Domestic violence expert discusses progress

By Ms. Catrina Francis (IMCOM)November 4, 2010

Domestic violence expert discusses progress
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT KNOX, Ky. (Nov. 3, 2010) -- "I'm the king of the castle!"

"What I say goes!"

According to retired Detective Lt. Mark Wynn of the Nashville, Tenn., Police Department, who spoke Tuesday at Fort Knox's Waybur Theater, those are the phrases most often uttered by perpetrators of domestic violence.

Wynn pointed out that when an offender believes that his power is absolute, he takes on the dynamics of male privilege, which includes the absence of fearing any consequences for his actions.

"When you believe something (like that) at this level, you will kill somebody," he said.

Although Wynn's visit occurred after October's national observance of Domestic Violence Prevention Month, it still signified the belief of the Army and Fort Knox officials in the importance of understanding the dynamics behind family violence.

Wynn believes that the only difference between a narcissist and a psychopath is the level of violence between the two. The narcissist, the classic type of offender, will use every means at his disposal to maintain power and control over the family.

"You have to look at the back story of a controlling personality," he said. "(The offender) will take religious beliefs and twist them, or take small victories for criminal needs. This is very dangerous."

Although Wynn doesn't believe that alcohol and drugs are primary factors in domestic violence cases, he does believe that they contribute to the problem.

"There is a lot of debate about this, (but drugs and alcohol aren't) the core reason," he explained. "There are millions of alcoholics and they don't abuse their family members.

"It's like you (have) a fire and you take a big bucket of gasoline and pour on it," Wynn explained. "That's how bad it is. Drugs make you less inhibited, and you are more likely to do something when you are drinking."

He also said that a victim who has been drinking or taking drugs doesn't have the ability to correctly judge or sense the dangers of certain situations.

In the past, he said, when alcohol or drugs were deemed to be contributing factors in domestic abuse cases, courts were more likely to incarcerate an abuser instead of seeking treatment options. Today, courts are sentencing offenders to sessions with Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous.

"With some batterers, intervention (can be) 26 or 52 weeks (of treatment)," he said about sentencing. "The courts have finally figured out you (have) to address the alcohol or drug issues before you get to the violence issues."

While there has been a noted increase in the number of males, five to 10 percent overall, who have become victims of domestic violence over the past 25 years, Wynn said women still make up 80 to 85 percent of the victims. A 2009 U.S. Department of Justice study, he said, showed that men are more likely to report being victims of harassment and stalking.

The great thing about the law is it's gender-blind," he said. "It doesn't say when police officers go to a scene that the woman is the victim. You have to be objective and evaluate who is wrong. You have to look at the (possibility of the) man as the victim."

He also warned of an increase in the abuse of the elderly by children who become caretakers.

As a way of combating domestic abuse in the military, he said, the Department of Defense conducted a three-year study of the problem, and what civilian law enforcement and civilian communities had accomplished. It found that successful communities used a collaboration of services, which included working with shelters, local police, and victim-advocacy groups.

Wynn emphasized local community involvement as being important because most Soldiers and military families live off post.

"We have to work together when we see early signs (of domestic violence) outside the (post)," he explained. "That's when the local authorities need to collaborate and work with the (post) command, police, and social services."

Because of law enforcement's heavy-handed past in dealing with victims of domestic violence, victims have been reluctant to come forward.

"You've got to offer justice and make sure you have safety planning," he said. "Working with the victim (means) assessing the threat, offering a ride to a shelter, assisting in the prosecution, and anything else they need.

"Victims have often told us, 'I would have come forward, but I didn't know what was going to happen, and I didn't know you. You came out here before and I didn't like what I saw. I never called again.'"

The loss of finances is another reason victims are reluctant to come forward, Wynn said. In military families, there is the fear that the offender will lose the family's source of income if he's arrested and convicted or incarcerated.

"You have to have a system that can get (the abused person) legal assistance and talk about what's going to happen if (the abused) decides to leave and divorce (the offender)," he explained. "We (must be prepared to say that we) are going to help you with a settlement and go to court with you."

There must be a consistent message of non-tolerance transmitted from the community at large, he said.

"(We) have to talk about it," Wynn said. "The more light we shine on it, the more likely the victim is going to say 'I need help.'"

Convincing victims to seek protective court orders against their abusers is another obstacle that law enforcement must overcome, he said. Many victims believe it's just a piece of paper that doesn't afford them any real protection.

But Wynn said that law enforcement has done a better job training officers and keeping a closer eye on offenders.

"Illinois passed a law a couple of years ago on the worst offenders," he explained. "The courts must put a GPS tracker on the body of the offender if they are out of jail."

He added that Kentucky is another state that has implemented additional measures to protect victims. The Victim Identification Notification Everyday (VINE) protective order is a computer system that notifies a victim with a warning call in advance of an offender's release.

The system was developed after Mary Byron, a resident of Jefferson County, was murdered by her boyfriend after he was bailed out of jail.

Her parents were instrumental in starting the Mary Byron Project.

Wynn said the VINE system is now being used in police departments across the country.

He pointed out that Kentucky is one of the most progressive states when it comes to training law enforcement officers about domestic violence.

Many victims, he said, wonder if the punishment will fit the crime, and if it's worth reporting if the offender won't be held accountable for his actions. Wynn said law enforcement is finally consistently punishing offenders for these offenses.

"It's getting there and (punishment) has to be meaningful," he said. "(Offenders have) to know there are consequences for (domestic violence). If not, in a way we are sort of colluding with (the) criminal."

Related Links:

STAND-TO!: Domestic Violence Prevention Month

Military One Source: Violence & Trauma Resources