Survey: Domestic violence in NM higher than national rates

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and statistics show the crisis still prevails in New Mexico.

According to an analysis of 2013 data from the New Mexico Interpersonal Violence Data Central Repository, a survey conducted in 2005 found that one in three adult females (32 percent) and one in seven adult males (15 percent) in New Mexico have been the victims of domestic violence in their lifetime.

The survey also found that the rates of domestic violence, intimate partner violence and stalking in New Mexico were higher than national rates.

In 2013, according to the analysis, there were a total of 45 domestic violence cases in the Portales Magistrate Court. Of that total, 13 cases were convictions and 28 were dismissed.

The Clovis Magistrate Court had a total of 248 domestic violence cases in 2013, with 59 being convictions and 113 being dismissed.

Portales Police Department Detective Charlie Smart, who has been teaching domestic violence response to officers and has been conducting public outreach training for 18 years, said the Portales Police Department deals with a lot of verbal domestic situations and averages three to four arrests per month for domestic violence.

He said many domestic situations tend to escalate over time going from a verbal domestic to the offender shoving the victim then to later hitting the victim.

“These are learned behaviors on both parts,” Smart said of domestic violence, saying that most victims and abusers grew up around domestic violence so the cycle continues for them.

“It's not about love and hate; it's about learned behavior,” Smart said. “With the offender, their dad might have been an abuser, and their grandfather. What you get is built up tensions that they haven't learned to deal with. It's a vicious cycle that is really hard to break.”

Smart said police making an immediate arrest can break the cycle for a limited time, but breaking the cycle for good is up to the victim.

The problem is victims usually decide to stay in the situation, according to Smart, who said victims often have no job skills and no family support, and they fear retaliation from the abuser against them or their children.

“They have convinced themselves — with the help of the abuser — that they are not capable of anything,” Smart said. “We train our officers to give them as much information as they can on the resources out there to try to help them get out of that situation and let them know they can get out of there.”

A Bureau of Justice Statistics Factbook study found that the most common reasons domestic violence incidents are not reported is because victims see the incident as a personal or private matter; they fear retaliation from their abuser and they do not believe that police will do anything about the incident.

Many shelters that provide refuge and support to domestic violence victims can be found in New Mexico, including The Hartley House in Clovis.

Last year, the Hartley House provided 2,635 shelter nights to victims of domestic violence and helped 160 women and over 100 children, according to Executive Director Donna Horton.

So far this year, Horton said the shelter has helped 130 women and over 80 children and has provided 3,050 shelter nights.

Along with shelter, Horton said The Hartley House provides crisis intervention, advocacy and support for victims.

“We assist the clients to find in-housing and employment, and we refer them to other agencies if needed,” she said. “We teach victims about domestic violence, help them fill out and file domestic violence orders of protection, and attend court hearings with victims if they go.”

Horton said the shelter offers a variety of support groups, including support for survivors, children and batterer's intervention for offenders of domestic violence.

The Hartley House has a 24 hour crisis hotline that can be reached at 575-769-0305 or 575-769-0305.

Smart said he also offers domestic violence outreach training to any group, such as churches, civic groups, companies and organizations that deal with the public and so on. Those interested in the training can contact him at the police department.