Thanks to the recent release of the 10th biennial report of the Domestic Abuse Homicide Review Panel, by the Maine Office of the Attorney General, late last month, a light is once again shining on an issue that continues that plague Maine and the nation.
The report focuses on the link between suicidal behaviors and a tendency to abuse, but it also makes recommendations for the future on how to improve response and support of domestic violence victims. Among the recommendations are that the state maintain a repository of concealed handgun permits, for law enforcement access only, so police can check on the status of a permit; that health care providers screen all of their patients for signs of abuse or controlling behavior; and that schools enact aggressive educational campaigns on the dangers of abuse and relationship violence.
People who deal with the issue on a daily basis shared some of their thoughts with the Journal Tribune.
Biddeford Police Chief Roger Beaupre told the newspaper that the city has increased its effort to intervene in these cases. In 1990, with Beaupre at the helm, the department became the second in the state to institute a mandatory arrest policy for offenders.
One problem, though, is that cases often move through the legal system too quickly, as public defenders have hefty caseloads, and some of those domestic violence cases are considered “minor,” Beaupre said. Deferred disposition, which means a suspended sentence, is often the result, said Beaupre. If offenders don’t do anything to violate the terms of the deferred disposition, their sentence could be reduced or dismissed and the charges could be dropped.
What complicates these cases, said York County District Attorney Kathryn Slattery, is that every case is unique.
“These cases are so fact-dependent,” Slattery told the Journal Tribune recently. “We need continued involvement.”
In addition to the legal and law enforcement efforts, a major component of combating and reducing incidents of domestic violence must be education.
Young people need to know that is not OK to put your hands on a family member, boyfriend or girlfriend, or even a friend or stranger in anger. They also need to know ”“ particularly young women ”“ that if a person shoves, pushes, hits or strikes them, or otherwise intentionally causes them physical harm, that that is abuse, and police need to be involved immediately. There is never a valid reason for abuse, and it must not be tolerated by anyone.
Caring Unlimited, a Sanford-based domestic violence program, works to educate people and support victims and their families.
The first major barrier is getting victims to report the violence to police.
“A lot of people feel some sense of shame about what’s happening, and some guilt,” Caring Unlimited’s Public Awareness Coordinator Emily Gormley. “It presents quite a barrier to reaching out for help.”
The organization provides a 24-hour hotline, an emergency shelter, transitional housing, and legal advocates and advisers, among many other services. In addition, its educators provide programming to schools, and other interested organizations and the general public to help educate everyone on the issue and the resources available for those in need of help and support.
Even with all of the efforts to put an end to domestic violence ”“ from education to Gov. Paul LePage and the Legislature’s efforts to strengthen laws dealing with these cases ”“ work remains. Changing people’s minds and the way they look at domestic violence is likely to remain the largest hurdle in our way. It’s up to each and every one of us to take this issue seriously, and spread the word that abuse can never be tolerated.
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