Advocate stresses the need for domestic violence to be addressed

Domestic violence homicides are on the rise in Oklahoma and one advocate says all partners must work together to address the crisis. 

(OKLAHOMA) In February, Oklahoma’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board released statistics showing domestic violence homicides in the state are on the rise. 

That report stated, “The 122 domestic violence-related homicide victims identified in 2023 is the highest number since the DVFRB started collecting data in 2002. The total marks five consecutive years where the DVFRB has identified more than 100 victims who were killed due to domestic violence in Oklahoma." 

Brandon Pasley has been the Vice President of Compliance and Operations for the YWCA in Oklahoma City for 10 years. 

He is also a member of the Fatality Review Board and says law enforcement, domestic violence advocates and the legal system need to look harder at the current programs in place for addressing offenders convicted of domestic violence. 

Currently Oklahoma requires all domestic violence offenders, even those with a misdemeanor to go through a 52 week Batterers Intervention Program that Pasley says is modeled on the cognitive behavioral therapy model. 

Pasley says this isn’t enough and says that many who are ordered to complete the program don’t. 

“We have to measure it when it is done with fidelity,” said Pasley. “Meaning that if we say there are consequences involved and somebody does something or doesn't do something and we don't deliver the consequences then we as the system providers and facilitators have not created accountability in the program. So if we say, hey if you do this again we're gonna incarcerate you and then they do it again and we give them a slap on the wrist it ain't working.”

Pasley also says that the community partners working to address domestic violence such as law enforcement, legislators, social workers, and advocacy groups need to be on the same page about preventing domestic violence. 

Pasley believes that the state needs to determine how it’s going to measure the effectiveness of Batterers Intervention and identify key benchmarks such as how much participation is required from each offender who is ordered to be in the program. 

“If they're sitting in the group with their arms crossed for 90 minutes a week then we're not gonna get anywhere,” said Pasley. “So it's about what is the level of participation required to continue in the group.”

The goal of the Batterer Intervention program is to get offenders to recognize what constitutes abuse and take accountability for where they recognize abusive patterns in themselves and what got them into their situation. 

Pasley tells VNN Oklahoma, that Batterer Intervention is currently the only program in Oklahoma that is legally required for domestic violence offenders to participate in. 

While some offenses do get jail time, the time served tends to be short.  

The Oklahoma legislature is currently looking at legislation to those convicted of certain domestic violence offenses to serve at least 85% of their sentences. 

According to the Oklahoma legislature, the average length of a sentence for an offender convicted of domestic abuse by strangulation is 10.99 years. However, the average time served for this conviction is 1.63 years. 

If legislation passes requiring offenders of this crime to serve at 85% of their sentence, the average time served for domestic abuse by strangulation would be 9.34 years. 

Pasley says there has also been an escalation in the weapons used when people kill their partner. 

Between 01-2011, around 52% of domestic violence homicides were committed with firearms. In 2023, that percentage rose to around 72%.

As to a reason for the increase in firearms in Domestic Violence homicides, Pasley says, “Not one that we have determined as a board. But I can tell you that firearms will likely be at the top of our list for next year, for that very reason.” 

Additionally, Pasley says there’s another key thing to remember when addressing the issue: offenders can be people you would never expect. 

“They're charismatic, they're charming, they're intelligent, they're clever and they present well. I mean offenders come from every walk of life. We've got the deacon at the church, the little league coach but they present so well that nobody ever knows it and so um it's really multifaceted when it comes to that."

Addressing domestic violence isn’t just about adults, it’s also about doing it to make better families. 

That includes ensuring that children in these situations receive therapy and working to break the cycle. 

“We have young adults who have an intervention for the first time and they’re telling us honestly, I didn’t know that was domestic violence,” said Pasley. “That’s all I’ve ever known. That’s been my whole life. And that’s true for victims and offenders.” 

Anyone experiencing domestic violence in Oklahoma can call 800-522-7233.