“Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other.” (http://www.domesticviolence.org/definition/) The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website states that “one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.” Although a significant percentage of victims of domestic violence are women battered by male partners, men, children, the elderly, and individuals in “dating” relationships can also be victimized. According to Kelley Glidden, director of Community Education for the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project, 7% of domestic violence victims are men.

Records maintained by Crystal Lachance, officer of Youth & Family Services and other Domestic Violence coordinators with the Lewiston Police Department, indicate that the number of complaints reported in 2009, in Lewiston alone, totals 1,632, with 228 involving a physical assault and one resulting in the victim’s death. Glidden added that of the 17 homicides that had occurred in Maine in the first 7.5 months of 2010, eight were related to domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence Coordination Program was established about 10 years ago to investigate and follow all domestic violence related cases. The officer assigned to each situation acts as an advocate for the victim and follows the victim from the initial investigative meeting, often taking place amid the chaos in the victim’s residence, to delivering the victim to safety, providing referrals, obtaining Protection Orders and performing safety checks. The officer provides investigative assistance to the District Attorney’s office as it builds its criminal case against the abuser. Jane Morrison, executive director of AWAP, Glidden, and Lachance agree, law enforcement agencies have become much more sensitive and educated with respect to domestic violence.

Morrison shared, “The mission of the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project is to support and empower those affected by domestic violence and engage the community in creating social change in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties.” In accordance with its Mission Statement, AWAP provides a wide range of services to victims of domestic abuse including the following:

A 24-hour HELPline (1-800-559-2927);

Shelters where women and their children who have left a dangerous situation will find supportive and safe refuge;

Clothing and necessary items for victims who left their homes with only their children and the clothes on their backs;

Support and empowerment as victims set goals, seek employment, finish school, and develop a plan for their future;

Advocacy and assistance with legal matters including Protection from Abuse Orders; and,

A 48-week Batterers Intervention Program, where batterers learn non-violent conflict resolution and are held accountable for their actions.

Many victims of domestic abuse are reluctant to seek help, and often have a number of reasons for remaining in an abusive relationship. As to why victims are reluctant to disclose that they have been abused, Glidden believes that victims sometimes feel that there is “stigma, shame, and judgment” associated with asking for services. Often there are minor children involved, or victims believe that they are financially dependent on the abuser.

According to the NCADV, “violence against women is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior, and thus is part of a systematic pattern of dominance and control.” Abusers use coercion and threats, isolation, minimizing, denying, and blaming to control their victims. Lachance noted that “many women keep going back, not just to the same partner but to the same type of relationship.” Sometimes the most difficult step is the first step, telling someone.

Health care agencies including doctors, hospitals, school nurses, and family planning clinics can often be the first safe point of contact for a victim. According to Faye Luppi of the Violence Intervention Partnership in Portland, healthcare providers who suspect abuse “need to know how to safely ask the question, and what to do when the answer is yes.” A recent initiative with health care providers stresses the importance of screening for domestic violence in a safe setting, and then making referrals to the appropriate support organizations.

Another recent initiative, described by Luppi, with respect to adolescent relationship abuse and teen dating violence, “will help schools adopt policies that will create a safe place for kids to disclose.” Glidden noted AWAP is “active at the high school level and is expanding its programs to include younger children.” In Oxford County, “Voices Committed to Change” is an education and support program where students are trained to assist their peers who are at risk or involved in an abusive relationship.

Other such programs reach out to refugee groups, faith communities, senior citizens, and teen parents, as well as the homeless and those who suffer from mental illness.

According to Luppi, the community response also needs to include employers. Auburn Attorney Rebecca Webber has assisted women who have been terminated from their place of employment because they were victims of abuse whose partners’ behavior had become noticeable at the jobsite. One adverse effect of terminating a victim’s employment is that she may then believe that she is economically dependent on her abuser, and therefore will be less likely to leave the abusive relationship. This practice also rewards the abuser’s behavior and reinforces his ability to control his victim. It may also make other women in abusive relationships less likely to report, for fear of losing their own jobs. Films and “tool kits” are presently being developed for businesses to educate them as to what they can do if they believe that an employee is in an abusive relationship, and how they can help.

Luppi suggests that we need to consider changing the question from “why does she stay?” to “why does he continue to abuse?” How can we work together to stop the abuse?

As stated by its website, the goal of the Domestic Violence Case Coordination Project “is to enhance offender accountability through improved information management and coordination among the various agencies responsible for supervising the offenders’ compliance with court orders.” One example of the movement toward greater “accountability” is the Judicial Monitoring program, which follows an offender as he complies with post-conviction requirements, including the Batterers Intervention Program, and Orders issued by the Court to protect the victim.

“Ending domestic violence requires a social, political, and economic environment to ensure that all people affected by domestic abuse and violence are supported and batterers are held accountable. Everyone must be part of the solution.” (http://www.mcedv.org/domviolence/index.htm)

October is National Domestic Awareness Month, and a calendar of activities in Lewiston, Auburn and surrounding towns is available at the AWAP website noted in the Community Resource List. Additional websites and telephone number are listed for those who wish to become involved or who need help ending the domestic violence affecting their own lives.

Community resources

Local:

Abused Women’s Advocacy Project (serving Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford)

Website: www.awap.org

24 Hour Helpline: 1-800-559-2927

Androscoggin Advocate: 795-6744

Farmington Advocate: 778-6107

Rumford Advocate: 369-0750

Norway Advocate: 743-5806

Lewiston Police Department

Domestic Violence Team: 513-3138 extension 3311

In the event of an emergency, call 911

Pine Tree Legal Assistance

Lewiston Office: 784-1558

Website: www.ptla.org/index.html

United Somali Women of Maine

Lewiston Office: 753-0061

Website: www.uswofmaine.org/

Note: For more information regarding Voices Committed to Change please contact AWAP

State:

Statewide Domestic Violence Helpline

1-866-834-HELP

Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence

Augusta Office: 430-8334

Website: www.mcedv.org

Violence Intervention Partnership

Portland Office: 871-8380

Website: http://www.cumberlandcounty.org/VIP/activities.htm

Domestic Violence Case Coordination Project

Website: www.courts.state.me.us/maine_courts/annual_reports/annualreport/ar-09/courts_maine/dvccp.html

National:

Family Violence Prevention Fund www.endabuse.org

National Network to End Domestic Violence

1-800-799-7233 (U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline)

Website: www.nnedv.org

Maine Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Website: www.ncadv.org

www.domesticviolence.org

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