Domestic-violence victims have options/Indiana Domestic-violence victims have options
Shelters provide refuge and support, help women get job or education; some businesses also helping out.
By Robert AnnisRobert.Annis@Topics.comRobert.Annis@Topics.com
November 1, 2006
NOBLESVILLE -- Domestic violence affects families throughout Indiana, including Marion and Hamilton counties.
More than 9,000 women and children spent time in an emergency shelter because of domestic abuse, and 81 victims were killed, according to Indiana Domestic Violence Program statistics from July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006. There are only 29 shelters to serve 92 Indiana counties, and more than 1,400 people were denied shelter due to overcrowding and other issues. Nearly 2,000 women and children were helped in a non-residential setting.
Locally, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department went on 331 runs so far this year.
Deputies who are called to respond to a potential domestic violence situations are trained to assess the situations, calm the parties down, determine if a crime has been committed -- and if so, make an arrest, said sheriff's department spokesman Maj. Mark Bowen. If someone has been abused, the deputies will inform the abused party about local services offered.
Although the majority of victims in domestic violence cases are women or children, Bowen says that men can also be victims.
"Deputies don't go into situations predisposed as the man being the aggressor," he said.
Victims of domestic violence and abuse in Hamilton County are assisted by Prevail, which offers counseling, support and legal help at 1100 S. Ninth St., Suite 100, Noblesville.
Victims needing shelter are brought to Alternatives in Anderson, the main shelter for families coming from Hamilton, Madison, Hancock and Henry counties and an overflow shelter for Marion County, said spokeswoman Mary Jo Lee. More than 450 women and children took refuge at Alternatives in 2005, and the shelter houses 42 people right now in either a 45-day-maximum emergency/crisis shelter or a two-year-maximum transitional housing.
Shelter employees, some who are survivors of domestic violence themselves, help women get an education or a new job, Lee said. One in four families have had a domestic violence situation, but only 2 percent of battered women seek shelter.
Abuse often starts out verbally or emotionally, Lee said. Complaints about attractiveness or abilities can do severe damage over time.
"If you're told something over and over, you start to believe it," she said. "Emotional abuse can be every bit as destructive."
The fears of not being wanted and not being able to provide for their family keep women in abusive relationships, Lee said. Some women couldn't access the family's checking account, and some didn't even know if there was a checking account.
"The dynamics of domestic violence are hard to understand," Lee said. "People say, 'Why doesn't she just leave?' Self-esteem plays a part in it, as well as thoughts of, 'How am I going to feed my family?' She'll take a beating knowing she'll be able to get groceries the next week."
Local stores like Beauty Brands are helping abused women and children. Stores in Fishers and Carmel donated $2,500 to Alternatives in October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, said. Michelle Jones, Beauty Brands district manager. Salons are often seen as a safe zone for women, a place where they feel more comfortable to talk or to confide in someone without their husband or boyfriend around.
"Women form relationships with their stylists," she said. "If someone confides in a stylist (about being abused), she can be pointed to a shelter or somewhere else."
Call staff writer Robert Annis at (317) 444-5572.
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