In an effort to underscore the league’s stance against domestic violence, the National Football League is backing a television spot for an organization working to combat domestic violence and sexual assault. The commercial features a woman talking to a 911 operator, pretending to order a pizza in an attempt to get help in a domestic abuse situation.
The NFL has been sharply criticized for not taking domestic abuse seriously following its handling of the Baltimore Ravens Ray Rice incident. Rice was caught on video delivering an incapacitating blow to his then fiancee. Many fans across the nation were outraged by the light punishment Rice received from the NFL, prompting the league to act.
Domestic violence is rampant and effects individuals across all socioeconomic backgrounds. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, NCADV, defines domestic violence as the “willful intimidation, physical assault, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another.”
Females account for 85 percent of domestic violence victimes. It is estimated that 1.3 million women are physically assaulted each year. Children are also effected – approximately 30 to 60 percent of children are targeted for violence by an abusive partner.
Victims of domestic violence often do not seek help. They are typically isolated from friends and family, psychologically beaten down, financially controlled and physically or emotionally threatened. They are often trapped in a cycle of hoping that things will improve to desperately trying to break away. When contemplating leaving the abusive relationship, victims often worry about the impact on their children – displacement from home and school, financial hardship and fear of an abusive spouse gaining visitation seem like insurmountable obstacles.
Fortunately, there is help for victims of domestic violence. A local organization, A Safe Place, provides services addressing domestic violence in Lake County, Illinois. A Safe Place offers support to victims ranging from shelter arrangements, counseling and directing victims to legal and financial resources. Our own attorney, Michael Strauss, was recently elected to the board of a Safe Place and is knowledgeable about the program and the hardships facing domestic abuse victims.
If you need legal information regarding restraining orders, child custody or support, spousal maintenance or other issues related to family law, contact the Law Offices of Shlesinger & Strauss, LLC. We have the knowledge, experience and compassion to help you. Contact us today.
Source: Wall Street Journal, “NFL Brings a Domestic-Abuse Ad to Super Bowl”, accessed January 27, 2015.
