Mission Statement:
The mission of the Vernal Victim Advocacy Program is to assist victims and their families experiencing domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and crimes adjudicated in the Vernal Justice Court. Some of the examples of services we provide are:
- 24 hour crisis intervention
- Assistance in completing Protective Orders and Stalking Injunctions.
- Accompaniment and notification of court hearings
- Information on victim rights
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAM:
The advocacy program cannot end violence and crime, however our advocates and affiliates strive to provide awareness and education in our community. The advocacy program provides intervention and support to victims of violence.
Crisis Intervention:
Advocates respond to your needs with the help of law enforcement at any time of the day or night. When law enforcement are called to an incident an advocate can be called to the scene, or the emergency room to assist the victim. Advocates can also call victims by phone to inform them of services provided by victim advocacy.
How to contact Us:
If you or someone you know is being abused or you may suspect living in an abusive home or relationship, please call or write for HELP!
Anyone can call anonymously or collect and have questions answered and find HELP!
E-mail our office and make inquiries.
To contact an advocate, you can reach our offices at 435-789-4250 between the hours of 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
For after hours inquiries call the Women’s Crisis Center Hotline at 435-781-2264.
The Utah Statewide Domestice Violence Info-Line
1-800-897-LINK
1-800-799-SAFE
Affiliates:
Vernal Victim Advocacy Program works in conjunction with several local agencies to aid victims with emergency needs.
The Women's Crisis Center can provide women and their children safe shelter for up to 4 weeks as they begin new lives free from abuse. The crisis center is in a confidential location. Basic needs for food, clothing and personal supplies are provided through the support of the State. Women and children can enjoy the support of other residents through shared living, dining and a children's playroom.
While in residence at the crisis center women and children are provided with counseling through the Department of Child and Family Services or Northeastern Counseling Center . Residents are provided referrals and applications for the TANF/AFDC program, registration with WorkForce Services , Low Income Housing opportunities, Legal Aid , Uintah Basin Association of Government, [a.k.a. UBAG ] emergency funding, medical facilities , and Crime Victims Reparations.
Signs to Look For:
Many people are interested in ways that they can predict they are about to become involved with someone who may be abusive. Below is a list of some behaviors that have been consistently linked to potentially abusive people. The last four signs are almost always seen if a person is abusive. If a person demonstrates three or more signs, there is a strong possibility for physical violence. The more signs a person demonstrates, the more likely they are to be abusive. In some cases a batterer may have only a couple of the behaviors that a person can identify, they are very exaggerated, [e.g., extreme jealousy over ridiculous things]. Initially an abusive person may try to explain their behavior as genuine concern and love, however as time goes on the behaviors become more severe and serve to dominate and control the victim.
JEALOUSY
Abusers often say, at the begining of a relationship, that their jealosy is a sign of love; jealousy has nothing to do with love! Jealousy is a sign of insecurity and possessiveness.
CONTROLLING
BEHAVIOR
Abusers may show concern for your safety, advise the victim to use their time wisely and make good decisions; yet abusers will be angry if the victim is "late" getting home from an appoinment, or the store. The abuser will closely question where the victim went, and who they spoke with, how much money was spent and so on.
QUICK
INVOLVEMENT
Many victims dated or knew their abusers for less then six months before they were engaged or living together. It may have seemed like a "whirlwind romance" or "love at first site". Abusers need someone desperately and often the victim is pressured into making a commitment.
UNREALISTIC
EXPECTATIONS
Abusers are very dependent on the victim for all their needs, and expect the victim to be the perfect husband, wife, lover and friend. Victims are expected to take care of everything for the abuser, emotionally and in the home.
ISOLATION
Abusers try to cut victims off from all resources. Friends & family who are of support are accused of causing trouble or interfering in the relationship. Abusers may want to relocate to an area in the country, live without a phone, not allow the victim to use the car, have any money, work or go to school.
BLAMES OTHERS FOR PROBLEMS
If the abuser is chronically unemployed, someone is always doing them wrong, or out to get them. Abusers may make mistakes and then blame the victim for upsetting them or keeping them from concentrating on their jobs. Victims are often told they are at fault for almost everything that goes wrong in the abuser's life.
