Resources for Merced domestic violence survivors

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Domestic violence has quietly fueled an increase in assault cases investigated this year by the Merced Police Department.

Additionally the San Joaquin Valley, where Merced is located, is home to the highest reported rates of domestic violence in the state.

The Merced Police Department saw a 1% increase in assaults the first three quarters of this year, compared to the same time last year. According to Merced Police Chief Steven Stanfield, 20 domestic violence cases were responsible for the increase.

In Merced County, survivors of domestic violence do not have to navigate their struggles alone, thanks to a network of advocates, from Valley Crisis Center and UC Merced’s CARE office, to the Merced County District Attorney’s Office and even the local police department.

Within hours, survivors in Merced can be connected with the resources they need to overcome domestic violence, whether they are a UC student or a working individual.

Here’s how:

The crucial first hours

The first hours after a violent incident are chaotic and terrifying for survivors, advocates say. That’s why the people who answer the phone at Valley Crisis Center and UC Merced’s CARE office focus on two things: safety and choice.

UC Merced’s CARE Office Director Val Villanueva, advises survivors to prioritize their immediate safety and, if possible, leave the violent situation to find a safe space.

After a survivor is physically safe, Lupe Garcia with the nonprofit Valley Crisis Center recommends the survivor reach out for confidential support.

Valley Crisis Center advocates are available around the clock and can help survivors come up with a safety plan tailored to their specific needs. Survivors also have the choice not to involve the police.

“So, the third step then is to remember that (the survivor), they’re the person in power,” Garcia said. “They deserve to be respected and safe. Those are the most important things to remember in those types of situations.”

What happens if the survivor calls 911?

Some survivors may choose to involve the police immediately by calling 911. Domestic violence calls are among the most dangerous and unpredictable situations officers respond to, Stanfield said.

After calling 911, a survivor can expect Merced police to respond in pairs. Responding officers will separate all parties before speaking to them and identifying a “primary aggressor.”

Determining the primary aggressor is important in the state of California, since state law mandates an arrest if police determine a domestic violence crime occurred.

“We don’t have any discretion there,” Stanfield said. “… Whoever the primary aggressor is, is getting arrested.”

After determining the primary aggressor, police officers begin working to assist the survivor.

Officers at the scene can request an emergency protective order from an on-call judge. Emergency protective orders are short-term court orders meant to immediately bar an arrested person from contacting the survivor while a longer-term safety plan is established.

While still on scene, officers can provide survivors with information on victims’ rights under California’s Marsy’s Law. Police also will attempt to connect survivors with the Valley Crisis Center and Merced County District Attorney’s Victim Witness Assistance Center, which can help with court and longer-term support.

Staff in the DA’s Victim Witness Unit help survivors understand upcoming hearings, go over their rights, and accompany them to court if they want someone by their side. They also function as a bridge between prosecutors, law enforcement and outside service providers.

Staff with the DA’s office can also help survivors apply for California’s victim compensation program, which provides funding to cover costs such as counseling, medical bills, and even in some cases relocation costs when home is unsafe for the survivor.

The go-to outside service provider is the Valley Crisis Center, which helps survivors with civil court, family court, and even restraining orders.

According to Garcia, the local nonprofit also offers crisis counseling, a 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter placement, peer counseling and support groups, connections to housing resources, and long-term healing services.

Not every survivor wants to involve the police or go through the legal process, advocates say. For this reason, Valley Crisis Center and UC Merced’s CARE Office emphasize that their support does not depend on a report to law enforcement.

Survivors can call, text, or walk in to talk through what is happening at home, while getting help with a safety plan, or ask about options at both offices. For UC Merced students, staff, and faculty, CARE can assist with academic accommodations, changes in campus housing, and no-contact directives on campus.

Gaps and challenges

Even with its dedicated network of services, advocates say Merced’s safety net has holes.

The biggest one is affordable housing, especially for survivors trying to leave home with children and start over in the rental market. Transportation and access to long-term counseling can also be major barriers, particularly for people living in rural parts of the county.

“The cost of living has made safe housing harder to find, especially for families that are starting over with the limited income,” Garcia said.

This reality can make it harder and more dangerous to leave an abusive relationship, Garcia said.

Know the warning signs

According to Villanueva, there are many different forms of domestic abuse and violence, including:

Physical abuse: Causing physical harm such as hitting, kicking, or slapping.
Emotional and verbal abuse: Putting someone down, name-calling, gaslighting, threats, and psychological manipulation.
Financial abuse: Controlling a partner’s access to financial resources like bank accounts, jobs, or preventing financial independence.
Digital abuse: Using technology to monitor, control, or harm, such as tracking a partner’s location, demanding access to phones or social media, excessive messaging, or surveillance.
Academic abuse: Manipulating or interfering with someone’s education, preventing studying, attending classes, or pursuing academic goals.
Spiritual abuse: Using beliefs or religious practices as a form of control.
Immigration status abuse: Using someone’s immigration circumstances to threaten or control.
Abuse involving children: Threatening to take children away or using them as leverage.

These various forms of abuse can overlap, Villanueva said.

“Domestic violence is rooted in power and control,” she said.

What can friends and family do?

What if someone isn’t a survivor themselves but fears a loved one is falling victim to domestic violence?

First, advocates want those loved ones to understand that confronting a suspected abuser runs the risk of escalating the situation.

Instead, advocates recommend checking in privately with the person they are concerned about, listening without judgment, and letting the victim know help is available if they want it.

For Villanueva and Garcia, the message to survivors is simple: what is happening to you is not your fault, and you don’t have to face it alone.

“It’s scary to reach out for help, but it’s also very courageous,” Villanueva said. “And so, we want folks to know that our advocates are here and waiting for them, and they’re ready to support them, whenever they’re ready, however their support looks, whatever it looks like for them.”