Domestic violence rises in economy’s decline

Posted at: 01/18/2010 8:05 PM
By: Taryn Bianchin, KOB.com

Police and victim's organizations say a lack of income, and the financial stress that it causes, increases physical violence in some New Mexico households.

For three decades, Family Crisis Center in Farmington has helped families in San Juan County deal with domestic violence. Officials at the non-profit say that within the last year, nearly 3500 people came looking for help, 1200 more than the center saw in 2008.

Officials at the center point to the recession as a big reason behind the increase.

Police say they're seeing a similar trend, catching many calls from homes where family members are fighting.

Sgt. Robert Perez of the Farmington Police: "Unfortunately, domestic violence continues to be a problem that law enforcement-- not only locally but nationally-- deals with on a very regular basis."

Family Crisis Center is building a new shelter to keep up with the growing demand but knows more space won't solve the underlying problem of domestic violence.

Could getting people back to work help?

"We have a job coach at the Family Crisis Center, and she's had to get pretty creative in trying to find job opportunities for our clients, finding temporary work, seasonal work," a worker at the center said.

Family Crisis Center created a job coaching position in August with the help of stimulus money from the state’s crime victims office.

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