Domestic abuse spikes as economy sinks

7/2/09The rise of domestic abuse in the United States always seemed to correlate with economic lows. In the course of just one day, 1,553 requests for domestic violence services were received in Massachusetts, according to a 2008 census by the National Network to End Domestic Violence. While, the economy is a factor in domestic violence, it is not the cause. "A loss of income or economic struggles does not cause one to become abusive, but where abuse already exists, the strains of the economy can cause it to become more frequent," Toni Troop, director of development and public relations for Jane Doe Inc. said.

Jane Doe Inc. is composed of nearly 60 community-based sexual assault and domestic violence service and advocacy programs in Massachusetts. Troop said that the organization has seen requests for services rise between 30 percent and 100 percent. "They are also reporting seeing additional and more torturous types of violence," she said.

Troop said that another type of domestic abuse being reported to Jane Doe Inc. is economic abuse. This is often the silent or hidden aspect of domestic abuse. It is a tactic commonly used by by abusers to control finances and prevent their victims from leaving. According to a 2009 poll commissioned by the Allstate Foundation, of the 70 percent of Americans who know people or have been victims of violence themselves, three quarters had no idea what economic abuse was.

The poll found that more than three-quarters of Americans believe the poor economy has made it difficult for victims of domestic violence, and two-thirds believe it has caused an increase in domestic violence. The survey also reported that 44 percent of those polled said the most difficult barrier to leaving an abusive relationship is financial security. "The abetter is taking more control and eliminating independence of the victim to make financial decisions," There is also an increased risk of homelessness, because where people might have been able to stay with relatives or friends when escaping abuse, those options are more limited due to the strain of the economy she said.

Rene Renick, director of program operations at The National Network to End Domestic Violence said, "Now more than ever it's important that domestic violence survivors build economic skills to overcome financial instability, a major barrier to escape and stay out of an abusive situation." However, less resources are available to victims in a time when domestic abuse is on the rise.

Two federal programs that help victims of domestic violence have taken cuts due to the dwindling economy. In 2008, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act budget was slashed by $2.1m. Congress has also capped the Victims of Crime Act, a federal grant program funded entirely by fines and penalties paid by offenders without any taxpayers dollars according to reports by Jane Doe Inc. Massachusetts, has been a beacon in this recession, avoiding any funding cuts to sexual assault and domestic violence organizations budgets. "The continued investment in prevention efforts and intervention services has had a significant impact: despite the worsening economy, there has not been a domestic violence homicide in Mass since the end of September," according to a report from Jane Doe Inc.