Faribault hopes that the executive director of the Domestic Violence Help Center told the Rice County Commission today that this is indeed a growing problem throughout Minnesota.
Erica Staab-Absher was invited to speak on the board of directors after the murder-suicide tragedy in Faribault last week.
Sheriff Troy Dunn, County Attorney John Fossam and Social Services Director Mark Shaw also talked about this topic.
Absher shared some frankly shocking statistics. One third of women in the world have suffered abuse in their lifetime. Three women are killed in domestic violence every day.
The victim of Faribault last week was the 16th victim in Minnesota this year. Staab-Absher said, “So you know you are not the only community dealing with it, but the Hope Center serves approximately 1,200 people every year. We know that Rice County has A question of domestic violence and sexual assault.”
Staab-Absher has been working on this issue for more than two decades, and he told the committee members that some things really work. “There are things that make it better and easier for victims to stand up. We know that breaking the silence is one of the best things we can do. So those in power can say that this will not happen in my community. This will not happen. Happened under my supervision. This is one of the important things we can do as a community.”
It is hoped that the executive director of the center will make it clear that law enforcement will not solve the problem of domestic violence. A tougher prosecutor will not solve this problem. Educators will not, but she believes that all communities that can change culture work together.
“It starts with education. It starts with talking to our young children. It starts with different expectations. It starts with men talking. It starts with talking. It starts with knowing where to go. All of these are part of it. “We can build a better Healthy community. I did not lose faith. I did not lose hope. ”
Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn shared a few tragic stories he had seen during his long law enforcement career, but was choked. “After working in this job for so long, it’s still It made me emotional, and it didn’t get easier. We must continue to share the information we want to hold people accountable. We will get their help, but some people don’t need help. So we need a place where we can put the victimized And get them back on the right track to get their lives back to normal.”
“We need to hold suspects accountable for their actions and want to provide them with the help they need. But as we have seen, sometimes they must need help, and if they don’t want help, then we need to keep them somewhere The community and these victims are safe. Unfortunately, that is our prison.”
Dunn added: “We need to send a message. Someone needs to speak up for those victims, as happened last week. People know that there has been arguing and fighting for a while. I know people are always a little hesitant to say, you Knowing this is their business, I don’t want to intervene or call. We don’t know what that call might mean. It might mean that saving someone’s life is the first step to get them out of this abusive situation.”
Staab-Absher pointed out, “This is not just an incident between two people. This is a community issue and requires community resources. It needs the community to discuss it. To break the silence, just decide what we want to do together as a community. Respond?”
Rice County Attorney John Fossam told the commissioners, “Obviously, domestic assault and sexual assault are the main drivers of our caseload. The difficult part is women, men, and we have a wide range of people to deal with. I won’t Missed work. I think if we can find a way to end it, we will all be happy. They are the most challenging cases. It is difficult to involve victims. It is difficult to get victims to work with us and stay in the case.”
According to a report just released by the State Criminal Arrest Bureau, violent crime in Minnesota has increased by nearly 17% in 2020.
There were 185 murders in Minnesota last year, compared with 117 in 2019, an increase of just under 60%. This is the highest number of murders in the state’s history and has tripled from the record since 1995. There is a downward trend in the years leading up to 2020. Arson cases have increased by nearly 54%. Motor vehicle thefts have increased by nearly 20%, the highest number since 2005.
The crime of prejudice is the highest in 15 years. There were 31 incidents involving police shooting of suspects, six more than the previous year, and the twin cities and Greater Minnesota were almost evenly divided.
In 2020, police officers were attacked while on duty. There were 667 incidents, an increase of 62%, the most in a year on record.
Staab-Absher recommends that everyone enter the toll-free domestic violence hotline number on their phone at 1-800-607-2330. Hope you never need to use it, but if you use it, it is there.
More evidence that the executive director of the Hope Center breaks the silence says that some of her friends are pastors, and some people will stand up every time they preach on the topic of domestic violence.
Post time: Aug-16-2021
