A lot of violence comes from a place of intimate emotions. A study shows that more than one in three women and more than one in four men have experienced domestic violence in the form of stalking, physical assault or sexual assault from an intimate partner. Tennessee itself has one of the highest rates in the nation of female fatalities at the hands of a partner.
Some municipalities in the Volunteer State have put in the effort to improve the lives of domestic violence victims and prevent future incidents. For example, Nashville recently opened the Family Safety Center, a complex where children can play in a protected environment and adult victims could get the resources they need.
This is one of a rising number of centers for victim services and advocacy that seek to consolidate all the help that people need. When this is effective, victims do not have to keep crossing the city to get help at different offices or deal with the potential trauma of discussing sensitive situations with uniformed officials.
“It would’ve saved me a lot of grief and those feelings of shame,” said a victim of domestic violence when she saw the facility. “But it’s here for the next person, and that makes me feel good.”
Victims of domestic violence and people with concerns about the safety of their family may consider applying for restraining orders or other measures to help protect themselves. An attorney can help advise concerned partners, spouses and parents on the best way to use family law as a protection for people in need.
