Area officials bring awareness to domestic violence

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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Crosses placed this week on the courthouse lawn mark the number of lives lost last year to domestic violence in Indiana. The display is designed to focus attention on October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

HANCOCK COUNTY — The wind was cold and blowing, whipping the poles and the sign about, but Madison Garrity would not be deterred. She stood on the lawn outside the Hancock County Courthouse trying to put up a large sign and several dozen white crosses, all to show support for domestic violence victims.

Eventually, she got the 52 small crosses into the ground. They represent the 52 victims who died due to domestic violence in Indiana last year.

Garrity, the Hancock County victim advocate for Alternatives Inc., a program designed to end domestic and sexual violence, said she receives two to three calls every week from county residents who are victims of abuse.

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October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which first began in 1981 and was created by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a Day of Unity with the idea to connect battered women’s advocates across the country.

Garrity, along with other county officials, are trying to bring more attention to the problem in the county.

“We want people to understand despite resources, domestic abuse is still a big issue,” Garrity said.

Domestic violence is a vastly underreported crime. Garrity noted there are many reasons why people don’t seek help. Many are too scared to come forward. Others don’t know help is available.

According to Futures Without Violence, a national nonprofit, as many as one in four women nationwide have experienced violence by a current or former spouse or boyfriend. Women of all ages are at risk, but those from 20 to 24 years old are at the greatest risk of domestic violence, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says domestic violence is responsible for an estimated 1,200 deaths and 2 million injuries suffered by women every year.

Although women account for well over 80 percent of such cases, men can be victims as well: The CDC estimates 600,000 men suffer injuries every year because of confrontations with an intimate partner.

Domestic violence also takes a toll on children in households. Because the majority of violent incidents happen at home, 15.5 million children are at risk.

That’s why Garrity spent time earlier this week putting the white crosses into the courthouse lawn, hoping people passing by will notice them and realize domestic abuse happens everywhere, including in small towns.

“It is an issue that effects our community, and we want to change that,” Garrity said.

Prosecutor Brent Eaton is well aware of the problem in the county and wants to make sure residents are safe in their homes and in their relationships.

“We want to do all that we can so if people are in a situation like that or know someone who is, they know that they are not alone and there are places they can turn to for assistance,” Eaton said.

In addition to providing emergency shelter at its facility in Anderson, Alternatives offers information on children’s and adult prevention programming, training and education.

“Ultimately a prosecutor is there for the people who cannot deal with these things on their own, and we want to stand up and help those people who truly need our assistance,” Eaton said.

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Alternatives is having a fundraiser at Jim Dandy from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, with celebrity servers from law enforcement, first-responders, health care professionals and from the prosecutor’s office. All of the tips from the evening will go to Alternatives.

The agency is also having a fundraiser at Dairy Queen from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, with a portion of the sales going to Alternatives.

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If you are in a life-threatening situation, call 911.

If you or someone you know is in a crisis situation involving domestic or sexual violence, you can Alternative Inc.’s 24-hour crisis line at 866-593-9999.

Alternatives’ Hancock County advocate is Madison Garrity, who can be reached at 317-462-8777 or via email at [email protected]

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