Conference Advisory Committee
Committee purpose: To develop conference format, content, and roster of participants for statewide conference on Sexual and domestic violence in Maine: Strengthening partnerships between research, practice, and policy (working title), University of Maine, Orono, November 18, 2005. A separate committee will implement the organizational details. [Note: Affiliations listed are as of Fall 2005.]
Victim Services Coalitions
Elizabeth Ward, Director, Maine Coalition against Sexual Assault, director@mecasa.org,
Kim Roberts, Director, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, kim@mcedv.org
State Agencies
Jessica Maurer, Maine Attorney General’s Office, jessica.maurer@maine.gov
Denise Lord, Assoc. Commissioner for Legislative & Program Services, Maine Dept. of Corrections, denise.v.lord@maine.gov
Michael Cantara, Commissioner, Maine Dept. of Public Safety, Michael.p.cantara@maine.gov
Designee: Mary Lucia, mary.a.lucia@maine.gov
Robin Whitney, Supervisor, Bangor Child Welfare Office, Maine Dept. of Health & Human Services, robin.whitney@maine.gov
Laura Fortman, Commissioner, Maine Department of Labor, laura.fortman@maine.gov
Tribes
Erlene Paul, Tribal Representative, epaul@penobscotnation.org
Migrant Workers
Candace Austin, Program coordinator, Mano en Mano, candace.austin@umit.maine.edu
University of Southern Maine
Susan Fineran, Assoc. Professor, Department of Social Work, sfineran@usm.maine.edu
Lacy Sloan, Research Associate, Muskie School of Public Service, lsloan@usm.maine.edu
Anita St. Onge, Director of Domestic Violence Initiatives, Muskie School of Public Service, anitas@usm.maine.edu
Tracy Cooley, Policy Associate, Muskie School of Public Service, tcooley@usm.maine.edu
Mark Rubin, Research Associate, Muskie School of Public Service, mrubin@usm.maine.edu
University of Maine Research Collaborative on Violence against Women
Mary Cathcart, Senior Policy Fellow, Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy, mary.cathcart@umit.maine.edu
Sandy Gardner, Assoc. Professor, Department of Sociology, sandy.gardner@umit.maine.edu
Renate Klein (chair), Assoc. Professor, College of Ed. & Human Development, renate.klein@umit.maine.edu
Ann Schonberger, Director, WIC/WST Program, ann.schonberger@umit.maine.edu
Kathy Walker, Executive Director, Rape Response Services, rrsdir@raperesponseservices.com
Sarah Courtney, Graduate Student in Women’s Studies, sarah.courtney@umit.maine.edu
Independent Policy Groups
Sarah Standiford, Executive Director, Maine Women's Policy Center, exec@mainewomen.org
Lisa Pohlmann, Assoc. Director, Maine Center for Economic Policy, lpohlmann@mecep.org
District Attorneys (pending)
Alice Clifford, Assistant DA, Bangor
Conference Schedule
Schedule of Events
9:00-9:30 Registration and Informal Networking
9:30-9:45 Official Welcome
9:45-10:45 Opening Keynotes – Vera Mouradian, Wellesley Centers for Women
Sarah Deer, Tribal Law & Policy Institute
10:45-11:00 Coffee Break and Informal Networking
11:00-12:30 Breakout session A
Prevention – McIntire Room
Victim Services – McIntire Room
Offender Accountability –Allain Library
Tribal Efforts & Practices – Treat Room
12:30-12:45 Pick up lunch in the Leadership Hall
12:45-1:30 Luncheon Address – Steven Rowe, Maine Attorney General
1:30-3:00 Breakout session B
Prevention – McIntire Room
Victim Services – McIntire Room
Offender Accountability –Allain Library
Tribal Efforts & Practices – Treat Room
3:00-3:15 Coffee Break and Informal Networking
3:15-4:15 Plenary Discussion
4:15-4:30 Synopsis, Where do we go from here?
