Photo By Vanessa Jimenez | This chart shows a variety of behaviors and situations abusers use to achieve and...... read more read more
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IWAKUNI, Japan - Last week you read about the conflicts between Lisa and her husband Dan. This week you will read about ways to get help if put into situations such as that scenario.
The month of October is designated Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Recognition for the month evolved from the “Day of Unity” created by the National Coalition against Domestic Violence in October 1981.
The purpose was to connect advocates working to end violence against women and their children across the nation. Congress passed the law in 1989 designating October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
To support this month Col. James C. Stewart, station commanding officer, signed a proclamation September 30, 2010, declaring the station also recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website, Domestic violence can happen to anyone. It is not based on race, age, gender, sexual orientation or religion. Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors including physical, psychological or sexual attacks used by one person in a relationship to gain or maintain power and control over the other partner.
Abusive partners use many different tactics to terrorize, hurt, humiliate, frighten, blame, injure and manipulate a current or former intimate partner.
According to the Abuse in America National Domestic Violence hotline website, a recent poll found 74 percent of all murder-suicides in the U.S. involved an intimate partner, spouse or former spouse. Ninety-six percent of these were women killed by their partners.
“The most important thing I want people to know is strangulation is the number one factor leading to homicide in women in domestic violence cases,” said John Kelly, a station individual and family counselor. “I believe if a victim’s spouse attempts to choke or strangle them, they need to leave the relationship as soon as possible and get help.”
Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police. There are two ways to report domestic violence aboard the air station. Victims can file restricted or unrestricted reports.
Restricted reporting lets victims make a confidential report disclosing information about the incident to uniformed or civilian victim advocates, the sexual assault response coordinator, and mental or health care providers without an official investigation of the crime.
“There are exceptions to restricted reporting if there’s child abuse involved, if the victim’s life is in danger or if [the victim] says they’re going to hurt themselves or someone else it’s a mandatory report,” said Christie Esquivel, a station victim advocate and prevention specialist.“Even though these exceptions have to be reported, I can still keep the domestic violence incident restricted unless they want to report it.”
Restricted reporting also has limitations. With a restricted report, abusers will not be punished and victims will be unable to receive a military protective order.
The second option is unrestricted reporting. This option initiates an official investigation and will involve the command and law enforcement. Unrestricted reporting does not provide confidentiality.
“If the neighbors call [the Provost Marshall’s Office] and the victim makes a statement about the incident, it will be considered unrestricted reporting,” said Esquivel.
This option gives victims an opportunity to openly address all concerns and problems with the command. These could include collateral misconduct, transfer requests, further threats or harassment by the abuser.
Victims will still be entitled to receive medical care, counseling and support of a victim advocate using unrestricted reporting. A few programs offered on the air station to provide help to domestic violence victims are general counseling, substance abuse counseling, the Victim Advocacy and Prevention Program, and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program.
There are also many programs that help with prevention and outreach offered to victims and their partners such as anger management, stress management, couples communication, substance abuse workshops, alcohol early intervention, child abuse & neglect detection, prevention, and recognition training and domestic violence awareness offered in Building 411. Programs offered on station are not limited to service members and are offered to station spouses as well.
“It’s OK to ask for help. It’s not [the victim’s] fault,” said Esquivel. “There’s no way to predict this will happen. [Victim advocates] just want to make sure victims are safe and they know there’s nothing wrong with getting help. It’s the first and most difficult step to take. We aren’t going to force anyone to leave but we want to be able to provide the tools they need to change the situation so they can go on living happy and healthy lives.”
Victims may call the Counseling Services Center at 253-4526 to make a report and speak to a victim advocate between the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. To report sexual assault or domestic violence after hours, victims may call a victim advocate directly at 090-9978-1033 or 080-3427-0935.
| Date Taken: | 11.03.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 11.02.2011 23:29 |
| Story ID: | 79475 |
| Location: | IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP |
| Web Views: | 90 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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