Violence awareness

guest commentary by Rep. Leslee Milam Post, D-Ozark

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This epidemic is one of my greatest passions. For eight years I was employed as executive director of the Crisis Center for Women (Crisis Intervention Center) in Fort Smith, and also served as president of the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

I have been involved with many victims. Some of their stories and tragic endings still haunt me.

Van Buren Mayor Bob Freeman described Sept. 13 in Van Buren perfectly as Crawford County’s “9-11.” I wasn’t personally involved in this case. But it was clearly about family violence. Crawford County District Judge Gary Cottrell granted Palmer’s wife an uncontested divorce in 2001. A year later, Palmer was back in court on a contempt citation.

"He was behind in child-support payments and he said the visitation with his son was not working out," said Cottrell, who changed the day of visitation and ordered Palmer to pay past-due support and medical bills.

Another contempt case was filed in 2003 before Judge Mike Medlock, but was later dismissed. Palmer was clearly a man losing control and blaming it on service providers (judges… anyone in the courthouse). I am so very proud of all our public servants on Sept. 13. If it weren’t for the exact response of the judge’s assistant, staff, police, and all involved everyone would not be able to call themselves survivors.

I will never forget where I was around 9 a.m., Jan. 21, 2005. I was getting ready to leave to drive to work when Fort Smith Police Detective Levi Risley called me at home to tell me the gruesome news of one of our clients. Christina Springs’ life was brought to an end near a busy intersection on Rogers Avenue in Fort Smith. Her estranged husband, Thomas Springs deliberately hit the car his wife was in, broke out her window, and then stabbed her to death with her sister and young niece inside the vehicle. Dozens of people looked on in horror and dialed 911 as a few brave men fought Thomas Springs’ and tried to put an end to his rampage. Christina and her five children had been staying with us at the Center.

Victims, as well as those who serve them, are in the most danger immediately following when their partner leaves the relationship. This is because the perpetrator feels as though he is losing the last shreds of control he holds over his victim. Ask any law enforcement officer the most dangerous calls he gets. He will tell you “DV” calls.

It is estimated that 50% of law enforcement calls are domestic violence related. They are some of the most volatile homes to go out to for officers, as well as dangerous courtrooms for judges to preside in for hearings, offices for prosecutors and victim witness coordinators to assist victims with orders, and shelters to house battered women and their children.

Victims can be the most unexpected persons. They come from all walks of life and economic positions. Domestic violence discriminates against no one. It could be your neighbor, your child’s teacher, someone with whom you work, or someone in your church.

In the same respect, perpetrators can be anyone. They can be your preacher, your friend, the pizza delivery guy or your boss. Domestic violence is about power and control. It’s not just physical. It causes physical harm, arouses fear, makes victims do things that they do not want to do, or stops them from doing things that they want to do. Domestic violence includes patterns of forcible control that one person exercises over another.

Children are the silent victims of abuse. Children who witness domestic violence are at a higher risk of becoming batterers or victims themselves. They are also at a higher risk for alcohol and substance abuse, truancy problems, discipline problems and relationship problems. They are more likely to be in abusive relationships as adults. They are often physically harmed, either purposely or in the crossfire.

Education is the key to ending domestic violence. Dating/family violence prevention programs within the public school systems teach youth healthy relationship skills. These programs educate early on that violence is not acceptable. Diminishing domestic violence will lower crime rates. This saves tax dollars spent on prison programs, law enforcement, lost work hours, and hospital programs.

Every nine seconds a woman is abused in America. Physically abusing your partner is not a private family matter. It is a crime. When you know it is happening to your friend, co-worker, sister, mother or any human being do not allow it to keep going.

No one, for no reason deserves to be a punching bag. Give them a number to call for help. Support the resources in our community. Support your local service providers. It takes a united community approach of victim advocates, law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, school representatives, medical professionals, clergy, community leaders, and everyday people to protect families who are victims of violence. We all play a role.

One of the hardest things for all of us to take in with domestic violence is that it’s not always easy to stay, but it’s not always easy to leave. Advocates at the Crisis Intervention Center will assist women with a safety plan for living in and leaving an abusive relationship. They provide assistance to victims in Sebastian, Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Polk, and Scott Counties. Their shelter is located in Fort Smith. They can be reached toll free at (800) 359-0056.