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Louisiana Passes New Domestic Violence Laws

Domestic violence laws in Louisiana just got tougher and not a minute too soon. According to the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence from 2010 -2012 there were 178 deaths due to domestic violence, 74% of which were due to a firearm. In a state that rates second in the nation for homicides associated with domestic abuse, there is a joint sigh of relief as Governor Bobby Jindal signed new laws into place last week.

Currently, whenever a police officer is called to a scene and has reason to believe that a member of the household has been abused, it’s the responsibility of the officer to prevent escalation by arresting the abuser. A first time offender convicted of domestic violence in the state of Louisiana faces up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Furthermore, as the courts have seen an ongoing and increasing problem, the judge also can assign domestic violence prevention classes. The purpose of the classes is to break ongoing cycle of abuse by helping the offender recognize the triggers that make him/her so angry, educating them on how to reduce the source of anger and finally teaching new anger management tools. Research shows that throwing someone in jail isn’t enough. Chronic intense anger that leads to domestic violence is not normal and the anger can be reduced with therapy, education and motivation.

The states updated domestic violence laws will hopefully deter potential offenders and help reduce the number of victims the state sees each year. They include:

1. Gwen’s Law – this law adds new restrictions to allowing a defendant out on bail in a dv situation. The name comes from a recent high profile case in which Michael Salley was bonded out of jail and then proceeded to take his wife Gwen to a dead-end road and brutally kill her. Now, the law requires that a court conduct a hearing before letting the perpetrator out on bail. If they find any possibility that he/she is still dangerous and could inflict further harm, the court can deny bail and keep the individual in jail until the court date, effectively enforcing a cooling off period. It also stipulates that the victim have a protective order and the offender to where an electronic monitoring device so they can be tracked.

2. It is now a crime for a person convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse in Louisiana to carry or possess a firearm for 10 years. Any weapons must be surrendered.

3. Domestic abuse is now considered grounds for immediate divorce.

4. Domestic abuse is now added to the list of crimes of violence. This makes it so offenders have to serve 85% of their sentence without probation or parole.

5. Offenders are now required to take a 26-week court ordered domestic abuse intervention program to educate perpetrators and change abusive behavior.

6. Protective order filings will be expedited so there isn’t potential for a situation to occur because of a lag time in paperwork.

Supporters of the legislation are thankful and grateful that their legislators have finally taken on the NRA and other organizations to successfully set these laws into place for future generations.

Top 10 States For Female Homicide

Domestic abuse is a learned behavior and can be unlearned with the proper training and education. Most abusers grow up in households or around role models that perpetuate this behavior. It becomes an ingrained way of behaving to get control over someone or vent anger, which the individual often carries with him or her into adulthood. Everyone from every race, culture, economic status and even education level can be susceptible to following this negative path. The abuser might be the college professor down the street just as well as the plumber. In fact, veteran actor Michael Jace who has appeared in Planet of the Apes, Forrest Gump and most recently The Shield on FX, was arrested last night for shooting and killing his wife of 11 years in their home with their children present. The sad statistics show that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to 15 – 44 year old women in the U.S.

In 2011, the following states had the highest rates of female homicide:

1. South Carolina

2. Alaska

3. Oklahoma

4. Delaware

5. Arizona

6. Tennessee

7. Idaho

8. West Virginia

9. Louisiana

10. New Mexico

Women don’t decide that this is the life they want. Often times the abuser starts out to be charming and attentive. The offender often portrays himself as a loving and caring spouse to outsiders. Michael Jace’s neighbors report that they never heard any arguments or saw any violence coming from his house and that they seemed like a happy couple. Things begin to break down over time, as the abuser becomes more and more intent on total control.

There is generally a pattern in the behavior of an intimate partner who eventually kills. The male becomes physically violent and blames the victim for his reaction. The female stands up to him or tries to resist and he gets even more abusive. The female then attempts to end the relationship, tell others about him or tries to get away. He is left feeling humiliated and furious and ends up punishing her by killing her.

