Florida Sees 37% Rise in Domestic Violence

There has been a spike in domestic violence throughout Florida, and officials are saying the grinding recession and troubled economy are to blame.

According the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, there was a 37% increase in the state's 42 certified domestic violence centers from August through December of last year.

In a recent report prepared for the legislature, the coalition wrote, "We know when perpetrators are laid off from work there is increased severity in violence and frequency of violent assaults because he is home more often."

Advocates acknowledge that although domestic violence can occur in good economic times and in bad, the recession is taking its toll, with more than 33% of Floridians unemployed.

According to Karen Oehme, director of the Institute for Family Violence Studies at Florida State University, bad economic times have a cascading effect, and that domestic violence is more likely to occur in households strapped for cash.

Furthermore, hard economic times have also led to an increase in economic and financial abuse.  It's not uncommon for abusers to keep their victims economically trapped by seizing their paychecks and denying them access to money.

Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, social services agencies are also strained to the breaking point, making it difficult, if not impossible, to provide aid, relief, help, and resources to victims of domestic violence.  

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