HARM REDUCTION IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

HUMAN FACTOR IN HARM REDUCTION

DVH results from the cascade of behaviors that evolve between victim and her abuser.  Women sometimes abuse their husbands but the problem of domestic violence homicide is largely attributed to men acting out against their female partners.  How can people begin to impact the human cost of domestic violence unless it moves up to the societal level?  Some believe greater recognition of red flags offer law enforcement a head start at reducing DVH.  As a police officer, I have been asked to investigate domestic violence calls and almost universally am met by the male spouse saying that "nothing happened" and "my wife has overblown this again". Denial of responsibility and emotional intimidation are among the most common red flags to early cases of domestic violence according to research.  These often begin as soon as husband and wife are married.  There is a strong push for secrecy and for decades police treated domestic calls as a "private matter" between husband and wife.

The most typical red flags have all been published in countless peer-reviewed journals and I will provide them shortly.  When the red flags are uncovered police need more tools to offer security for potential victims and containment of the abuser.  This requires greater communication between police and domestic violence social services.  Maine has had an upsurge in DVH in 2010 and there is a calling for changes in the bail requirements that will free an abuser for only $ 200 to $ 2000 dollars. 
Once a protection from abuse order has been filed it is essential that open communication be available between the police, judiciary, and probation.  If someone violates the PFA order than efforts to contain the abuser should be maximized.

Pre-incident Indicators - Red Flags

History of depression Threats to kill spouse or family Previous history of battery Threatens family with weapon Engages in stalking behavior Order of abuse filed Uses drugs and/or alcohol

                                                                                                              Fox et al, 2008         

"For domestic violence workers in Maine, who engage in activities ranging from lobbying the Legislature to providing training for law enforcement officers, the only way to eliminate domestic violence completely is to instill in society the fact that it’s a societal problem, not a private one. Brian Namey, a spokesman for the National Network to End Domestic Violence in Washington, D.C., said Maine has strong laws on the books to combat domestic violence — including protection orders that include pets and a victim notification law that alerts a victim if the perpetrator tries to buy a firearm — but those laws won’t convince enough people to report domestic violence when they encounter it." (Taken from Bangor Daily News)