CALHOUN'S BIGGEST CRIME IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

(07/31/2006)

Domestic violence against women is the most frequently reported crime in Calhoun County, but because of built-in protection for the victims, the cases are not generally made public. A few weeks ago, in a single day, Calhoun's 911 Center received four calls requesting law enforcement regarding domestic disputes. In most of the cases, charges are not brought in the court system or are dropped, often because the victim changes their mind about the problem. Still, in WV, the law was changed a few years ago that calls for law enforcement to bring domestic charges, despite statements by the perpetrator or victim. During 2004-05, Calhoun's Domestic Abuse Response Team, heard nearly 400 face-to-face complaints by women and children. The service also provided 142 callers with hot-line counseling and provided legal advocacy for 627 individuals. Children under the age of 17 are significantly affected by domestic violence, according to the agencies report. Most domestic violence cases involve women in married relationships. In 2004-05 about 90 of the victims sought medical treatment, with 337 describing emotional abuse and 150 saying they had been physically abused. About 200 of the physical incidents involved the use of a fist, with about 30 threatening with a firearm and 30 threatening with a knife. Alcohol or other drugs were involved in about 300 of the incidents. Over 200 of the victims were receiving government aid, including food stamps, housing, or medical cards.

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