Posted by Scott on May 17th, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
The AP recently reported on grants in New Jersey for domestic violence shleters:
New Jersey on Thursday awarded $1.5 million in grants to 19 domestic violence shelters across the state.
“These grants continue our commitment to those who need a helping hand,” Gov. Jon S. Corzine said. “Unfortunately, domestic violence affects far too many people in communities across our state. With these funds, shelters that provide a safe haven to victims of domestic violence will be able to enhance their facilities and improve the critical services they provide.”
The money will be used for renovations, additions to existing buildings, safety and security systems equipment, furnishings, appliances, and technology improvements.
“These funds will help provide the necessary improvements these shelters need to ensure that individuals have a safe place to go in the effort to move forward with their lives,” said state Community Affairs Commissioner Susan Bass Levin.
Obviously, it makes more sense to spend money on grants for domestic violence shelters and domestic violence prevention, rather than spend even more money on healthcare for victims who have nowhere to go but back to a abusive home. Nonetheless, I would like to see the money come from private organizations funded by donations, rather than governmental organizations funded by taxation.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on May 9th, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
Cara Buckley recently reported on the effectiveness of digital photos in domestic abuse cases:
Providing digital cameras to the police is revolutionizing the prosecution of domestic violence in New York City, according to district attorneys, victim advocates and forensic technicians.
In Queens, the first borough to use the technology, prosecutors say there has been a notable increase in conviction rates since the police there began taking digital photos at domestic violence scenes about five years ago.
Read entire article by Cara Buckley.
I hope all jurisdictions start using digital photos to record evidence in domestic violence cases. It makes sense that they work better than old Polaroids, because digital cameras have such high resolution and better technology. Additionally, they don’t deteriorate like paper photos. Additionally, if private citizens want to take photos of domestic violence evidence on the bodies of victims, I recommend using a digital camera.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on May 7th, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
Robert Gold recently wrote an article about the financial costs of child abuse. I include an excerpt:
Child abuse not only destroys people emotionally, it also saps the nation, employers and families financially.
The ninth annual conference on child abuse held by Danbury Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics opened Thursday night with an exploration of the economic problems behind abuse and neglect.
It is a topic Dr. Jack Fong, the event’s main organizer, has wanted to explore for years. Fong, chairman of the hospital’s pediatrics department, avoided it in years past because he didn’t want people to think he was diminishing the emotional impact of abuse. But he realized discussing it could draw more attention to abuse.
“When it comes to economic [impact], it effects everybody,” he said.
Keynote speaker Allen Morton, dean of the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University, gave the keynote speech Thursday night at the Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury.
Child abuse costs the nation $94 billion annually, Morton told the crowd, citing a 2001 study by Prevent Child Abuse America. The figures include court costs, mental health treatments and social services for people who were abused as children. About one percent of the costs represent lost productivity.
“The impact of child abuse is much more extensive than the dollar figures just mentioned,” Morton said. “Its effects are pervasive and enduring. Abuse sows the seeds of further abuse, health problems, decreased educational and economic opportunities and huge burdens on taxpayers.”
Read entire article by Robert Gold.
Children lack the ability and maturity to defend themselves. Thus, fighting child abuse depends on societal initiatives. The economic costs mentioned in that article above gives even more reason for our society to do whatever it can to reduce child abuse.
I plan to remember the fact: Child abuse costs the nation $94 billion annually!
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 23rd, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
Aarti Natarajan recently wrote an article about domestic violence. I include an excerpt:
Domestic violence is a universal evil. It dwells deep in many households across the world. Millions of women live under the dark shadows of domestic everyday. It is high time we wake up and raise our voice against this crime.
Why this need to cower and meekly accept whatever is dished out? Isn’t it high time we raised our voice against an evil that is eating away at the roots of our existence? What good is a bill passed against domestic violence when there is no one to implement it?
It took ten years for my mother to shake herself free from the shackles of daily violence. I implore you all; don’t let it take you that long. There is no crime worse than an infliction of violence on the woman you once promised to love, protect and cherish. This atrocity needs to be stopped. Stop it now, before you become the next victim.
Read entire article by Aarti Natarajan.
I agree with Aarti Natarajan. Let’s put an end to domestic violence. We need to not only support legislative bills against domestic violence, but also we need to take action ourselves.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 16th, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
Katie Mead recently wrote an article for Prevention of Violence Against Women Week (April 22–28). I include an excerpt:
When a woman is abused and her children see it (whether it be emotional, sexual, financial or physical abuse), they are also victims of violence. When we talk about Prevention of Violence Against Women, we need to expand the definition to include their children. We must continue to focus on interrupting the inter-generational cycle of violence — children learn to accept violence as a way of life and abusers are made, not born.
