Domestic-violence reports have increased in Cape Girardeau County

Women — and some men — are abused physically on a daily basis in Cape Girardeau County. On many days, there is more than one victim, according to statistics compiled by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

And numbers show the abuse problem locally is getting worse.

Cape Girardeau County law-enforcement agencies filed 512 supplemental domestic-violence incident reports in 2015, up from 501 in 2014 and 482 in 2013.

Agencies have filed 362 reports in 2016, with three months still left on the calendar.

Cape Girardeau Sgt. Adam Glueck said while a supplemental report might be written, that does not mean a suspect would be arrested or charges would be filed.

Cape Girardeau Police do not specify domestic assaults in the department’s annual report, but domestic assaults were included in the 127 aggravated assaults committed in 2015, Glueck said.

“Daily, we get calls for domestic disturbances,” Glueck said.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Jackson Captain Rodney Barnes said his department responds to domestic-disturbance calls on a weekly basis.

The 2015 report was not available, but in 2014, Jackson officers submitted 45 supplemental domestic-violence reports to the highway patrol.

Barnes said the number of domestic-violence reports for the Jackson department usually remains steady.

Through Aug. 31, Safe House for Women housed 91 women and 46 children in its shelter, executive director Jessica Hill said.

Safe House for Women has a variety of non-residential services, including individual counseling for victims, support groups, crisis intervention, case management, a court advocate and a prevention and education program.

Six men and 348 women have received non-residential services, and 602 people have called Safe House for Women’s hotline in 2016, Hill said.

Those numbers have increased in the past few years, Hill said.

“We’re seeing two things happen,” she said. “We’re experiencing an increase in awareness. ... We’re seeing more people come forward, but national rates of domestic violence are unhealthy.”

Hill said Safe House for Women’s shelter numbers would have increased from the previous year if not for capacity issues.

Last year, Safe House directed 28 women and 50 children to other shelters or places where victims could be safe.

Hill said the safest place for victims would be the local shelter because its location is confidential, and its security is tight.

Safe House for Women is conducting a Safe Tomorrow campaign to raise funds for a new shelter. The current shelter has a capacity of 22 beds and has only one bathroom, Hill said.

“You can imagine what it’s like having 15 women and one shower,” she said.

The new shelter would have a capacity of 40 beds, including a larger downstairs room with its own private bathroom that would allow the shelter to accommodate a victim with teenage boys.

So far, Safe House has raised $750,000 of its $2 million goal, Hill said.

Proceeds from the Oct. 22 VintageNOW Fashion Show will benefit the Safe Tomorrow campaign, she said.

Glueck, Hill and Barnes agreed one of the ways to stop domestic assaults is to assist victims whenever possible.

Because domestic assaults almost always occur behind closed doors, there is not a way to increase patrols to try to deter offenders, Glueck said.

Barnes encouraged anyone with concerns about a domestic-violence incident to call the department.

“Most domestics do occur in the home,” Barnes said. “We’re not made aware until we receive a call, whether from a victim, neighbor or somebody that heard a commotion.”

Police can try to steer victims to the resources that are available, many through Safe House.

Glueck, Barnes and Hill said victims might have suffered multiple instances of abuse.

“On average, nationally, women leave and return seven to eight times,” Hill said.

Safe House tries to increase the chances for healing and independence by providing help with restraining orders and job training.

“A lot of clients come in and have no income,” Hill said. “Our clients are highly motivated to become independent, but people who find themselves in domestic-violence situations don’t have any options. Abusers have isolated them.”

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Limbaugh said victims have been assaulted after charges had been dropped in their cases.

Limbaugh declined to release numbers of second- and first-degree domestic assault cases from 2011 through 2016 when the Southeast Missourian filed a Sunshine Law request in April because his office does not “keep a record of the total number of charges that have been filed.”

“One of our most powerful selling points, whenever a victim is on the fence, I typically try to explain that they could be subjecting themselves to more assaults, and other women could be subjected to more assaults, too,” Limbaugh said.

The number of offenders from Cape Girardeau County with multiple domestic-assault convictions was two in 2016, two in 2015, three in 2014, one in 2013, four in 2012 and three in 2011, according to numbers provided by the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Between 19 and 23 Cape Girardeau County offenders were placed on probation every year between 2011 and 2016 after a domestic-assault conviction, according to the department of corrections.

Between four and 10 Cape Girardeau County offenders were placed on parole every year between 2011 and 2016 after a domestic-violence conviction, according to the department of corrections.

For Limbaugh, the best way to stop domestic violence is to convict abusers, but in most cases, that requires a cooperative victim, he said.

At least half of the prosecuting attorney’s domestic-assault cases are dropped after a witness decides not to cooperate, Limbaugh said.

“These victims are put in an extremely difficult situation,” he said.

Taking the stand is an arduous experience.

Victims are asked to relive the worst day of their lives in detail and then are subject to intense scrutiny during cross-examination by a defense attorney, Limbaugh said.

In a preliminary hearing or during trial, they will be sitting directly across from their abuser, he said, and in some cases, victims may be asked to take the stand for a preliminary hearing, deposition and trial.

Hill said it’s common for victims still to love their abusers.

“When this relationship started, this person was very loving. This person was the best guy,” Hill said. “It’s all about power and control. It’s something that takes a lot of time.”

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

230 N. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO

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2016 Domestic Violence Numbers

Safe House For Women residential clients: 91 women and 46 children

Safe House For Women Non-residential clients: 348 women and 6 men

Safe House For Women Residential Clients directed to other shelters: 28 women and 50 children