Community Conversation on Domestic Violence Offered | News, sports, jobs

The event, which was held in Senate Commons at D&E’s Myles Center for the Arts, was attended by more than 30 students, faculty and community members and covered a wide range of topics such as how to break the cycle of domestic violence, o greater barriers to victims’ access to safety and the role played by state and federal courts.

“This is important in every community,” U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld, II, who moderated the event, told The Inter-Mountain in advance. “Domestic violence exists in every community. Sexual violence exists in all communities. So it’s important that we talk about these issues and make sure as many people as possible know.”

According to BreakTheCycle.org, in the United States, “Almost every two women and more than two in five men reported having experienced intimate partner violence at some point in their lives,” and every minute 32 people in the country experience violence between intimate partners.

Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon said during Tuesday night’s event that domestic violence calls accounted for 4% of calls made to the Sheriff’s Department last year and 11% of last year’s arrests.

Ihlenfeld

Speakers included Elbon, Emaline Metheny, DV Specialist at Center Against Violence, JJ Johnson, Executive Director at Center Against Violence, Brenda Dasher, Community Integration and IL Skills Manager at LiveAbility, Michael Parker, Randolph County District Attorney, Christie Utt, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco. , Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Regional Leader, Kenneth Grace.

Each panelist began by describing their role in combating domestic violence. Parker, Utt and Grace explained how their offices work together at the state and federal levels.

“If I talk to Ms. Utt or Mr. Ihlenfeld and determine that it would be better for law enforcement, a better resolution for everyone to sue in federal court, I don’t believe I’ve ever had a problem with them taking an out-of-county case by Randolph,” Parker said.

When asked how the cycle of domestic violence can be broken, Johnson said even having an open conversation about domestic violence is a step in the right direction.

“For years it was something that wasn’t talked about outside the home and we’re getting to a point where we talk about it, but we need to keep talking about it,” Johnson said. “My personal statement about this… I want people to be mad… because we are sad about this and it is ‘sad.’ I want people to stop being sad and I want them to be angry. I want people to stand up to this and say, ‘You have support. You are not alone.’”

Metheny added that in the case of the batterer, there are not many counseling options or programs to help break the cycle in Randolph County outside of the WV Batter Intervention and Prevention Program (BIPP) and a future community corrections program for batterers feminine. Metheny said anger management has often been suggested as part of the offender’s sentence, which she says never helps.

“What is the worst possible thing in the world you can do for a bully?” Metheny said. “They are pros at controlling their anger and using it when appropriate.”

Dasher discussed the challenges that people in violent situations face when it comes to escaping, such as lack of transportation, lack of financial stability, the safety of children, and the lack of belief or support they may receive from others, especially sex. male victims of abuse.

Ihlenfeld said officials would like to hold more Community Conversations on Domestic Violence, noting that the one recently held in Martinsburg was very well received. He said officials would like to open one in Clarksburg and then in Wheeling.

“We have really good shelters and advocates, all covered by what is known as the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence,” Ihlenfeld said. “It’s important to raise awareness about the fact that these resources exist, about what people can take advantage of when it comes to these resources.”

To contact the Centers Against Violence, which covers Randolph, Tucker, Barbour and Upshur counties, call 304-636-8433. If you live in Pocahontas County, you can contact the Family Refuge Center at 304-645-6334.