Resources
Safety Planning
Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service Website
Awareness Videos
Salem Police Department's Domestic Violence Response Team 503-588-6499 x3 or x4
Marion County District Attorney's Victim Assistance Division 503-588-5253
Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service 503-399-7722 (24-hr hotline)
Domestic Violence Info
Domestic Violence is an escalating pattern of behavior in a relationship that is used to both create inequality and to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. It can happen to anyone regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, or gender.
Stats:
~94-97% victims of domestic violence are women
~Every 9 seconds in the United States, a man beats a woman
~Domestic Violence happens to 1 in 8 women in Oregon
~Every day 4 women die in this country as a result of domestic violence
~The number of women who have been murdered by their intimate partners is far greater than the number of soldiers killed in the Vietnam War
~Domestic Violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the United States
~In 2006, Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service received 9,284 hotline calls and provided 1,920 nights of shelter for women and children.
~Last year the Marion County District Attorney's Office prosecuted 1,017 domestic violence cases and provided services to 1,219 victims of domestic violence.
Myths and Facts:
Myth: Domestic Violence only happens in low-income families
Fact: Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of age, race, religion, economic status, and gender.
Myth: Domestic Violence is caused by drugs and/or alcohol
Fact: Alcohol or drug use is present in an estimated 65 to 80 percent of all domestic violence incidents, however, alcohol and/or drugs do not cause domestic violence. Domestic violence is a choice.
Many times an abuser will make sure to have alcohol and/or drugs available to use as an excuse for their behavior. Taking away the alcohol and/or drugs does not stop the abuse.
Myth: Domestic Violence is an "anger problem".
Fact: Domestic Violence has nothing to do with anger. Anger is a tool abusers use to get what they want.
Myth: Domestic Violence is a "loss of control"
Fact: Domestic Violence is about batterers using their control, not loosing their control. Their actions are very deliberate and planned; they can stop when someone knocks on the door, they often times target punch and kick, and appear calm when officers arrive.
Myth: Abusers are "mentally ill"
Fact: Most batterers do not suffer from mental illness. Personality disorders, mental illness, and other problems may compound domestic violence, but the abusers behavior must be addressed separately.
Batterers generally lead "normal" lives except for their unwillingness to stop their violence and their controlling behavior in their intimate relationships. Batterers do not batter because they are crazy or mentally ill.
Violence is a choice on the part of one person to gain and maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Battering is never an accident and violence is never an isolated behavior. It is an intentional act where physical abuse is only one part of a whole series of behaviors an abuser will use against his/her partner. Tactics of abuse involve a variety of behaviors ranging from degrading remarks, economic exploitation, punches, kicks, threats, sexual abuse, strangulation, assaults, and homicides.
For more information on the dynamics of domestic violence, the cycle of violence, resources in the community, shelter options, safety planning, etc. please refer to Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service web site.