4:30 Conference Wrap-Up
Conference Participants
Julie Atkins, Research Analyst, University of Southern Maine, jatkins@usm.maine.edu
Esther Attean, Penobscot Nation Women's Advocacy Group, eattean@usm.maine.edu
Donna Baietti, Director, Battered Women’s Project, Presque Isle, dbaiettibwp@hotmail.com
Maureen Baker, Coordinator, Cross Disciplinary Training Project, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, mbaker@usm.maine.edu
Carolyn Ball, Associate Professor of Public Administration, University of Maine, Carolyn.ball@umit.maine.edu
Sharon Barker, Director, Women’s Resource Center, University of Maine, Sharon.Barker@umit.maine.edu
Jean Bessette, Research Analyst, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, jbessett@usm.maine.edu
Jean Blackeagle, Partner, Blackeagle & McLaughlin, Special Communications, Skowhegan, blackeagle@airolink.net
Amy Blackstone, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Maine, amy.blackstone@umit.maine.edu
Nicky Blanchard, Community Response & Education Coordinator, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, Bangor, nicky@mcedv.org
Sue Bradford, Spruce Run Association, sbradford@sprucerun.net
Margaret Brugman, GraduateStudent, University of Maine, margaret.brugman@umit.maine.edu
Ann Brushwein, Instructor, Opportunity for Change, Portland, annb@usm.maine.edu
Polly Campbell, Director, Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Program, Office of the Attorney General, polly.campbell@maine.gov
Cann, Karen, Center for Justice Initiative, kcann@smccme.edu
Mary Cathcart, Senior Policy Associate, Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, University of Maine, mary.cathcart@umit.maine.edu
Deborah Chapman, Grants & Contracts Coordinator, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, Bangor, deb@mcedv.org
Clarice Chavaree-Hildreth, Community Services Coordinator, Penobscot Nation Department of Human Services, rchavaree@penobscotnation.org
Dorathy Chocensky, Domestic Violence Advocate, Spruce Run, Bangor, dchocensky@sprucerun.net
Joyce M. Clements, Visiting Instructor, Wheelock College, Boston, jcca@midcoast.com
Amy L. Coha, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of New England School of Social Work, acoha@une.edu
Brenda Commander, Tribal Chief, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, tribal.chief@maliseet.com
Tracy Cooley, Policy Associate, Muskie School, Cutler Inst. For Child & Family Policy, University of Southern Maine, tcooley@usm.maine.edu
Jennifer Crittenden, Research Associate, University of Maine Center on Aging, jennifer.crittenden@umit.maine.edu
Laura Dana, Domestic Violence Victim’s Advocate, Passamaquoddy Peaceful Relations Domestic Violence Response Program, nancy@wabanaki.com
Sonja R. Dana, Social Services Director, Indian Township Tribal Government, (207) 796-2301
Sarah Deer, Tribal Law & Policy Institute, sarah@tribal-institute.org
Carmen Dorsey, Director, Criminal Justice Projects, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, cdorsey@usm.maine.edu
Susan Hall Dreher, Executive Director, Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine, Brunswick, director@sassmm.org
Cathleen E. Dunlap, Director, Menswork, Family Violence Project, Augusta, cathleend@familyviolenceproject.org
Louann Dustin-Hunter, Assistant Director of Security, Bowdoin College, ldustin@bowdoin.edu
Tracee Falconer, Policy Associate, Muskie School, Cutler Inst. For Child & Family Policy,
University of Southern Maine, tpfalconer@usm.maine.edu
Oksana Fearon, Research Analyst, Muskie School, Cutler Inst. For Child & Family Policy, University of Southern Maine, ofearon@usm.maine.edu
Nancy Fishwick, Associate Professor of Nursing, University of Maine, fishwick@maine.edu
Melody Fitch, Cross Disciplinary Training Project, Muskie School of Public Service,
University of Southern Maine, mfitch@usm.maine.edu
Betty Fortuin, Program Director, Volunteers of America, South Portland, betty.fortuin@voanne.org
Doreen Fournier Merrill, Public Policy& Member Services Coordinator, Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Augusta, dmerrill@mecasa.org
