Signs of an Abusive Relationship & Local Resources You Should Know About
1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Justice. That means you likely know someone who has experienced or is experiencing domestic violence.
The most common signs of an abusive relationship include:
- Physical violence
- Sexual violence
- Emotional abuse (name calling, mind games, humiliation, belittling, guilt)
- Isolation (keeping someone from family and friends, taking away all other support systems)
- Economic abuse (controlling money, not letting someone work, creating economic dependence)
- Coercion (“I’ll kill myself if you leave me,” “I’ll hurt your family if you leave me,” destroying property, abusing pets, flaunting weapons, etc.)
If you or someone you know is in a relationship with any of the above signs of abuse, you can find help from a local organization through the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence website: KCSDV
In addition to shelter services, many organizations offer additional services like counseling, support groups, safety planning, court advocacy, 24 hour crisis assistance, and work assistance.
If your life is in danger, you need to know about the Kansas Safe at Home Program!
The Kansas Safe at Home Program doesn’t seem to be widely known. The Safe at Home Program, enacted in 2006 (K.S.A. 75-451 et seq.), is a confidential address program for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other violent crimes. The program gives the victim a substitute address that can be used as a legal address on everything including his or her driver’s license, voter’s registration, utility bills, and anything that goes into public records. This can help prevent the victim from being located by the perpetrator. For more details, visit the website at KSSOS
If you need representation in a Protection from Abuse or Protection from Stalking case, contact Marie Campbell in the Topeka/Lawrence area (785-234-3272) or Boyd McPherson in the Wichita area (316-262-9393). Our knowledgeable family law attorneys are also able to assist you with divorce and custody issues as well. Consultations are always confidential.