Domestic Violence:Domestic Violence:What Everyone Needs to KnowWhat Everyone Needs to Know

Crime Victim Advocacy CenterCrime Victim Advocacy Center&&

Legal Advocates for Abuse WomenLegal Advocates for Abuse Women

Abuse Can Take Many Forms:Abuse Can Take Many Forms:

Physical AbusePhysical Abuse – purposely or knowingly – purposely or knowingly causing physical harm to another with or causing physical harm to another with or without a weaponwithout a weapon– BeatingBeating BitingBiting ShovingShoving– PunchingPunching KickingKicking Hair pullingHair pulling– SlappingSlapping PushingPushing– KickingKicking ChokingChoking

Types of Abuse Types of Abuse

Emotional AbuseEmotional Abuse – Complete disregard for – Complete disregard for the feeling of another to the point that they the feeling of another to the point that they feel inadequate, uncared for and/or feel inadequate, uncared for and/or worthless.worthless.– Threats of physical harmThreats of physical harm name callingname calling– HumiliationHumiliation possessivenesspossessiveness– Threats of suicideThreats of suicide– Verbal insultsVerbal insults

Types of AbuseTypes of Abuse

Economic AbuseEconomic Abuse – the control of all – the control of all financial resources without the involvement financial resources without the involvement of the other party. of the other party. – Denial of access to moneyDenial of access to money– The use of money to control and/or intimidateThe use of money to control and/or intimidate

Types of Abuse Types of Abuse

Sexual AbuseSexual Abuse – causing or attempting to – causing or attempting to cause another to participate unwillingly in cause another to participate unwillingly in any sexual act by threats and/or force. any sexual act by threats and/or force. – Sexual harassmentSexual harassment– RapeRape– IncestIncest– Threats of any of theseThreats of any of these

Types of AbuseTypes of Abuse

Harassment & StalkingHarassment & Stalking – purposely or – purposely or knowingly disturbing and/or following knowingly disturbing and/or following another with the intent of causing emotional another with the intent of causing emotional distress. distress. – Frequent, uninvited visits to your home or workFrequent, uninvited visits to your home or work– Frequent, annoying telephone callsFrequent, annoying telephone calls

The Cycle of ViolenceThe Cycle of Violence

The ExplosionThe Explosion– When the abuse happensWhen the abuse happens

The De-escalation PhaseThe De-escalation Phase– After the abuse takes place, the abuser may After the abuse takes place, the abuser may

apologize, promise to never do it again, and do apologize, promise to never do it again, and do things like send flowers, etc. things like send flowers, etc.

– This phase may become short and stop all This phase may become short and stop all together as the relationship continues and the together as the relationship continues and the abuse worsens.abuse worsens.

The Cycle of ViolenceThe Cycle of Violence

The Tension Building PhaseThe Tension Building Phase– This is the time period in which the victim may This is the time period in which the victim may

feel like they are ‘walking on egg shells’ and feel feel like they are ‘walking on egg shells’ and feel like the abuser could snap at any moment. like the abuser could snap at any moment.

The Cycle of Violence may be different The Cycle of Violence may be different for each relationship or may not be for each relationship or may not be existent at all.existent at all.

Power and ControlPower and Control

Abuser’s try to control their victims in order Abuser’s try to control their victims in order to maintain their power over them and to maintain their power over them and perpetuate the abuse. This tactic can be perpetuate the abuse. This tactic can be seen when abusers:seen when abusers:– Control what the victim does, who she talks to Control what the victim does, who she talks to

and where she goes.and where she goes.– Intimidate the victim, putting her in fear by using Intimidate the victim, putting her in fear by using

looks, actions, gestures, etc.looks, actions, gestures, etc.

Power and Control ContinuedPower and Control Continued

– Threaten to take the children or commit suicide.Threaten to take the children or commit suicide.– Keep the victim from getting a job or taking her Keep the victim from getting a job or taking her

money.money.– Put the victim down, calling her names and Put the victim down, calling her names and

making her feel like she is crazy.making her feel like she is crazy.– For additional examples see the power and For additional examples see the power and

control wheel handout. control wheel handout.

