October is considered Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Detective Kraig Lageschulte with the Marshalltown Police Department defines what is a Domestic Violence is.

He says that abuse and violence can look different for each person.  Many times the abuse and violence stems from a power imbalance in the relationship.  He says there is a cycle of abuse

He says things then calm down for a little while, then the cycle starts over.  National statistic show the abuser will victimize their partner, on average, seven times before the survivor is able to leave and get help. Detective Lageschulte says help looks different for each survivor.

The first step for survivors is to make a report.  Detective Lageschulte says at the Marshalltown Police Department they are told to listen to the survivor.

Locally there is a group called ACCESS that is here to help anyone who has been a victim of Domestic Violence.  Their website is assaultcarecenter.org

Zach Tomesch, News Director KFJB