BATESVILLE – The domestic violence scandal involving professional football player Ray Rice has been in the national spotlight all week.
A video was released showing Rice striking his then-fiance, Janay, in an elevator in New Jersey.
Since the video became public, the player was cut by the Baltimore Ravens, lost endorsements and suffered major backlash across the country.
WRBI spoke with Safe Passage Executive Director Jane Yorn about the incident and how the unfolding saga also shines light on a problem in Southeastern Indiana.
Safe Passage has provided domestic violence victim services throughout Southeastern Indiana since 1997. In the past year, the non-profit agency has served 176 clients, a 26 percent increase over the past two years.
“Even more astonishing is the 74 percent increase in number of outreach clients –those individuals who don’t need shelter but still need advocacy, case management and counseling,” Yorn noted.
The incident involving Ray Rice happened in February and the couple wed a month later. We asked Yorn why someone would marry, or even stay with their significant other after they were physically abused:
“Relationships often start like a fairy tale and early signs of abuse such as control, dominance, and jealousy are sometimes seen as love and flattery. Many individuals, especially young people, don’t know what healthy relationships and boundaries look like. Popular culture often portrays violence as very mainstream and for an individual who has been living in a psychologically or emotionally negative situation, the lines about what is acceptable treatment in a relationship become blurred.”
“Abusive behavior often becomes more frequent and more intense over time. The victim is often controlled by fear – fear of serious injury to themselves or other family members – fear of what might happen with their job or other relationships if anyone finds out – fear of losing financial security or their children (because the abuser will often make threats about what will happen if anyone finds out) – fear that there is really no one that can help them and if they reach out, the situation might get even worse.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducted the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey in 2011. Among its findings, data revealed 22 percent of women experienced at least one act of severe physical violence by an intimate partner during their lifetimes.
With respect to individual severe physical violence behaviors, the report went on to note being slammed against something was experienced by an estimated 15.4% of women, and being hit with a fist or something hard was experienced by 13.2% of women.
The disturbing elevator surveillance video released by TMZ this week certainly garnered attention at the offices Yorn oversees daily.
“Our first conversation at Safe Passage was around the concern for his wife, knowing that a common reaction for an abuser would be to blame the victim and be violent again,” the executive director recalled.”
“The other side though is that the NFL’s strong stand against this behavior and the opportunity for the public acknowledgement that this action was very wrong validates all those who have been living with abuse and believing they don’t deserve that kind of treatment either As one of our clients said, ‘It helped me to see that this is not my fault’.”
Safe Passage provides services for residents across Southeastern Indiana and also offers assistance to anyone who contacts the 24-hour toll-free HelpLine. Yorn said they have received 347 calls this year on the HelpLine which can be reached by dialing 1-877-733-1990.
There are multiple forms of domestic violence including physical, psychological and controlling behavior. Yorn advises anyone who would like more information to contact the group at (812) 933-1990.
