This is the first installment of a two-part series on domestic violence. The second part will appear in the Jan. 17 edition of the Herald.

Domestic violence is regarded as the leading cause of injury to women in the United States, exceeding automobile accidents and work-related injuries. And domestic violence against women is a crime that occurs quite regularly, that is reported to police occasionally, and that is prosecuted in court rarely.

"A lot of times cases don't go forward because we wind up with extremely unwilling victims," said Canby Police Detective Dolores Kilpela, "which is something that is seen across the country.

''Emotions are usually way up when we arrive (at an address). A lot of times, they (the victim) calm down, and say they don't want to prosecute."

Each week, Canby police receive at least a few calls from distraught or scared women seeking assistance. Incident logs often show the women are worried verbal assaults will be replaced by physical assaults.

"I would say it (domestic disturbance) is a problem, and it's a pretty good chunk of the calls we receive," Kilpela said.

Sometimes, the fists fly before the words do, but some women, it appears, continue to suffer in silence.

And many stay with their abusers.

It's a cycle of behavior that is hard for police to adequately deal with. Patrol officers are often called out to familiar addresses to face familiar situations - women who are reluctant to file reports against domestic partners who threaten or abuse them, Kilpela said.

"We always give out cards with emergency phone numbers of organizations that can provide help and assistance to abuse victims, and many have gotten help when they called," she said.

Nevertheless, the Oregon Criminal Code requires police to take action if they have reason to believe an assault or abuse has taken place, especially if there has been a history of domestic problems, Kilpela added.

According to page 28 of the OCC, "When a peace officer responds to an incident of domestic disturbance and has probable cause to believe that an assault has occurred between family or household members, as defined in ORS 107.705, or to believe that one such person has placed the other in fear of imminent serious physical injury, the officer shall arrest and take into custody the alleged assailant or potential assailant."

While domestic disturbances and violence are not new developments in society, people have become more aware of the disastrous impacts ongoing incidents and problems can have on women and their children.

"Nothing's new except the awareness of domestic violence," Kilpela said.

"People are quicker to call us about it than they were in the past."

The variety of reasons used to explain heightened household tensions are familiar - "dinner's not ready, there's not enough money, someone's been drinking" - Kilpela said.

Hectic, expensive and stressful holiday periods, such as Thanksgiving and the extended Christmas and New Year period, can prove to be flashpoints for domestic disturbances.

Canby police responded to three domestic incidents in the week leading up to Christmas, and three more in the week leading up to New Year's Day, according to daily incident logs.

"Family beefs peak around the holidays and the hot summer months," Kilpela said. "A lot of family beefs involve alcohol, but the holidays bring stress on everyone - shopping, money, time.

''Most often we see domestic violence involving husbands and wives, but we do get calls on children, or fighting among siblings."

She suggested people lay off the bottle, try to calm down, and to "think before you act."

Anger management problems, poor communication, growing up in abusive households, and social and cultural differences, among other reasons, can all play a part in accounting for domestic disturbance incidents.

Fortunately, abused women appear more willing to call police before violence occurs than in previous years or generations.

"It's entirely possible if we can get there at the first incident that we can shock someone into changing their behavior, but we rarely, rarely, get called the first time it happens," Kilpela said.

"A lot of times they call prior to it getting violent, but with many places we respond to, there's been a history of it. We get repeat calls, and that's a shame. It's too bad we have to go back to the same addresses for the same reasons, but it happens."

Kilpela said domestic disturbance calls can be the most dangerous for officers to respond to, and police policy is to send two officers to each incident.

"The potential for violence is huge," she said. "You are going into someone's home, emotions are high, and people could have weapons in the house . . . The potential danger is higher with domestic disturbances than almost any other call."

During her four years on patrol, Kilpela said she probably responded to an average of two calls per week regarding domestic disturbances or violence. Many officers, including herself, have been involved in fist fights or wrestling bouts with aggressors in domestic situations, she added.

And Kilpela remembers at least a couple of occasions where she took women to jail on charges relating to domestic violence incidents, which can often result in an assault IV charge being made against the perpetrator.

