Budget cuts endanger domestic violence and sexual assault victims
On Capitol Hill “sequestration” may mean a percentage point or two in lower GDP growth, but beyond the Beltway it is more than an abstract economic concept. It means real pain for real people.
According to the Department of Justice, more than 1 million women will fall victim to domestic violence this year alone.
. . . . According to our analysis of the most recent data available, sequestration will cut more than $26 million this year from services that support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Sequestration’s cuts will reduce the federal government’s ability to enforce the recently reauthorized Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, and the Family Violence Prevention Services Act, or FVPSA. VAWA provides funding to state and local agencies to assist in the prosecution of domestic-violence crimes, while FVPSA provides state and local grants to run support and prevention programs, as well as shelters for women and children. Kim Gandy, president and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, recently characterized these programs as “really vital services to people who are already in a terrible situation and really in need of emergency services—and there aren’t alternatives.”
The effects of the cuts are already being felt across the country. Last month we highlighted the plight of the Shade Tree, a Las Vegas shelter for abused women whose federal funding was cut by 15 percent beginning on March 1. Marlene Richter, executive director of the Shade Tree, explained that the shelter was going through reserves to the tune of $50,000 a month even before sequestration, so the reduced funding was “[t]he last thing [the shelter] needed.”
What’s more, these sequestration cuts come on top of decreases in public and private funding for domestic-abuse shelters as a result of the weak economy. In Shreveport, Louisiana, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners group, a local nonprofit that provides sexual-assault examination services, may be forced to close entirely, as sequestration will result in its annual budget being slashed in half—from $400,000 to $200,000.
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Filed under battered women, domestic violence, Domestic violence services, sexual assault, victims of crime, violence against women
Domestic violence is not only on the rise, it is pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2013 – Staggering statistics from the United States Office on Violence against Women (OVW) claim a woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the United States. Three women perish at the hands of abusers daily.
With all that is known today about domestic violence and the effect and cruelty of this behavior, why is this behavior on the rise in what is supposed to be a civilized culture? Many ask aloud, “What kind of low life inhuman freak of non-compassion could commit such acts on a partner they are supposed to love, care for, protect and cherish?”
The OVW defines domestic violence as “a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.”
Studies from around the globe confirm that many abusers were victims of abuse as children. The abuse they inflict in turn as a result can be sexual, physical or emotional.
After the initial episode, additional episodes occur when tension mounts as the abuser attempts to control rage. The abused tries mightily to assuage the concerns of the abuser to avoid violence.
If there is an abusive event, the abuser typically will apologize profusely and declare the victim was at fault, yet promises to never do it again. At least until the next time.
Afterwards, the abuser will try to diminish the act by claiming the abused is making “a big deal out of nothing” and calm will settle in for a period of time. Calm for the abuser, an uneasy calm for the abused. Generally, the calm periods have shorter intervals as time goes on.
Victims of abuse can suffer severe, chronic depression. Quite often, they develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and feel hopeless and helpless. Exacerbating the problem, the victim may feel he or she has no place else to go, particularly disturbing if children are involved.
According to the Maryland Health Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse and a 2011 U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee report, of the 1.3 million victims of domestic violence, 37 percent of female victims of domestic violence are pregnant at the time of abuse. Most often, physical violence is directed to the abdominal area.
Abuse takes form in emotional, verbal, sexual and physical modalities. The type of people who commit abuse are jealous, controlling, keep the victim isolated out of fear of discovery, sexually demanding and selfish and have predetermined concepts of what roles their mate may play in life.
Their personality traits may be clever, charming, persuasive deceptive and manipulative. Coincidentally, these personality traits are equivalent in criteria for psychopaths, sociopaths and Narcissistic Personality Disorder, all extremelly difficult to treat with a low level of success. Cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotropic drugs can only do so much with these types of individuals.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reports 71 percent of abused women claim the household pet was abused or killed. This behavior is a classic sign of pending or ongoing domestic violence.
The rise of violence may have several sources ranging from media violence, confusing social constructs and the recent economic downfall causing high levels of stress and anxiety. Adding drugs or alcohol to the mix and the emotional precipice is no longer a barrier.
There are measures to take if one is abused. First, call the police. Second, work with an attorney and the courts to have a restaining order placed on the abuser. Restraining orders are generally good for a one year period. One can renew the restraining order annually if the threat of violence remains. However, be aware no piece of paper can stop a bullet, knife or fist.
Each state has a domestic victims advocacy group to assist with results of violence. One can seek out such groups and other government assist programs to deal with with the expereince(s) and heal from the physical and emotional pain.
There is no excuse for domestic violence nor should it be tolerated. If you feel your mate has the personality traits described, abused your house pet or seems to be bulging at the emotional seams and begins to threaten any form of abuse, run don’t walk to the nearest exit.
Keep in mind the figures represented are estimates based on reported cases. Many cases go unreported which must be taken int account.
