Domestic violence survivor shares story, YWCA honors officers

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and in South Bend, there have been 1,101 reported domestic violence calls to police so far this year.

Tuesday, the YWCA North Central Indiana honored local police officers who respond to these tough calls.

Additionally, one survivor of domestic violence, Carly Jackson, shared her story with ABC57 News to help inspire other women in her situation to seek help.

“I hope that my story reaches women who need it,” she said.

She recalled the incessant anxiety living in an abusive relationship.

“I was terrified,” she said. “My whole life was walking on eggshells.”

With a baby son, Jackson knew she had to act to avoid becoming a statistic.

“I knew we needed different,” she said. “I knew what happened to me before, and I didn’t want that to happen to me again, and I for sure did not want that to happen to my son, no matter who the relationship was to him.”

Becoming a single mother ended up being the best decision for both of them. With this new chapter, and help from community resources, came a sense of empowerment that finally gave her a voice to share her story.

“Something that I want women to hear that I know I wish I would have been told and that I was told upon finding the right resources is, ‘girl, you are beautiful,’” Jackson said. “’You can do it. You don’t need nobody else, no man to do it for you. You can do it alone. You are smart. There is hope for you, you are worthy. You are loved. You make a difference. And yeah, you can do it.’”

Jackson says she got the help she needed—through resources like the YWCA North Central Indiana chapter.

“I would hope that everybody realizes that this is an issue that pertains to them,” said their CEO, Susan Tybon.

Experts say in a domestic violence situation, victims are in the most danger, when they are trying to leave their abuser.

That's also often the moment police get involved, and from there, things are unpredictable.

“Domestic violence calls are one of the hardest and most dangerous calls that we ever have to deal with, because there’s an unknown,” said South Bend Police Chief, Scott Ruszkowski.

In South Bend, the number of these calls are on the rise, with 1,101 domestic violence calls so far this year.

“The calls that these officers are going on are more high risk and more dangerous than they were in the past," Tybon said.

Data shows domestic violence perpetrators are often repeat offenders.

So, local law enforcement uses the DALE, or Danger Assessment Law Enforcement, questionnaire on such calls to determine a victim’s risk level of losing their lives at the hands of their abusers.

“Someone’s usually in fear for their safety,” said South Bend Police Officer Chris Butler. “So, it’s usually once we have a moment to separate the suspect and the victim, or whoever is calling the police, that we can really sit down and talk with them and go through the DALE assessment, kind of find out more in depth the history of what’s been going on. Because we can only be there 10 minutes, but on a day-to-day basis, they’re living with this person for 24 hours.”