Cynthia Freeman Cyr, Resource Development Coordinator, Womancare / Aegis Association, Dover- Foxcroft, cindy@wmncare.org
Lois Galgay Reckitt, Executive Director, Family Crisis Services, Portland, lois_r@familycrisis.org
Sandy Gardner, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Maine, sgardner@maine.edu
Denise Giles, Director, Victim Services, Department of Corrections, Augusta, Denise.Giles@maine.gov
Stephen Gilson, Professor of Social Work, University of Maine, stephen.gilson@umit.maine.edu
Diane Gout, MSW, Research Associate, Muskie School, Cutler Inst. For Child & Family Policy, University of Southern Maine, dgout@usm.maine.edu
Barbara Hart, Attorney/Researcher, Muskie Effectiveness Project, barbarah@aol.com
Jeffrey Hecker, Professor of Psychology, University of Maine, jeff.hecker@umit.maine.edu
Rebecca Hobbs, Resource Development Coordinator, Spruce Run, Bangor, rhobbs@sprucerun.net
Nicole Hopkins, Social Work Intern, Rape Response Services, Bangor, nicole.hopkins@umit.maine.edu
Kim Huisman, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Maine, kim.huisman@umit.maine.edu
Alan Kaplan, Batterer Intervention Educator, Time for Change, Rockland, (207) 594-0270
Patricia Kaplan, MSW Student, University of Maine, keltoo@midcoast.com
Ellis King, Correctional Planning Analyst, Maine Department of Corrections, Augusta, ellis.king@maine.gov
Renate Klein, Assistant Professor of Human Development, University of Maine, rklein@maine.edu
Rob Laskey, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General, robert.m.laskey@maine.gov
Nancy Lewey, Domestic Violence Coordinator/Advocate, Passamaquoddy Peaceful Relations Domestic Violence Response Program, nancy@wabanaki.com
Wayland Linscott, Co-facilitator, Alternatives to Abuse, Abused Women’s Advocacy Project, Auburn, wflin@maine.rr.com
Denise Lord, Associate Commissioner for Legislative and Program Services, Maine Department of Corrections, Denise.V.Lord@maine.gov
Emily Love, Member, Penobscot Nation Women’s Advocacy Group, burnslove88@hotmail.com
Mary Madden, College of Education and Human Development, University of Maine, mary.madden@umit.maine.edu
Sameer Mahimkar, Muskie School, University of Southern Maine, sameer@usm.maine.edu
Kathy Maietta, Senior Forensic Social Worker, Acadia Hospital, Bangor, kmaietta@emh.org
Jessica Mauer, Attorney General’s Office, Jessica.Maurer@maine.gov
Marty McIntyre, Executive Director, Sexual Assault Crisis Center, Auburn, director@sexualassaultcrisiscenter.org
Bob McLaughlin, Partner, Blackeagle & McLaughlin, Special Communications, Skowhegan, bobmcl@airolink.net
Karen Monahan, Research Associate, Muskie School, Cutler Inst. For Child & Family Policy, University of Southern Maine, kmonahan@usm.maine.edu
Patty Morris, Research Analyst, Muskie School, Cutler Inst. For Child & Family Policy,
University of Southern Maine, pmorris@usm.maine.edu
Vera Mouradian, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Departments of Mental Health and Public Health, vmouradi@wellesley.edu
Sharon Murphy, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of New Hampshire, sahron.murphy@unh.edu
Carey Nason, Coordinator of Safe Campus Project, University of Maine, carey.nason@umit.maine.edu
Susan Pate, Research Analyst, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, spate@usm.maine.edu
Joyce Perry, Community Outreach Coordinator, Rape Response Services, Dover-Foxcroft, rrscoc@raperesponseservices.com
Jay Peters, Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Maine, jpeters@maine.edu
Lisa Pohlmann, Associate Director, Maine Center for Economic Policy, Augusta, lpohlmann@mecep.org
Jeremiah Rancourt, Penquis Law Court, jrancourt@penquiscap.org
Heidi Randall, Reports Assistant, Muskie School, Cutler Inst. For Child & Family Policy, University of Southern Maine, heidi@goodearthgarden.com
John Rioux, Director, Technical Services, Customer Services Unit, Maine Department of Labor, Augusta, john.rioux@maine.gov
Richard J. Robbins, Program Director, Time for Change, Rockland, rrobbins@midcoast.com
Kim Roberts, Executive Director, Rape Response Services, rrsdir@raperesponseservices.com
Tina Roberts, Spruce Run, tina.roberts@umit.maine.edu
