Domestic Violence Victim Assistants

Domestic Violence Victim Assistant Program

A Domestic Violence Victim Assistant’s role is to serve as the liaison between victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and personnel in local law enforcement agencies in order to aid in offender prosecution. It is also a top priority of the Clarksville Police Department Domestic Violence Victim Assistant program to offer information to victims that promotes safety, along with other needed resources, as well as provide a step-by-step explanation of the court process to empower the victim to stop the cycle of violence.

Domestic Violence Victim Assistants

  • Andrea Tennyson  931-221-1180

  • Tanya garrett-russ 9312-221-1181

DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.

Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that:

  • Blame
  • Coerce
  • Frighten
  • Humiliate
  • Hurt
  • Injure
  • Intimidate
  • Isolate
  • Manipulate
  • Terrorize
  • Threaten
  • Wound someone

Types of Abuse

  • Economic Abuse: Making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one's access to money, or forbidding one's attendance at school or employment
  • Emotional Abuse: Undermining an individual's sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem. This may include, but is not limited to constant criticism, diminishing one's abilities, name-calling, or damaging one's relationship with his or her children.
  • Physical Abuse: Hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, hair-pulling, biting, etc. Physical abuse also includes denying a partner medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use.
  • Psychological Abuse: Causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partner's family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school and/or work.
  • Sexual Abuse: Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behavior without consent. Sexual abuse includes but is certainly not limited to marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical violence has occurred, or treating one in a sexually demeaning manner.

Domestic Violence Doesn't Discriminate

Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Domestic violence occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships and can happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, or dating.

Affect on Those Around Domestic Violence

Domestic violence not only affects those who are abused but also has a substantial effect on family members, friends, co-workers, other witnesses, and the community at large. Children who grow up witnessing domestic violence are among those seriously affected by this crime. Frequent exposure to violence in the home not only predisposes children to numerous social and physical problems but also teaches them that violence is a normal way of life - therefore, increasing their risk of becoming society's next generation of victims and abusers.

Sources: National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Center for Victims of Crime, and WomensLaw.org

Overview of Tennessee Victim Rights - Constitution

  • The right to confer with the prosecution.
  • The right to be free from intimidation, harassment and abuse throughout the criminal justice system.
  • The right to be present at all proceedings where the defendant has the right to be present.
  • The right to be heard, when relevant, at all critical stages of the criminal justice process as defined by the General Assembly.
  • The right to be informed of all proceedings, and of the release, transfer or escape of the accused or convicted person.
  • The right to a speedy trial or disposition and a prompt and final conclusion of the case after the conviction or sentence.
  • The right to restitution from the offender.
  • The right to be informed of each of the rights established for victims.