Domestic Violence, a Silent Issue in The Black Community

The recent incidences of family suicide and homicides remind us of the continuous work we need to do in our communities. It also sheds a brighter light on the issue of Domestic Violence in our communities of Westchester County. Our Political leaders, Law Enforcement Management and Community Leaders need to focus resources on Domestic Violence cases and prevention.

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone.

Domestic violence does not discriminate. It happens to individuals, male or female, of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, educational level, or socioeconomic background. It can happen to couples who are married, living together, who are dating and it can happen to children.

An intimate partner annually in the United States physically assaults approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men. A majority of studies reveal there are adult and child victims in 30 to 60 percent of families experiencing domestic violence.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, police were more likely to respond within 5 minutes if the offender was a stranger than if an offender was known to the female victim.  Men account for approximately 15% of the victims of reported intimate partner violence.

Ninety percent of all family violence defendants are never prosecuted, and one-third of the cases that would be considered felonies if committed by strangers are filed as misdemeanors (a lesser crime). If a domestic violence victim reported all occurring domestic violence to the police, one-third of those incidents would be classified as felony rapes, robberies, or aggravated assaults and the remaining two-thirds would be classified as simple assaults.

Surviving in an abusive relationship of ANY kind is puzzlement to people on the outside, but there are specific reasons why someone 'allows' this or cannot find a way out. The first step is for the person involved in an abusive relationship on any level to see the pattern and want to change it. Relationship Experts say that Low Self Esteem, Denial, Financial Dependency, the Children, and Church Values are reasons why someone in an abusive relationship will stay in the relationship. Until the victim recognizes that the cycle needs to be broken, there is only support that can be given but the ultimate change has to come from within the abused person.  The person who suffers abuse must take charge and decide to break the pattern or the pattern will continue.

To this end, the Blacks in Law Enforcement of America, Westchester Chapter, has free distribution of “How do you know if you’re a Victim of Domestic Violence” on our website http://bleany.org/domestic_violence_2.pdf

We must all demonstrate a clear recognition that domestic violence exists on an incomprehensible level that is completely unacceptable. There must be a desire to confront this issue and enact laws that deter abusers and support victims. As an organization of law enforcement professionals, we demand harder sentencing and laws against these abusers. Unless and until we all make this commitment - we will continue to read and hear about the tragedies of domestic violence in the communities of color.