Jane Root, Domestic Violence Program Director, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, end.domestic.violence@maliseets.com
Steven Rowe, Attorney General, State of Maine, (207) 626-8800
Ann Schonberger, Director WIC/WST Program, ann.schonberger@umit.maine.edu
Shari Smith, Executive Director, Rape Education and Crisis Hotline, South Paris, shari@reachmaine.org
Wells Staley-Mays, Instructor, Opportunity for Change, Portland, mec1945@aol.com
Sarah Stewart, Public Awareness Coordinator, Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Augusta, awareness@mecasa.org
Bartlett Stoodley, Associate Commissioner for Juvenile Services, Maine Department of Corrections, Bartlett.H.Stoodley@maine.gov
V. Gail Sweat, Policy Associate/Project Manager, University of Southern Maine, gsweat@usm.maine.edu
Betsy Tannian MSW, LSW, ICWA Director, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, betsytannian1@hotmail.com
Kathy Waitt, LCSW, The Charlotte White Center, Dover- Foxcroft, (207)564-2464
Elizabeth Ward Saxl, Executive Director, Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Augusta, director@mecasa.org
Joseph Wellman, Graduate Assistant, Safe Campus Project, University of Maine, joseph.wellman@umit.maine.edu
Susanna Wright, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, (207) 532-4273
Sun Young Yoon, Research Associate, Muskie School, Cutler Inst. for Child & Family Policy,
University of Southern Maine, syoon@usm.maine.edu
Gretchen Ziemer, Training Coordinator, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, gretchen@mcedv.org
Evaluation Comments
What follows is a compilation of comments, in no particular order, submitted on evaluation forms at the conclusion of the conference.
This was a good idea. See lots of energy. Maybe repeat periodically with rotated or shared funding. John Rioux (DOL) 624-6442, John.l.rioux@maine.gov
Great networking opportunity. Lots of great ideas for research projects. A lot of dedicated professionals willing to stomp out domestic violence and sexual assault.
Did not get the chance to hear the keynote but attended both breakout sessions. It was very helpful to have academic and service providers in the same environment to share knowledge. Let’s hope lots of great work comes out of this day.
Thank you for the opportunity to have the conversations that occurred today. The tribal programs in particular had an awesome meeting in the afternoon that opened some doors that we perceived as closed. Having Sarah Deer here and giving light to the issue of domestic violence research in Indian country.
Nice comfortable setting, yummy food, very well organized. Excellent keynotes, maybe next time we could use local (state) domestic violence experts as well. Notes at the end didn’t reflect the conversation as I remember it. Wish there was more time in the group to reach agreement; mainly it was brainstorming (at this point).
This was an extremely beneficial conversation, in that it demonstrated the need for us to engage in these conversations, in order to come up with the research questions that are necessary in order to continue the “good work”. I consider myself primarily a field practitioner, and I am always enlightened and challenged by the questions researchers present…bringing us back to the research questions. Excellent!
Enjoyed selection of food! Especially the soup! It was a great change from the usual offerings at conferences of bulkie rolls, meat selections, and pasta and green salads. Speakers, except Steve Rowe and two keynotes were pretty bad – even if you’re nervous and/or don’t know what you’re, doing fake it. Good cross section from the state represented. Domestic violence continues to overshadow sexual assault issues and needs. Organizers could assist to keep sexual assault issues from being lost in discussions.
I enjoyed both keynote speakers. The breakout groups were informative, but I think it could have been more effective to have specific goals posted. Thank you. Great food.
Excellent discussion, I had the chance to network in a useful way. Aging is such an important topic. Future offerings could focus on subpopulations: children, teens, adults, older adults, cultural groups, etc.
