Rates decline, but domestic abuse still a crisis

Posted on April 23, 2009 by comm5775

by ELIZABETH PEZQUEDA

Large numbers of women across the United States suffer from domestic violence every year, and until recently, many of them did not have access to the resources they need to get help.

While there are currently hundreds of programs and centers for domestic violence victims around the country, it continues to be a problem.

In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which was designed to make the criminal justice system more responsive to domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking and to have more services available for victims, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The bill was reauthorized in 2000 and 2005, and has spurred the development of several other bills and programs designed to assist abuse victims. Some of these programs include the development of the Office on Violence Against Women and child witness programs, among others.

Prior to the passing of VAWA, getting help was especially difficult for those victims who qualified as low-income. Without being able to afford an attorney for legal proceedings like court hearings, divorce filings and custody battles, fighting domestic abuse through the legal system was not always easy.

Kai Wilson, executive director of “…And Justice For All,” a nonprofit legal group in Salt Lake City that caters to low-income individuals, said with all the programs that are now available to victims, “money should never be a reason not to seek help.”

Organizations like “…And Justice For All” are now available all around the country. Most do not charge for many of their services and can help victims with a range of issues stemming from domestic abuse.

Alma Perez, a paralegal at Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake, said whether or not violence is addressed as a primary reason for filing for divorce, most of the divorce cases she handles do have domestic abuse issues. Legal Aid is one of three groups that make up “…And Justice For All” and handles hundreds of requests for domestic violence assistance every month. Two other groups offer assistance for other legal issues, including disability cases and employment discrimination.

Perez also said women make up 85 percent of those who file for protective orders or civil stalking injunctions at Legal Aid.

Sergeant Dan Brewster, who supervises the domestic violence squad in the Salt Lake City Police Department, said officers investigate between 100 and 200 reports of domestic abuse every month.

Sandra Campbell-Tenhagen, the office manager at the Legal Aid branch office inside the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City, has been working for Legal Aid for 11 years and estimates that her branch sees around 175 requests for protective orders and stalking injunctions every month, indicating a major issue.

“Most protective orders get granted or denied on the same day,” Campbell-Tenhagen said. “If it’s granted, it’s an order as soon as the judge signs off on it, but the respondent has to be served with a copy before if becomes effective.”

If something were to happen between the victim and the abuser before the abuser can be served with a copy of the order, the abuser cannot be punished for violating it, Campbell-Tenhagen said.

After being served with the order, the respondent then has a chance to fight the allegations of abuse at a hearing that is scheduled within 20 days from that time. During the hearing, the judge may either dismiss the order or grant it permanently.

If the victim and alleged abuser have children, the petitioner will be assigned custody of their children if the order is granted.

In addition to assisting victims of abuse in the Salt Lake area with filing protective orders and civil stalking injunctions, Legal Aid works with several other organizations to help victims resolve any issues that may stem from seeking help, such as finding housing, employment and child care.  Some groups that work with Legal Aid are: the YWCA, the Utah Department of Human Services, the Family Support Center, the Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center and the Department of Workforce Services.

Legal Aid may also refer victims to counseling services or a victim’s advocate from a police department.

Stewart Ralphs, executive director of Legal Aid, said his experience in dealing with domestic abuse cases has proven that abuse typically escalates, and that seeking help is the first step in stopping that trend.

“Until someone intervenes, the violence only gets worse,” Ralphs said. “It may come in waves and cycles, but it does get worse.”

With a large portion of the nonprofit’s funding coming from the government, Ralphs said he is thankful that domestic abuse issues are being acknowledged by the state.

“The government has recognized that [domestic abuse] is a prevalent problem, and [government funding] is a major reason that we get to offer our services for free,” he said.

Indicators that domestic violence is still a serious issue include statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice that family violence accounted for 11 percent of reported and unreported violence between 1998 and 2002. Twenty-two percent of murders in 2002 were family murders, and in 1997, 15 percent of nearly 500,000 violent offenders in state prisons were there for a violent crime against a family member.

Statistics also show in 2005, a parent or other family member committed two-thirds of murders of children under the age of 5. In the same year, 18 percent of offenders who committed violent crimes against women were described as having a current or previous relationship with their victim.

Despite these trends and percentages, statistics also state the rate of nonfatal relationship violence against females between 1993 and 2001 declined by nearly half.

With so many resources available to abuse victims, no matter their income, there is reason to hope victims will be able to get out of abusive situations with much less financial and legal struggle than in previous years.

“We hope we’ve worked to make this process much simpler for victims than it used to be,” Ralphs said.

If victims are unsure about the name, location or details of organizations in their area that can help, they can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline or a local police department.