Everybody deserves to live a life free of violence; everyone deserves the chance to reach their own potential and to contribute fully to their family and their society (from the provincial declaration re: Violence Prevention Week). The United Nations recognizes this as an inalienable human right — we must work together to ensure that right is a reality for all.
Prevention of Violence Against Women Week is as relevant now as it was when it was created. Organizations like SOWINS will continue to work with women and children to heal and counteract the effects of violence. As a society, we need to work together to stop violence from happening in the first place. We must insist that violence prevention remain a societal initiative and that resources for all involved, including abusers, exist. We must demand that education and public awareness campaigns continue until this issue is brought into the light and the traditional stigma of shame has been eradicated. If we all have the courage to look at issues of violence, listen to the women and the children who have experienced it and refuse to accept violence as ‘normal’, we can be part of a solution. Dealing with the after-effects of violence is crucial, but prevention is the key to a society without domestic violence.
Read entire article by Katie Mead.
Although she refers to some local events (in Canada), the article by Katie Mead contains some valuable information and an important call to end violence against women.
We no longer live in the cave man days. I believe we have the resources as a society to eliminate the systemic prevalence of violence against women. We can end rape. We can end domestic violence. We can do it.
As suggested in the article above, we need to not only provide care and treatment for the victims and perpetrates of these violent acts, but also we need to prevent violence from happening in the first place by such methods as raising awareness, teaching self-defense, and staying alert.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on March 6th, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse, Rape & Sexual Assault
I had the following book about domestic violence and sexual victimization recommended to me:
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The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker
“Each hour, 75 women are raped in the United States, and every few seconds, a woman is beaten. Each day, 400 Americans suffer shooting injuries, and another 1,100 face criminals armed with guns. Author Gavin de Becker says victims of violent behavior usually feel a sense of fear before any threat or violence takes place. They may distrust the fear, or it may impel them to some action that saves their lives. A leading expert on predicting violent behavior, de Becker believes we can all learn to recognize these signals of the “universal code of violence,” and use them as tools to help us survive. The book teaches how to identify the warning signals of a potential attacker and recommends strategies for dealing with the problem before it becomes life threatening. The case studies are gripping and suspenseful, and include tactics for dealing with similar situations.” -Amazon
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What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on March 5th, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
Karen L. Bune recently wrote about domestic violence. I include an excerpt:
Domestic violence is a pervasive problem in all sectors of society–a syndrome that exhibits no bias in any regard and is not affected by race or economic class. Historically, domestic violence was viewed solely as males battering females, but this is no longer an exclusive distinction. Today, numerous males are victims of domestic violence. They are often reluctant, however, to admit their victimization due to the fact they feel ashamed, embarrassed, and fear ridicule if they reveal it. Though, today, there is greater awareness on the issue of domestic violence and there have been enhanced efforts to combat its scourge on society, there still remains a lot to be done. In current times, a significant degree of ignorance still prevails on the subject.
Read entire officer.com article by Karen L. Bune.
I recommend reading the full article, because she takes an in depth look into domestic violence and victim psychology.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on February 23rd, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
Marie-Louise Connolly reports on the male victims of domestic violence:
Men experiencing domestic violence is rarely reported.
But according to the government and various voluntary agencies there has been a dramatic increase in the number of calls received by men who claim to be suffering physical and mental abuse at home.
Many men are too afraid and embarrassed to admit to being victims of domestic violence.
The Men’s Advisory Project in Belfast says it has had a considerable increase in the number of calls from men who want help. But with a lack of resources – very often there is no one there to answer the phone.
Support worker, Maxine McCutheon says domestic violence against men needs to be recognised more by the government.
She says men also need refuges where they can go and facilities that can help them with for instance legal aid.
Read entire article by Marie-Louise Connolly.
All victims, regardless of gender, deserve equal recognition, especially concerning the horror of domestic violence. Too many current institutions give lopsided and sexist support to victims of domestic abuse.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on February 14th, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
T.W. Budig recently reported on the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women’s press conference:
A Princeton high school senior approached the television cameras at the Capitol and said [domestic violence] must end.