Good discussion, good topics. First opportunity to bring different players together and talk about what we know, don’t know, would like to know. Great food and facility. Very good keynote speakers. Breakout groups a little too large; discussion could have been better focused on what is “research” and what are our research priorities. But, really, a very good first conference on this issue and I would support another. It would be beneficial, if there is another, to share the Maine research and feature Maine researchers. We have some very well regarded of both.
Denise Lord, Department of Corrections
Thank you for putting together a useful and interesting conference. Both Vera Mouradian and Sarah Deer shared information that was not only engaging, but also applies to my work. Also, the mix of disciplines in regard to the participants was well thought out, yet I believe CPS workers were not present – perhaps I’m wrong. The space is comfortable and the food was appetizing. I look forward to the minutes captured from the breakout sessions and would like a contact list. Another request is to receive Steven Rowe’s notes, which includes the stats he shared. I’m wondering if it is possible to receive a video copy of the day? Thank you. Gretchen Ziemer
I enjoyed the conference and thank you for coordinating it. It was so important to talk with researchers and providers and others - all together and in one place – as we grappled with the complicated and critical issues about research and violence against women. In particular I appreciated talking about the often confusing topic of Offender Accountability. Clearly we need to have some “standard” definitions for accountability, success, effectiveness and recidivism. We struggled with research questions – and such an important struggle it was (is!). Are there “types” of batterers such that programs should be more tailored to meet their unique needs? What are the criminal risk factors of abuse and accountability? Can research about criminal offenders be transferable (e.g. sex offenders®domestic violence offenders?). How do cultural beliefs about violence affect accountability? Does awareness plus acceptance plus action really equal change? We still have so much work to do! I hope this conference is the first of many opportunities for all of us to be represented at future tables of discussion. Thanks for putting this in motion.
Cathleen Dunlap, Director, Menswork
This conference helped me to feel less isolated in my work as an instructor in a domestic violence education program. It was good to hear others, as well as researchers, in this work grappling with definitions, concepts, generalizations, extrapolations from data, experience, anecdotal information, etc. It was also good to hear snippets of research that is being conducted currently. It was not clear from the printed material if the breakout groups were sequential and I was supposed to stay with my first breakout group for the second session. I am glad that I chose the group on Offender Accountability but would have liked to attend another as well (would this require a two-day conference, or longer?). It was useful to hear reiterated some of the facts which we know but do not hear repeated enough – i.e. we serve only the “tip of the iceberg” of abusers. It was also helpful to find out more about elder abuse, abuse of children, rural issues, abuse in nursing homes, human trafficking, workplace abuse, etc. The idea of a guaranteed living wage for women who are victims of domestic abuse was very interesting to me. It was inspiring to see so many people who are so passionately dedicated to tackling a problem which seems so overwhelming, so huge. Wells R. Staley, Opportunity for Change
Excellent opportunity to have a conversation among practitioners, policy makers and researchers. Perhaps a second meeting to identify specific issues and work groups – more goal focused.
Great conference, showed we need more communication and cooperation. Could there be a conference that involves all systems; court, police, D.A., victims services, etc. Study of cultures and responses to domestic violence and sexual abuse. Task force, participation, how to make it work, keep interest alive by being task oriented. Public service campaign: to educate the public as to the many forms of domestic abuse; verbal, emotional, financial, male privilege, etc.
As a Native woman I especially appreciated the opportunity to network with Native women from other Maine communities who are involved in domestic violence work. I was also very happy to hear Sarah Deer make points regarding the special needs of Native women who may ask for services in non-Native communities. The snacks were great!
The major accomplishment of this conference was creating the forum for major stake-holders to talk with each other. Such an occasion rarely, if ever, occurs. The opportunity shed light on the fact that our collective experience in the field is both a blessing and a curse. It can be a curse because of professional ego. The need for Maine research was very apparent. The conference site and amenities were very conducive to serious discussion. The facilitators were very skillful.
This was very important work. Work that needs to be continued. More clarity on specific research questions is necessary, particularly in the subgroup of offender accountability.