"Occasionally, we get calls from men, but the numbers are extremely disproportionate to those we get from women," Kilpela said. "By far the most common charge is assault IV, which comes under the Abuse Prevention Act, which reflects it's between family members or cohabitators."

The numbers of reported crimes and subsequent arrests have been consistent in the local community over the last two years, Canby Police Department statistics show.

In 1999, Canby police responded to 140 reports of domestic disturbances, and 26 violations of restraining orders. Thirty-four people were arrested by Canby officers on assault IV charges, and one on menacing charges.

In 2000, Canby police responded to at least 138 reports of domestic disturbances and 35 violations of restraining orders. At least 38 people were arrested in Canby on assault IV charges or menacing charges.

Both assault IV and menacing are Class A misdemeanors.

Is it actually possible - in January - for high school students to look forward to three weeks of summer school?

Perhaps, if your class schedule reads something like this: snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the famous Sydney Opera House and whale-watching on an island in the South Pacific.

Such is the itinerary of three Canby High School students who will head to Australia and New Zealand this summer as part of the People to People Student Ambassador Program.

"This is such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Kelsey Martin, a junior at CHS who is excited about going to Australia. "I've always wanted to travel like that."

Martin will join junior Randy Grimes and freshman Jessica Bruck as part of a delegation of student ambassadors to head abroad this July.

The program - founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 - aims to give students of different countries the opportunity to communicate directly and find a way to live harmoniously with each other.

"I think it's a great chance to learn about other countries and how to interact with them (in the future)," said Grimes, who has traveled to locales across the U.S., Germany, England and Africa. "It will be a way to get to know people from an interesting place."

According to information from the foundation, students are recruited based on academic excellence, as well as recommendations from delegation leaders, program alumni or national educational listing organizations.

The students will travel in a delegation of about 40 students - many from the Oregon City and Clackamas areas - and will be accompanied by four supervising teachers.

The 22-day trip will take them to the states of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia, and to the North Island of New Zealand.

"I'm really looking forward to (going to Australia) because they speak our language, and I think that will help to learn their culture," Bruck said. "I really want to see the Sydney Opera House and do the (Sydney) Harbor Bridge climb, too."

In addition to the myriad activities offered, students will get a chance to stay with families from Australia and New Zealand.

"It will just be a great experience," Martin said. "I will be able to learn new things about myself, and I'll be able to share my own experiences with other students."

The ambassadors also will get to attend a few days of high school with the hosting students.

"It's so exciting to be able to try all these new things," said Bruck, whose cousin recommended the program to her.

Both Martin and Grimes found out about the ambassador program through letters in the mail. Grimes said he has been receiving letters about it since he was in sixth grade.

"Now that I'm older, I think I can finally appreciate the chance to go," he said.

In addition to researching the land, people and overall culture on their own, the students will attend six preparatory classes between now and their July departure date.

"(The classes) will help get us ready by teaching us some of the customs, how to take care of (ourselves), and basically what's to be expected," said Grimes.

The students' experience will surely be invaluable, but the trip itself is a little easier to put a price tag on. To cover all the expenses of their Australian epic, the students must scrounge up $4,700 apiece, not including spending money.

Martin has a job at the local Subway, and she plans to petition area businesses, family and friends for financial support.

Grimes and Bruck have found employment elusive, although Bruck has a few baby-sitting jobs lined up. As a result, they are hoping that family, friends and the community will help them achieve their worldly educational goals.

"We would really appreciate any help we could get from the community," said Grimes, a longtime member of the Boy Scouts.

The student ambassadors are anticipating their trip - despite some lingering trepidation over the long flight and the possibility of sharks - with full-blown excitement and wide-open minds. Grimes looks forward to interacting with a people rumored to be "straightforward," Bruck is anxious to explore the cosmopolitan city of Sydney, and Martin welcomes her first opportunity to experience more of the world.

"I've never been a person to go out and do something like this, and I've never been around another culture," Martin said. "Now that I'm older, I think I'm ready to go and see what's out there."

To make a donation to help the Australia-bound students, call 503-266-6993.