Domestic violence in Vicksburg: what you need to know

Recent events such as the killing of Christopher Johnson this week have revealed the deep-seated issues related to domestic violence and the difficulties faced while trying to escape it.

Comments such as “the system failed her” or “the police should have done more” indicate there are strong emotions surrounding the issue that seems to have impacted most of our community.

Sgt. Kathryn Trueheart oversees domestic related investigations for the Vicksburg Police Department. Trueheart says that Vicksburg Municipal Court has days set aside for domestic-related issues. In this setting, there are a limited number of people in the courtroom, giving victims a more comfortable atmosphere in which to tell their stories to the court.

Advocates from Haven House are on hand to offer counseling to victims if they choose to accept it, Trueheart says. Anna Tillotson is the program manager for Haven House’s shelter. She and Outreach Coordinator Krystal Hamlin attend domestic violence court proceedings in hopes of lending support to victims. Tillotson says that they are available 24 hours a day to offer services to those needing them.

“It’s sometimes hard for someone to reach out and break the cycle of abuse,” she said.

Both women say the key factor is making the decision to end the abuse and follow through with the needed steps to end their abusive relationship.

Domestic violence occurs in all socio-economic and ethnic groups. Statistically, one in three women and one in four men have experienced physical violence in an intimate relationship. Victims leave their abusers and return to the relationship seven times before they finally break free.

The reasons it takes that many attempts are varied and complicated. Leaving is the most dangerous time for victims. Abuse is about power and control, and abusers will use threats, including threatening death and taking children away, to keep them in line. Typically, abusers will also control their victim’s access to money and other resources, and deliver a constant litany of emotional abuse, making victims feel powerless. All of that and more makes leaving a violent relationship very difficult.

Tillotson says they will often meet people in a safe setting to discuss what victims need to do and the resources available to them. When law enforcement answers domestic calls, they often leave a victim’s rights packet that contains information about available resources and how the court system works.

In its 2019 Annual Report, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported that 19,294 victim’s rights packets were distributed last year.

Victims face a number of personal, financial, and legal challenges in the process of safely escaping the toxic environment. Success is more likely for those that have support from families, communities and organizations that can help them navigate the process and connect them with resources like housing, protection orders and counseling.

Tillotson encourages people who think a family member or friend might be a victim to call Haven House at 601-638-0555 or visit the website. She says sometimes giving a victim a card or brochure can give them the confidence to take action to end the cycle of abuse.

Mississippi Code Title 97 outlines the laws that pertain to most abuse cases in Mississippi. Sgt. Trueheart says that frequently, Judge Angela Carpenter will make a condition of a perpetrator’s bond that they are held for 24 hours as a cooling-off period.

Kelley Branch, David Day and Ronni Mott contributed to this report.