But Kathryn Burr, the center’s lead advocate for the domestic sexual assault response team, describes many of the cases as more disturbing.
“The violence is more intense against the victims,” said Burr.
Burr said that national reports show that four women die each day from domestic violence in the United States.
“What you’ll find is that a high percentage of those deaths have guns involved. It is not uncommon for a victim to have a gun in her face and be threatened with her life.”
Burr is usually one of the first representatives from the Women’s Center on the scene as police begin investigating domestic disputes in the county. She documents statements from victims about injuries and events involved in the dispute.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard victims say the perpetrator threatened their life with a gun by saying, ‘I am going to kill you.”’
One in four woman will experience domestic violence in a lifetime. And it isn’t just women who are victims. Burr said they are also tracking violence against men, children, and the elderly.
In Clatsop County, the center made 37,714 contacts with victims of domestic violence and sexual assaults last year. In 2007, when the center used a different reporting system, counselors made 23,182 contacts. In Seaside, 6,758 contacts were made in 2008 compared to 6,028 cases in 2007. These cases could be duplicated with follow-up services.
The center recorded six cases of domestic disputes in just a three-month period over the summer in Clatsop County. “It makes me weary,” said Burr.
While many people may believe that the depressed economy, alcohol and drug abuse, and other factors are behind the domestic disputes, Burr explains that it is a cycle of violence.
“Many people still believe that the disputes are a private matter, and that it is not a crime to beat up your wife or your girlfriend,” said Burr. “They figure what happens at home stays at home. Unfortunately that’s not the case. It is a crime to assault your wife, your girlfriend or your boyfriend.”
Burr believes most batterers are taught the violent behavior usually by their parents. And that such behavior is acceptable.
“We are born into a world that believes it is ok to hit. We are taught that,” Burr said. She said research shows that some batterers were victims of domestic disputes themselves and that the violence is a pattern from one family to another.
“It is not fun to talk about this at parties because it is very hard to look at,” stated Burr.
Seaside Police Chief Bob Gross says domestic violence calls can be one of the most dangerous and unpredictable calls officers are sent to. “Because of the potential emotional action by one or both parties,” said Gross.
Seaside Police officers are trained to not only deal with the crime, but also they gather physical evidence that may have occurred because quite often the victim will recant statements made during the investigation.
“The evidence gives the state the opportunity to prosecute the suspect if the victim refuses to cooperate in the investigation.” Gross explaied.
Gross is also the chair of the Clatsop County Domestic Sexual Violence Council which works in collaboration with the Women’s Resource Center, law enforcement, the courts, and other agencies to maintain and improve current services for victims of domestic, sexual, child, elderly abuse, and abuse against the mentally and developmentally disabled.
“By participating in such a collaboration, said Gross, “we created a more holistic approach to not only hold the perpetrator accountable, but to provide services to the victim in an effort to make sure that the abuse is not repeated.
Burr hopes that the collaboration will help local agencies remove guns from the abusive situations.
“The issue is not that we are trying to take away anyone’s right to bear arms,” said Burr. “The issue is when there is domestic violence present, we need to assess whether a gun was involved. When guns are involved, the risk of death is higher.”
To mark October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and honor domestic violence victims, the Women’s Resource Center will hold a candlelight march from the Clatsop County Court House to the Clatsop Community College Performing Arts Center.
The march begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. A short play about domestic violence written and directed by Astoria High School senior Stella Spracklin-Link will be presented at the performing arts center following the march.
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