A new report sheds light on the life and death consequences of domestic violence in Wisconsin.
The organization End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin released a study this week that shows 55 people died as a result of domestic violence in 2013. Thirty-nine people were homicide victims, 12 perpetrators took their own lives and four attackers were killed by law enforcement officers.
The group’s executive director, Patti Seger, said that on average, about one person a week loses his or her life to domestic violence in Wisconsin.
“This report drives home what many survivors already know—that domestic violence can be a matter of life and death,” said Stacey Cicero, executive director of Safe Haven in Shawano. “We want every victim in our area to know that help is available.”
Safe Haven is an emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. It opened in 2002. All its services are free and confidential.
To raise awareness about domestic violence, Safe Haven will host an open house and candle light vigil from 5-7 p.m. Thursday. The program will begin at 6 p.m. and will include a presentation by Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl.
Although there were no domestic violence homicide victims in Shawano County in 2013, four people have died as the result of domestic violence in the county since 2000.
“Unfortunately, Shawano County is not immune to the effects of domestic violence,” said Cicero, noting that last year 551 victims, including 148 children, sought services from the agency.
“We serve many roles for the community and for our clients, but as much as anything else, we are in the business of homicide prevention,” she said.
In 2013, Safe Haven provided safe housing for 44 women and 74 children. Their average length of stay was just above 22 days. Eight women returned to the shelter more than once during the year.
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, the statewide group that published the report, said it hopes the report helps spur greater investment in the lifesaving services of agencies such as Safe Haven around the state.
“The stories included in the report demonstrate that we can do more to prevent domestic violence homicides,” Seger said. “In many cases, we have solutions, but local advocates don’t always have the resources to connect victims in need with the support and services that keep victims safe.”
Recent research by End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin and the Governor’s Council on Domestic Abuse reported that every day in Wisconsin about 250 requests for help from victims and their children go unmet because of a lack of resources.
National research shows that victims who are isolated from support and resources have higher chances of losing their lives in domestic violence incidents, according to End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin. On the other hand, when victims receive help from an advocate or a shelter, their chances of survival significantly increase.
Communities with law enforcement and with social service agencies that have a rigorous and coordinated response to domestic violence provide victims with even greater protection.
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