Number 5 on the 2011 list above, at least 139 individuals lost their lives due to domestic violence fatalities in Arizona in 2012. The majority, 83%, of these victims in 2012 died due to gunshot wounds. Tragically, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services, one or more children witness domestic violence every 44 minutes. Both of Michal Jace’s children were home when he killed their mother.

In the heat of the moment, domestic violence offenders do irreversible and horrible things because they are frustrated and upset. After the fact, they are often left ashamed and humiliated and beg forgiveness. Many times, the partner hopes that things will truly change and stays in the relationship. Unfortunately, without help through domestic violence therapy and education, the cycle continues. Things may remain calm for a period of time, weeks even months. However, without learning new tools to correct the behavior, it will eventually surface again. If you are an offender or know someone who is, get help before it’s too late. Michael Jace has lost his wife, his children and his life as he knows it. Don’t let this happen to you.

Domestic Abusers Can Learn Prevention Strategies To Stop Behavior

Although there has been a huge groundswell in this country to address domestic violence, it is still a significant problem. Perpetrators of domestic violence come from all walks of life from the very wealthy, educated and famous to those with high school diplomas living at poverty level. In fact, today NBC Sports reported that Keyshawn Johnson, the former NY Jets wide receiver and current ESPN analyst, was arrested early this morning for misdemeanor domestic battery after grabbing his ex-girlfriends cell phone and injuring her hand. Other high profile individuals accused of domestic abuse over the years include Ike Turner, Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Chris Brown, and Daryl Strawberry.

It can happen to anyone, both male and female, young and old, so it’s important for everyone to be aware of. Some famous victims include Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Madonna, and even President Bill Clinton. If you, your teenager or grandmother is in a relationship in which an intimate partner is physically or mentally controlling, it’s time to get help. Studies show that often victims don’t leave the relationship because the offender promises “it will never happen again” or they hope things will change. Actually, it’s not a completely unsolvable problem, but the perpetrator has to be at a point where he or she is ready to take responsibility for their actions and learn new skills to make a change.

In many domestic abuse situations, the offender has come from a long history of family violence. Parents or grandparents have role modeled this behavior as acceptable and through the child’s development into adulthood this is all they’ve known. In fact, a person’s close social circle of family members, friends, and neighborhoods has the greatest influence on the risk factors for this type of behavior.

The solution is to break the cycle of abuse by using prevention strategies taught in such places as anger management classes, supportive peer mentoring programs, church groups or during individual therapy. Online Batterers Intervention Classes are also available for people who like to learn at their own pace and on their own. These type of programs can be taken in the privacy of one’s home so it doesn’t have become a public issue, the individual doesn’t have to miss any work, and doesn’t have to drive to another county to find a decent class.

If you are not quite sure if you would fall under this definition, ask yourself some of these questions. Would you treat your friends, boss or mother the same way you’ve been treating your spouse? Have you had trouble keeping long-term relationships due to your controlling or abusive behavior? Would you want another man or woman treating your teenager the way you treat your spouse? Has your partner expressed unhappiness because you are being unreasonable? Take a look at your answers. If you recognize your unhealthy behavior, you can address the abuse by understanding your triggers, taking a look at your drug and alcohol intake, improving your level of empathy and learning new anger and stress management skills.

Basic Characteristics of a Perpetrator of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence or Batterers Intervention Programs are generally court ordered for individuals convicted of domestic abuse. The term “domestic violence” is used to describe a relationship in which there is a pattern of controlling and coercive behavior that leaves the victim unsafe, insecure and dependent on the abuser. This might include physical abuse as well as emotionally threatening and verbal abuse, isolating the victim and/or controlling finances. The behavior can be perpetrated upon a spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend or even towards an older family member in the person’s care.

Studies show that offenders come from all over the world, all races and religions, educational levels and socio-economic brackets. However, domestic abusers generally exhibit the same basic characteristics. These include:

1. They want to achieve total power and control over the relationship.

2. They often present dual personalities. It’s the old Jekyll and Hyde. People outside of the relationship are often not aware that there’s a problem because in public the abuser maintains a loving and normal demeanor. This can make it really difficult for the victim to get help because their story doesn’t seem plausible.

