Alumni Profile: Marlys K. Howe '93
ENVISION Magazine, Winter 2007

Social work major Marlys Howe jump-started her career in domestic violence when she volunteered at a crisis-shelter in Colorado. Today, Howe is director of domestic violence in the Dane County District Attorney's office, which receives 3,600 domestic referrals a year. Her job as advocate for the victims of domestic abuse is dictated by what happens the night before.

"Every single day, I have new victims," Howe said. "Basically, we contact victims and give them the tools they will need if the perpetrator comes back. We safety-plan with them. When you are a victim, especially of these kinds of crimes, every victim may not want charges. That is why, when a woman calls me and says, ?I want to drop the charges,' I have to inform her that it's not up to her."

Over the past 15 years, Howe has held many jobs in the domestic violence arena. Her first job after graduation was in a shelter for victims of domestic abuse in Janesville. Howe handled the crisis calls from those in the midst of abuse and witnessed the chaos that followed when battered women and children came to the shelter.

"I really can't do shelter work anymore," Howe said. "You have to start there to really get it. You're in the trenches. But there's only so much trauma you can take. As you learn more, you leave that for the younger ones who still have the energy to be on the front lines."

From the vantage point of the district attorney's office, Howe is still there for victims, prepping them for court and dealing with the emotions of seeing the person who was violent to you the night before.

"I'm not always an advocate they (victims) like," she said. "When you deal with me, it's because the police were at your house last night, and now I'm involved in your marriage or your relationship. Think about your own life and just insert me."

So, why does Howe continue to work in domestic violence? "Because of the one person who says ?thank you for ?saving my life.' It's that one out of 100 who pulls you back every time. You just think, today I was here for a reason."