Saugus is participating in Domestic Violence Awareness month, and police chief Michael Ricciardelli is offering the department’s full support to those who may be experiencing abuse.
Ricciardelli also warns that the COVID-19 epidemic makes recognizing the signs of domestic abuse more important than ever.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 10 million people in the United States are victims of physical abuse by a partner each year. On average, one in three women and one in four men experience some form of physical violence by an intimate partner, the department wrote in a news release.
The domestic violence hotline reports that the number of domestic violence cases are on the rise as a result of coronavirus and lockdowns across the country.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to help those who are experiencing domestic violence access the support and resources they need,” Ricciardelli said. “We encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the warning signs of domestic violence and to share these resources with anyone who may need them.”
The signs of domestic abuse are as follows, Ricciardelli said:
The abuser denies or attempts to minimize the seriousness of violence and its impact on the victim;
An abusive individual objectifies the victim, viewing that person as property or a sexual object;
An abusive partner has low self-esteem;
An abusive partner may blame their violence on stress, alcohol, or other external factors;
An abusive partner may be perceived as friendly and kind by others, as that individual may be amicable and pleasant in between abusive events.
Red flags include: Extreme jealousy, possessive behavior, unpredictability, short, angry temper, cruelty to animals, verbal abuse, extremely controlling actions, non-consensual sex, ignoring agreed-upon birth control or sabotaging birth control, blaming the victim for abuse, preventing the victim from going to work or school, financial control, abuse of other people and/or animals, accusations that the victim is flirting with others, control of the victim’s apparel and actions, demeaning the victim, privately or publicly, as well as embarrassing that person in front of others, and harassing the victim at his or her workplace.
Ricciardelli said there is free and confidential support 24 hours a day, such as calling 911 for emergencies; calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224.
The Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance has compiled a list of services by county, which is available online, as well as lists of community-based resources and residential programs.
For domestic violence and sexual assault questions, guidance, referrals and general information, contact Saugus Police Detective Stacey Forni at 781-941-1190.
The Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance has also created SAFEPLAN brochures in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and Portugese that can help connect victims and survivors with needed resources and be prepared in the event of an emergency.
