Southeast Kansas domestic violence advocates continue progress, hold July 2 meeting

Since 2000, Crawford County has experienced 13 deaths of individuals involved in domestic violence-related incidents.

In 2001, the Crawford County Domestic Violence Task Force, which was created in 1991, began exploring a police intervention and safety program. From 2001 to 2003, Crawford County experienced the highest rate of domestic homicides per capita in the state of Kansas.

Due to the high domestic violence rates within the county, in 2004, the Crawford County Domestic Violence Task Force, Crawford County and the Crisis Resource Center of Southeast Kansas, Inc., applied for and received the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program from the Department of Justice.

According to the United States Department of Justice, www.ovw.usdoj.gov, the grant program is designed to help state and local governments understand the seriousness of domestic violence crimes.

"This discretionary grant program," the USDJ Web site said, "is designed to encourage state, local, and tribal governments and state, local, and tribal courts to treat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law requiring the coordinated involvement of the entire criminal justice system. This program challenges the entire community to listen, communicate, identify problems, and share ideas that will result in new responses to ensure victim safety and offender accountability."

Through this grant program, a Police Response Advocacy program was created to help victims of domestic violence. The PRAs have been working closely with Crawford County law enforcement, prosecutors, hospitals, social service agencies and community organizations to provide domestic violence and sexual assault victims with immediate assistance, according to Crisis Resource Center of Southeast Kansas Executive Director Rebecca Reedy.

According to printed information provided by the Resource Center, PRAs are specially trained advocates who are on call to assist victims of domestic abuse at the time of the crime. When a domestic violence incident occurs, police dispatch calls the PRA who is on duty at the time of the crime. The victim is asked by the police officers at the scene if he or she would like to talk with the PRA. If the victim chooses to speak with the advocate, the PRA will spend time with him or her providing much needed domestic violence resources to the victim. The PRA may also transport the victim to medical assistance or a safer location. However, if the victim does not want to speak with the PRA, the advocate will leave the scene without talking to him or her.

Since its origination the Resource Center program has begun serving victims in Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford and many other Kansas Counties.

Reedy said the CRC's PRAs help victims of domestic violence gain independence and protection.

"Crisis Resource Center helps the victim navigate the different programs and organizations available to help the victim gain independence and protection form their attacker," she said.

According to Reedy, statistics indicate an improvement in the outcome of domestic violence cases since the PRAs have been allowed to work with victims at the scene of the crime.

"According to the Research Consultant for this project, statistics in Crawford County during this four-year period indicate that when PRA services are accepted at the scene, law enforcement is more likely to arrest the primary suspect, the prosecuting attorney was more likely to charge the suspect with a crime, the defendant was more likely to be convicted of a crime, and the convicted perpetrator was more likely to receive a stronger sentence," Reedy said.

One Crawford County PRA, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said being able to provide support to domestic violence victims on the scene makes a huge difference.

"In a moment of crisis, we're there on the scene to provide help and support to a victim of domestic violence and this could make all the difference," the advocate said. "The victim is presented with alternatives to staying in an abusive situation through shelter services or transportation to a safe location in addition to information on Crisis Resource Center's domestic violence services."

Reedy said Crawford County was awarded a renewal of the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program in 2006. With the grant renewal, the project was expanded into the surrounding counties. Staff members from the Crisis Resource Center of Southeast Kansas, Inc. have been working in these communities to develop Task Force Groups and Coordinated Community Responses, which is the first step to developing the PRA program. The 2006 grant will end in August. However, Reedy said she anticipates that the grant will be renewed again. If approved, the new grant will take effect September 1, 2008. and the Crisis Resource Center is moving forward in hopes of starting the PRA program in Bourbon County this fall.

Domestic violence involves the use of power and control over a current or ex spouse, partner or other family member through fear and intimidation. The abuser uses combinations of verbal, emotional, mental, physical, economic and sexual abuse to maintain power and control over the victim, according to CRC.

CRC information said common characteristics of abusers includes: low self-esteem; a belief in male supremacy; blaming others for their actions; pathologically jealous feelings; severe stress levels in which they use drinking or battering to cope; dual personalities; and a belief that their violent behavior should have negative consequences.

Typically, domestic violence victims have low self-esteem; accept responsibility for batter's actions; present a passive face to the world but somehow have the strength to manipulate his or her environment enough to try to prevent further violence; believes that no one can help him or her resolve the abusive predicament except herself or himself; and suffers form guilt, yet denies the terror and anger actually felt, the CRC information said.

According to CRC, victims of domestic violence often stay with their abusers because of fear.

"The most dangerous time for the victim is when she leaves, or he has the realization she is gone for good," CRC said.

According to CRC, PRAs offer support and supply victims with alternatives to living in an abusive environment.

At the July 2 Crawford County Domestic Violence Task Force meeting, two attorneys from the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence will be in attendance to discuss current and pending Kansas legislation involving domestic issues. Reedy said during the next twelve months, the CCDVTF will be looking at ways domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking statutes could be strengthened in Kansas and plan to be involved in lobbying efforts in moving forward.

For additional information on abuse or upcoming domestic violence awareness meetings contact the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence online at www.kcsdv.org. Many contacts are available for those seeking help in escaping an abusive relationship including the Pittsburg area Crisis Hotline, (800) 794-9148 and the Coffeyville area hotline, (888) 320-7218.