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Police see increase in domestic violence

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By Danielle Wilson, Staff Writer 7:03 PM Sunday, July 5, 2009

Domestic violence is increasing as the economy worsens, according to a statewide advocacy group.

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network reported the number of abuse victims returning to their abusers for economic reasons continues to rise.

Middletown police this year made 201 arrests for domestic violence or violation of a protection order as of Wednesday, July 1, according to police records. In Hamilton, police reported 206 such arrests as of June 22.

“Domestic violence does not discriminate,” said Fran Reese, director of the YWCA’s domestic violence programs in Middletown and Hamilton.

When an abuse victim calls the 24-hour help line, he or she sometimes just wants someone to talk to without feeling judged. The staff member on the call asks what type of services the victim needs and develops a treatment plan.

That plan could include counseling, group therapy sessions and housing placement in the Dove House shelter or other protective shelters in the area, Reese said.

“Play therapy” for children of the victim helps staff understand the inner workings of the family, she said. During those sessions, staffers observe the interactions between children as they play. Sometimes staff discover that a mother will yell at her children instead of calmly telling them what she expects because that is how her partner speaks to her.

“You have to get in there and break that cycle,” Reese said.

In her experience, men who abuse women typically grew up seeing a male relative abuse a significant other. Also, woman victims often have grown up watching abuse and think it’s a normal way of life.

“Domestic violence is behavior that’s learned through observation and experience,” said Middletown Municipal Court Judge Mark Wall.

Wall sees more than his share of domestic violence cases each week. Most of the domestic violence cases involve men abusing women, Wall said, but he also sees the reverse.

Many times the victims stay with their abusers because they are not confident they can provide for their families, Reese said.

The agency encourages its clients to be self-sufficient so they don’t go back to their abusers, Reese said.

The YWCA, with locations in Middletown and Hamilton, provides counseling and placement services to about 3,300 women and children in domestic violence situations.

Hamilton police Officer Dave Crawford said domestic calls are among the most dangerous parts of an officer’s job. Suspects are familiar with their homes and know where to get weapons, which can be used against officers or their family members.

Crawford suggests abuse victims have a plan to escape.

• Plan an escape route.

• Get a cell phone to dial 911. Old cell phones are available at the YWCA. No phone service is needed to dial 911 from a cell phone.

• Tell a trusted friend what’s going on.

• Put personal records in a bag and hide them in the house. You can easily grab the bag before you escape.

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