Domestic Violence

There are many resources for those in a domestic violence situation. Many organizations are located in the nation to help. If you can not get to one, there are multiple hotlines avaliable. Some important ones are the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, and a NYS Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-942-6906. There is also a hotline with video chats for those who are deaf at 1-855-812-1001. A 24 Hour Crisis Hotline is also avaliable and can be reached at 607-432-4855. The website https://vinelink.vineapps.com/search/NY/Person allows one to track progress of protective orders and look up offenders by name and service providers. To find hotlines in any county in New York State, refer to the webpage https://www.nyscadv.org/find-help/program-directory.html.

When thinking about escaping the relationship, there are many things to consider. When initially leaving, it is important to visualize and execute a solid exit plan. When leaving, make sure to bring all of your belongings, or as much as you can, but especially wallets and forms of identification. After leaving it is important to stay with someone you trust and feel safe with. When the time comes to get a place of their own, it is important that victims have good locks and a support system. It will also be helpful to let people in social circles, work and family know the situation to offer additional support. If staying with someone or alone is unattainable, find a shelter and join support groups.

When reporting domestic violence, risk can occur. The biggest one being that the police do nothing. This can increase anger from the abuser and create a more dangerous situation. There is also the risk of secondary victimization. This will happen when the victim is forced to relive the trauma, or the police do not believe her. Secondary victimization also includes victim shaming. Often times when the crime is reported the victim is arrested, creating the risk of losing children. Although there are risks, it is still important to try to get out of that situation.

It is important to look for warning signs when there is suspicion of someone expeirencing domestic violence. Victims will start wearing many layers and long sleeves to cover bruises and marks that are unexplained by the victim. If someone you know or love show increase levels of paranoia and anxiety that could be a sign. Victims will have decreased self-esteem and changes in habits. Victims will also create distance from friends, family and activities that they once loved.

There are some warning signs to know if you are entering into a domestically violent situation. Signs range from emotional and physical changes in your partners behavior. Signs to look out for are controlling behavior, especially over finances, isolating you from your friends and family, force during sex or sex coercion, verbal abuse. Your partner may also seem over loving at first, love bombing, and display hyper sensitivity and sudden mood changes. A partner that is becoming controlling will also not respect privacy or property.

Domestic violence in LGBTQ relationships have long been overlooked however there are equal, if not more, cases in queer relationships compared to heterosexual ones. 43.8% of lesbian women and 61.1% bisexual women experience violence from a partner where 35% of heterosexual women do. Domestic violence impacts gay (26%) and bisexual (37.3%) men and 29% of straight men. There are greater risks for one who is transgender. A common cause to stay in a relationship is fear of the partner outing them.

There are significantly higher rates of domestic violence with women of color as victims that white women. This increase is not related to race, but because of the social and economic conditions impacting people of color. When there are higher levels of stress and poverty, strain will occur. For African American women ages 15 to 45, the leading cause of death is partner violence. In addition women who are immigrants have higher rates of domestic violence than those who are born in the United States. Domestic violence leaves victims with trauma yet there are higher reports of psychological damage to women of color compared to white women.

1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience partner violence

1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner

Women victims are commonly between the ages 18 and 24 years old

Violence between partners account for 15% of violent crimes

The presence of a gun in a household increases the chances of murder by 500%

• Domestic Violence: Finding Safety and Support. 2008. 
• NCADV, ncadv.org/STATISTICS. 
• Police Bureau , www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/60653. 
• T, Buddy. , www.verywellmind.com/signs-someone-is-being-abused-66535. 
• Vinelink.vineapps.com/search/NY/Person. 
• West, Carolyn. , file:///Users/juliasclafani/Downloads/Blackwomenandintimatepartnerviolence%20(1).pdf. 
• NYSCADV, www.nyscadv.org/find-help/program-directory.html. 

Domestic violence is the controlling, manipulation and harm of one person by another whom they have a close relationship with. This violence usually occurs in homes and is not known by the public. Domestic violence impacts numerous women and children everyday.