Severity of abuse in cases reported at Safe House for Women increasing

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a national designation meant to educate Americans about domestic violence, reflect on the costs of crime to society and promote new legislation and policies, according to Lisa Quick of the Safe House for Women.

Domestic violence numbers haven't spiked dramatically either statewide or locally in the past three years, according to statistics from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, but the severity of cases appears to be increasing, said Linda Garner, director of the Safe House for Women.

Garner said the severity in many of the cases the shelter has seen this year especially seems to be increasing, many of them involving serious physical injury or even use of a weapon.

This year, the Safe House has seen women exposed to some of the most extreme, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, Garner said.

Another pattern that seems to be developing in the types of domestic violence cases is that more and more older women are reporting abuse, Garner said.

More women 40 to 45, usually those who have been in a relationship for a long time, have been reporting domestic violence crimes, Garner said.

Garner said there are situations where the women may have thought they didn't have any options.

More married women are reporting abuse as well, she said.

There were 16 more cases of domestic violence reported in Cape Girardeau in 2007 than in the previous year, according to the highway patrol.

So far in 2008, there have been 36 cases of spousal abuse reported, out of a total 132 instances of domestic violence.

In Jackson, there were 28 cases of abuse between spouses in 2007, and 33 in 2006.

Statewide, 22 percent of all domestic violence cases reported so far in 2008 occurred between people who were married, up from 21 percent the year before.

Last year, 8,324 Missouri women and children were unable to find shelter at a domestic violence program because of lack of resources, according to the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

"Behind these numbers are victims --women and children in our communities -- who often need help and protection that they never receive," Garner said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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