Katey Waitt, Charlotte White Center
Really great way to bring practice and academic together.
Greatly enjoyed the whole day. I attended both sessions on accountability and learned a great deal due to the diversity of attendees. Both sessions spoke about research and/or programs and the need for additional cooperation from all areas of concern. These were both vertical and horizontal links. The concerns for victims and the children were also addressed.
Alan Kaplan, Time For Change, Rockland
Good first step. Exciting notion to study prevalence of different types of IPV and SA in Maine. Different communities, different attitudes. This was not what I expected it would be.
I do appreciate the opportunity to come together with the academic community and formulate research questions. I found that we were better able to accomplish this in the preventions group this morning than in the offender accountability group this afternoon. I am very interested in being involved in research pertaining to our prevention programming.
Cynthia Cyr, Womancare, 564-8165, cindy@wmncare.org
Genuinely appreciate that a tribal perspective was included in the keynotes. This was validation at its best! Very interesting; a great opportunity to have conversations with others as we collectively consider the directions our work may follow.
Nancy Lewey Passamaquaddy, Pleasant Point, Peaceful Relations
Very pleased to have a forum to express native views, concerns and suggestions. A tribal domestic violence coalition has been formed. Information was exchanged for grant writing for a stand-alone domestic violence advocate position in tribes.
Very useful method to meet and interact with folks similarly involved in issues related to domestic violence but in different contexts. Useful, too, as it permitted a variety of different perspectives. Very good collaborative undertaking. How could it have been even better? – E-mail addresses for attendees.
This was a stupendously organized gathering of people (and disciplines) who rarely get a chance to speak with each other in this way! I hope this work and these conversations can continue. Thank you! Sue Bradford, Spruce Run
Accommodations – excellent; Breakouts – hard to hear in McIntire with two small groups; Presentations – excellent; Format – excellent; Interactivity – excellent, Focus of research application – excellent; also, nice food. R. Koodley
Wish you had had contact info for participants. Morning session on offender accountability was dominated by BIP’s and facilitator, did not focus discussion on research. Broader, non-research issues took over. Could facilitators be more focused on theme of conference and keep discussion on track? Effective format. Great speakers. Good people. Very good representation of practitioners. Wish there had been more experienced researchers. Thank you so much for your wonderful effort. Karen Monahan
Conference was quite helpful for finding out about research needs in the state. I hope the conversation that began today will continue.
I hope there will be a mechanism to disseminate notes from breakout groups and next steps. Along that line I would love to have a copy of the attorney general’s speech and/or the source for the statistics he quoted. It would be great to have e-mail and phone numbers of conference participants to foster further networking. A little confusion with logistics on where afternoon breakout groups would meet, but then again I like musical chairs, seriously, I do. I wonder if there is value to having the afternoon session build upon the morning discussion w/ the morning group continuing the conversation/brainstorming to then prioritize, and next steps.
It was a great forum to discuss needs and resources. The facility was great for presenters and groups. The staff was organized. I look forward to what develops based on the energy begun today.
A very enjoyable and informative conference. In the future, more emphasis needs to be placed on sexual assault and related issues. Domestic violence tended to dominate just a bit too much. I hope that there is a follow-up conference in 2006 or 2007. Thank you, job well done.
Great cross section of folks. Please! We need to do this every 6 months; need to create ways to continue the discussion relationship building; ways to cooperate and collaborate. I don’t want this to be just another nice day but rather a first step toward comprehensive Maine-based research. The soup at lunch was fabulous! Need to create statewide infrastructure to continue the work.
Awesome cross section of concerned organizations. Attended both sessions on offender accountability and was surprised how different the two sessions were. Research: impact of BIPs on victims’ safety as an indirect measure of “success” of BIP and its outcome.
Vera Mouradian - her keynote was very informative and her presentation excellent
Sarah Deer – gave some very helpful info
Victims services group was encouraging and helpful. Prevention a bit frustrating because so little has apparently happened that it was difficult to see where we go from here.
