Domestic Violence During COVID

Domestic Violence During COVID

            What is “domestic violence”?  It is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or abusive behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another.  Violence against women is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior, and this is part of a systematic pattern of dominance and control.   Domestic violence results in physical injury, psychological trauma and sometimes death.  National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV).

Restrictions aimed at stopping the coronavirus from spreading may be the very thing that is causing violence in homes to increase and become more severe.  Historically domestic violence goes up whenever families spend more time together, we have seen these trends at Christmas, summer vacations or school breaks.  Currently 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience physical violence by an intimate partner nationwide.  (The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2010 summary report.). On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines receive approximately 21,000 calls, approximately 15 calls every minute (2014 domestic violence counts: A 24-hour census of domestic violence shelters and services.). However, these numbers only reflect those actually reported.  Many individuals are still in denial that they are even victims or are too afraid to take action. Domestic violence is one of the most chronically underreported crimes.  Only 1 out of 4 physical assaults, 1 out of 5 rapes and 1 out of 2 of all stalkings perpetuated against females by intimate partners are reported to the police. 

  Did you know in Kentucky domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness?  Did you know that Kentucky’s rate of domestic violence is higher than the national average?  

COVID is not just impacting Kentucky either, but worldwide increases have already been reported.   There have already been news reports by most of the major news channels reporting how COVID restrictions have created an increase in domestic violence. 

            I wanted to write this blog to help get the information out to the public that COVID has not shut down Domestic Violence Offices or Court.  Judges are still having hearings for domestic violence and issuing protective orders. 

            So, I wanted to make sure that everyone had the contact information for reporting domestic violence.   Below is a map showing all the hotlines within Kentucky (click on image to enlarge).  In Jefferson County, the Domestic Violence is located at the Jefferson County Hall of Justice located at 600 West Jefferson Street, Louisville, KY 40202.  You will access the courthouse from the 6th street entrance.  You will need to inform the Sheriff that you are there to talk with the domestic violence clerks.

Of course, we are available at Kinberger Law Office (425-9920 or kylawyers@gmail.com) to answer your questions.  As my mother always said “it is better to be safe than sorry”, so please call someone now to get more information!

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