People are being desensitized to violence on a regular basis. Many blame the media for this but that is such a broad term I think it needs to be narrowed.
Some are hesitant to read the news because it’s “too depressing”, but why are we not changing this, if this is the case?
Others blame violence on video games, movies and television, but we are consuming them rapidly.
Writing, art, and music talks about violence in relationships and older generations say that is to blame, but how else do we open up the dialogue about these issues?
True we, as a culture, have normalized violence but we are to blame for not being active enough to make the change.
Detective Roxanne Bradley from the Westfield Police Department deals with sexual assault and child abuse on the job.
Bradley and Domestic Abuse Advocate Donna Suckau teamed up to teach the Westfield Police Citizens Police Academy about dealing with violence on a regular basis and helping to make the change in the community to resolve it.
Bradley and Suckau agreed about one of the most difficult things about their jobs.
“The system is so damn broken, unbelievably broken,” said Suckau. “It is not just the women having the kids, who are doing drugs, who are on welfare. It is just not true. Domestic violence has no borders.”
Domestic abuse comes in a variety of guises. It can be financially-dependent and manipulative acts, emotional, or physical.
Bradley said one of the largest problems is undocumented abuse and acting upon it after the statute of limitations is up. This means that whether it is child or sexual abuse, there is a certain time limit in which it can be reported.
Even writing it down in a journal if one cannot reach law enforcement is a huge help to build a case.
Bradley and Suckau said that the best way to try to eliminate domestic abuse is through education. The more people know about what constitutes abuse and the resources that are available, the easier it will be to resolve.
“They have to move on, not to let that [abuse] define them – testifying can do that,” said Bradley.
Bradley said that sometimes it is difficult to get much information about the case, especially when it involves children, because of stigmas attached to law enforcement, and that most information is passed to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). DCF is not linked directly with law enforcement and communication is sometimes translated poorly.
It isn’t easy. Many women and their children are put in danger if they seek help and restraining orders are essentially a piece of paper and cannot promise the end of stalking or abuse.
It was only 15 years ago, in 2000, when victims experiencing someone harassing them in spite of their restraining order were able to file a criminal complaint. This means that if a woman filed for a restraining order and the abuser stayed within the limitations of the restraining order but stalked at 500 feet or other harassments, a complaint could be made. After three of these, the police were able to arrest.
Some women end these restraints because they typically need a male figure to help provide for them and their children.
“It’s a process. It’s not cut and dry, not clear cut. Domestic violence is not easy to get out of,” said Bradley.
This would not be as much of an issue as it is if women did not make 70 cents for every dollar that men make and were able to enter a job earning above minimum wage as easily as men do.
Erika Hayden is a WSU student, citizen journalist and grassroots writer.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
