A surge in domestic violence cases in recent years has leaders in Prince George鈥檚 County, Maryland, teaming up to figure out a way to reverse the saddening trend.
While overall crime has been declining in recent years, crimes of domestic violence, which includes more than just romantic partners, is up about 30%.
鈥淎 fourth of Prince George’s County will be impacted by domestic violence, whether you are a victim, a family member or a friend,鈥� Council member Wanika Fisher said. 鈥淲hen you go home, you should not be experiencing violence in any aspect.鈥�
The new task force will be far bigger than most that get put together by the county. The 24-member board will be represented by law enforcement and social service agencies, nonprofits, religious groups and even developers.
鈥淲e’ve only really had a very reactionary footprint when it comes to DV victims and their families, which is, you are a victim of domestic violence, there is a crime, there is a case, you go to court,鈥� Fisher said. 鈥淏ut there hasn’t been a strategy when it comes to housing, when it comes to resources, when it comes to wraparound services.”
Council member Krystal Oriadha, who said she’s a survivor of domestic violence, said covering all those bases is important, because the abuse isn鈥檛 always just physical, but also verbal, psychological or financial.
鈥淥ne of the biggest issues we’ve had when we’re trying to help survivors leave the home is the ability to say, 鈥榃ell, I haven’t been in the workforce or I can’t afford to pay for rent and food and child care and to take care of the kids. And where am I going to go?鈥欌�� Oriadha said. 鈥淪o there’s a lot of isolation that’s very intentional that happens in abusive situations.”
Jeanette Brandon, CEO and founder of the nonprofit said that鈥檚 the recurring theme she sees with people trying to get out.
鈥淭he abuser controls with the money,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o when the victims want to get out, they have nowhere to go. Most of the time, the victims are not working. So that’s how the abuser controls them, because they’ll control their financials.鈥�
Denise McCain, director of the Prince George鈥檚 County Family Justice Center, said that鈥檚 also why so many victims go back to their abusers after they leave.
鈥淪adly, it is a factor of socioeconomics, lack of housing,鈥� McCain told 91欧美激情. 鈥�’Where am I going to go? Who’s going to help me take care of my children? Help me pay my bills? I can’t do that by myself.’鈥�
And she said the resources often available tend to serve as more of a Band-Aid than a solution.
鈥淲e’ll give them a resource, we’ll take them to counseling, we’ll get them connected with legal aid, someone that can help with the problem,鈥� McCain said. 鈥淏ut the larger issue is that they are not self-sufficient, and so they feel that they have no options.鈥�
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