The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | October 2022
Supports and Advocacy Help Protect and Heal Survivors of Domestic Violence
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and while the unfortunate truth is that domestic violence occurs all year-round , this month offers us the opportunity to continue to engage law enforcement leaders on issues related to the social , emotional and economic impact domestic violence has on individuals , families and communities .
In New Jersey , the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991 , defines domestic violence by the types of criminal offenses inflicted on a victim . Domestic violence can include physical and emotional intimidation , financial abuse , physical assault , sexual assault , and / or other abusive behavior . It can be perpetrated by a current or former intimate partner , a household member and / or an individual in a dating relationship . Domestic violence can occur in any family , or to any individual , regardless of age , race , religion , or gender .
The Center for Disease Control ’ s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey ( NISVS ) found that 1 in 4 women and nearly 1 in 10 men experienced physical violence , sexual violence , and / or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime . Although domestic violence can occur to anyone , individuals from marginalized groups , such as women , people with disabilities and people who identify as LGBTQ + are at greater risk .
According to the New Jersey State Police 38th Annual Domestic Violence Offense Report 2020 , there were 63,058 domestic violence offenses reported by the police , which is a six percent increase from 2019 . Domestic violence incidents were most reported on Saturdays and Sundays , the days of the week when families are likely spending the most time together . Children were present during 24 percent of all domestic violence incidents .
In support of children , individuals and families impacted by violence , the New Jersey Department of Children and Families ’ Division on Women ( DOW ) funds and supports 38 domestic violence programs , with many providing specialized domestic violence services in a culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate manner . Domestic violence services can include , but are not limited to : 24-hour hotline , shelter and housing , crisis intervention , case management counseling , legal assistance , and advocacy for victims and their children .
Another one of DOW ’ s lesser-known supports , which we wrote about last year in this publication , is the Address Confidentiality Program , w hich safeguards and protects the physical addresses of eligible individuals . This program limits the ability of an abuser to find the location of a program participant by providing the survivor with a substitute address and a mail forwarding service . It can be used when updating or creating records with state or local government agencies . It may be used on driver ’ s licenses , when filing for unemployment , registering to vote , enrolling in schools , or even obtaining a library card . All local , county , and state public agencies are required by law to utilize this substitute address in place of the physical address . Individuals must meet certain eligibility criteria , but trained application assistants at domestic violence or sexual violence agencies in every county are available to help eligible individuals enroll in the program .
DOW and provider agencies also collaborate to operate abuse / batterer intervention programs with the shared goal of reducing and eliminating domestic violence . Research indicates that when abuse intervention programs are integrated as part of a community response to domestic violence , it helps to eliminate intimate partner violence by intervening on both the community and individual levels .
DOW also supports additional services , including financial empowerment and workforce development programs , as well as sexual violence and prevention programs . To view a full list of the Domestic Violence services available , visit :
https :// www . nj . gov / dcf / women / domestic /
18