PRESS KIT FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS REPORTING ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

PRESS KIT FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS REPORTING ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Dear Media Professional: The South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) is committed to advancing a society in which domestic violence is not tolerated. As a member of South Carolina’s media, you can help as you report on this crime in our state. This press kit provides domestic violence resources, facts, and tips on interviewing survivors of domestic violence. Unfortunately many myths about domestic violence are still prevalent in our culture and society and those myths may stand in the way of victims and perpetrators of this crime from getting the help they need. Domestic violence is not a “family matter” nor is it a “private issue.” As we have sadly seen this past year, domestic violence is very dangerous, and can lead to injury and homicide to the victim, the perpetrator, and even additional friends or family members. Victims and perpetrators of domestic violence can be young or old, straight or gay, wealthy or poor — it is a crime that doesn’t discriminate. By educating yourself on the dynamics and facts about domestic violence in South Carolina and the nation, you can help inform and educate the public about this crime and help advance a society that will not tolerate domestic violence. SCCADVASA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and is the only organization of its kind addressing sexual violence issues statewide. SCCADVASA represents the 23 direct service domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy programs statewide. SCCADVASA provides training and resources, and fosters a sense of community and statewide support. SCCADVASA believes that through social change we can influence attitudes, beliefs and standards that will change people’s behavior from ignoring, excusing, condoning and even encouraging domestic violence to taking action, intervening, and promoting respect, safety and equality. Thank you for your help in increasing public awareness and education. Regards,

Pamela Jacobs Executive Director

What Is Domestic Violence? Domestic violence is about more than just physical violence. According to Lundy Bancroft, author and expert, domestic violence is “a pattern of coercive control that may be primarily made up of psychological abuse, sexual coercion, or economic abuse, that is punctuated by one or more acts of frightening physical violence, credible threat of physical harm, or sexual assault.” Domestic violence is not an “anger management problem”, it is a crime of power and control. The batterer thinks that he/she has the right to control the victim, and will do whatever it takes to maintain that control. In all cases of domestic violence, the perpetrator chooses his/her behavior and must be held accountable for his or her actions. No one asks or deserves to be a victim of domestic violence. No one. Perpetrators of domestic violence, also referred to as batterers, are often indistinguishable from non-batterers to those on the outside. In her Who are the perpetrators of domestic violence? Both victims and abusers come from all socioeconomic, ethnic, racial, religious and educational backgrounds. Intimate partner violence affects people of all ages and sexual orientations. When it comes to gender, however, the picture is no longer balanced: victims are predominantly women, abusers are predominantly men. In the United States, 85 percent of domestic violence victims are women. Also, in 80 percent of intimate partner homicides, no matter which partner was killed, the man physically abused the woman before the murder. Women are also twice as likely to be injured. Stephanie Friedhoff

It is important to focus stories on the actions of the batterer, rather than on those of the victim. Focusing on the victim's behavior or other details takes the attention away from the true cause of the domestic violence--the perpetrator's choice.

Characteristics of Batterers 

Batterers feel entitled to use coercive tactics and violence against their partners.

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Batterers will often claim to be the victim and will blame the true victim for the violence.

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Batterers are not out of control, but rather batter to control.

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Batterers often appear very personable, calm, kind, even sympathetic.

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Quick to commit, need to be in a relationship

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Excessively jealous

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Exhibit controlling behavior, often claiming that it is for their partner’s own safety

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Have unrealistic expectations or demands

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Keep their partner isolated from family and friends

Domestic Violence Statistics in South Carolina and the Nation In South Carolina: 

In 2011, SCCADVASA’s domestic violence member programs across the state provided shelter to approximately 1800 adults and 1300 children. They also provided non-shelter services-including counseling, court advocacy, and support services- to about 12,000 women, 6000 children, and 800 men, and answered over 28,000 hotline calls.

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In South Carolina, 34 women were murdered as a result of domestic violence in 2010 and preliminary numbers indicate that number has risen in 2011 to more than 40 women.

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The Attorney General’s office noted that more than 36,000 victims report a domestic violence incident to law enforcement statewide annually. This is staggering considering that many victims never call or make a report to law enforcement.

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South Carolina ranks seventh in the nation for women killed by men according to the Violence Policy Center. Of the homicide victims who knew their offenders, 76% (28 victims) were murdered by a husband, common-law husband, ex-husband, or boyfriend.

