Weathering A Violent Storm

SEBRING On Tuesday, nine of the 15 beds at Sebring's Peace River Center - a refuge for victims of domestic violence - were filled.

Joy Kruppa, director of victim services, said their numbers can vary, with one day being at over-capacity and another, they're under capacity.

In tough economic times like these, victims of domestic violence will often remain at the site of the attack rather than seek a safe place like Peace River, according to Kruppa.

"People will stay where they're at and suffer more abuse because the economy's so bad and (they're) fearful of leaving the security that they have," she said.

Circumstances such as this could mean there are victims of domestic violence who are not filling one of the beds Peace River, or other shelters, has to offer.

Uncertainty And Violence

The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence's Web site states that financial instability is reported to be the, "No. 1 obstacle for someone escaping domestic violence."

In December, Florida's unemployment rate was 8.1 percent, compared to 7.4 percent in November, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. These monthly statistics were the most current the bureau has released.

For December 2007, the unemployment rate in Florida was 4.5 percent.

Kruppa said those who are abused and do not have proper job skills or current employment sometimes see the world outside of the violence as "more frightening" because of a lack of financial security.

This thought is exacerbated if there are children in the picture, who have clothes on their backs and a roof over their heads.

"We might see people that might have much more serious injuries because of staying longer," Kruppa said, adding that in a more stable economy, victims may get out of an abusive situation quicker because of greater employment opportunities.

Then there are situations where a victim may want to alert someone, but can't find the opportunity.

In previous cases, if the violent party was at work, the victim would have a bigger window to call a crisis line like the one at the Sebring center, according to Kruppa.

"If the abuser is now out of work and around all the time, it's going to limit their ability to call," she said.

As the economy has gotten worse, cases with allegation of family violence threatens child has grown, although there is no direct correlation between these instances and financial problems.

In 2006, there were 313 such cases, according to statistics from the Department of Children and Families for Judicial Circuits 5, 9, 10, 18 and 19, which includes Highlands County. Of those, 131 were verified.

The number of cases for 2007 was 330, with 83 verified. In 2008, it was 371, of which 75 were verified.

Thus far in 2009, there have been 51 cases with an allegation of family violence threatens child. None of them were listed as verified.

A Weekend Problem?

Lt. Keith Starling, with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, said he has not seen a rise in domestic violence calls as they relate to the economy.

When dispatch does receive such calls, they generally come on the weekend. Starling said this is probably due to the victim and the abuser having more personal contact then they do during the week.

Law enforcement responded to one such call on Friday, which resulted in the arrest of Cameron Ray Jacobs, 27, of Lake Placid. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, damaging property/criminal mischief, cruelty toward a child and obstructing justice.

Jacobs reportedly entered the victim's home around 3 a.m., and started hitting the person with his fists.

The victim was also allegedly kicked by Jacobs in a, "soccer ball kick-type motion," according to the arrest report. The suspect then reportedly struck the victim on the left leg and buttocks area with a metal flash light.

Jacobs also allegedly threatened to cut off the victim's fingers and toes and threw water on the person whenever the victim would start to lose consciousness, the report stated.

The suspect was released Sunday on a $12,250 bond. The arrest report gave no indication whether finances played a role in this case.

Scams Against Seniors

Paul Hinman, crime prevention practitioner with the HCSO, had no direct statistics that point to an increase of violence against senior citizens because of financial fears.

However, that age group is victimized in another way; through a number of mail and phone scams.

"They're a primary target anyway because they tend to have more disposable income," Hinman said. "They're more trusting."

Like victims of domestic violence, Hinman said victims of scams will often not report what happened because they are, "too ashamed."

"It seems as though the number of people that are potential victims of scams has increased," Hinman said. "If someone has been victimized, they're reluctant to report it in many cases."

FAST FACTS

In 2006, there were 313 cases with an allegation of family violence threatens child, according to statistics from the Department of Children and Families for Judicial Circuits 5, 9, 10, 18 and 19, which includes Highlands County. Of those, 131 were verified.

The number of cases for 2007 was 330, with 83 verified. In 2008, it was 371, of which 75 were verified.

Thus far in 2009, there have been 51 cases with an allegation of family violence threatens child. None of them were listed as verified.