Family Violence Prevention for Correctional Personnel
OPVS Bulletin - Family Violence Prevention
Correctional Peace Officer Michelle Brown left her shift at O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facility at 10 p.m. on July 22, 1997 not knowing it would be her last drive home. Home, the place where 20 minutes later, in full view of her five year-old daughter, she was gunned down by her boyfriend who then committed suicide. Michelle Brown was a 26 year old employee with the California Youth Authority (CYA), a person highly respected with a promising future in correctional work. The reverberations throughout the CYA ran deep and wide. Suddenly, domestic violence had struck the CYA family and the questions came.
- What are the warning signs?
- How do you know when someone is in danger?
- How do co-workers, supervisors, administrators, and loved ones intervene?
- How could Michelle have known she and her child were in danger?
- And, what could be offered to those in danger?
This document is written for you if you are in a dangerous personal situation, for you if you know a co-worker or friend or family member who is in danger, for you if you are a batterer, for you if you are a supervisor and suspect one of your employees might be in danger, and for you if you are an administrator or manager responsible for developing policies and procedures to assist staff.
What happens to people in their personal lives impacts their work attitude and performance. Information and knowledge is the best defense against the hidden reality of family violence. In dealing with this type of violence, ignorance can be deadly.
The following information will assist you as you determine your possible role as described in the relationships identified above. It will also describe some of the warning signs of danger and ways victims or potential victims can protect themselves. Finally, it will note resources available in California. It is hoped this information will be used personally by individuals, in training sessions for supervisors, and in the development of staff safety policies.
FACTS
- Every year in the United States there are over 6 million incidents of domestic violence.
- Every year over 4,000 victims of domestic violence are killed. 34% of all women over 15 who are murdered, are killed by their husbands or "intimate partners."
- 95% of the domestic violence victims are women.
- In homes where spousal abuse occurs, children are abused 1,500% higher than the national average.
- Being abused or neglected as a child increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 53%, and as an adult by 38%.
- 25 to 50% of women who were battered by their partners were pregnant at the time.
- 60% of battering men come from violent homes.
- Once violence has begun, it becomes more frequent and more severe with the passage of time.
The above statistics reflect that domestic violence affects all people of all ages, races, religions, and incomes. It is estimated that approximately three million American households experience at least one domestic violence episode per year. Victims of violence may be spouses, children, or the elderly. Research has shown that, while men and women are equally likely to be victimized by their partner, women suffer the most serious injuries due to differences in physical strength.
WARNING SIGNS OF DANGER
If your partner has:
- Ignored your feelings.
- Ridiculed and insulted women/men as a group.
- Ridiculed your most cherished beliefs, your religion, your ethnic origins.
- Destroyed furniture, punched holes in walls, smashed precious objects.
- Threatened to kidnap the children if you left him.
- Punished or deprived the children when angry with you.
- Regularly threatened to hurt you or your family,
you should look for counseling and assistance.
WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
Domestic violence is any assault, battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, or any criminal offense resulting in personal injury or death of one family or household member by another, who is or was residing in the same household. It is an ongoing, debilitating experience associated with increased
- Isolation from the outside world,
- Limited personal freedom, and
- Limited access to resources.
The risk of abuse is greatest when a victim is separated from supportive networks.
Domestic violence can take different forms, but its goal is always the same: Batterers want to control their domestic partners through fear. They do this by regularly abusing them physically, psychologically, sexually, and economically. Batters tend to deny responsibility for their actions, blaming the victim for provoking them or ignoring the violent incident altogether.
Here are some of the forms domestic violence can take:
Physical abuse is usually recurrent and escalates both in frequency and severity. It may include the following:
- Pushing, shoving, slapping, punching, kicking, or choking.
- Assault with a weapon.
- Holding, tying down, or restraining a partner.
- Leaving a partner in a dangerous place.
- Hitting with hand or object.
Emotional or psychological abuse may precede or accompany physical violence as a means of controlling through fear and degradation. It may include the following:
- Threats of harm.
- Physical and social isolation.