I missed the morning session, but was glad to attend the luncheon address and attended one afternoon break out session. Intellectually stimulating and inspirational to be among service providers, policy makers, and researchers/ academics in a comfortable environment, plus sharing experiences, puzzles, ideas. Especially important to build upon the relentless work of thirty plus years by grassroots advocates and to conduct research that is useful in their work.
There was a lot of energy here today. I think it will be helpful to figure out what’s realistic. E.g. what do people find most compelling/urgent in relation to themes you generate?
Excerpts from speech given by Attorney General Steven Rowe
Sexual assault and domestic violence in Maine:
Strengthening relationships between research, practice, and policy
Friday, November 18, 2005
Buchanan House, University of Maine, Orono
Nearly one-third of American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives (The Commonwealth Fund, Health Concerns Across a Women's Lifespan: 1998 Survey of Women's Health, May 1999).
The 2000 census puts Maine’s adult population just over 950,000, and 51% of Maine citizens are women. Applying the Commonwealth findings to the Maine population, this would mean approximately 161,000 Maine women will be physically or sexually abused by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.
This figure is not hard to believe when you consider that domestic violence and sexual assault are the most underreported crimes in our society. Approximately 13,000 victims access services through local domestic violence projects each year. Another 12,000 victims of sexual assault seek help via crisis centers. Further, 50% of homicide victims in Maine were once intimate partners of their killers.
A study by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services concluded that domestic violence against adults costs our nation more than $67 billion each year. It also concluded that, of the total costs to violence against children, 40%, or another $66 billion, is attributable to domestic violence. That’s an annual cost of $133 billion nationally, and about $500 million in Maine.
These are the facts I talk about when I travel around the state talking about domestic violence and sexual assault. Much of what I’ve said is driven by research done in these areas.
When I ask law makers to enact new laws or law enforcement officers to adopt new policies or corporations to take actions not mandated by law, the first question I’m asked is why. I have to be able to paint a compelling picture, not just with my words, but with defensible facts and research. I have to prove the case every single time I try to move policy a step further. Thus, the work you are doing now and will do in the coming years will support policy changes of the next decade.
Researchers have the power to help lawmakers and policymakers in the state. I am excited that researchers are coming together today with practitioners and advocates to hear what research gaps need to be filled in order for us to effectively move policy forward.
I want to give you an idea of how helpful research in this area can be.
In 2003, I sponsored and helped enact legislation to allow the court to direct a defendant in a protection from abuse action not to possess a firearm or other dangerous weapon for the duration of the temporary order if the complaint demonstrates a heightened risk of immediate abuse to the plaintiff or a minor child. [19-A MRSA 4006(2-A).]
We drew upon research about lethality indicators to develop a comprehensive list of considerations the court should use to determine “heightened risk.” This list includes traditional risk indicators, but also includes killing or threatening to kill pets – a lethality indicator that has been proven through research.
Even with carefully crafted language, this legislation was not an easy sell. We relied heavily upon substantial national research as well as well-documented Maine statistics to convince various opponents that the legislation was necessary. Here’s a sampling of the research we used.
Nearly one-third of all women murdered in the U.S. in 1998 were killed by a current or intimate partner, and guns were used in almost two-thirds of these domestic homicides. (Department of Public Safety) (U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics; Homicide Trends in the U.S., Intimate Partner Homicide; 2001).
It was helpful for us to explain that 75% of domestic violence homicide victims are killed during or after they have left their relationship. [Hart. “National Estimates and Facts About Domestic Violence.” NCADV Voice 12 (Winter 1989).]
