Proposed bill to help victims
By Heather Mangold
City
Editor
Local reactions to a bill that would provide confidentiality
of the addresses of victims of domestic violence are supportive.
On Monday, a bill was proposed before the Senate
that would keep abusers from finding the new addresses of their victims.
Victims of a domestic violence relocate as part
of a safety plan, but they are still required to participate in the
public record process. With one phone call or search on the Internet,
victims' addresses can be obtained and the abuse can continue, according
to a news release.
Police chief Dan Marvin said that in West Lafayette
the location of victims is never revealed to the perpetrator.
"We try to provide the victim with as much protection
as possible," said Marvin.
Rodney Ball, a licensed clinical social worker
in Lafayette, counsels people who deal with domestic violence and agrees
that the bill would be providing a good service.
"I think that confidentiality can be really helpful
as long as it goes both ways," he said. "Many don't realize that men
are also victims."
Ball said a study by David Burroughs, the chairperson
for Equity and Fairness in Family Issues, reported that there have been
52 domestic violence studies that show women use violence as often,
if not more often, than men in relationships.
Ball said many men are often reluctant to acknowledge
they have been victims of domestic violence.
Before any solutions can occur, Ball said other
issues must be dealt with before any progress can be made.
"Violence is an issue that when anything else that's
going on in the relationship cannot be addressed, such as intimacy and
communication, until safety is addressed first."
Ball said that victims of domestic violence would
not feel as though they have the freedom to speak about other issues
in their relationships until they are certain about their level of safety.
Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-27th, said that if the bill
passes, it would provide more opportunity for that person to come forth
and testify.
Klinker was on the Human Affairs Committee where
the bill was read and thinks that it is a good idea.
"There should be confidentiality for the victim,"
said Klinker.
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