- Extreme jealousy and possessiveness.
- Deprivation.
- Intimidation.
- Public humiliation.
- Criticizing and name-calling.
Sexual Abuse in violent relationships is often the most difficult aspect of abuse for the victim to discuss. It may include any form of forced sex or sexual degradation, such as:
- Making them perform sexual acts against their will.
- Hurting them physically during sex or assaulting their genitals.
- Criticizing them and calling them sexually degrading names.
- Treating them as an object.
- Withholding sex/affection.
Financial Abuse through economic deprivation is another way of controlling the victim and can be both physically and psychologically damaging. It may include the following:
- Not paying bills.
- Refusing to give the victim money.
- Not letting the victim work.
- Interfering with the victim's job.
- Refusing to work and support the family.
- Forcing the victim to hand over their paycheck.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN ALSO TAKE ON OTHER FORMS OF ABUSE:
- Harassment
- Abusing Trust
- Destruction of Property
- Self Destructive Behavior
- Stalking
WHO ARE THE ABUSERS?
Statistics indicate that 95% of domestic violence victims are women and five percent are men. Therefore, batterers are most likely to be men who come from all socio-economic, racial, religious, and age groups. Men who batter share many characteristics, including some of the following:
- Abuse alcohol and/or other drugs.
- Have experienced or witnessed violence in their family of origin.
- Exhibit low self esteem.
- Are overly dependent on the victim.
- Exhibit an explosive temper.
- Express most of their emotions through anger.
- Are extremely jealous and possessive.
- Blame others for their actions and are unwilling to accept responsibility.
- Attempt to manipulate and control others.
- Deny and minimize the effects of their violence on their victims and witnesses.
- Has a criminal record.
WHO ARE THE VICTIMS?
Most victims of domestic violence are women. Like the batterer, they come from all ethnic, economic, and social categories. They are children, teenagers, pregnant, elderly, heterosexual, and gay/lesbian. They do not fit into a specific demographic or personality profile. Victims of battering share a number of traits, many of which contribute to their inability to leave the violent environment. She often:
- Blames herself for the violence.
- Exhibits low self esteem (magnified by the batterer's confirmation that she's worthless).
- Fears leaving or staying.
- Feels shame and guilt.
- Is isolated from family, friends, and support systems.
- Believes she can change the batterer's behavior.
- Characterizes herself as a traditionalist in the home.
WHY DON'T WOMEN LEAVE?
One reason why women don't leave violent relationships is the fact that batterers are rarely held accountable for their actions until there is visual evidence. The victim often concentrates on surviving from day to day as opposed to escaping from the violence. In the victim's eyes, the batterer becomes more and more powerful. They see the police and other agencies as less able to help. The following is a list of reasons why women stay:
- Economic Dependence:
"I can't make it on my own." - Parental Responsibility:
"The children need a father." - Fear:
"I'm afraid of being alone, of being on my own." - Fear of Death:
"I'm afraid he will find me and kill me, my children, or my family." - Religious Pressure:
"Divorce is a sin."
"I vowed to obey him." - Love:
"I love him. He is often loving when not abusive." - Shame, Embarrassment, Humiliation:
"I don't want anyone to know." - Fear of His Suicide:
"He says that he'll kill himself if I leave." - Optimism:
"Things will get better." - Rescue Complex:
"If I stay, I can save him and help him get better." - Survival:
"I can't survive on my own. I have no work skills, money, etc."
TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOURSELF
If you are a domestic violence victim, let the people who care about you help you.
Confide in someone you trust. If you have a friend or relative who cares about your safety, tell them about the abuse. Sharing a burden with someone makes it lighter.
Don't get talked into taking action that doesn't feel right to you. You are the only one who knows if you're ready to leave your relationship, or go to the police, or seek emergency shelter. Make your own decisions based on your comfort level.
Leave an "emergency stash" with a friend. This could include extra money, a set of car keys, a change of clothes, toys for kids, and copies of important documents that may come in handy in an emergency.
