Darleen Barton’s Post

And this is exactly why we need to be highlighting coercive control as an overarching tactic, and then as practitioners and responders utilising the appropriate tools to record and document patterns of harm, impacts and consequences. And supporting it all with the appropriate legislation. Most family violence doesn't consist of bruises and broken bones, or as this post states "emergency room records". And yes, it is still a tragedy that we have to spend hours and hours collating evidence to support a prosecution, but that is present in all aspects of the law. So, let's make sure if we have a process to adhere to that we blimin well get it right in practice and response in the first instance, so that primary victims voices are raised, heard and honoured, and do not get lost amongst the judicial chaos. With the appropriate legislation, coupled with increases in workforce development and capability, social and community awareness we can support victim safety, as well as the support the appropriate levels of offender accountability and rehabilitation. This is not about punitive response; it is about an appropriate healing pathway for all.

Learn how survivors of domestic abuse can get help and empower themselves. Explore the role of technology, community, and the legal system in tackling this crucial issue.

Family violence is a grave concern in Australia, affecting countless individuals and families. While physical violence is an obvious manifestation of abuse, there is another insidious form of domestic violence known as "coercive control." In this article, we shed light on coercive control, helping individuals recognise the signs and seek the necessary legal protections. #domesticviolenceawareness #coercivecontrol #barkerevanslawyers

Domestic violence grips Washington County, NY, with its pervasive reach impacting countless lives. Recognizing the diverse forms of abuse and their legal repercussions is paramount for victims seeking solace and community-wide prevention efforts. Delve into our exploration of prevalent domestic violence types in Washington County and the legalities involved. From physical assault, which can lead to severe consequences under NY law, to the subtle yet damaging realms of emotional and financial abuse, understanding these dynamics is crucial. Join the movement to break the cycle of abuse by spreading awareness, seeking legal recourse, and offering support to survivors. #EndDomesticViolence #WashingtonCountyNY #LegalAid #BreakTheCycle #EmpowerSurvivors

This week is #NationalCrimeVictimsRightsWeek, an annual week of action to advance victims' rights across the country. This year, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice is elevating a right that gets overlooked too often – the right to heal. What does that look like? Check this article out to find out and TY Allen Arthur for writing this in-depth piece! https://lnkd.in/grfpA9Se

The family courts intended to bring all family matter-related matters together as a cluster within the courts, specialized courts. If you were in an abusive relationship, the chances are you will have cases in more than one court. The abuse does not stop, it continues post-relationship, just differently as they no longer have direct contact and control, it becomes more subtle and covert. This is where the challenge is, the cover forms of abuse are not well known or understood. While in a relationship the victim was threatened that if they ever left, they would leave with the clothes on their back and possibly face homelessness. The victim does not initially believe it but when it is repeated often enough the victim realizes it is a possibility and stays until it is untenable, often when their lives are in danger. How does it manifest post-relationship? Often the first thing that happens is money is cut off. This would require having to 'beg' for money for shelter and food as basic needs and the other financial needs of the children if they have also moved out. Asking for financial assistance could be met with; 👉Speak to my lawyer, 👉I will not give you a cent, 👉Take me to court, 👉Bring the children back, 👉I will get an interdict against you for harassment, 👉You left, your problem, 👉Speak to my girlfriend. Other behaviours include; 👉Stalking, 👉Workplace harassment, 👉Work sabotage, 👉Cyber abuse, 👉Bad-mouthing you to friends and family, 👉Threatens to release sexually explicit material, 👉Using spyware to track you and have access to your devices. 👉If you report the behaviour there will be dire consequences, 👉They will kill you. Most victims DO NOT IMMEDIATELY apply for a protection order, it is only when the abuse escalates or it is ongoing. If there was multiple forms of abuse in relationship there is a greater chance of it being classified as 'high conflict' and you are advised to get a lawyer. Domestic violence is treated as a separate issue unrelated to co-parenting and maintenance and diminished during divorces. In fact, victims are coerced (forced) to withdraw protection orders for the sake of moving on and reaching 'amicable' solutions to VERY COMPLEX abuse. Is Gender-Based Violence, Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence, and Femicide only a PANDEMIC during 16Days? During the President's Speech? The research on the impacts of Domestic Violence on children is ignored but we hear "Just because they abused you, it does not make them a bad parent or an abusive parent" 'Abuse' is cherry-picked to suit particular professionals that are financially benefitting from the status quo. The courts are inconsistent in interpreting and implementing the Domestic Violence Act. Until EVERYBODY understands Domestic Violence properly we will not see a change in the DV needle. Domestic Violence is the elephant in the room. You can read the full article on my blog

If you’re a domestic violence survivor, you know that abusers can appear to be upstanding members of society. They may be successful professionals, churchgoers or soccer dads. And they know that being convicted of a crime related to domestic violence puts that upstanding reputation at risk. So, they may do just about anything to avoid a conviction. One common strategy abusers use is called “witness tampering.” It’s a type of obstruction of justice where they threaten survivors, so survivors either refuse to testify or they recant, meaning they change their recollection of events. https://lnkd.in/gFdkjABS #DomesticViolence #Abuse #DomesticAbuse

When domestic abuse victims leave a relationship, we assume they are safe. However, 90% of coercive control victims report experiencing post-separation abuse (PSA). Post-separation abuse often harms domestic abuse victims for years or decades after separation. Researchers and scholars have described several forms of post-separation abuse (PSA), with a variety of terms used to describe different categories. READ the 8 Common Post-Separation Domestic Abuse Tactics HERE: https://lnkd.in/g6atfStM

As a survivor of domestic violence, listening to political discussions around this crisis is really hard. It's hard because they largely have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. Unless you have experienced the let downs our systems have to offer, you don't really understand the magnitude of the problems within them. From police to support services to criminal court to family court, the systems are inconsistent and don't work. The high-risk victims who survive this, do so due to luck and not good planning and support. It's kind of like a lottery. Let's stop mucking around and get serious. I was let down by many of the systems that were designed to protect me, I saved myself! If I had not have fought for the police to listen, continued through the 3 years in the criminal system, enduring adjournment after adjournment. Packed the children up and fled my home when things started to escalate- twice in 3 years. Sought out non-government funded support services, battled through family court without representation and forced myself to get up every day, I am pretty sure that I wouldn't have made it. I genuinely believed that he was was going to kill me. I was lucky to survive. It's time that we look at domestic violence as a serious crime. Listen to survivors for the real data. #domesticviolence #genderbasedviolence #survivor #dv #abuse #coercivecontrol #justice #familycourt #strangulation #femicide

If you’re a domestic violence survivor, you know that abusers can appear to be upstanding members of society. They may be successful professionals, churchgoers or soccer dads. And they know that being convicted of a crime related to domestic violence puts that upstanding reputation at risk. So, they may do just about anything to avoid a conviction. One common strategy abusers use is called “witness tampering.” It’s a type of obstruction of justice where they threaten survivors, so survivors either refuse to testify or they recant, meaning they change their recollection of events. https://lnkd.in/gFdkjABS #DomesticViolence #Abuse #DomesticAbuse #DVAM #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #DVAM2023 #DVAM23