1. Domestic Violence 101 Carol Arthur

2. Agenda  Caveats  Define domestic violence  Causes and feminist analysis  Institution and cultural support  Core beliefs supporting advocacy work  Advocacy types  Basics of advocacy  Safety planning/lethality assessment  Working with CJS and other social institutions

3. Caveats  My perspective is based on 27 years in the domestic violence field  Although I will discuss domestic violence as men's violence against women, men are also victims of domestic violence although not at the same rate or with the same impact.  AND domestic violence occurs in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community at the same rate as in the heterosexual community.

4. Defining Domestic Abuse - Legal definition – 518B.01 – (a) "Domestic abuse" means the following, if committed against a family or household member by a family or household member:  (1) physical harm, bodily injury, or assault;  (2) the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, or assault; or  (3) terroristic threats (b) "Family or household members" means:  (1) spouses and former spouses;  (2) parents and children;  (3) persons related by blood;  (4) persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past;  (5) persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time;  (6) a man and woman if the woman is pregnant and the man is alleged to be the father, regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time; and  (7) persons involved in a significant romantic or sexual relationship

5. Domestic Violence field definition -  Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviors in a relationship that are used to gain and/or maintain control and power over another.  The behaviors take the form of  physical  sexual  emotional  psychological abuse

8. What causes the abuse?  Domestic violence is learned behavior (socialization, family, reinforcement)  Domestic violence is rooted in social norms that males, as a class, have the right to resort to violence in order to maintain their power and control of their family. We live in a patriarchy where men and women are not treated equally.  Efforts to end abuse must include work to challenge this norm.  The reluctance of social systems to do so, the failure to intervene on behalf of battered women, and the inconsistent social response contributes directly to the continuation of domestic violence.  If battering is rooted in social norms, society must bear the responsibility to confront the batterer and protect battered women and children. THIS IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL WOMAN’S PROBLEM, IT IS A SOCIETAL PROBLEM!

11. Core beliefs behind our work -  Domestic violence is not an individual woman’s issue, it is a societal issue. Therefore, to end domestic violence we must work on a societal/systems level.  Domestic violence is an issue of oppression – the belief of any one person that they have a right to control another by use of threats or violence. Therefore, domestic violence is linked to other issues of oppression: racism, heterosexism, ageism, etc.  Domestic violence is a human rights issue: The basic human right to be safe in your person and to be treated with respect and dignity.

12. Domestic violence advocates -  Shelter advocates (25 shelters & 27 motel/hotel, Safe homes – 35,804 victims in 2014)  Emergency shelter and transportation to safety  24 hour crisis intervention  Civil, criminal and family court remedies (coordination of services)  General advocacy & referral – food, clothing, housing, income maintenance, medical services, legal services, childcare, child services, social services  Community advocates (CAP)  24 hour crisis intervention  Help in getting to emergency shelter  Civil, Criminal and family court remedies and coordination of services  General advocacy & referral  Criminal justice advocates (CJI)  Focus on survivors where there has been a police response to a domestic (arrest, gone on arrival, VOFP, etc.)  Provide information about options for legal recourse, including OFP’s, HROs and civil/criminal remedies  Work with local criminal justice agencies to improve the response to dv victims (training CJS personnel, tracking cases from 911, sentencing to supervision)  Assist in developing and implementing effective policies and procedures. (46 CAP and CJI programs – 31,732 victims in 2014)

13. Domestic Violence Advocacy (cont.) Tenets of advocacy do not change – - Women have self determination - Advocates maintain confidentiality and advise women of limits - Advocates provide options and information to enhance safety (Safety is broadly defined. To be safe, victims need to be free from the violence and control of their partners, but they must also be able to meet their basic human needs) - Assist in navigating the court systems - Assist in finding community resources - Reflect the voices and experiences of survivors to various systems to help make systems change.

14. Basics of supporting victims of abuse “Survivors say how they receive assistance is as important as what they receive. Focus on providing survivors with safety and choice in the context of a relationship with clear boundaries that is respectful, supportive and emotionally connected.” Shanti J. Kulkarni, Holly Bell and Diane McDaniel Rhodes (2012) Back to Basics: Essential Qualities of Services for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence, Violence Against Women 18(1), 85-101,

15. Basics of supporting victims of abuse  Offer Support - Listen, offer support and help them decide what the next step is.  Remember to be non-judgmental – Respect her decisions and keep the door open to future contacts. Do not badmouth her abuser, she may end up going back with him or feel the need to defend him.  Give victims choice – When presented with options victims should decide for themselves what they do next. They are in control of their lives.  Remind victims that the violence and abuse is not their fault. Whatever the circumstances violence and abuse cannot be justified. Only the violent person can stop the abuse.

