- Predictors of Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence ? The Abusive Partner
- What should I do if I become the victim of domestic violence/abuse?
- Kane County State's Attorney's Office
Predictors of Domestic Violence
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has prepared the following information regarding signs that occur before actual abuse that might serve as clues to potential abuse.
- Did he grow up in a violent family? People who grow up in families where they have been abused as children, or where one parent – usually the father – beats the other, are more likely to become batterers or child abusers, or both. They have grown up learning that violence is normal behavior. Those who come from violent homes may claim they may never behave that way, but often resort to violence when faced with the challenges of intimate relationships and parenting.
- Does he tend to use force or violence to "solve" his problems? A young man who has a criminal record for violence, who gets into fights, or who likes to act tough is likely to act the same way with his partner and children. Does he have a quick temper? Does he overreact to little problems and frustrations, such as not finding a parking place or having a bad seat at the movies? Is he destructive when he's angry? Does he punch walls or throw things when he's upset? Any of these behaviors may be a sign of a person who will work out bad feelings through violence. Do not minimize a tendency he may have to be cruel to animals. Cruelty to animals is a common behavior of men who are cruel to women and children.
Domestic Violence ? The Abusive Partner
Each year two million women are battered by their husbands or partners. Who are the batterers? Individuals who abuse their partners are a diverse group; they belong to all age groups, cultures, religions, educational levels and socioeconomic backgrounds. A batterer could be a brother, co-worker, husband, son, neighbor, yourself. Despite this diversity, abusers do share several common characteristics.
Family Background
A violent person was often raised in a violent home:
- 73% of batterers were abused as children.
- 60% of boys who witness violence in the home grow up to abuse their adult mates.
Personality
Batterers typically:
- Suffer from low self-esteem and insecurity.
- Adhere strictly to stereotypical sex roles.
- Feel an obsessive need to be "in control."
- Express all emotions as anger and act abusively on that anger.
- Present a "Dr. Jeckyll – Mr. Hyde" personality – bouts of violence with periods of tenderness and affection.
Social Relationships
In the context of intimate relationships, batterers typically:
- Are unable to maintain relationships except on a superficial level.
- Are isolated and often described as "loners."
- Are inappropriately jealous of their partner's friends and contacts.
- Blame others, particularly their wives or partners, for their own problems.
- Use sex as an act of aggression to exert control and boost self-esteem.
- Accept violence as an appropriate solution to conflict.
- Do not expect their violence to have negative consequences.
The above information was adapted from work by AMEND, Lenore Walker, and Jennifer Baker Fleming.
Kane County State's Attorney's Office
The Kane County State's Attorney's Office, in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies, Mutual Ground, and the Community Crisis Center, are committed to ending domestic violence and have taken several steps to assist victims of domestic violence.
Victims of domestic violence are entitled to certain rights under a law called the Illinois Domestic Violence Act. Information regarding these rights can be obtained through the State's Attorney's Office.
If domestic violence occurs and police have not made an arrest in a case, the victim may request that the State's Attorney's Office review the police report for possible charges. The victim may call the State's Attorney's Office at one of the following locations, or go to that location between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday to arrange an appointment. The victim will need to know the police jurisdiction and the police report number.
- Aurora State's Attorney's Office
350 North River Street
(Located inside the Aurora Police Department)
630-892-3221 - Elgin State's Attorney's Office
150 Dexter Court
(Located across the street
from the Elgin Police Department)
847-931-6030 - St. Charles State's Attorney's Office
Kane County Judicial Center
37W777 Route 38, Suite 300
St. Charles
630-232-3500
Should charges be filed, the State's Attorney's Office will assist the victim in obtaining an Order of Protection. If charges are not filed, the victim may still be eligible for an Order of Protection. Advocates from Mutual Ground in Aurora and advocates from the Community Crisis Center in Elgin may be of assistance in obtaining an Order of Protection in civil court.
- Mutual Ground: 630-897-0080
- Community Crisis Center: 847-697-2380
- Prairie State Legal Services: 630-232-9415
