Domestic Violence Unit
Scope of the Problem
- According to the American Medical Association, nearly one fourth
of women in the United States (more than 12 million) will be abused by
a current or former partner sometime during their life.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that a woman is battered
every 9 seconds in the United States.
Battering is so common that it is now the leading cause of injury to American women.
- Alaskan women face a much higher risk of homicide than women nationwide.
Non-native Alaskan women are killed 1.5 times more often (6.2 per 100,000)
than the national average (4.2 per 100,000) according to the University
of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute of Social and Economic Research. Native
women are killed 4.5 times more often (19.1 per 100,000) than the national
average.
- In 1990 50% of female murder victims in Alaska were domestic violence
related.
- In 1995 that number rose to 80% in Alaska.
- In 1996 that number was at 30% for the entire United States.
- If these statistics seem horrific, even more disturbing is the fact that a National Crime Survey showed that almost half (48%) of all incidents of domestic violence against women were never reported to the police.
The Problem
Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of assaultive
and controlling behavior including physical, sexual and psychological attacks
as well as economic control, which people use against their intimate partners
(current or past), family members or people living in the same household.
It may start with a push, a shove, or perhaps a sharp criticism or an insulting remark. It can escalate to bodily injury, destruction of property, intimidation, coercion, revenge, or punishment. If it is allowed to continue the cycle becomes more frequent and more severe. This is a pattern of behaviors that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people.
Perpetrators of domestic violence have a specific goal: to establish and maintain power and control, through fear over another.
When the perpetrator’s threats put the victim in fear for her safety or the safety of her family, children or property- - - he has committed a crime.
Regardless of who the victim or perpetrator is, domestic violence is a crime. People do not have the right to hurt other people.
Sitka’s Solution to Our Problem
The Sitka Police Department now has a Domestic Violence Unit geared toward
family preservation in a healthy and safe environment.- The Domestic Violence Unit investigates all complaints of Domestic Violence providing safety planning and information about services that the victim might not be aware are available to her/him.
- This is all made possible through a grant applied for by the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and the Sitka Police Department.
This project was supported by Grant No. 2003-WE-BX-0048 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Domestic Violence Information Links
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