3. They play the blame game. The abuser avoids taking any responsibility for his or her actions by putting the burden on the victim or situation. They say that it’s the stress of the relationship, or they had too much drink and can’t remember what they did. Or, they tell the victim that if he or she would change or stop provoking the abuser, then it wouldn’t happen. This leaves the victim constantly fearful and walking on eggshells.

4. They minimize and deny their destructive behavior. They come up with excuses for controlling all the funds or viewing their email. The abuser tries to justify his or her behavior as normal and make the victim feel like they are overreacting.

It’s a vicious cycle that repeats itself throughout the relationship. It starts with some sort of tension that causes an argument. This is followed by an act of violence or an increase in controlling behavior. If the abuser does acknowledge his bad behavior, he often will beg for forgiveness and promise to never do it again. This leads to a honeymoon period in which the couple feels close again and things feel calm. Unfortunately, if the abuser doesn’t do anything to learn how to change his or her ways, the cycle continues and often escalates.

If you see yourself in this type of relationship, it’s imperative to get help immediately. As a victim, reach out to friends for support. Its true that people want to help but are often afraid of meddling in your personal affairs, or causing you more trouble. Look into local shelters and get advice from social workers in your community. Also, do small things like getting an extra set of keys to the car and house in case he/she tries to take these things from you.

If you see yourself as the abuser, the good news is that there are effective dv programs in place to help motivated people change their ways. Look into local Batterers Intervention Programs, get one on one counseling, join an anger management group or take an online domestic violence class. You can learn how to break the cycle and start on a healthier, safer and happier path.

New Ruling From Supreme Court Says No Guns For Those Convicted of Misdemeanor Domestic Abuse

Did you know that Abused women are five times more likely to be killed by their abuser if the abuser owns a firearm? With this in mind, the U.S. Supreme court agreed in a unanimous ruling this past week, that makes it a crime for individuals convicted of domestic violence to have a gun. They concluded that the term “domestic violence” doesn’t just have to mean a violent physical assault, but can include things like pushing, slapping and grabbing. The justices concluded that minor uses of force like these could over time build up and contribute to one partner becoming subject to another’s control. The presence of a firearm increases the chances that when someone is violent, he or she might resort to homicide. In fact, statistics show that there is a 270% increase in likelihood that a woman will be murdered if a gun is present in the home. Specifically, between the years of 1980 and 2008 firearms killed more than 2/3 of divorced spouse homicide victims.

This federal ban strengthened the law by overturning decisions in parts of the country that said the gun ban only applied to convictions that involved “violent use of force”. Now it includes anyone convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence. The ultimate goal is to keep guns out of the hands of abusers for the safety of their intimate partners, children and families.

This ruling takes into consideration that there are signs of an abusive relationship that may not be physically violent, but could ultimately lead to disaster. Some of the signs to look for include:

1. Your intimate partner controls everything.

2. He/she yells at you and calls you names.

3. Your partner shoves, pinches, slaps or stalks you.

4. He/she threatens to hurt you, your family, the children or pets if you don’t do what he/she wants.

5. Substance abuse, unemployment, and/or depression.

An escalation of this type of non-violent domestic abuse is typical before the controlling partner snaps. The victim grows increasingly afraid, but doesn’t get out of the situation due to fear, financial instability, embarrassment or lack of a support network. Often times, the victim has been told that if she ever leaves, the abuser will kill her.

An abusive relationship is a serious matter. If you or someone you know is at risk, get help before it’s too late. Once the call to 911 is made, the police can’t ignore the situation but almost always must make an arrest. This will be followed up with some amount of jail time, fines, court mandated batterers intervention classes and a temporary restraining order. And, as previously discussed, the loss of the right to possess a gun. If you are an offender and a member of the military you might lose your career and military benefits. Future employers will see the offense on your record, which could affect hiring. It’s just a downward spiral for everyone involved.

Abusers can learn to break the cycle by getting one-on-one therapy, entering anger management classes or by taking a Batterers Intervention Program or Domestic Violence classes online. It is not a life sentence, but a behavior that can be overcome by utilizing various stress and anger management techniques. Take the challenge today to make a positive change and create a better future for yourself and loved ones.

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