BLAMES OTHERS FOR FEELINGS
Victims are often told by abusers, "you make me mad," "you're hurting me by not doing what I ask," or "I can't help being angry." Abusers make decisions about what they think and feel, but use those feelings to manipulate the victim. Often victims feel guilty, as if they can never do enough or be enough for the abuser, and desperately try to please the abuser and make then "Happy".
HYPERSENSITIVE
Abusers are easily insulted, claiming they feel "hurt" when they are really mad, and take the slightest set back as a personal attack. Abusers may "rant and rave" about the injustice of things that have happened to them, things that are a part of everyday living, [e.g., getting a traffic ticket, being asked to work overtime, helping with chores or the children].
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS & CHILDREN
Abusers may punish pets and animals brutally or be insensitive to their pain and suffering. Abusers may expect children to be capable of doing things far beyond their ability, [e.g., whip a 2 year old for wetting their diaper, expect a 5 year old to do his/her own laundry]. Sixty percent of abusers [men] that beat their spouses also beat their children.
Safe at Home Presentations:
V.V.A.P. advocates and volunteers provide education and information to the community through Safe at Home Presentations at local businesses, schools, hospitals, churches and interested organizations. The presentations help create awareness in the community and clearly define what domestic violence is and how it affects individuals and society as a whole.
Safe at Home Presentations provide information to abusers, victims, neighbors and families. Offers suggestions to the abusers to take responsibilty for their actions, a victim's guide to get help, and suggestions to family, friends and neighbors who may suspect, witness or hear abuse in a household.
Safe at Home Presentations also address and dispel many myths or misconceptions about family violence. Domestic violence is no longer a "private family matter" , domestic violence is a crime !
Protective Orders:
Persons Eligible to Petition for Protective Orders:
YOU MUST MEET THE COHABITANT GUIDELINES
A: The other party is or was your spouse
B: You are related by blood or marriage to the other party
C: You have one or more children in common with the other party
D: You live or have lived in the same residence with the other party
YOU MUST BE A VICTIM OF ABUSE OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE or there must be a substantial likelihood of immediate abuse or domestic violence.
Vernal Victim Advocacy Program assists victims in the completion and filing of Protective Orders with the Eighth District Court Clerk, at no cost. Protective Orders provide victims and their abusers with specific guidelines, which must be adhered to, for the safety of the victims and their families. Any abuser not in compliance with the Protective Order Guidelines has committed a violation and can be placed under arrest.
There are a few different kinds of Protective Orders
CIVIL
When no arrest was made, at the time of the incident, the victim was able to provide evidence and, or a compelling statement that exhibits eminent danger.
CRIMINAL
The respondent [abuser] is taken into custody by law enforcement and a No Contact order is issued by the jail for a period of 24-72 hours. Again the victim may obtain a Protective Order Petition through V.V.A.P. and be assisted with the completion and filing with the District Court Clerk.
ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN
A cohabitant or any party interested in a minor may petition for a Protective Order on behalf of the minor. The petition may be filed in Juvenile Court unless you or the other party are a parent of the minor child.
Childrens Issues:
How Children Ask For Help:
Adults can usually describe how violence at home is effecting them. They can say things like, "I am afraid," or "I feel guilty." It is much harder for children to describe their feelings in words. They often act out their feelings instead of saying them. Many behaviors that anger or worry adults are really children's ways of asking for HELP with something that is bothering them. Hearing, seeing or knowing about family violence does effect children. This list gives some examples of how children of different ages ask for help with what is bothering them. There might be some other things that children do to seek HELP that is not on the list, and the ages at which the behaviors occur might be different.
Infants:
Sleep disturbances, sleeping too much, not sleeping restfully, difficulty feeding always wanting to eat or refusing to eat, continually fussy and crying, unable to be comforted or easily startled.
Toddlers & Pre-School:
Chronic stomachaches and headaches, nausea, night terrors or difficulty going to bed, unable to be comforted, general sadness, not knowing how to play or difficulty socializing with other children, meaness.
