October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

WAUSAU, Wis. (WXCO) – Domestic and family violence claimed the lives of 109 individuals in 2024.That’s according to a recent report from End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, which shows the highest number of deaths from domestic and family violence in 23 years. 

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

Jane Graham Jennings is the executive director of The Women’s Community, a Wausau-based organization that helps people affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking. 

Jennings spoke with Chad Holmes this week on the WXCO Morning Show.

She says it’s hard to combat the rising number of deaths because of the complexity of domestic violence. 

“There still is a tendency for people to blame victims, and there’s still not an incentive for people who cause harm to change,” Jennings said. “Literally, we let people get away with harming someone that they claim to love.”

She says there is a power dynamic in a household affected by domestic violence. 

“The people who choose harm manipulate and control everything,” Jennings said. “They manipulate the systems, they manipulate law enforcement, they manipulate judges, and they keep getting away with that.”

Wisconsin has a mandatory arrest law for domestic violence cases. This means when a police officer is called to a scene of domestic violence, they are required to find out who the predominant aggressor is and arrest them.

Jennings said that law hasn’t curbed the problem.

“What we see more in the criminal legal system is people who use power and control manipulate the entire system and continue to be manipulative and continue to harm and hurt their family members, and they use the legal system to do that,” she said.

Jennings says for those who may be in a domestic violence situation: you are not alone, it’s not your fault, and there is help for you. 

“Please reach out. Help is available. We are here. We believe you. And we understand,” she said.

You can donate to the Women’s Community at their website. All donations will be matched up to ten thousand dollars throughout October.