence of Survival and Victory." LaTasha is also the publishing author of “The Prosecutor’s Role in helping Domestic Violence Victims.” LaTasha is currently a Case Manager at Tarrant County over the Domestic Violence Diversion Program; the Founder of Cheryl’s Voice and a Professor at UT Arlington when funding is available. LaTasha has committed herself to help serve, educate and empower others for over 18 years in social work and criminal justice fields. LaTasha Jackson-McDougle was a child left behind after witnessing the murder of her mother and suicide of her father. LaTasha Jackson-McDougle is highly motivated to encourage children who survived and witnessed domestic violence in their homes.