Hamilton County sets up new task force to help domestic violence victims
HAMILTON COUNTY, Ohio —With domestic violence on the rise nationally, the coronavirus crisis has shredded the traditional safety nets victims often turn to and rely on for help.In Hamilton County, a special team of prosecutors has been put in place to provide hope for those victims who may now feel even more stuck in a violent relationship.
What society finds at the intersection of COVID-19 and domestic violence is one public health crisis crashing into another. Ganiece Rawls told us about it virtually Tuesday during a break from working remotely. She lived it, actually.
"And I ended up having my eye fractured, which was my left eye," she explained. "Over the last few years I've had three surgeries behind that."
Sherry Marshall could attest as well.
Her daughter, Erin, was beaten to death in October of 2017 in Sedamsville.
"The detective said it was the worst case of domestic violence that he had seen in, like, 20 years," she related from the front lawn of her home in Bridgetown.
With so many working remotely from home, where children are schooled online, the telltale signs of abuse are harder to spot.
"It's kind of a frightening thing," said Prosecutor Joe Deters. "We don't have people being observed by teachers every day, coworkers every day where people can see some form of domestic violence. And because of that, you depend on the person being abused to report it. Almost always, especially in this time. So, you can text 911. Eventually your abuser is going to fall asleep."
Deters has set up a a new Crimes of Violence Against Women and Children unit to review and screen cases 24/7.
Assistant Prosecutor Stacey Degraffenreid is leading the unit where victims' cases will be handled by one attorney for continuity.
"They'll know it's the same person," said Degraffenreid. "It won't be in a couple months it's someone different. So we just want to stay there with them through the whole process and help them through a really difficult time."
Kristin Shrimplin, President and CEO of Women Helping Women, says her organization is fully supportive of the new unit, saying it sends a message to survivors that they aren't alone.
In an email Tuesday, Shrimplin disclosed: "In the last quarter, we've received 2,594 hotline calls that identified either domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. This shows that violence is occurring in the community and people feel safe reaching out to us for help. In the last quarter, there were 287 DVERT runs. Those are tied directly to court cases and would open an even greater reduction of barriers for referrals to the specialized unit. In the last quarter, we completed 84 Criminal Court Accompaniments. This points directly to a need for a specialized unit."
Rawls was in college when she survived a beating.
"I'm grateful and happy that I am still living and I'm healthy," she told us with a beaming face.
Marshall is left with pictures of a daughter she buried and a message anyone being abused who feels stuck.
"Even if you can't leave your house, get the word out to somebody else and pass it on," she advised.
The prosecutor's office urges, "If you or someone you know is in danger, text or call 911. If you know or suspect a child is in danger or is being abused, you can call 241-KIDS. Resources to get help are available to victims in abusive situations via our great community partners. You can text or call Women Helping Women (513-381-5610) or call the YWCA (513-872-9259)."
Marshall said her daughter's birthday was last Tuesday. She would have turned 32.