In the United States: 

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injuries to women age fifteen to forty-four, more common than auto accidents, mugging, and cancer combined. (U.S. Surgeon General)

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At least 85% of domestic violence victims are women. (Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, Reported in Feb. 2003).

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1 in 4 women will experience DV during their lifetime. (Tjaden & Thoennes, National Institute of Justice and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Extent, Nature and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey, 2000).

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Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students reports being abused by a boyfriend. (Silverman, JG, et al., Amer. Medical Assoc. Journal, 2001)

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Women are 90-95 percent more likely to suffer domestic violence than are men. (Callie Marie Rennison & Sarah Welchans, U.S. Department of Justice, Intimate Partner Violence,2000)

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As many as 324,000 women each year experience intimate partner violence during their pregnancy. (Gazamarian, JA, et al., Violence and Reproductive Health, Maternal & Child Health Journal, 2000)

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On average, three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every day. (Bureau of Justice Dept. Statistics, 2005)

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65% of DV homicide victims had separated from their abusers prior to their deaths.

Important Things to Remember About Domestic Violence 

The batterer’s use of violence is a choice.

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Batterers continue to use violence because they are often not held accountable by society or service providers (i.e., because they can).

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Many batterers repeat their pattern of abuse and control in all of their past and future intimate relationships.

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Men are critical in the movement to end violence against women. Holding other men accountable will help reduce domestic violence rates.

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Victim may stay because they feel it is safer knowing where the batterer is and where they are not.

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She may be protecting herself, her family, or her children.

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A batterer’s manipulation and violence often escalates when the victim attempts to leave. Most domestic violence murders occur after the victim has separated—or attempted to separate—from the batterer.

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A victim’s risks if they leave may include: Physical violence, risks to children, financial losses, risks to family and friends, legal risks, etc.

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Victims do not stay because they like the abuse, want the abuse, feel like they deserve the abuse.

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Leaving will not necessarily keep children away from the violent parent.

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Leaving does not ensure the victim’s or the children’s safety.

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Most batterers will receive some type of parenting time/visitation, often unsupervised.

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70% of batterers who fight for custody will win.

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The best way to protect children is to protect and support the non-abusive parent.

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Domestic violence is not caused by the victim’s behavior, batterer’s illness, or by genetics.

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Although witnessing domestic violence as a child may contribute to the propensity to batter as an adult, it is not a cause. Many children who grow up in abusive homes do not batter as adults.

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Domestic violence is not caused by the batterer’s culture, anger, the use of alcohol or drugs, financial struggles, or by stress. Violence is a choice the batterer makes.

Interviewing SCCADVASA encourages the media to seek out an advocate or specialist in the field of domestic violence. If you have questions about domestic violence, or would like to interview an expert in the field of domestic violence, SCCADVASA would be happy to help you identify the right expert for your story. Contact us at 803.256.2900 or visit our website at www.sccadvasa.org.

Tips on Interview Questions When questioning a victim of domestic violence, please consider the following: • Do not refer to the domestic violence as a “relationship problem.” Domestic violence is tool that a batterer uses to keep a victim under his/her control. It is not a mutual way of handling problems in the relationship. • Do not focus on why the victim of the domestic violence did not leave, but on why the batterer continued to choose to abuse. • In addition to physical trauma, individuals who have been victims of domestic violence may feel guilty or responsible for the abuse, question their own judgment, and/or feel betrayed. When questioning alleged victims, avoid questions that imply fault on the part of the victim. For example, avoid questions about: • What the victim did to provoke the attack. Domestic violence is a system of power and control — it is not a crime of passion or anger. Asking what the victim did to provoke the attack is a type of victim-blaming. • Whether the victim was drinking alcohol or taking drugs at the time of the assault, unless it is directly at issue in the case. Domestic violence is a crime. Period. A victim whose house was burgled wouldn’t be quizzed as to whether he or she was intoxicated prior to the crime. • Sexual violence between married spouses is a crime and can be one of the means by which a domestic violence perpetrator dominates and humiliates his or her victim. • A finding of “not guilty” in a domestic violence case does not mean that a crime was not committed and that the accused is “innocent”. It means simply that a jury believed there to be reasonable doubt. • Refrain from referring to an alleged incident in ways that imply the abuse was mutual. • Be very careful when interviewing family, friends, and neighbors of either the victim or the accused that their statements don’t blame the victim or attempt to exonerate the accused. For example, statements by witnesses that the perpetrator “is such a nice guy” or “would never do something like that” do not add to the facts of the story and only further traumatize the victim and call his or her credibility into question. Please advertise that help for victims of domestic violence is available at local domestic violence centers statewide. SCCADVASA recommends that you contact the rape crisis center in your area to get the perspective of a victim advocate and also allow the rape crisis center the opportunity to talk about the available services and the best ways to access those services.

