Economy Leads to Increase in Domestic Violence Cases in Modesto
Posted on Aug 26, 2009 11:48am PDT
According to officials in Modesto, California, the current recession is having a negative impact on families. Amidst the economic meltdown, more and more people are turning to the family courts to solve issues involving
child custody,
child support and even
domestic violence.
As the economy has grown worse, more parents are acting contentiously. For instance, numbers from the Stanislaus County Superior Court show that applications for domestic violence restraining orders have increased by 29%. In the past, the courthouse received 1,498 restraining order applications, but has now received 1,938.
Additionally, in the past year, more people have utilized self-help services for their family law matters. More than 3,300 people in Modesto have used self-help services because they claim that they cannot afford an attorney. Self-help services for cases involving child custody have risen by 14% and for cases involving domestic violence, the rate has risen by 66%.
According to Belinda Rolicheck, the executive director for the Haven Women's Center in Modesto, more women are looking for help from the shelter. She recently said, "What we're seeing is women who normally might have had other resources -- possibly because of the economy and job losses -- who don't have the same resources they had."
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