Domestic Abuse: Join WKYC, Stand United Against Domestic Violence

A sister, a cousin, a child. A neighbor, a co-worker, a friend.

Domestic Violence IS personal - whether you are a victim, or you know one. And the problem is EVERYONE'S problem - whether it's in your house, or in your community.

SPECIAL SECTION: United Against Domestic Violence

This week - Channel 3 is taking a stand. We are United Against Domestic Violence - and committed to making a difference.

Each day in the United States - 3 women are killed in domestic violence disputes. Their stories make headlines, and bring calls for help.

In the shadows - are the living victims. Whose days and nights are consumed with fear - that they'll be next:

"One of the things I remember is I was laying on the floor, and he was standing over me choking me and I was passing out. He broke into the home three times, and the detectives wouldn't do anything," said a domestic violence victim who we are not identifying.
Too many victims of domestic violence say the system - put in place to help -- failed them, time and time again. So what is working?

DOMESTIC ABUSE: A crime with no boundaries

Several months ago - Channel 3 set out to find the people who are taking bold risks - and unconventional paths to make a difference.

We are going to take you inside a court room unlike any other in country - in how it handles victims and abusers.

"The offender is accountable every single week to all of us," said Angela Alexander, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Summit County.

To a new victims shelter - still under construction - that will provide services, comforts and protection rarely seen before:

"The one definite feature that the building will have is that everything is located here," said Melissa Hamlin, Director of Advancement at the Battered Women's Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties.

With the help of Kent State University Journalism students, we dug into domestic violence arrests and convictions - to see who is committing crimes, and how often it's happening.

This week - it's not about telling you there is a problem. Together - we are doing something about it.
Join us all this week on Channel 3 News as we stand United Against Domestic Violence.

Monday at 6 &11 we're going to tell you about a special team -- whose sole purpose is to seek out abusers - most likely to kill.

And stop them before they do it.