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Safety available for abuse victims

Posted on April 8, 2009 by comm5775

by ELIZABETH PEZQUEDA

At the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake, domestic violence cases are a priority. The nonprofit organization keeps its doors open to all individuals and families dealing with domestic abuse, no matter the person’s income.

Legal Aid, which is one-third of the non-profit group “…And Justice For All”, seeks to help battered women, men and children gain the safety they deserve by aiding victims in a number of different ways.

Stewart Ralphs, executive director of the Legal Aid Society, said victims who are living with or have a child with the abuser most commonly need help to file civil protective orders. Those victims who do not live with or have a family with the abuser are helped with filing civil stalking injunctions.

Legal Aid also provides emergency safety planning for the victim if it is needed. In these types of cases, victims are educated about how to stay safe or get to safety if they are confronted by their attackers again.

“We do a safety plan with our clients, so if they have to flee immediately, they are more prepared to do so,” Ralphs said.

During the emergency planning, victims are encouraged by a staff member to be aware of different ways they can get out of their residence. Some of the things that these safety plans stress are keeping doors and windows locked, talking to neighbors, keeping a phone in another part of the house and having a suitcase ready with a change of clothes, medicine and copies of important documents. These documents may include a birth certificate, Social Security card and driver’s license.

Victims are also instructed to keep in mind where close relatives and trusted friends are located, in case there is an immediate need to go somewhere else.

Legal Aid understands there is often a criminal side to the victim’s case as well. If the state decides to press charges against the abuser, the victim also faces interviews with police and possibly testifying in court, among other actions.

“Victims often have to deal with both the criminal and civil side of the law,” Ralphs said. “It can be very confusing for them.”

Because there are often many different facets in each individual case, Legal Aid tries to provide the victim with numerous different sources for help in potentially every area in which the abuse has affected her or his life. Some of these resources may include the YWCA, Department of Workforce Services, Division of Child and Family Services and the Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center.

Asha Parekh, director of the Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center, said it is a place where victims of abuse can come and get access to all the different services available to them.

“Our goal is to make it easier to access the services in the community,” Parekh said.

The Family Justice Center provides help in filing civil protective orders and civil stalking injunctions through a Legal Aid Society paralegal. Through the YWCA, the center also tries to work out any and all housing issues that may pose a threat to the victim.

“Short-term emergency housing is available to victims of violence, and long-term housing is available for families and single women,” Parekh said.

Unfortunately, many women who are dealing with domestic abuse have children who have also been affected by the situation.

“Children are always secondary victims to domestic violence, if not primary victims,” Ralphs said.

Legal Aid and the Family Justice Center try to provide a place for the children who come in with a parent who has been abused, so the parent can get the help they need without the child being directly involved.

Ralphs said that providing a means to safety for the victim and her or his children is a priority for the Legal Aid Society.

“It’s very important that victims get all the protections that the law affords them,” Ralphs said.

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An escape route for victims of domestic violence

Posted on April 2, 2009 by comm5775

Victims of domestic abuse have resources available that can ultimately result in survival

by MICHELLE SCHMITT

A woman is a victim of domestic violence every 15 minutes, according to a 2007 report done by Draper City Crime Victim Services.

Such victims can receive help from Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake, which is an organization that focuses on family safety and is designed to help victims through a complicated court system. One resource Legal Aid Society assists with is preparing victims with a plan for escape in case an attacker comes after them.

“It’s one of the greatest parts of the service we [provide],” said Stewart Ralphs, executive director of Legal Aid Society.

Ralphs referred to the getaway route as “practical steps for an escape plan,” which can include anything from locking doors, to having a designated window that is best for escape, to always having packed bags that are ready to go.

Ned Searle, a representative with the Utah Office on Domestic and Sexual Violence, said when intuition tells you to leave it is important to be prepared.

Searle suggested that victims be prepared with medical records, credit cards and jewelry, among other things. He said that even taking something as seemingly inconsequential as a disposable camera can make the transition easier for a family that had to flee in the face of danger. Many people take photos of everyday events, so having a camera can help increase normalcy for a family that is surviving an unstable condition.

Other things people often forget to include with items they are prepared to take with them are family photos, an extra car key and anything that may offer a sense of ordinariness.

Searle recalled a neighbor whose husband was stalking her after their divorce. While he wanted his neighbor to be ready to leave if a dangerous situation occurred, Searle also knew he had to handle the circumstance carefully.

“I didn’t want to scare her,” Searle said. He said there is a fine line between scaring a victim and encouraging the victim of domestic abuse to be prepared for the worst.

Ralphs and Searle agree that issues of domestic violence are rarely, if ever, solved on their own. Searle said dangerous situations can spiral downward and lead to more abuse, while Ralphs said domestic violence never decreases.