Warning SignsWarning Signs

Signs that a partner may be abusive can include:Signs that a partner may be abusive can include:– Controlling behaviorsControlling behaviors

Limiting contact with friends and relativesLimiting contact with friends and relatives Limiting ability to access money and bank accountsLimiting ability to access money and bank accounts Limiting access to health care Limiting access to health care

– Coercive behaviorsCoercive behaviors Using guilt to get elicit desired behaviorUsing guilt to get elicit desired behavior

– Increased yelling and fear-eliciting behaviorIncreased yelling and fear-eliciting behavior Verbal confrontationsVerbal confrontations Physical confrontationsPhysical confrontations

Safety PlanningSafety Planning

Safety planning is creating a plan of action that a Safety planning is creating a plan of action that a victim can utilize when in danger. Safety plans are victim can utilize when in danger. Safety plans are tools, resources and information that are designed tools, resources and information that are designed after assessing the risks to the victim in an attempt after assessing the risks to the victim in an attempt to diminish their effects. to diminish their effects. – Examples of safety planning techniques are:Examples of safety planning techniques are:

Memorize emergency phone numbersMemorize emergency phone numbers Keep a phone in a room that can lock from the insideKeep a phone in a room that can lock from the inside Pack a bag with important things needed if you had to leave Pack a bag with important things needed if you had to leave

quickly.quickly. Ask neighbors to call the police if they see the abuser or create Ask neighbors to call the police if they see the abuser or create

a signal for them to call the police. a signal for them to call the police.

Order of ProtectionsOrder of Protections

An Order of Protection (OP) is a court order An Order of Protection (OP) is a court order which orders the abuser to stay away. The which orders the abuser to stay away. The OP may also:OP may also:– Order the abuser to be removed from the home.Order the abuser to be removed from the home.– Order the abuser to have no contact by any Order the abuser to have no contact by any

means with the petitioner.means with the petitioner.– Award custody of any children in common with Award custody of any children in common with

the abuser, as well as make a child support the abuser, as well as make a child support order, if there are no previous order on these order, if there are no previous order on these issuesissues

Orders of ProtectionOrders of Protection

– Order the abuser not to possess a gunOrder the abuser not to possess a gun– Order the abuser to pay medical expenses for Order the abuser to pay medical expenses for

injuries inflicted by the abuser.injuries inflicted by the abuser.– Order the abuser to participate in court Order the abuser to participate in court

approved treatment programs for batterers or approved treatment programs for batterers or for substance abuse.for substance abuse.

ResourcesResourcesLegal:Legal: LAAWLAAW 314-664-7780314-664-7780

1-800-527-14601-800-527-1460 Shelters:Shelters: COMTREACOMTREA 636-931-2700*636-931-2700* Fortress OutreachFortress Outreach 314-381-4422314-381-4422 St. Martha’s HallSt. Martha’s Hall 314-533-1313 314-533-1313 Weinman ShelterWeinman Shelter 314-423-1117*314-423-1117* Turning PointTurning Point 888-873-7233888-873-7233 Women’s Center Women’s Center 636-946-6854*636-946-6854* Women’s Safe HouseWomen’s Safe House 314-772-4535*314-772-4535*

Victim Services:Victim Services: Victim Service Division -CountyVictim Service Division -County 314-615-4872314-615-4872 Victim Services–CityVictim Services–City 314-622-4373314-622-4373 St. Charles Victim Assist. St. Charles Victim Assist. 636-949-7370636-949-7370 CVACCVAC 314-580-0825314-580-0825  

