By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The last six homicides in Hays were linked to domestic violence.
The Hays Police Department and Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services are teaming up to try to help victims of domestic violence get help before it's too late.
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"Domestic violence continues to be one of the biggest challenges we face," Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said. "The mission of the Hays Police Department is to make people feel safe, and if you don't feel safe in your own home, we can't make you feel safe anywhere else."
Hays had 1oo domestic violence arrests last year.
Lethality programs have been used with much success in other states and other cities in Kansas.
Scheibler said Olathe instituted a program and went from five homicides in a year related to domestic violence to none within five years.
When law enforcement officers respond to a domestic violence report, they ask the victim a list of preset questions to help determine if that person may be in danger of future serious injury or death at the hand of the perpetrator, said Jennifer Hecker, Options executive director.
A state advisory board on domestic violence is suggesting local agencies use the APRAIS model that was developed in Arizona, which includes 18 questions.
Some of the topics include:
Have you been a victim of strangulation?
Has the violence been escalating?
Was physical violence used against you during pregnancy?
Were you forced to have sex?
Do you believe your partner is capable of killing you?
The responding officer shares the results with the victim and then dials the phone number to connect the victim with a domestic violence advocate. That advocate can discuss safety plans with the victim and other services Options provides.
Victims are not required to accept services.
By the time a domestic violence case has been reported to law enforcement, Scheibler said, violence has occurred in that relationship an average of six times before. Wichita has been using a lethality program and found 92 percent of the victims had never been connected to victims' services before, Sheibler said.
Hecker said, "Just the act of completing a lethality assessment with them increased safety overall for everyone because they were able to connect them with more resources."
Many victims don't know what resources are there. Additionally, the action of an officer dialing and handing a phone to a victim in that moment of crisis helps victims overcome the fear of reaching out, Hecker said.
Hecker and Scheibler said victims often don't realize how much danger they and their children are in.
"Perpetrators are very skilled at minimizing their own behavior and they groom their victims to minimize that behavior as well," Hecker said.
A lethality survey can't predict a homicide, Hecker said, but it can highlight the risk factors.
The victim's answers to the lethality questions can be used in bail hearings or to determine protection from abuse orders. It can't be used at trial or sentencing.
Scheibler said he hopes the surveys will lead to less protection from abuse orders being dropped by the victims.
The infrastructure for the program is already in place, Scheibler said. Officers are already responding to domestic violence calls, and the advocates are already on call 24/7 to answer calls for assistance.
Scheibler said he hopes to have the program in place in Hays fairly soon.
Hecker said the program will bring together advocacy services, law enforcement and the judicial system.
"It is really about building community safety for the victim," Hecker said, "so that people aren't falling through the cracks. We are no longer siloing services. Those services are working together. We are weaving together a tapestry of services that will really support victims all the way through the process."
If you or someone you know has been a victim of domestic violence, you can reach an advocate through Options through its text, chat or phone hotlines. Text the word "Hope" to 847411.
The 24-hour phone helpline is 1-800-794-4624. The chat and other information can be accessed on the Options website at https://help4abuse.org/. All of the helplines and chats are manned 24/7, 365 days a year. All services are free and confidential.
The agency also has a mobile unit that travels throughout its 18-county catchment area in northwest Kansas. Contact Options through one of the means above to learn more.
Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay