Presented by Eve F. Sheedy, Esq.
Counsel for Domestic Violence Policy
Los Angeles City Attorneys Office
November 9 and 10, 2015
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§ Part 1: Is there a
connection?
§ Part 2: What does the
connection look like?
§ Part 3: FILM
§ Part 4: Changing the
Paradigm
§ Part 5: Addressing the
Barriers and working
together
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•  Use of he/she
•  Gangs –No specificity
•  DV- No specificity
•  NO KELLI
•  Adapt suggestions to
your own community/
issues
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IS THERE A CONNECTION?
§ Are the people who perpetrate gang violence also
perpetrating DV?
§ If they are the same people, what is the connection?
DO PEOPLE WHO COMMIT GANG
VIOLENCE ALSO COMMIT DV?
YES, BUT . . .
§  Limited Research:
§  “Silo-ing” of programs/funding
§  What we do know:
§  Problems co-occur
§  Study: Engaging in one type of aggression (striking strangers,
acquaintances, intimate partners, children) “significantly
increased” the probability of engaging in another type of
aggression.
Klevens, Joanne, Simon, Thomas R., and Chen, Jieru. “Are the Perpetrators of Violence One and the
Same? Exploring the Co-occurrence of Perpetration of Physical Aggression in the United States.” Journal
of Interpersonal Violence, 27(10)1987-2002 (2012)
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STUDIES SUPPORTING THE
CONNECTION
§ Study: In a study of gang violence and dating violence
offenders, 38% of dating violence offenders had
participated in a gang fight versus 12.5% who reported no
dating violence. “Dating violence was significantly
associated with gang membership.”
Chapple, Constance L., and Trina L. Hope, “An Analysis of the Self-Control and Criminal Versatility of Gang and Dating Violence
Offenders.” Violence and Victims, Volume 18, Number 6 (December 2003) 671-690.
§ Study: 50 Women who worked at Homegirl Café (gang-
involved) – vast majority reported being victim of DV
within the last 5 years.
Jorja Leap, Ph.D. and Todd Franke, Ph.D. “Grow. Prep. Serve: Homegirl Café Case Study” (2012), Funded by The
California Endowment, Building Healthy Communities Project at page 16.
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ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
§ Children Exposed To Violence (CEV): can lead to
aggressive behavior, emotional numbing, etc.
§ Participants in Homeboy Industries Batterer’s Intervention
Group
§ Reports from Gang Interventionists : LA, New Orleans,
Boston
§ Research of those charged with gang-related crimes by the
Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
CHARACTERISTICS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
§ Power and Control
§  Intimidation/threat of violence
§  Emotional abuse
§  Isolation/lack of independence
§  Privilege/entitlement
§  Financial control
§ Role of violence
§  Language/means of communication
§  Successful
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WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
CHARACTERISTICS OF GANG VIOLENCE
§ Power and Control
§  Intimidation/threat of violence
§  Emotional abuse
§  Isolation/lack of independence
§  Privilege/entitlement
§  Financial control
§  Role of violence
§ Language/means of communication
§ Successful
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FILM
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HOW DOES DV CONNECT TO GANG
VIOLENCE?
HOME TO COMMUNITY TO HOME
Witness/Experience
Violence At Home
Engage in Violence
At Home
Go Home/Start a
new family
Look for a Family
Join a Gang
Engage/Accept
Violence
(Power and Control)
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HOW INDIVIDUALS
EXPERIENCE DV/SA/
GANG VIOLENCE
Community
Violence
Domestic
Violence/
Sexual
Violence
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HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR DV, SA
AND GANG VIOLENCE
Sexual
Violence
Domestic
Violence
Gang
Violence
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DV/SA
Services
Gang
Intervention
Services
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Interventionists
§  Insight into safety
§  Knowledge about behaviors
and practices of the gang the
abuser belonged to
§  May have connections to “Put
Fires Out”/Lower the
temperature
§  May be able to create safe
solutions
§  May have insight to long term
vs. short term solutions
DV Service Providers
§  Identifies services available
§  Understands trauma/family
systems
§  Advocates for shelter
§  Can provide legal assistance (TRO)
§  Can provide counseling
§  May provide insight into DCFS,
other systems
BARRIERS FOR GANG AFFILIATED
VICTIMS/VICTIMS OF GANG AFFILIATED
ABUSERS FROM ACCESSING DV
SERVICES
•
Victims may not/can not identify as DV
Victims
•
Gang Intervention Services either do not
exist for women/girls
•
Victims may have “multiple abusers”
•
Territorial Issues – Where are services
located?
•
Victims may have criminal records
•
Underserved/Unserved Population –
reluctance of providers to provide
services/lack of knowledge
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BARRIERS FOR GANG
AFFILIATED BATTERERS TO
ACCESSING DV/SA SERVICES
§  Loss of status/position
§  Personal Safety
§  Loss of Reputation
§  Victimization is weakness/No
safe space to admit victimization
§  Where are services located?
§  Gang Interventionists may not
be qualified to provide
assistance/License to Operate
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•
DV Service Providers
•
Gang Intervention
Agencies
•
Prosecutors
•
Probation
•
LAPD
•
GRYD
•
DCFS
•
LAUSD
•
Academics
•
ER’s
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HURDLES
Ø COMMUNICATION VS. TALKING VS. TRUST
Ø UNDERSTANDING OF FUNDAMENTALS OF OTHER FIELD
Ø TAKES A LONG TIME
Ø DIFFICULT TO CHANGE MINDSET
Ø HARD TO COME TO SPECIFIC DEFINITION/PROTOCOL
Ø DIFFICULT TO CHANGE PROGRAMMING
Ø GRYD
Ø Law enforcement
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS/IMPACT IN
THE CITY OF LA
•  Participation of Toberman (intervention agency) in 40 hour training
•  GRYD: Training of Gang Interventionists in DV
•  Creating a broader lens for DV to include “perpetrator as trauma
victim.”
•  Policymakers raising the issue: Mayor/City Attorney
•  Blue Shield Funding/Cross Training
•  National Webinar
•  International Conference
•  Breaking silos as a model for future work
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EVE.SHEEDY@LACITY.ORG
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