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Filed under battered women, domestic violence
DV Center Closes – Services shifted to regional model
Although Marshalltown’s (Iowa) Domestic Violence Alternatives and Sexual Assault Center will close as part of a statewide regionalization of crime victim services, its executive director said it’s not abandoning anyone.
Dotti Thompson, executive director at DVA/SAC, said her 10 full and part-time staff will do all they can to ensure the transition to regional service is as smooth as possible. When she first heard of the switch, she said she could picture the faces of those who would be affected.
“I want to make sure no one feels there will not be services,” Thompson said.
For the past 30 years, the center has provided advocacy services to victims of sexual and domestic assault in Marshall, Jasper, Tama and Poweshiek counties. In its previous fiscal year, DVA/SAC helped 562 clients with 3,934 instances of domestic abuse and sexual assault in Marshall County, and the center projected it would provide those services to 620 people in its current fiscal year.
According to a DVA/SAC press release, the Iowa Legislature has severely underfunded the center for several years, and as of July 1, the center’s state funding will expire because of its inability to secure the necessary money to keep operations afloat.
Last year, the Crime Victim Assistance Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office announced a plan to break down service areas into districts. Services for Marshall and Tama counties will shift to ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support) in Ames, which serves Boone, Greene and Story counties.
“I just don’t think anyone knows what the full ramifications are on this,” Thompson said. “Those in the Iowa Legislature have not put priority on meeting the needs of domestic assault and sexual assault violence victims.”
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Filed under Domestic violence services
N.J. Assembly grants approval for NJ SAFE Act for domestic violence victims
TRENTON – The full New Jersey Assembly granted final legislative approval to a bill sponsored by Assembly Democrats that will provide more financial security to victims of domestic violence.
The New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act, or the “NJ SAFE Act,” will give victims an extra 20 days off from work, within the year following a domestic violence incident. Assembly Democrats Angel Fuentes, Gabriela Mosquera, Celeste Riley, and Daniel Benson are sponsoring this bill, that will allow employees, employee’s children, parents, spouse, or civil union or domestic partners to receive this benefit.
The leave time is intended for victims to seek medical attention for physical or psychological injuries caused by the incident. This includes any counseling, safety planning, temporary or permanent relocation, time to seek legal counsel, time to prepare for court hearings, and services provided by a victim services organization.
“Domestic violence cases can present a huge disruption to a victim’s life,” said Fuentes. “By providing additional leave time, hopefully we can give domestic violence victims increased support to overcome a very trying situation.”
Now, the measure will head to the governor’s office for further action.
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Filed under battered women, domestic violence
Anti-violence protesters threatened with violence
Several Dartmouth College students have received rape and death threats following a Friday protest against sexual assault, racism and homophobia on campus and in administrative policies. In response to the threats, the college has suspended classes, announcing that it would hold “alternative programming … that promotes respect for individuals, civil and engaged discourse, and the value of diverse opinions,” according to a letter obtained by Think Progress.
As reported by the Chronicle of Higher Education:
“Why do we even admit minorities if they’re just going to whine?” one commenter asked. “Wish I had a shotgun. Would have blown those [expletive] hippies away,” wrote another.
Such ugly comments, in turn, prompted students involved in the demonstration to create a blog, called Real Talk Dartmouth, where they have been collecting and posting screenshots of the most offensive posts.
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Filed under violence against women
Nevada: Guns and domestic violence homicide
. . . . . The horror of recent gun violence events against children and young persons brought with it a strong outcry for some action. However, the role of guns and female deaths is too frequently obscured under the label of “domestic abuse,” resulting in too little attention to guns and female murders.
In 2010, the Violence Policy Center released a document entitled “When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2010 Homicide Data,” which provides information making it possible to extract gun violence from the domestic violence side. That report states that domestic violence and guns make a lethal combination. The Department of Commerce also released information in 2010, again the latest information we have on gun violence.
The information available suggests that death rate by firearms for women is 12 times higher than the combined rate of 22 other high-income countries. The overriding fact emerging from the analysis is that more women are killed in the home than in any other environment and are murdered by someone they know.
A handgun in the home, whether legal or illegal, is the usual killing instrument. A history of abuse increases the likelihood of a handgun murder. Black females are murdered at a rate 2.5 times higher than white women.
The Violence Policy Center document ranks states with the highest female victim/male offender rates. Arizona ranks No. 8 among the top 10 in number of female homicides. Nevada is No. 1
Some comparison with national rates is possible.
In Arizona, 60 percent of female victims were shot and killed with guns. Three quarters of those victims were killed with handguns. In the United States about half of female victims were killed with guns, 70 percent with handguns.
In both Arizona and the United States as a whole, female murder was not related to another felony.
In Arizona, 94 percent of female victims were murdered by someone they knew, a percentage equal to that of the United States
The state providing the greatest protection for women from gun violence is Minnesota, with a murder rate of 14/100,000 compared to Arizona’s 52/100,000.
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Filed under domestic violence, homicide, victims of crime, violence against women
