GENERALLY SPEAKING / From the desk of Gentner Drummond
Many Oklahomans had looked forward to October — it’s usually a time of cooler temperatures and a chance to cheer on our favorite teams on the football field. But more importantly to me, October was National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It was a time to be reminded of the critical importance of addressing this tragedy that affects far too many Oklahomans.
While recent data shows a slight decrease in domestic homicides in our state, we cannot ignore the sobering reality that Oklahoma continues to rank among the highest in the nation for incidents of domestic violence.
The statistics are alarming: our state averages 114 domestic homicide victims per year. Even more troubling, Oklahoma has consistently ranked in the top 10 states for women murdered by men in single-victim/single-offender incidents since 1996. More recently, we ranked second in the nation for women killed by men. Overall, it is estimated that 51.5% of Oklahoma women and 46.0% of men will experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.
These numbers are more than statistics. They represent shattered lives, broken families and communities in pain.
In the face of these daunting numbers, many Oklahomans are committed to reversing these trends. The Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, housed in the Office of the Attorney General, continues to provide invaluable recommendations to improve our state’s domestic violence prevention and protection system. For example, the review board’s most recent annual report highlighted the need for increasing funding to domestic violence and sexual assault (DV/SA) service providers as a result of increasing victimization rates and in light of steep cuts to federal funding geared towards programs providing direct services to victims of abuse and sexual assault. The board has also recommended strengthening several areas of state law to better equip prosecutors in holding domestic abusers accountable.
As your Attorney General, I am committed to helping implement these recommendations and exploring every avenue to reduce domestic violence in our state.
Our Victim Advocacy and Services Unit offers several crucial programs, including the Address Confidentiality Program, the SAFELINE 24/7 DV/SA hotline, the Oklahoma Victim Assistance Academy and the Partners for Change Annual Conference on DV/SA issues, all aimed at supporting and protecting victims of domestic violence.
Another critical tool in stymieing this crisis will be the new Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services Revolving Fund, which was created during the most recent legislative session. This landmark legislation directs a total of $17 million from the Attorney General’s Office to certified domestic violence and sexual assault providers across Oklahoma. This new fund will ensure that dollars are distributed where the need is greatest and will help expand access to services for underserved populations. By ensuring the availability of services to victims and their families, we are taking concrete action to address these horrific crimes.
This October, I call on all Oklahomans to join in this fight. Domestic violence thrives in silence, and it is our collective responsibility to break that silence.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out for help. Call our SAFELINE at 1-800-522-SAFE (7233) for immediate assistance.
Together, we can create a safer Oklahoma — one where every home is a haven of peace and security, not a place of fear and violence. Let’s use this Domestic Violence Awareness Month as a catalyst for change, standing united against this scourge on our society. Our families, our communities and our state deserve nothing less.
