New Jersey residents who are affected by domestic violence know how scary this crime can be. Domestic violence is so frightening that victims of are often too scared to escape their attacker. Many times, children are also involved in these tragic situations.
Recent domestic violence incidents in the NFL has shown that these crimes can happen to just about anybody. Last December, Jovan Belcher, who had played football for the Kansas City Chiefs, fatally shot his girlfriend and then killed himself. The shooting of Belcher’s girlfriend may happened in front of their three-month-old child. Also, more recently, the son of Minnesota Vikings player Adrian Peterson was apparently killed by the boyfriend of the child’s mother.
These extremely tragic events are common among all groups of people. While it may sound shocking to some, one-fourth of women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. Moreover, 85% of domestic violence victims are female. Many of these violent situations occur in front of children or involve children in some way.
Families who are affected by domestic violence may suffer from many kinds of abuse including physical abuse, sexual abuse, stalking and emotional abuse. The safety of children is always crucial. People who are affected by domestic abuse may find it helpful to consult with a legal professional skilled in family law. They can help obtain a restraining order against the abuser. Since abusers also typically scare their victims and render them utterly helpless, the victims often feel powerless. An attorney can help a victim obtain a restraining order to keep them and their family safe and move forward with divorce proceedings.
A victim of domestic violence often feels scared and helpless. Finding help to move forward with their life and their children’s lives is important. In New Jersey, an abuser can be held accountable for his or her threatening actions towards another.
Source: Huffington Post, “Pinkwashing in the NFL: Adrian Peterson and the tragedy of child murder during domestic violence awareness month,” Earl Smith and Angela Hattery, Nov. 6, 2013
