CLIPBOARD : HOW TO ENDING THE CYCLE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

It was five years ago that a law was passed making spousal abuse illegal, but the violence continues.

“Movies like ‘The Burning Bed’ realistically depict domestic violence,” said Fran Shiffman, executive director of the Women’s Transitional Living Center in Orange. “But realistically, few women call the police or report battering to the authorities.”

According to the state attorney general’s office, an estimated 50% of the married women in California will be assaulted by their husbands, and 30% of female homicide victims are killed by their husbands or boyfriends. Less than half of all domestic violence is reported, according to the office. Domestic violence occurs at every socioeconomic level, ethnicity and walk of life.

“Battering is the leading cause of injury to women nationwide,” Shiffman said. “Yet, domestic violence is probably the most underreported crime other than child abuse or sexual abuse.”

Victims of domestic violence may not reach out for help because they feel powerless to change their situation. New evidence of “battered women’s syndrome” might explain these feelings. Experts in the field have defined the syndrome as a post-traumatic disorder similar to what hostages and concentration camp prisoners have endured.

“What a victim must do is leave her home and get safe,” Shiffman said. “It’s a sad but true fact that a battered woman stands a better chance (of survival) on the street than at home.”

Shiffman added: “The biggest step the victim must take is to reach out and ask for help. Victims must know that we are out here and we can help.”

Orange County is home to more than a dozen domestic violence shelters and support groups. If you are a victim of domestic violence, here are some tips on putting an end to the violence and where to call for help.

FIRST STEPS

Call the police during, or immediately after, a battering episode. Fear of prison, fines or a public hearing may be enough to end the cycle of violence. Additionally, police officers are trained to handle domestic violence and batterer intervention.

Contact a shelter for battered women for counseling, legal advice and to make arrangements to move out of your house.

Ask for help. Friends and family can rally emotional support, opening up their homes and lives to you and your children.

At the shelter, clients receive counseling and assistance in practical issues, including finding a job or apartment and other issues of self-sufficiency. The average length of stay at a shelter is 40 days.

Weekly outreach programs are available to women who have moved out of a shelter or have been victims of domestic violence and want a support group.

WHOM TO CALL FOR HELP

Due to the need to keep the victims of domestic violence out of harm’s way, shelters do not publicize their locations. There are a number of agencies and shelters in Orange County specializing in domestic violence issues. Here are the telephone numbers: Battered Women’s Hotline (714) 992-1293 (24 hours) CDC/Safety Net (714) 540-4033 (24 hours) Clinica Nueva Esperanza (714) 834-9343 COPES (714) 836-3601 (24 hours) Crisis Intervention Center (714) 979-4122 or (800) 660-4232 Child Abuse Registry (714) 834-5353 (24 hours) Elder Abuse Hotline (800) 992-1660 (24 hours) Eli Home Inc. (714) 921-1940 Hotline of Southern California (714) 894-4242 (24 hours) Human Options (714) 494-5367 Interval House (714) 891-8121 (24 hours) Victim/Witness Assistance Program (714) 957-2737 (24 hours) Victim/Witness Temporary Restraining Orders (714) 973-0134 Women’s Transitional Living Center (714) 992-1931 (24 hours)

DEMOGRAPHICS OF DOMESTIC VIOLANCE, 1989* Ethnicity Domestic Violence Cases White: 52% Latino: 33% Asian: 8% Black: 6% Other: 1% Ethnicity Orange County Population White: 65% Latino: 23.4% Asian: 10% Black: 1.6% Other: Less than 1% Gender Male: 96.5% Female: 3.5% Age 27-34 yrs.: 40% 19-26 yrs.: 30.5% 35-42 yrs.: 16% 43-50 yrs.: 10% 51 and older: 3.5% Drug or Alcohol Use at Time of Incident Alcohol: 55% Drugs: 9% Both: 5% Total: 69%