Ask a friend to accompany you to important appointments. If you have medical appointments, or are going to the police, or to court, or to see a lawyer, take a friend along for moral support.
SUGGESTED SAFETY MEASURES
- Have important phone numbers memorized.
- Keep change for pay phones with you at all times.
- Stay in touch with friends.
- Rehearse your escape plan until you know it by heart.
- Change the locks.
- Obtain a restraining order.
- Let your co-workers and supervisors know about your situation.
- Get counseling.
WHERE TO FIND HELP
- Employee assistance programs
- Local domestic violence agencies
- National Domestic Violence hotline
- Mental health centers
- Your family
- Clergy
IDEAS ON HOW TO HELP A CO-WORKER, FRIEND, OR AN EMPLOYEE
If you know a co-worker, friend, or family member who is in danger, the following are suggestions on how to help them:
Bring up the subject.
Don't be afraid to let them know your concerns. Say that you can see what's happening and that you want to help. Let them know they are not alone.
Acknowledge that this is a very difficult and scary situation.
Let them know that it's not their fault that they're being battered. Encourage them to express their feelings of hurt, anger, or humiliation. Remind them that the batterer, not the victim, is responsible for the abuse.
Don't buy into their denial.
If they refuse to acknowledge that they are in a dangerous situation, let them know that you believe they are, and that you are concerned for their safety.
Respect their right to make their own decisions.
Let them find their own way to their decisions. Don't start with what you think they should do, or insist that they follow your plan.
Go with them.
If they need medical care, go with them. If they are going to the police, to court, or to see a lawyer, offer to go along, but let them do the talking.
Plan safe strategies with them.
If they are contemplating leaving an abusive relationship, help them to develop their "safety plan." Never encourage them to follow a plan that they don't consider "safe."
REMEMBER...
While each of us is responsible to reach out to our co-workers and loved ones in need, we cannot force others to take advantage of available resources.
Michelle Brown's death confronted, once again, the reality that domestic violence affects all of us.
This document came about because Michelle Brown died. We intend for her to be remembered through this project and for others who might be in danger to be protected.
Information for this bulletin came from:
- National Institute of Justice
- National Victims Center
- National Crime Assistance Academy, 7/97
- California State Conference on Family Violence, 7/97
For additional information, please contact the Office of Prevention and Victims Services at (916) 262-1534.
RESOURCES
Office of Prevention & Victims Services (OPVS)
(916) 262-1392
Employee Assistance Program
(EAP) 1-800-632-7422
California Youth Crisis Line
1-800-843-5200
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678
MANALIVE
1-800-799-SAFE
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Resource Center
1-800-627-6872
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/
California Alliance Against Domestic Violence
(909) 623-4364
(Central/Northern, CA)
Southern California Coalition On Battered Women
(213) 655-6098
Local Victim/Witness Assistance programs can be contacted through county District Attorneys Offices
Local Child Protective Services can be contracted through Department of Social Services or Department of Health & Human Services Offices
RECOMMENDED READINGS
Barnett, Ola and Alyce La Violette (1993)
It Could Happen to Anyone: Why Battered Women Stay
Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications
Gelles, R.J. & Straus, M.A. (1988)
Intimate Violence
New York: Simon & Schuster
Helton, J.A. (1992)
Battered Women's Concerns About Their Children Witnessing Wife Assault
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 7, 77-86
Jaffe, P., Wolfe, D. & Wilson, S.K. (1990)
Children of Battered Women
Lobel, Kerry (1986)
Naming the Violence: Speaking Out Against Lesbian Battering
Washington: Seal Press
NiCarthy, Ginny (1986)
Getting Free: You Can End Abuse and Take Back Your Life
Washington: Seal Press
Sonk, Ph.D., Daniel & Durphy, M.D., Michael (1989)
Learning to Live Without Violence: A Handbook for Men
California: Volcano Press
Walker, Lenore (1978)
The Battered Woman
New York: Harper & Row
White, Evelyn C. (1985)
Chain Chain Change, for Black Women Dealing with Physical & Emotional Abuse
Washington: Seal Press