Last year, the Lynn Public Schools (LPS) offered teachers professional development on trauma-informed learning. This year, LPS offered an anti-bias curriculum. The progression of these two trainings highlights a connection that I would like to see us make between domestic violence, one of the most common and intractable sources of trauma, and current national movements.
The harmful effects of domestic violence, or intimate partner violence are felt in our schools through its impact on children as well as through economic insecurity, food insecurity, housing instability, and public safety when intergenerational trauma creates cycles of violence.
Important national conversations are creating opportunities for us to make progress on stopping domestic violence. Black Lives Matter has called attention to racial disparities and reforming public safety. The “Me Too” movement has highlighted the harmful trauma caused by sexual harassment and assault.
The City of Lynn should build on many ongoing efforts currently underway to prevent and respond to domestic violence and draw on momentum from those national movements to prevent this too common source of underlying trauma.
The Lynn Police Department, Essex County District Attorney’s Office, Department of Children and Families, and Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC) have an effective High Risk Team that meets regularly to coordinate responses in dangerous domestic violence cases.
The Lynn Police Department has a dedicated unit to respond to domestic violence calls.
Organizations like Girls Inc. partner with LPS to teach students about healthy relationships.
But the problem is still prevalent.
In 2019, the Lynn Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit handled about 1,800 cases and 1,243 restraining orders were filed in Lynn District Court. While numbers may be down in 2020, experts believe that violence has most likely increased but gone underreported because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are some ideas that I support to help us better prevent and respond to domestic violence on the local level that draw on the momentum from larger national conversations.
First, the City of Lynn, spurred by advocacy from the Lynn Racial Justice Coalition, is considering the formation of an unarmed crisis response team. This would be a great way to make professionals available with specific skills and training, including de-escalation and sensitive or clinical situations involving mental health, substance abuse, and domestic disputes.
A victim of domestic violence weighs many considerations in deciding whether to call the police. Among those are some reasons not to call, like the risk of blowback from the abuser and the potential immigration and economic consequences to the victim’s family if the abuser is arrested. An unarmed crisis response team would give victims another option that might work better in some circumstances. This model has the potential to free up police resources to be more available for physically dangerous law enforcement scenarios.
Second, prioritize funding to train police officers for those scenarios where they are involved in responding to domestic violence calls and to address domestic violence committed by police personnel themselves. The Biden Administration, making reference to the #MeToo movement, has made ending violence against women a top priority. This will hopefully mean more opportunities for funding.
Third, another consequence of domestic violence that victims and survivors are left to deal with is housing. We are having an important conversation in Lynn about affordable housing that is also happening in cities around the country facing a shortfall in housing supply. Resources for victims and survivors of domestic violence should be prioritized in that conversation.
Finally, the lethality of domestic violence increases drastically when there is a gun in the household, including unlawful guns. Community and City leaders are working together to improve communication, build trust, address racial disparities in government, and help make people of color feel safer when interacting with the police. Greater trust in the community will support efforts to take unlawful guns off the streets.
This work will require cooperation and resources. We should center and elevate the voices of victims and survivors. Even by listening, we can support progress that those on the frontlines are making by destigmatizing the issue and undercutting the myth that domestic violence is a private issue and not a matter of public importance.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call 911 if you are in immediate danger and call 1-800-547-1649 to reach HAWC’s 24-Hour hotline.
Jared Nicholson is a candidate for mayor of Lynn. He is currently a member of the Lynn School Committee and a law professor at Northeastern University.