Tony Hallin, founding member of Teens Against Dating Abuse, spoke at the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women press conference on Feb. 7 and explained that ending the domestic abuse means starting early.
“We want to end domestic violence because it doesn’t stop when teens become adults,” said Hallin. “Our hope is that future domestic violence is eliminated everywhere in Minnesota.”
Speaking after the press conference, Hallin said he has heard “horror stories” from friends about incidents of date abuse that had happen to them.
Hallin, who will be an instructor at a teen leadership summit in late February in St. Paul, views the problem of date violence as affecting all high schools.
“High schools are all different,” he said. “But in ways they’re all the same.”
Read entire article by T.W. Budig.
I agree that domestic violence must stop, and we need to educate and protect children so that they learn to both not abuse others and protect themselves from abuse.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on February 12th, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
A YouTube user named wldldycat made the below video about domestic violence:
I liked this powerful video, but I wish it had included facts and statistics about domestic violence.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on February 11th, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
Editor’s note: The following information comes from the Web site of the St. Joseph County Police Department.
Myth: Domestic violence does not affect many people.
Facts:
- A woman is beaten every 15 seconds.
- Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between ages 15 and 44 in the United States.
- Battered women are more likely to suffer miscarriages and to give birth to babies with low birth weights.
- Sixty-three percent of the young men between the ages of 11 and 20 who are serving time for homicide have killed their mother’s abuser.
Myth: Battering is only a momentary loss of temper.
Facts:
- Battering is the establishment of control and fear in a relationship through violence and other forms of abuse. The batterer uses acts of violence and a series of behaviors, including intimidation, threats, psychological abuse, isolation, etc. to coerce and to control the other person. The violence may not happen often, but it remains as a hidden (and constant) terrorizing factor.
- One in five women victimized by their spouses or ex-spouses report they had been victimized over and over again by the same person.
Myth: Domestic violence only occurs in poor, urban areas.
Facts:
- Women of all cultures, races, occupations, income levels, and ages are battered by husbands, boyfriends, lovers and partners.
- About one-third of the men counseled (for battering) are professional men who are well respected in their jobs and their communities. These have included doctors, psychologists, lawyers, ministers, and business executives.
Myth: Domestic violence is just a push, slap or punch. It does not produce serious injuries.
Facts:
- Battered women are often severely injured. Twenty-two to thirty-five percent of the women who visit medical emergency rooms are there for injuries related to ongoing partner abuse.
- One in four pregnant women have a history of partner violence.
Myth: It is easy for battered women to leave their abuser.
Facts:
- Women who leave their batterers are at a 75 percent greater risk of being killed by the batterer than those who stay.
- Nationally, 50 percent of all homeless women and children are on the streets because of violence in the home.
- There are nearly three times as many animal shelters in the United States as there are shelters for battered women and their children.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on February 3rd, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
The National Domestic Violence Hotline released the following to the press:
Leaders from across the country are convening to change the face of domestic violence in America. Based on outcomes of the historic Decade for Change Summit, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) today announced preliminary action steps designed to end domestic violence in America by 2017.
“Despite significant efforts over the past decade to address the problem of domestic violence in our country, 33 million American women continue to experience abuse every year,” said Sheryl Cates, NDVH Chief Executive Officer. “These action steps are designed as a challenge to unite as a nation to end domestic violence. It is time to awaken the hope that we, as a society, can work together to bring the promise of safety and hope to every home in America.”
The Decade for Change Blueprint will outline strategies and recommendations that will set new precedents for prevention and significantly reduce domestic violence in America. Overarching themes include:
1. CHANGE PUBLIC PERCEPTION: The treatment of domestic violence must change from silent acceptance to complete intolerance. By 2017, a measurable shift in public perceptions/opinion about domestic violence will be demonstrated by utilizing nationally recognized polling, research expertise and public awareness.
2. EARLY INTERVENTION/EDUCATION: Proactive steps must be taken to end the cycle of intergenerational violence starting with our children. By 2017, a national domestic violence education model will be created and incorporated as part of standard curriculum for middle and high school students.
3. IT’S EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: The key to eradicating domestic violence is to create a united effort among key societal sectors to establish industry-specific strategies and tactics that address the problem. One example would be for the business community to establish domestic violence prevention as a core element of corporate social responsibility. By 2017, at least half of America’s Fortune 500 companies will have instituted core corporate domestic violence programs as “standards of practice.”
Read entire press release.
This sounds very good. Let’s hope the nation actually carries out the action plan.
What do you think?
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