Presented by Eve F. Sheedy, Esq. Counsel for Domestic Violence Policy Los Angeles City Attorneys Office November 9 and 10, 2015 1 § 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 2 • Use of he/she • Gangs –No specificity • DV- No specificity • NO KELLI • Adapt suggestions to your own community/ issues 3 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) 5 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. 6 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 8 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 9 FILM 10 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) 11 HOW INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE DV/SA/ GANG VIOLENCE Community Violence Domestic Violence/ Sexual Violence 12 HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR DV, SA AND GANG VIOLENCE Sexual Violence Domestic Violence Gang Violence 13 DV/SA Services Gang Intervention Services 14 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 16 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 17 • DV Service Providers • Gang Intervention Agencies • Prosecutors • Probation • LAPD • GRYD • DCFS • LAUSD • Academics • ER’s 18 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 19 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 20 EVE.SHEEDY@LACITY.ORG 21