The PFA process is more often used not as a form of early intervention, but rather as a signal of desperation following extensive problems. (A.Harrell & D.E. Smith: “Effects of restraining orders on domestic violence victims”; in E.S. Buzawa & C.G. Buzawa, 1996, Do Arrests and Restraining Orders Work, Sage Publications, p. 231-240)
The presence of a gun dramatically increases the chance that a domestic violence incident will end in murder. Family and intimate assaults involving guns are 12 times more likely to result in death than other family and intimate partner assaults. [Saltzman, L., Mercy, J., O’Carroll, P., Rosenberg, M., and Rhodes, P. Weapon involvement and injury outcomes in family and intimate assaults. Journal of the American Medical Association 267(22): 3043-3047, 1992]
The issuance of a protection order was listed in the top situational antecedents to men killing their female intimate partners in a 1994 Florida mortality review report. (Websdale, N., Sheeran, M., & Johnson, B., “Reviewing Domestic Violence Fatalities: Summarizing National Developments” for Minnesota Center Against Violence & Abuse, 2001)
Common sense often dictates a course of action for employers. However, sometimes an employer has to understand why the employer should take an action that is not required by law and that might cost the employer time, energy and financial resources. In order to help employers understand why they need to adopt workplace domestic violence policies, I have relied upon economic and statistical research related to the costs of domestic violence to the workplace.
Here’s some of the research data we’ve relied upon to demonstrate to employers that this is a problem worth their time, energy and resources.
71% of human resources and security personnel surveyed had an incident of domestic violence occurring on company property (Isaac, N., Corporate Sector Response to Domestic Violence, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University School of Public Health, 1997).
94% of corporate security directors rank domestic violence as a high security problem at their company (Soloman, C. “Talking Frankly about Domestic Violence,” Personnel Journal, April 1995).
74% of women reported that their abusive partner harassed them at work (FVPF, 2000)
Recent abuser and victim studies conducted by the Maine Department of Labor and Family Crisis Services have been useful in quantifying the problem of domestic violence in the workplace – particularly related to the scope of the problem and costs to the employer.
The survivor study found:
- 98% reported that domestic abuse caused them to have difficulty concentrating on work tasks
- 96% reported that domestic abuse affected their ability to perform their job duties
- 94% were unaware of statutes that provide unemployment compensation to victims of domestic abuse, and 93% were unaware of Maine law that requires employers to provide time off to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking
- 87% reported the abuser made harassing phone calls at work, with some survivors receiving between 50 – 100 phone calls per week
- 83% reported the employer became aware of domestic abuse in employee’s life
- 78% reported the abuser showed up at the workplace; 13% reported being assaulted at work
- 78% reported being late to work as a result of domestic abuse
- 77% reported they were prevented from getting to work on time because the abuser kept them up late or all night; 47% reported being assaulted before work
- 60% reported losing their job due to domestic abuse (fired or quit)
- 56% reported the workplace contact changed (increased in frequency or became more threatening) when the victim/survivor attempted to leave
- 45% reported they were concerned they would get fired if they discussed domestic abuse situation with employer
- 23% reported the abuser violated a protection from abuse order or other condition by contacting the victim/survivor at work
- 5% reported their employer had a domestic violence policy in place
Here’s a research statistic that has been very compelling in our work to end elder abuse and exploitation: victims of financial exploitation and abuse are three times more likely to die in the next decade than those in the same age group who are not victims.
Even with the small gains we’ve made in the state in the last few years, we need to continue to define the problem and use the information we gather to aid in prevention, intervention and treatment work. Here are some research needs identified by people working in these areas in our office.
We need to know more about batterer treatment outcomes: BIPS v. Anger Management.
What's the scope of the problem of domestic violence and sexual assault in Maine? Maine is in great need of a prevalence study.
How are firearms used in crimes of domestic and sexual abuse?
How does DV affect custody disputes and determinations?
How many seniors in Maine are affected by abuse and what are their needs? Our state is aging fast and we are not doing enough to keep up with it. We estimate that possibly 10,000 elders are victims of abuse each year and that only a very small percentage of these cases are ever reported. Elder abuse has unique dynamics and very little research has been done to capture the extent of the problem.
How many student victims of sexual assault leave school or commit suicide because of continued harassment by a student perpetrator or his friends?
Finally, we need to do more economics research to show that investing in prevention and intervention saves government the money spent on treating the end problem. We need to fully understand how much of our annual general fund budget goes to address the fallout problems associated with domestic violence and sexual assault. Only when we can prove that these issues are a substantial drain on our state’s economy will some people support early intervention and treatment programs.
Former Director,Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence
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