Stop Domestic Violence

Domestic Abuse Resources in the Dillon, SC Area

June 22, 2021

“Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically; however, the one constant component of domestic violence is one partner’s consistent efforts to maintain power and control over the other.”

Sometimes, during pregnancy, a troubled partner may turn to abusive types of behaviors. If you have reason to believe signs of any of these behaviors are currently present, do not wait until you are pregnant to get help.

Use all the lists on this page to determine if you are at risk.

Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.

Some examples of abusive tendencies include but are not limited to:

Telling the victim that they can never do anything right
Showing jealousy of the victim’s family and friends and time spent away
Accusing the victim of cheating
Keeping or discouraging the victim from seeing friends or family members
Embarrassing or shaming the victim with put-downs
Controlling every penny spent in the household
Taking the victim’s money or refusing to give them money for expenses
Looking at or acting in ways that scare the person they are abusing
Controlling who the victim sees, where they go, or what they do
Dictating how the victim dresses, wears their hair, etc.
Stalking the victim or monitoring their victim’s every move (in person or also via the internet and/or other devices such as GPS tracking or the victim’s phone)
Preventing the victim from making their own decisions
Telling the victim that they are a bad parent or threatening to hurt, kill, or take away their children
Threatening to hurt or kill the victim’s friends, loved ones, or pets
Intimidating the victim with guns, knives, or other weapons
Pressuring the victim to have sex when they don’t want to or to do things sexually they are not comfortable with
Forcing sex with others
Refusing to use protection when having sex or sabotaging birth control
Pressuring or forcing the victim to use drugs or alcohol
Preventing the victim from working or attending school, harassing the victim at either, keeping their victim up all night so they perform badly at their job or in school
Destroying the victim’s property

* This list was obtained from https://ncadv.org/learn-more

If an intimate partner frightens you through coercion, intimidation or physical violence, help is available:

National Contact Numbers:

Call the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.
Call, text or chat Love Is Respect - The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474 or TTY 1-866-331-8453, text “loveis” to 22522 or live chat at http://www.loveisrespect.org.
Call or text the StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1−844-762-8483
Call the U.S. National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE), which automatically connects you to a local U.S. rape crisis program based on the area code of your phone number. Secure, online private chat is available at https://hotline.rainn.org/online.

Remember: Corded phones are more private and less able to be intercepted than cordless phones or analog cell phones.

Be Aware: You may not be able to reach 911 using an Internet phone or Internet-based phone service. So you may need to be prepared to use another phone to call 911.

Contact your local domestic violence program, shelter, or rape crisis center to learn about free cell phone donation programs.

* all safety information came from nrcdv.org

Resources in the Dillon, SC Area for Domestic Abuse Victims

Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic And Sexual Assault
PD Coalition Hotline 843.669.4600 or 800.273.1820
PD Coalition Crisis Center 843.669.4694
Alternatives to Violence 843.673.2008
Durant Children’s Center 843.664.4367
Dillon County Satellite Crisis Center 843.774.0898
Women'sLaw explains the state and federal laws on domestic abuse (if you are experiencing abuse, use a public computer to do this research)

Other Resources

Financial abuse occurs in up to 98% of abusive relationships and is one of the top reasons that it is difficult for people to leave. Unfortunately, many people do not even recognize financial abuse as abuse. To address this prevalent issue and provide the necessary education on this topic, here is a guide covering what financial abuse is, the warning signs, ways to tell if someone is being financially abused, and helpful resources and more. https://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/financial-abuse/
Here is a guide on financial literacy for women that might help also: https://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/women/

Domestic Violence Safety Tips

During an argument, or if you feel tension building, avoid areas in your home where weapons might be available (for example: the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or workshops).
If there are weapons in your household, such as firearms, lock them up.
Know where there is a safe exit from your home (for example: a window, elevator, or stairwell).
Discuss the situation with a trusted neighbor if you can. Ask him/her to call 911 if he/she hears a disturbance. Find a code word to use with them if you need the police.
Always keep a packed bag ready.
Know where you would go to be safe if you have to leave, even if you don’t really think you need to.