In 1997, the year Marcia Smith started with the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse, Oklahoma ranked third nationally per capita in deaths attributed to domestic violence.
Flip forward 16 years. Smith is still with the state's umbrella coalition for domestic violence services, serving as its executive director.
Care to take a guess on where Oklahoma ranks now in the rate of women killed by men?
No. 3.
The report, reflecting that really discouraging ranking, came out last week, coinciding with the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The study, by the national nonprofit Violence Policy Center, is based on 2011 data and shows 38 women died in Oklahoma in single-incident, single-offender homicides. Only South Carolina and Alaska had higher per-capita domestic abuse homicides.
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To look at the two statistics 16 years apart, it appears that Oklahoma has made no progress in reducing lives lost to domestic violence.
Untrue.
Oklahoma remains a badlands for women in abusive relationships, a very dangerous place to live. But people such as Marcia Smith have not been fighting a hopeless cause for decades.
The numbers actually could be far worse if not for the concerted efforts of so many agencies whose mission it is to help. These agencies, including many in Tulsa, work tirelessly with very limited funds to provide shelter, transitional housing, legal advocacy, counseling services, job training and crisis hotlines. Without them, countless victims could not break free of abusive situations. It's difficult to say how many lives they save each year.
Scope of the problem
Last year, state law enforcement personnel responded to more than 24,000 reports of domestic abuse, a figure that has not varied much over the past five years. If they were reported, the actual number of incidents, by some informed estimates, could be twice that number.
The problem with domestic abuse is that it often flies under the radar until it's too late. So the public ends up hearing only about the very worst cases, when in fact thousands of families across the state are enduring situations that they need to get out of before it's too late.
The point of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is to get the word out about what's available, starting with a call to police.
In years past, officers relied largely on their instincts in handling domestic situations. That changed, beginning almost a decade ago, when former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson instituted training programs for officers, which teach them ways to defuse dangerous situations and where to send victims for help.
Victims now also have the 24-hour Safeline, 1-800-522-SAFE, a statewide hotline available, as well as local hotlines.
The most important thing, advocates say, in protecting victims and reducing violence, is keeping them away from perpetrators once they have made the decision to leave a bad situation
Wraparound services
Next week the Ann Patterson Dooley Family Safety Center will open at 600 Civic Center, Main Level, in the Police-Courts Building. The facility is a one-stop shop, combining civil, criminal, health and social services for victims of domestic violence.
DVIS/Call Rape, the Tulsa Police Department's Family Violence Unit, a forensic nurse, Tulsa County Sheriff's Family Violence Unit, the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office, the Tulsa County District Court, Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, RSVP Court Watch Safety Shepherds and YWCA Tulsa all will have representatives at the facility.
Next year, the facility will offer expanded forensic and medical services, trauma assessment and crisis counseling.
The need's never been greater. Last year, the center hosted some 800 children. The new space will increase the facility's capacity to provide basic child care and assessment while the parent on site is receiving help and completes paperwork, said Executive Director Suzann Stewart.
By this time next year, Oklahoma per-capita death rate attributed to domestic violence still might rank near the top. Or, it could dip, as it did in 2012, to No. 17, a decline that buoyed the resolve of those who work so hard to save lives. Domestic violence workers have learned to keep their heads down and not take anything for granted.
Julie DelCour, 918-581-8379