Unlike violence and harm that comes at the hands of a stranger, domestic violence has the additional trauma of the abuser being someone the victim has an intimate relationship with, was in love with or even has children with. This devastating form of violence does not discriminate. It occurs among teens and elders, every race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic level, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It exists in every neighborhood. Domestic violence produces harm that ripples beyond the direct victim, to children in the home, family and the community.
That’s why every October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we push out messaging that if you are in an abusive relationship, there is help.
Every year there about 17,000 domestic violence incidents reported to police across San Diego County and for many years an average of 13 people killed per year by an intimate partner. We also know that domestic violence is underreported due to shame and pressure. Last year there was a drastic decrease, however, with five intimate partner homicides, versus 10 the previous year. This is the lowest domestic violence homicide rate recorded in three decades.
In San Diego County, we are fighting every day to save lives from the destructive cycles of domestic violence. We do this through education and awareness, victim services, law enforcement response and prosecution. Our efforts are producing hopeful results with a 32% reduction in domestic violence homicides in the last seven years compared to previous seven years. This decline is not a national trend. It is a credit to the determination of our county to push back against violence and abuse.
One of the innovations that has dramatically increased resources and is helping our region is One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center, which for two years has provided free support services under one roof to anyone who has experienced child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, hate crime, elder abuse, human trafficking, violent loss, family violence, or other abuse or victimization. Since opening, we have served more than 6,000 people including 2,000 children. One Safe Place joined its sister organization Your Safe Place located in the City of San Diego to regionalize and increase access to help.
If you feel your partner is becoming abusive, look for red-flag behaviors with the key features of isolation and control by the abuser such as:
Showing jealousy of your friends and time spent away.
Isolating or discouraging you from seeing friends or family members.
• Embarrassing or shaming you with put-downs.
• Controlling all the money spent in the household.
• Controlling who you see, where you go, or what you do.
• Preventing you from making your own decisions.
• Threatening to harm or take away your children or pets.
• Preventing you from working or attending school.
• Destroying your property.
• Pointing a gun at you.
• Physically hitting, pushing, or assaulting you.
• And the highest red flag of danger according to documented research is anything that resembles strangulation by placing their hands around your neck.
My office has a Family Protection Division dedicated to prosecuting family violence cases from intimate partner homicide to child abuse and elder abuse. Prosecutors, and investigators and victim advocates in this unit work closely with countywide law enforcement and community groups to stop the violence, to make victims safer, and to hold abusers accountable.
Remember, domestic violence tears families apart and is the single greatest cause of injury to women in the U.S. If you or someone you know is being abused by a current or former partner, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) for confidential support and assistance planning for safety. Call or email One Safe Place at www.onesafeplacenorth.org. More information and resources can be found on the DA’s website at SanDiegoDA.com. If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone and there is help available.
As your District Attorney, I’m committed to increasing communication and accessibility between the DA’s Office and the public in order to keep you safe. I hope these consumer and public safety tips have been helpful.
