Part 1: South Carolina ranks among worst for domestic violence
More women are abused and killed in South Carolina than other states, and conditions aren’t improving. News13 finds out where specific gaps are and what legislative efforts can be made to improve conditions.
Part 2: Rehabbing offenders is crucial to stopping domestic violence, but programs are rare
Domestic violence rehabilitation programs have proven to be extremely effective, however, programs are rare, and are hard to access. Out of every 20 students referred to the 26-week program – usually through the courts, an attorney or their pastor following an assault – only one will go on to reoffend.
Part 3: Trauma therapy for children is crucial to lowering domestic violence rates
A child’s risk of being a victim or perpetrator of abuse increases when they have witnessed it themselves. New therapies are hoping to combat that, and intervention is critical.
Part 4: Missing evidence, wrong arrests — How police agencies need to adjust responses to domestic violence calls
Police officers’ first response to a domestic violence incident is crucial to making or breaking a victim’s trust in the system. However, officers can arrest the wrong person and miss crucial evidence when they are at a scene.
Part 5: ‘One of the most dangerous calls:’ More officers die responding to domestic violence than other crimes
A domestic violence scene is one of the most dangerous calls police can go on. Here is how they train to make themselves safer and the reasons why the calls can turn deadly.
Part 6: Experts say judges need training on domestic violence, need to stop harmful orders
Advocates say the justice system needs training on domestic violence, including understanding why victims don’t testify, and learning about the harms of mutual orders of protection.
Part 7: Unknown victims — The hidden toll of domestic violence on suicide rates
Rates of depression, anxiety and PTSD are high among domestic violence survivors, who have been constantly belittled and separated from their support systems.
Part 8: With 8% of South Carolina high school students experiencing domestic violence each year, classrooms become key for prevention
High amounts of high school students have reported that they’ve been physically abused by a partner, but experts say many students don’t recognize the signs. Here’s what parents should look out for, and how abuse has changed in the digital age.
Part 9: South Carolina’s law banning same-sex couples from domestic violence relief tools has been declared unconstitutional — but remains on the books
A law barring same-sex couples from obtaining orders of protection has been ruled unconstitutional, however it remains on the books. Activists say this can be confusing, and that some clerks might not know it has been overturned.