“I probably get one or two victims a year” who should devise an escape route, Searle said. He added that most are frustrated with the system.

Many victims are fed up that their abuser has more money and hence more resources that make the offender better able to work within the court system, Searle said.

But Ralphs said domestic violence victims can receive legal help through Legal Aid Society.

“I get to level the playing field [and] I love being able to represent people,” Ralphs said. “Sometimes it is the first time in my client’s life that someone will stick up for them.”

Searle was careful to note that few mistakes are made by the victims of domestic violence; most know to call 911 and seek help. One piece of advice he has for victims is to trust the small intuitive voice and listen if that voice tells you to leave.

“I think people in domestic violence situations [stay] because they have been beaten down so low in self-esteem and self-worth that they don’t think they can [leave],” Searle said.

Victims of domestic violence face many psychological, legal and safety challenges. Children are often involved too, which exacerbates already dangerous and stressful problems.

“Children are always [victims of domestic violence]; if they are not the primary victim, they are the secondary victim,” Ralphs said.

The Utah Domestic Violence Council (UDVC) supports Ralphs’ concern about children in violent situations and advises parents to inform their children not to get involved during a domestic dispute.

A complete safety plan for those who intend on leaving an abuser can be found on the UDVC Web site.

The plan provides a checklist for necessary identification, financial and legal papers, as well as any medications, phone numbers and personal items that need to be compiled and ready to go in case an attacker comes looking for their victim.

In addition, UDVC lists comprehensive tips and necessary information that is useful for anyone involved in a dangerous domestic dispute.

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Victims of violence find refuge in county programs

Posted on March 26, 2009 by comm5775

by MADISON RICE

“I love being able to help people. I get to level the playing field,” said Stewart Ralphs, executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake. Ralphs said his nonprofit agency is committed to ensuring the safety of victims of domestic violence in Salt Lake City by offering low-cost legal representation.

“It’s sometimes the first time that someone [has] stuck up for them and they get to have a fair deal. Someone to go to bat for them,” he said.

Founded in 1922, the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake is among 22 domestic violence coalitions across the state of Utah. The Legal Aid Society provides low-cost legal representation to low-income individuals in family law cases. It also works with the Multi-Cultural Legal Center, the Division of Child and Family Services, the Department of Workforce Services, the Salt Lake City Police Department and the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). The Utah Domestic Violence Council provides resources, too.

Victims of domestic violence and abuse are encouraged by the Legal Aid Society to get immediate help at one of four locations, found on its Web site. But Ralphs admits the visit may take a while.

“It takes four to five hours to do that process if you are at the front of the line. You can’t go do this on a lunch hour,” Ralphs said.

However, the wait can be worth it. Persons seeking help are ensured a safe environment and are given the tools necessary to obtain a protective order or stalking injunction.

Protective orders are for people who are defined as cohabitants. “Cohabitants are currently or formerly married, related by blood, have a child together, or if they just live with someone else, like a roommate,” Ralphs said. “People who are not cohabitants can get a stalking injunction.”

Protective orders can last forever, while stalking injunctions last three years.

According to 50 responses received by the Legal Aid Society, 90 percent of protective orders are not violated.

“But we do know violations happen,” Ralphs said. “We tell all our clients: protective orders are very effective, but we will give them advice to keep them safe. Lock your doors at night, have an escape route in your house, have a suitcase packed and copies of important documents in case you have to flee on a moment’s notice.”

Women and children can find a safe haven at the YWCA in downtown Salt Lake City. It also provides safety plans for victims who arrive seeking help.

“We are a completely free, nonprofit agency,” said Lam Nguyen, director of Women’s Services and Diversity Services at the YWCA. “We provide crisis intervention and basic items and needs.”

The average length of stay at the YWCA’s Crisis Shelter is about 20 days, according to Nguyen. Groups for children are available while they are at the shelter. “We have an academic specialist that can do lessons with the kids. We have support groups to cope with what has happened and we have recreational programs,” Nguyen said.

The shelter is available to 75 women and children at one time and the program serves more than 500 women and children each year. The YWCA helps connect victims with the Legal Aid Society to file for a protective order. The YWCA will then check in with the victim weekly to see how she is doing and assess her goals.

The Legal Aid Society offers full legal representation throughout the process the victim is going through. “It is very important, we feel, to provide [for them] from start to finish so they are sure they are getting all the protections the law affords them,” Ralphs said. “There’s something really nice about doing whatever is necessary for someone. If it takes two months, great. If it takes five years, it doesn’t matter. I will do what’s necessary.”

For more domestic abuse help, call the Utah Domestic Violence Link Line at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

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