South Carolina Domestic Violence Programs National Domestic Violence Toll-Free 24/7 Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

CASA/Family Systems

Safe Harbor

Orangeburg, Calhoun, & Bamberg Labrena Aiken-Furtick, Executive Director Phone: 803-534-2448 Hotline: 1-800-298-7228

Greenville, Oconee, Anderson, & Pickens Becky Callaham, Executive Director www.safeharborsc.org Phone: 864-467-1177 Hotline: 800-291-2139

Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons

SAFE Homes - Rape Crisis Coalition

Aiken, Barnwell, & Allendale Kay Mixon, Executive Director www.cumbeecenter.org Phone: 803-649-0480 Hotline: 803-641-4162

Spartanburg & Cherokee Lynn Hawkins, Executive Director www.shrcc.org Phone: 864-583-9803 Hotline: 1-800-273-5066

Hope Haven of the Lowcountry

Safe Passage Inc.

Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton & Jasper Shauw Chin Capps, Executive Director Phone: 843-524-2256 Hotline: 1-800-637-7273

Laurens County Safe Home Saluda, Abbeville, & Laurens Dawn Ardlet, Executive Director www.thesafehome.org Phone: 864-682-7270 Hotline: 866-598-5932 Meg’s House McCormick, Edgefield, & Greenwood Alice Hodges, Executive Director www.megshouse.org Phone: 864-227-1421 Hotline: 800-447-7992

My Sister’s House Charleston, Berkely, & Dorchester Elmire Raven, Executive Director www.mysistershouse.org Phone: 843-747-4069 Hotline: 800-273-4673

Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Assault Florence, Darlington, Marion, Chesterfield, Marlboro, Dillon, Clarendon & Williamsburg Ellen Hamilton, Executive Director www.peedeecoalition.org Phone: 843-669-4694 Hotline: 1-800-273-1820

York & Union Jane Alleva, Executive Director www.safepassagesc.org Phone: 803-329-3336 Hotline: 1-800-659-0977

Sistercare Richland, Lexington, Newberry, Fairfield, & Kershaw Nancy Barton, Executive Director www.sistercare.com Phone: 803-926-0505 Hotline: 800-637-7606

YWCA of the Upper Lowlands Sumter, Lee, & Clarendon Debra Wilson, Executive Director www.ywcaupperlowlands.org Phone: 803-773-7158 Hotline: 803-775-2763

SCCADVASA Who We Are The South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) is a statewide coalition made up of the 23 domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy programs in South Carolina. Since 1981, SCCADVASA has been a leader in representing the critical needs of survivors and their families. Our dedicated staff works to make the community aware of issues, problems, policy and legislation regarding Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault. Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault is a public health problem and a community problem as well as an interpersonal one. It destroys relationships and households, and has adverse affects on everyone who lives in the home, including pets.

Our Mission SCCADVASA supports domestic violence and sexual assault member programs, provides education, and advocates for social reform to eradicate interpersonal violence in South Carolina.

Our Vision To make South Carolina a place where all women, children, and men are safe in their homes, schools, neighborhoods, and communities.

Our Staff SCCADVASA’s small, but dedicated, staff works to make South Carolina safer by raising awareness, advocating for effective policies, and providing extensive training and technical assistance to member program advocates and allies. If you would like more information about our work, or would like to get involved, please contact our office at (803) 256-2900. Pamela Jacobs, Executive Director, [email protected] Portronda Lowery, Operations Manager, [email protected] Courtney-Christie Paul, Administrative Specialist, [email protected] Donna Thompson, Training Coordinator, [email protected] Rebecca Williams-Agee, Policy and Prevention Specialist, [email protected] Amanda Wozniak, Sexual Assault Advocacy Coordinator, [email protected] Heidi Anderson, Communications Coordinator, [email protected] Cynthia Longworth, Domestic Violence Advocacy Coordinator, [email protected]