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Monday Q&A: The Sun interviews Shea Calvert, director of victim's advocacy with the Clark County Attorney's Office

September 22, 2008

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and as director of the Victims Advocacy Division of the Clark County Attorney's Office, Shea Calvert is working to bring attention to the problem here. Recently Sun Community Editor Rachel Parsons talked with Calvert about her job.

Q: What does the victim's advocate do?

A: I assist victims with filing EPOs (emergency protective orders) and criminal charges, legal advocacy, community referrals, crisis counseling and safety planning.

Q: Do you see a lot of domestic violence in Clark County?

A: Oh, yeah. There's a big problem with it in Clark County. Last year in Clark County, between the assault and EPO filings, there were over 320, and statistically, only half are reported, so there's at least another 320 still out there.

Q: Why do you think there is such a problem here in the county?

A: I don't know if it's just lack of awareness and education involving domestic violence, because it's a very broad subject. It's not just the husband beating up the wife or the wife beating up the husband. It's a whole realm of things, and a lot of it is fear of reporting.

Q: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Are there any special events planned for the month?

A: During October, we will be planning a self-defense class for the women in our county who are victims of domestic violence. That will be Oct. 27, and Craig Caudill will instruct the class. We're doing a "Take Back the Night" march on Oct. 21 in front of the courthouse. We're also having Silent Witness Project that night, too. On Oct. 1, there will be 324 purple flags put up around the courthouse and the James Clark Judicial Center, and that will represent each reported case and EPO filing last year.

The Domestic Violence Council will be having a bake sale starting in Oct. and it will be in various locations around the community. We're working toward planning other events. We had a softball tournament in August, and right now I'm planning a basketball game and a golf scramble as well.

Q: What are some of the warning signs for domestic violence?

A: Making excuses for the perpetrator. You know, "He didn't mean to do that" or "She didn't mean to do that." A lot of times victims are very quiet and not very outspoken, (or) somebody that's kind of introverted.

If your perpetrator puts you down or looks and acts at you in ways that scare you, keeping control of financial situations and not allowing you to have money, any sort of threat to kill you or to kill pets.

If children are involved, a lot of times they'll tell the victim what a bad parent they are, or they'll threaten to take the children away or hurt the kids.

Q: What should people do if they suspect domestic violence?

A: The best thing you can do if it's somebody you know, friends, relatives, whatever the case may be, let them know that you are there for them. Call the victim's advocate. There are a lot of things you can do, but people are reserved in approaching that situation. But the number one thing is letting them know that you are there for them. If they won't come in, you can come in and get the information for them and get the number. If you think there's an abusive situation going on in the middle of the night, just call the police.

Contact Rachel Parsons at rparsons@winchestersun.com.

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