Power and control are what the aggressors in abusive relationships are working to obtain. HFCC students and faculty learned about this central issue on October 30 at the Domestic Violence Awareness Program that was sponsored by the Criminal Justice Club. Judge Mark Somers of Dearborn’s 19th district court and Detective Krot of the Dearborn Police Dept. volunteered to speak at the event.
President of the Criminal Justice Club, Jihad Taleb, opened the event by welcoming Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Jones-Harris.
“Victims are ashamed, afraid, and don’t pay attention to abuse from the person they’ve grown to love,” Dr. Jones-Harris said. There are many different types of abuse, she continued. “It doesn’t just have to be physical; it can be threats and verbal abuse that breaks you down to feel like nothing.”
Student Activities director Cassandra Fluker spoke of her experiences of dealing with students and their relationships on a daily basis.
“Re-evaluate your relationships with your boy/girlfriends. Pay attention to the red flags and don’t be scared to talk with your friends and family members about them,” said Fluker.
Honorable Judge Mark Somers spoke due to his expertise on the prosecution, and consequences for the assaulters. He shared that in 2011, there were 27,217 reports of domestic violence in Wayne County.
“That number is phenomenal,” said Somers.
From 2008 to 2009, only 1 out of every 4 cases of domestic violence made it to the courtroom. The jail system doesn’t always work with large numbers of similar cases. Judge Somers says he prefers to get those in need help. The majority of people charged with domestic violence are put on probation and ordered to take classes, stay a number of feet away from the victim without communication, and sometimes put on a GPS system.
“The scare of being incarcerated is more powerful at times then the actual incarceration,” said Somers.
Detective Krot spoke on her experiences with the assailants of domestic cases.
“Going on a domestic call is more serious than going on a call about a man with a gun,” said Krot. “There are so many emotions and feelings involved with those calls.”
A Power and Control Wheel that simulates aspects of domestic violence was passed around at the event and explained.
Krot added, “You can break the cycle. It doesn’t matter what your background is – you can stop [the violence].”
In consideration of the event, it’s import for students to know that there is always someone out there that can help. Never be afraid to ask questions and bring attention to harmful relationships in order for the abuse to stop.