(Updated) What can we learn from Alaska’s law on Domestic Violence

During the past two-plus years of living with the pandemic Domestic Violence has increased dramatically. We have to keep the topic of Dometic Violence in our lawmaker’s front mirror in order to enact change. 

I flipped to the National Geographic channel to find Alaska State Troopers one day. Watching was a blessing. The show opened my eyes to ending domestic violence. Ending domestic violence is happening now, not somewhere in the future. We have to raise our voices louder and demand the same protection for all abused in other states. Below are notes were taken while watching several episodes.

Fairbanks, Alaska has the highest number of domestic violence cases in America.

Domestic violence calls are dispatched to Troopers as top priority status. Everyone on the scene was interviewed, once established as a domestic violence case, it’s an automatic assault charge and trip to jail. Other charges will follow based on the situation.

This is a very condensed version of what I watched:

A fight escalates, and the female screaming loudly to get out of the house. Punched multiple times, raped, and once outside pulled by the hair back into the house. When the police arrive she’s in the front yard in bra and panties, visible marks of being hit in the face, crying and trying to convince police nothing happened. Troopers receive education on domestic violence behavior. One officer goes into the house with a gun drawn. The second keeps lightly pushing, why is she in the front yard in her bra and panties with visible marks on her face. The male was taken to the side of the house, interviewed, handcuffed, and lead to a car. Officer provides a jacket to cover herself and support her, and she tells her what happened to leave out being raped. Her disheveled appearance tips one officer to ask what else happened. She bows her head crying not wanting to go to the hospital and tells of being raped. Thru the support and gentle urging, she agrees to hospital. The male was charged with assault and kidnapping for not allowing her to leave.

A neighbor hears a woman screaming, and goes to investigate. He witnesses a man beating a woman which quickly spills to the front yard. The neighbor calls the police, and they arrive to see a man running into the woods. One head into the woods with a gun drawn. The second officer discovers the male running is jealous of her other boyfriend. He looked thru the window to see another boyfriend there and breaks into the back door. He also assaulted the man. The abuser was charged with assault and taken to jail.

In Alaska, there is no first-time pass, first time, and every time abuser goes to jail. The top priority status given to DV calls backed by state laws written to protect all citizens, gives me hope. The laws in other states sound good to those who turn an eye to the problem. When states charge a teen for smoking pot with a  seven-year jail term and a murderer walks out in less than two years on good behavior, the legal system requires an overhaul. As paying taxpayers we have the right to vote, speak out and advocate for change.

Be sure you know where your lawmaker stands on Domestic Violence and vote accordingly. 

I want more people to see what can be done to stop Domestic Violence. 

Melinda