ResourcesResources  Counseling:Counseling: For victimsFor victims ALIVEALIVE 993-2777*993-2777* Life SourceLife Source 385-8686385-8686 Women's Support &Women's Support & Community ServicesCommunity Services 531-2003*531-2003* Woman’s PlaceWoman’s Place 645-4848645-4848 Center for Trauma Recovery Center for Trauma Recovery UMSL UMSL 516-6737516-6737 YWCA-Sexual Assault YWCA-Sexual Assault Response TeamResponse Team 726-6665726-6665

or 531-7273or 531-7273For batterersFor batterers AVAAVA 636-949-9940 636-949-9940 RAVENRAVEN 645-2075 645-2075

*indicates a 2 4 hour hotline*indicates a 2 4 hour hotline

Domestic Abuse Response TeamDomestic Abuse Response Team(DART)(DART)

DART is a unique team of ten detectives that DART is a unique team of ten detectives that respond to the scene of a domestic violence respond to the scene of a domestic violence incident after being contacted by the district police incident after being contacted by the district police officers. If the reported incident meets their officers. If the reported incident meets their criteria, the detectives immediately assume the criteria, the detectives immediately assume the investigation until its completion. investigation until its completion.

As of October 2004,two of the detectives’ primary As of October 2004,two of the detectives’ primary duties are to aggressively investigate, monitor and duties are to aggressively investigate, monitor and arrest offenders of stalking and order of protection arrest offenders of stalking and order of protection violations. violations.

DART RequirementsDART Requirements

Must meet one relationship and one criminal Must meet one relationship and one criminal criteria to be a DART client.criteria to be a DART client.

Relationship Criteria:Relationship Criteria:– Currently live together or have lived together in Currently live together or have lived together in

the pastthe past– Are married or have been married in the pastAre married or have been married in the past– Have a child in commonHave a child in common– Elder abuseElder abuse

DART RequirementsDART Requirements

Criminal Criteria:Criminal Criteria:– Felony ChargesFelony Charges - examples: Assault 1 - examples: Assault 1stst and and

Assault 2Assault 2ndnd..– Misdemeanor ChargesMisdemeanor Charges – example: Assault 3 – example: Assault 3rdrd, ,

DART will only take these if there have been 2 DART will only take these if there have been 2 prior written reports at the District Level.prior written reports at the District Level.

– Violations of an Order of ProtectionViolations of an Order of Protection – DART – DART will take all violations of the OP as long as the will take all violations of the OP as long as the relationship criteria is met. relationship criteria is met.

DART StatisticsDART Statistics

In 2002 the St. Louis Metropolitan Police In 2002 the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) received 27,874 Department (SLMPD) received 27,874 domestic disturbance calls for service, 6,452 domestic disturbance calls for service, 6,452 were domestic violence.were domestic violence.

In 2002 DART investigated 940 cases of In 2002 DART investigated 940 cases of domestic violence.domestic violence.

Victim Intervention Project (VIP)Victim Intervention Project (VIP)

VIP is a collaboration between DART and VIP is a collaboration between DART and Legal Advocates for Abused Women that Legal Advocates for Abused Women that was implemented in 1997 to provide was implemented in 1997 to provide immediate crisis support for victims of immediate crisis support for victims of domestic violence when cases are not domestic violence when cases are not prosecuted.prosecuted.

Victim Intervention Project (VIP)Victim Intervention Project (VIP)

The Victim Advocates provide on-scene The Victim Advocates provide on-scene crisis intervention at the time of a domestic crisis intervention at the time of a domestic violence incident, safety planning, legal violence incident, safety planning, legal advocacy and social service referrals, and advocacy and social service referrals, and court accompaniment for Order of Protection court accompaniment for Order of Protection filing and hearings.filing and hearings.

VIP StatisticsVIP Statistics

In 2004 VIP received 516 cases and has an In 2004 VIP received 516 cases and has an average of 280 active open case per month.average of 280 active open case per month.

Demographics of VIP Clients:Demographics of VIP Clients:– 36% are 25-35 years old36% are 25-35 years old– 78% are female78% are female– 71% are from minority populations71% are from minority populations– 73% are currently single73% are currently single

The Victim Advocates provided court The Victim Advocates provided court accompaniment to 147 hearings in 2004.accompaniment to 147 hearings in 2004.