According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an adult or child dies every three days in Pennsylvania as the result of domestic violence. Battering is a pattern of coercive control that one person exercises over another. Abusers use physical and sexual violence, threats, emotional insults and economic deprivation as a way to dominate their partners and get their way. Relationships in which one partner uses assault and coercion can be found among married and unmarried heterosexuals, lesbians and gay males.
Battering is behavior that physically harms, arouses fear, prevents a women
from doing what she wishes or forces her to behave in ways she does not
want to. Because so many women are victims of violence, we assume that
battering is socially tolerated behavior. Batterers are exercising control
over their partners that they and the society historically have defined
as legitimate. Today the risk for the community is to redefine violence
as illegitimate and intolerable, to challenge the abuser's sense of entitlement
to service and obedience from his partner, and to provide safety and support
for the victim.
| Domestic Violence Services (DVS) has been providing victims of domestic violence and their families services since July 1990. During its almost nine years of operation, the agency has served over 8,000 victims of domestic violence. DVS staff are committed to provide safe, temporary respite from violence for those who are not safe in their own homes. Two satellite offices in Perry County and Camp Hill also offer counseling services for victims and their families. Specific Client services provided to victims of domestic violence include: 24 hour emergency shelter, 24 hour toll-free hotline, legal advocacy, individual and group victim & child supportive counseling, accompaniment to medical/police/court-related appointments & hearings, community education and prevention programs, and information & referrals. All services are free and confidential. If you would like to contact the DVS, you may call 1-800-852-2102 or 258-4249. |