WINNEMUCCA - Experts estimate that a woman is abused behind closed doors, in her home, every 9 seconds. Physical violence is the most visible, but is only part of the story. Verbal and sexual abuses are often the most permanently damaging, and verbal abuse is the most prevalent form of domestic violence. Formerly battered women often reflect this when they say, "I could no longer think for myself." Women in violent relationships feel trapped by their batterer's violence and verbal threats. Leaving the situation could result in serious injury and/or death for themselves and their family members, poverty and the possibility of losing custody of their children.
Thousands of battered women's programs across the country work to provide emergency shelter and other services for victims of domestic violence and their families. In Nevada, there are 16 such programs with a variety of services. If you are experiencing violence in your life, join the many survivors who are now saying "No more," and are getting help from their local domestic violence programs.
What is domestic violence?
Here is a common definition and the Nevada Revised Statue definition of domestic violence:
A. Some scholars, mainstream women's groups and domestic violence educators use the term "domestic violence" almost exclusively to refer to acts occurring as part of a pattern of control. For example, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women, defines domestic violence as "a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure or wound someone."
Domestic violence, as a course of conduct, is also described as "battering." This violence requires the greatest use of medical, shelter and law enforcement services and is the most lethal, overall, in domestic situations. Studies show that 85 percent of victims are women.
B. NRS 33.018 Acts which constitute domestic violence.
1. Domestic violence occurs when a person commits one of the following acts against or upon his spouse, former spouse, any other person to whom he is related by blood or marriage, a person with whom he is or was actually residing, a person with whom he has had or is having a dating relationship, a person with whom he has a child in common, the minor child of any of those persons, his minor child or any person who has been appointed the custodian or legal guardian for his minor child:
(a) A battery.
(b) An assault.
(c) Compelling the other by force or threat of force to perform an act from which he has the right to refrain or to refrain from an act which he has the right to perform.
(d) A sexual assault.
(e) A knowing, purposeful or reckless course of conduct intended to harass the other. Such conduct may include, but is not limited to:
(1) Stalking.
(2) Arson.
(3) Trespassing.
(4) Larceny.
(5) Destruction of private property.
(6) Carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
(7) Injuring or killing an animal.
(f) A false imprisonment.
(g) Unlawful entry of the other's residence, or forcible entry against the other's will if there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of harm to the other from the entry.
2. As used in this section, "dating relationship" means frequent, intimate associations primarily characterized by the expectation of affection or sexual involvement. The term does not include a casual relationship or an ordinary association between persons in a business or social context.
(Added to NRS by 1985, 2283; A 1995, 902; 1997, 1808; 2007, 82, 1275)
The warning signs of domestic violence
Physical domination
Actual or threatened strangulation, hitting, kicking, biting, restraint, destruction of property, injuring pets, reckless driving, display of weapons.
Financial domination
Withholding of money for discretionary spending, preventing the victim from working or causing termination of employment.
Emotional domination
Threats of suicide, removal of children, or deportation, other threatening behavior, destruction of self-esteem, name-calling, yelling, rule making, unreasonable jealousy, accusations of infidelity, humiliation.
Social domination and isolation
Limiting or eliminating the victim's relationships with friends or family and employment, interrogating children, stalking, cyber stalking, opening the victim's mail, monitoring the victim's phone calls, activities, associations, appearance.
Sexual domination
Forcing or withholding sex, affairs, sexual exploitation.
Litigation domination
Harassing, retaliatory, delaying, economically coercive legal tactics.
Animal cruelty
Separation
Separation of the victim from the abuser threatens to break the abuser's control of the victim. Abusers often react to this threat by strongly re-asserting control. Periods of actual or impending separation are recognized as the most dangerous for victims of domestic violence.
Why do victims stay with abusers
Victims of domestic violence are often compelled to remain with or return to their abuser. The reason for staying or returning may include physical safety, love, economic dependence, the well-being of children, cultural belief or a hope that the violence won't happen again. Leaving an abuser can be dangerous because violence often gets worse when the abuser's power and control are threatened by separation. Although it might appear irrational to someone who has never shared the victim's experience, the phenomenon of a victim staying with or returning to an abuser is common. Victims should be educated about domestic violence and encouraged to engage in safety planning, but should not be blamed.
Six things to say to a victim of domestic violence
I am afraid for your safety.
I am afraid for the safety of your children.
I am afraid it will only get worse.
You are not alone: I am here to help you - or - I can help you find someone who can help.
You don't deserve to be abused. No one deserves to be abused.
It is not your fault.
What help is available for victims of domestic violence?
A list of domestic violence programs in Nevada, together with information on shelters, crisis call lines and other available services is available at: http://sos.state.nv.us/information/cap/agencies.asp; http://www.ag.state.nv.us/dv/nv/programs.htm;
http://www.nnadv.org/members.html.
Don't forget you can help, too!
Winnemucca Domestic Violence Services is located at 512 Melarkey St., Winnemucca, NV 89445. For more information, call (775) 625-1313 or visit www.winnemuccadvs.org. For a 24-hour advocate, call or text: (775) 421-1028.
The Winnemucca Domestic Violence Shelter is a non-profit agency servicing all of Humboldt County. WDVS is a grant-funded partner of the Office of Victims of Crime, State of Nevada, State of Nevada Attorney General's Office and Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence, Newmont Legacy Fund and CarWil.
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