16. Basics – continued  Reassure about children – Many victims do not seek help because of their fear that their children will be taken away.  One size does not fit all – Domestic violence and abuse affects all victims regardless of age, race, disability and sexuality. It is important that victims are treated as individuals and that assumptions are not made about what a victim will or will not want because of their age, or because of ethnicity, disability, sexuality.  Confidentiality – Boundaries of confidentiality should be clearly identified.  Believe - Victims should be believed on the basis of their own statements.

17. Basics - continued  Never assume that the violence is not serious. Some victims will minimize their experience or only refer to less serious incidents.  Offer Specific Help – Provide information about local programs and advocacy support. Offer brochures about domestic violence and safety planning.  If an interpreter is needed make sure they are clear about their role and about the rules of confidentiality under which they are working. The victim must feel comfortable with who the interpreter is and the way they work and agree to them being present. Always speak directly to the victim and not to the support person.

18. Planning for Safety During an Emergency or an Escalating Incident  What is the best escape route from your home? Consider how to get you and your children out quickly and safely.  Create a code word to use when you are in danger. Share it with your children, family, friends and neighbors so if you use it they know to call the police or get help.  If an argument is unavoidable, stay out of rooms with no escape routes such as bathrooms, kitchens, or basements and which may contain potential weapons such as knives or tools.  Call the Minnesota Day One Crisis Hotline at 1-866-223-1111 for safe housing options if you are seeking to leave home.  If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Teach your children to call 911.

19. Planning to Leave Your Home or Abuser  Keep the number for the Minnesota Day One Crisis Hotline, 1-866- 223-1111, and a cell phone or change for a pay phone with you at all times.  Leave money, keys, important documents, and a change of clothing for you and your children with a trusted friend.  Hide keys or money for a bus or taxi where you can get them if your friend is not home.  Identify a public place (police station, hospital) open 24-hours daily where you can go for help.  Open bank accounts in your own name to establish credit and have an emergency fund, if possible.  Review your safety plan often. Leaving your abuser can be an emotional and dangerous time.  Try to obtain a cellphone for yourself. Consider a pay as you go phone that you keep in a safe place to so you can make sensitive calls without being tracked.

20. Lethality assessment  Threats of Suicide or Murder  Availability of Weapon and use of weapon in the past  Increase in Controlling and Jealous Behavior/Escalation of Violence  Use of Drugs and Alcohol  Depression  Batterer’s Isolation/Focus on the Survivor  End of the Relationship  Choking or Strangling

21. Working with the Criminal Justice System Effective intervention in domestic assault occurs when each agency in the criminal justice system clarifies and coordinates their policies, procedures and protocols in order to meet the three major goals of intervention, which are:  to provide for the safety of the victim;  to hold the offender accountable, creating a specific deterrent to his repeated use of violence; and  to change the climate in the community, creating a general deterrence to the use of violence as an acceptable practice in the home

22. Working with the CJS continued -  Develop policies, protocols and practices jointly  Always question each change by asking if it increases victim safety, offender accountability and consider any unintended outcomes  Enhance networking  Build trust and respect from a problem solving orientation  Cross train to understand one another's role and perspective  Build monitoring and tracking  Assume the victim will be vulnerable  Assume the batterer is likely to abuse in future relationships  Account for batterers level of danger

23. How does it help?  Protects the victim by:  Bringing the offender into the criminal justice system  Imposing and enforcing legal sanctions  Connecting the survivor to safe housing, advocacy, support and education  Coordinates interagency information flow & monitoring

24. Coordinated Community Response expanded -  Medical Institutions – clinics & hospitals  Social Services, Child Protection, County Welfare, Family Court  Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, Faith Leaders  Public housing, landlords, apartment buildings  Schools, crisis nurseries

25. We could fill Target Field 17 times with the Minnesota women who have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking. *The CDC estimates that 684,000 Minnesota women are survivors and Target Field holds 39,000 people.

26. Important Resources  Minnesota Day One Crisis Hot Line 1-866-223-1111  How to find an advocacy program in your area  Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, 651-646-6177 (800-289- 6177) http://www.mcbw.orghttp://www.mcbw.org  Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs http://dps.mm.gov/divisions/ojp http://dps.mm.gov/divisions/ojp