The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) report of 2013, indicated 108,030 domestic violence incidents were reported in Florida. Additional data suggests, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime. Furthermore, when considering SV and DV victimization, between 14% and 25% of women are sexually assaulted by intimate partners during their relationship. (NCADV, 2015)

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Statistics, specifically the report for Osceola County; in 2017, there was an incident rate of 1,941 Domestic Violence cases and an approximate of 144 Sexual Assault related offenses. (FDLE, 2017)

Due to the reported incidents and recurrent concern from community leaders, agencies and individuals, VSC partnered with a group of professionals to provide information related on DV and SV awareness. Most recently, in 2017, a group of Hispanics including Puerto Ricans were impacted by a natural disaster that influenced the need of seeking shelter in the state of Florida. As a result, numerous individuals including men, women, elderly and children have been temporarily residing in local hotels. Some community concerns have developed including: financial hardship, homelessness, fatal and non-fatal cases related to domestic violence, and other crimes. Ultimately, distressing the functionality and mental health of the Puerto Rican families.

One of the most significant points discussed was the importance of Roles and Ethical implications when witnessing a crime or supporting a survivor. VSC Advocates informed community leaders on the various responders that can assist in the event of a crime or crisis including: Law Enforcement, Victim Advocates, Crisis Counselors, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), EMT’s, Fire Fighters and other agencies that may support further needs of victims. As social science professionals, is imperative to highlight the roles of specialized teams and community leaders. Thus, an open communication was developed in the importance to understand limitations and strengths, displayed by individuals, in the event of working a crisis. Some guidelines were exposed such as: trauma focused professional intervention, ethical code for social science practice, mandatory reporting, vicarious disorder, secondary victimization and awareness of community resources.

VSC Advocates offered the following information and strategies:

• Definition: What is a Crisis?
• Learning how to identify indicators present in crisis situation.
• CRISIS Intervention strategies: assessment of a situation, things to consider when approaching a victim-survivor, Proactive verbal intervention towards a victim (tone, volume, and language) and body language awareness.
• Physical and Emotional Common Reactions to Victimization
• Victimization in a different culture
• Empowerment skills: Appropriate approach to be conducted in a crisis situation (verbal phrases, validation of emotions and victim emotional regulation to assess needs. In the effort to empower a victim-survivor.
• Safety tips and planning (injunction process & reporting to LE)
• Types of Victims, Victims’ rights, and Mandatory Reporting
• Community Resources: Response from Agencies when working with DV & SV incidents, Information and contacts of services in the event of a crisis.
• Role & Ethical implications

 If you or a loved one is experiencing consequences associated with being a Victim of a Crime, reach out to Victim Service Center through our 24/7 Crisis Helpline (407) 500 – HEAL. You can also reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or through their online chat.

At VSC we care for Victims, contact us, we would love to be part of your healing process!

ROSA M. ABRAHAM, MS | Victim Advocate & Crisis Counselor

References:

Domestic Violence national statistics (2015). Retrieved from www.ncadv.org

Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Florida Uniform Crime Report (2017) Retrieved from www.fdle.state.fl.us

PREA Coordinator, Osceola County Corrections

The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) is the single-most important legislation directed toward the safety of inmates in the nation’s jails and prisons.  The law supports the elimination, reduction and prevention of sexual assault in United States corrections facilities by developing national standards and accountability measures.   Prohibited behaviors include actual sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual harassment of inmates by other inmates and by staff members of the facility.

The Osceola County Corrections Department has embraced PREA and has incorporated the 43 national standards into our operating procedures.  We provide education to all inmates during the booking process and again within 30 days of their incarceration to provide the inmates with ways to help prevent abuse and the knowledge to report abuse.  We also educate all of our certified staff members, civilian employees, volunteers and contracted employees.  In August 2014, the department completed a successful Department of Justice audit and was certified PREA-compliant.  We were the first agency in Central Florida to receive the final report of compliance.

A major component of PREA is to provide access to counseling services for inmate victims of assault or abuse, whether the abuse is current or in the past.  Another PREA standard requires full investigation of all allegations of assault and abuse.  These investigations are performed by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, which include a complete forensics examination at the Center, if needed.  The Victim Service Center is the perfect partner for these necessary services.  Our inmates have direct access to the Center to contact counselors and obtain assistance while incarcerated and after release from the facility.

The Victim Service Center has been a wonderful community partner.  They have provided educational tools for our inmates, encouraged us to include them on our victim pamphlets and have begun work with inmates in our programs area.  The Corrections Department has been added to the Osceola County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).  We are pleased to work with agencies that are so focused on victim education, health and safety.