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DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
It’s Your
Business
This program
was held on November 19, 2002.
A Free Program for Area Businesses
Program
Partners:
Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership
Community Coalition on Family Violence
 The
Knoxville Bar Association would like to invite local
businesses to send a representative to attend a FREE LawTalk
program entitled “Domestic Violence
–– It’s Your Business”. This is a chance for the
local bar to join with the Knoxville Area Chamber
Partnership and its members to share resources and work on
the campaign against domestic violence. This program will
cover how domestic violence affects the work place and
review recent changes in legislation regarding domestic
violence and liability issues.
The Knoxville Bar
Association has developed the Domestic Violence LawTalk
program in conjunction with the Community Coalition on
Family Violence. The Community Coalition, through education,
prevention and intervention, strives to limit the incidents
and effects of family violence which are reaching epidemic
levels both in Knox County and across the country.
Statistics indicate that an act of abuse between intimate
partners occurs every 15 seconds. While not everyone has
been involved in a domestic abuse situation, virtually
everyone knows someone who has.
Tuesday, November 19th
The Foundry
9:00—9:10 a.m.
Welcome & Introductions
Janet Gurwitch, Chair, Community Coalition on Family Violence and
Chair, Knoxville Bar Association Subcommittee on
Domestic Violence Law Related Education
9:10 - 9:30 a.m.
Dynamics of Domestic Violence -
What It Costs Employers…
Jo Terry, Executive Director, Community Coalition on Family Violence
David Kitts, Trainer, Knoxville Police Department
9:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Domestic Violence - How it Affects the
Workplace & Employers Rights
Patty Wheeler, Wimberly Lawson Seale Wright & Daves
10:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Break
10:15 - 10:45 a.m.
An Update of Laws Regarding
Domestic Violence & Liability Issues
Steve Collins, Arnett, Draper & Hagood
10:45 - 11:15 a.m.
Local Resources
Janet Gurwitch
The Knoxville
Bar Association has printed a Domestic Violence handbook, “Domestic
Violence: We Can Live Without It. Rights & Options Available
Under the Law.” Written by local judges and lawyers, the
handbook goes step-by-step through the situations that face
victims of family violence and the crucial changes that must
occur to avoid future acts of violence. By providing
handbooks to area churches, the KBA hopes to offer a
valuable tool to assist victims of family violence and allow
them to avoid abusive situations.
"Never
doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead
Domestic Violence: It is
your business!
- Did you know estimates indicate 1 in 4
women is likely to be abused by a partner during her
lifetime?
- Statistics reveal the fact that 47% of
husbands who batter their wives do so three or more times
each year.
- Of all female murder victims each year,
approximately 30% were killed by partners or family
members.
- Women ages 19-29 are more likely to
report abuse than other female victims of domestic
violence.
- In Knox County, over 2,000 orders of
protection were applied for in the Fourth Circuit Court.
- Knox County Sheriff’s Department
reports over 4,000 domestic violence calls occurring in
the county during 1998.
The Knoxville Police Department reports the number of
domestic violence calls occurring within the city limits
in
1998 was over 10,000.
- In Knoxville, the majority of domestic
violence calls occur during the weekend, with Saturday the
highest number.
- In Knoxville, the most common weapon
utilized during these incidents are the offenders’ hands
and feet.
Other weapons used include knives, guns, vehicles, or
blunt objects.
- Domestic Abuse is not limited by family
income or occupation. It occurs in all income levels and
occupations.
Sources:
Knoxville Police Department 1998 Statistics
Knox County Sheriff’s Department 1998 Statistics
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Family Violence
Helpline.......................521-6336
Warning Signs of an Abusive Personality
The list below details common behaviors
seen as early warning signs of potential physical abuse,
particularly the last four. If a person has three or more of
the first 12 listed behaviors, there is a strong potential
for physical violence.
Jealousy
This is not a sign of love! It is a sign of possessiveness
and lack of trust. He/she may refuse to let you work for
fear you will meet someone else; check your car mileage or
ask friends to watch you.
Controlling Behavior
Initially this masquerades as concern
for you or your safety but it grows into controlling all
your personal decisions, such as who you talk to, how you
dress, wear your hair, etc.
Quick involvement in the
relationship
Many abusers have known their partners
less than 6 months before marriage, engagement, or living
together. He/she may pressure you to commit to the
relationship if you want to slow down or break up.
Unrealistic Expectations
Abusers will expect their partners to
meet all their needs, to be perfect.
Isolation
Abusers will try to cut you off from
all resources and outside relationships with family,
friends, etc.
Blames others for problems
Abusers might make statements such as
"I can’t help being angry" - uses feelings to manipulate.
Hypersensitivity
Abusers are easily insulted, claim their feelings are hurt
when he/she is actually angry.
Cruelty to animals or
children
An abusive person is insensitive to
pain and suffering of others; may tease children until they
cry.
Uses force in sex
An abuser may want to act out
fantasies in which you are helpless.
Verbal Abuse
Says things that are cruel or hurtful,
calls you hurtful names, makes fun of your accomplishments,
says you are stupid and unable to function without him/her.
Also wakes you up to finish an argument, or won’t let you
sleep until an issue is talked out.
Sudden, dramatic mood
changes
Nice one minute, exploding the next.
Past battering
Excuses are often made that the past
victim "made" them do it. Circumstances do not change a
person into an abuser. If the batterer is with another
person long enough, he/she will become abusive again.
Threats of violence
This is meant to control you. Often
justified by "everyone talks that way."
Breaking or striking
objects or throwing things at or near you.
This is used as punishment to
terrorize you into submission. A sign of emotional
immaturity and great danger as it makes the abuser believe
that he/she has the right to punish or frighten you.
Any force during an
argument
Examples are holding you, keeping you
from leaving the room, any pushing or shoving.
Domestic Violence Handbook |
