Domestic abuse on the rise as stay-at-home orders go into place

Domestic abuse on the rise as stay-at-home orders go into place

Alicia says: isolation is a common tool of abuse so what is someone to do if isolation is now mandated by the state?

Susie says: i believe that victims are afraid to go out or they don't have the opportunity friends and family aren't going to drive them someplace if they don't have transportatio susie is the executive director of the illinois valley safe house alliance in cave junction -- in this past month susie says they saw 50 victims, a number that is lower than normal.

Susie says: "when their abuser is at home sometimes there's a really small window of opportunity for a victim to leave and if the abuser is there all the time they don't have that window of opportunity" susie says abusers won't just isolate their victims, but they will sensor the information their victims have to the outside world.

Susie says: "so with this virus the abuser may also be telling them that they can't go out because they're not letting them access news media and they're telling them things they want them to" susie says she's already seen this happen.

Susie says: "a victim who reached out and called us thought that we were closed their abuser had told them we were closed susie says even though the response to covid-19 has created some barriers, the illinois valley safe house alliance and many other shelters are still open and offering services to anyone in need.

Alicia says: coming up tonight, a statement from the united nations calling for action from local and state governments a look at the resources that are currently available on newswatch 12 at 6.

Reporting from home, alicia rubin, newswatch