Elementary:
School problems, difficulty concentrating, school phobia, problems getting along with friends and classmates. Frequent injuires or reckless behavior, constant talking about fears, difficulty leaving a parent or having a parent leave. Bed wetting, thumb sucking, agressive or intimidating behaviors, cruelty to animals or smaller children.
Junior High High School:
Destruction of property, truancy, agressive behavior or violent behaviors. Running away, substance abuse, talk of suicide, threats of attempting suicide, nightmares, stashing a weapon, depression, having no friends and not participating in any outside activities.
Any Age:
Physical complaints such as headache, stomachaches, sleep problems, eating problems, constant sadness or nervousness, withdrawl and isolation. Because you know your children, you can notice when your children begin any of these problem behaviors. One very helpful guideline: If a troublesome behavior continues for a month, it is not... "just a phase," and the child may need professional HELP!
Domestic Violence:
What is Domestic Violence ?
The term Domestic Violence includes a variety of abusive behaviors or threats of abuse. The following examples describe some of the ways a person can be abused. Not all acts of domestic violence are criminal acts.
Physical
Hitting, slapping, kicking, choking, using weapons or objects that can cause harm, and restraining or threatening to harm you, your children, relatives or friends.
Sexual
Acting violently or physically harming you while having sex, forcing unwanted sex, forcing sex after a violent action, raping you, or using objects to cause harm during sex. Withholding sex and affection as a form of punishment.
Emotional
Ignored your feelings, manipulated you with lies and contradictions, withheld approval, or appreciation, regularly threatened to leave or told you to leave.
Psychological
Name calling, ridiculing, criticizing, intimidating, accusing you of having an affair, controlling your actions, money, friends and activities.
The Battering Cycle:
PHASE ONE, THE TENSION BUILDING
Abusers become more and more prone to react negatively to frustration. Small episodes of violence escalate to minor assaults, but are minimized by both the abuser and the victim, perhaps as just a "bad argument".The victim may try to become nurturing, supportive or just stay out of the abuser's way to prevent the violence. In order to maintain this role the victim must show no anger. Victims who have been battered over a period of time usually know that these lesser incidents will get worse. However the victim may cope by reasoning that they deserved the abuse. When the abuser explodes, the victims often assume the guilt by blaming themselves. The small episodes of violence become more frequent, the tension between abuser and victim becomes unbearable. As the point of inevitability closes in, the relationship rapidly moves into phase two, the acute battering incident.
PHASE TWO, THE BATTERING INCIDENT
Phase two is the uncontrolled discharge of tension built up in phase one. The lack of control and major destructiveness of the incident is what distinguishes it from the small episodes of phase one. Phase two is the shortest phase, usually lasting from minutes to a few hours. During this phase both abuser and victim accept that the abuser's rage is out of control. While the abuser may start out intending to "teach the victim a lesson", the abuser will not stop until they feel the victim has been appropriately "disciplined". The abuser often finds that the victim is severely injured, yet is very calm. The trigger for the abuser's attack is rarely the victim's behavior, rather some outside event or the internal state of the abuser. Once the attack is over the victim will experience shock, denial and disbelief that it really happened. Victims of trauma usually suffer an emotional collapse, 24-48 hours after an incident.Their symptoms include listlessness, depression and feelings of helplessness.
PHASE THREE, REMORSE, LOVING, HOPE
Also known as the "HONEYMOON PHASE", phase three is characterized by the extremely kind, loving and contrite behavior of the abuser.The abuser knows they have gone too far and tries to make it up to the victim. This phase is welcomed by both parties, but ironically it is also the phase during which the victimization becomes complete. The abuser behaves in a charming and loving manner. They are usually very sorry for their actions. The abuser conveys remorse to the victim and promises that it will not happen again, and begs for forgiveness. Sometimes abusers truly believe it will never happen again,or that they have taught the victim such a lesson that never again will the victim "behave" in a way that tempts the abuser to physically assault them. The abuser is often quite sincere and can usually easily convince anyone involved that his or her behavior will change; especially the victim themselves.
IN TIME THE CYCLE WILL START ALL OVER AGAIN
