Culture of violence

The flowers on Summer Rust's casket were purple, the same color as the domestic violence ribbons worn by so many of the 400 mourners attending the funeral in El Reno for the young mother and her four small children who were strangled Jan. 12., a day after Rust ended a relationship with Joshua Durcho.

Durcho, a bodybuilder and tattoo artist who lived with Rust, is charged in the slayings.

In the first two weeks of a bleak January, Oklahoma averaged one domestic violence-related slaying every 36 hours. If that pace continues, our state might even surpass its No. 4 national ranking for women killed per capita in domestic violence-related crimes.

With a deteriorating economy, a trigger for this type of violence, little hope exists that this year will be any different. On average 60 people from all demographics die annually from such crimes in Oklahoma. In 2007, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation received 23,400 reports of domestic violence.

Against this very dark backdrop, the Legislature is proposing more laws to protect the innocent and penalize perpetrators. Legislation by Senate Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, would more easily put guns in the hands of domestic abuse victims who've obtained an emergency protective order. Another bill would create a registry for felons convicted of domestic violence crimes. One lawmaker has even proposed making domestic abuse an automatic felony on a first offense.

A law recently went into effect allowing prosecutors to file a felony charge against second-time offenders in domestic abuse cases. Prosecutors always could file felony charge in aggravated cases involving significant bodily harm. But the new law permits filing of felony charges before abuse reaches that level. The intent is to break the cycle of violence. Over the past 25 years, Oklahoma has produced dozens of laws related to domestic violence. But crime numbers keeping growing and so does the body count.

Meanwhile, victim shelters continually run full in both urban and rural areas. Services to assist victims with transportation, childcare, mental health and substance abuse counseling, and legal representation are in high demand. Victim advocates and shelter staff remain overworked and poorly paid, and too few in number.

On Sept. 17, the National Network to End Domestic Violence conducted its annual 24-hour national survey of domestic violence programs. On that single day in Oklahoma, 756 victims received services including 358 who found refuge in emergency shelters or transitional housing. Almost 400 others received individual counseling, legal advocacy or support groups. Hot lines took 488 calls, more than 20 per hour from the frantic and the frightened. What is most troubling about this one-day snapshot is that 73 people were turned away because "there was no room at the inn."

Stunned by all those killings in January, Attorney General Drew Edmondson made a public appeal for domestic abuse victims to seek help through his office's 24-hour Safeline, 1-800-522-SAFE.

Marcia Smith, executive director of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, also spoke out. The "annihilation of the family in El Reno is made so much more tragic by the reality that such incidents are becoming commonplace."

Smith, who tracks domestic violence and champions its victims, is right. Despite all our laws, violence has surged over the past two years. No one seems to know exactly how to stop the killings, injuries and displacements.

Under Coffee's proposal victims obtaining emergency protective orders also could apply for an emergency, 180-day concealed weapon permit. Applicants would be required to clear a criminal background. But the normal procedure of requiring applicants to pass a gun safety course before receiving the license would be waived in these cases. Instead, emergency permit holders could take the course at a later date.

Opponents of the bill argue that while it is well-intentioned it could end up endangering as many victims as it protects.

What isn't open to debate is the critical need for more services. Nearly 80 percent of domestic abuse programs have fewer than 20 paid staff; 37 percent have fewer than 10. Many shelters are run down and inadequate because of relentless and heavy demand. More help for those trying to escape harm is desperately needed.

The Legislature, which could have appropriated more state money toward programs in healthier economic times, failed to do so. And now, with a $600 million hole in expected revenues, few dollars exist for expanded funding. Local money and private donations, always a major source of support, also may run short in this recessionary time. Nevertheless, those sources could be the best hope.

Support for programs, shelters and advocacy is one of the few things standing in the way of more casualties. Without help, an already deadly situation will get deadlier; efforts to educate against a culture of violence will go by the wayside.

As Edmondson said back in January, "One person dying every day and a half at the hands of a domestic partner is shocking and unacceptable."

Julie DelCour, 561-8379
julie.delcour@tulsaworld.com

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