October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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According to the latest data provided by the Violence Policy Center, there were 57 female deaths attributable to domestic violence situations in 2013, making South Carolina the leader in the country for the highest rate of women being killed by men (at a rate of 2.32 per 100,000) due to the high number of instances of domestic violence occurring each year. This year marks the 18th year in a row that South Carolina made the list of the top 10 worst states in the U.S. concerning domestic violence, and this is the fourth time that South Carolina has held the top spot.

Raising Awareness Can Help Save Lives and Families

Domestic violence is a serious family law issue in South Carolina, and this disturbing data has prompted Governor Nikki Haley to once again declare that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in a signed Governor’s Proclamation made in late September, as reported by the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA). The declaration is an effort to help educate the South Carolina public about what a serious issue this is in the Palmetto state.

What Is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is any form of physical, psychological, or sexual abuse or assault against another person with whom the abuser shares a domestic relationship. Domestic relationships can include intimate partners, married couples, or family members who live together as described in S.C. Ann. Code Section 16-25-10 .

Victims of domestic violence often feel threatened, hurt, insecure, or humiliated by the acts of their abuser. Some of the most common forms of domestic violence, defined by S.C. Ann. Code Section 16-25-20 , include actions like:

  • Physical abuse
  • Making threats
  • Imprisonment
  • Damaging property
  • Threatening pets or others
  • Deliberate humiliation in public or private
  • Emotional abuse
  • Psychological abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Domineering behavior
  • Intimidation
  • Economic deprivation
  • Abandoning the victim in unfamiliar places
  • Other forms of domestic violence not listed here

Domestic violence is often a vicious cycle and victims stay with their abusers out of love, obligations that they feel towards others (i.e., they stay for the children, or something of that nature), or because they are too scared to leave, or do not know how. It can take a lot to get out of a domestic violence relationship. Police may have to get involved, and restraining orders might be required, which may lead to an emotionally taxing and stressful situation.

Perspective On How Many People Seek Help With Domestic Violence Issues

The SCCADVASA is one of the leading organizations in the state that helps people deal with domestic violence issues. According to the SCCADVASA , the organization provided shelter to more than 2,700 people in 2014, and provided services to over 15,000 individuals seeking help. More than 20,000 people used the organization’s hotline to get help. These numbers show just how many people in South Carolina are taking steps to address their domestic violence situations.

Contacting a Charleston Family Law Attorney

If you or your child is the victim of domestic violence, you need to seek legal protection. And on the other side of things, if you have been falsely accused of domestic violence, you will need legal representation to help you fight the accusations that you face. An experienced family law attorney serving Charleston and the surrounding areas can help you with your domestic violence legal matters. Please contact the experienced Charleston family law attorneys at Sarji Law Firm, LLC today.

The post October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month appeared first on Sarji Law Firm, LLC.

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