Link between Domestic Violence and Economic Downturn Tightens
Two recent reports, The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation’s 2009 Truth About Abuse report, and a December 30, 2009 New York Times article reveal that prevention measures for domestic violence are needed now as much as ever before. As links between household income, job stress, economics and domestic violence continue to strengthen, Protection from Abuse (PFA) programs like those offered by Legal Aid are critical.
Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation’s May 2009 Truth About Abuse report showed that out of 600 domestic violence shelters that were surveyed nationwide, 75% of the shelters saw an overall increase in women seeking services. 73% of those surveyed attributed this rise to financial issues. Stress and job loss (61 % and 49 %, respectively) were also reported to be leading contributing factors in the reported increased demand for services among women.
Not only is the increasing number of women seeking shelter nationally concerning, but so is the severity of violence that is taking place within the home. The rates of homicides related to domestic violence in certain cities make this especially clear. In Philadelphia for example, overall homicide and crime rates were down in 2009, but homicide incidents related to domestic violence were up. According to the December 30, 2009 New York Times article, domestic violence-related homicide in Philadelphia was up by 67% since 2008, even amidst a 9% general decrease in the rate of overall homicide and crime. Detroit, Salt Lake City, and the state of Wisconsin all report record highs of domestic violence-related homicides for the year of 2009.
Cities like Philadelphia are further exploring prevention measures and striving to train police forces to better identify the signs of domestic violence within victims and perpetrators. The 2008 Bucks County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission, of which Legal Aid’s Co- Executive Director Liz Frisch took part, found some significant patterns between four domestic violence homicides that year in Bucks County. A surprising signature of the cases was the non-physical forms of abuse preceding the homicides such as stalking, emotional battering and controlling behavior.
For more information on the 2008 homicide cases in Bucks County specifically, click here to view the report of the Bucks County Fatality Review Commission found on our LASP website news tab.