DVIS has two advocates at the courthouse and three at the FSC and one with the Rapid Intervention Team. "Advocates assist victims with safety planning, help them do their EPO paperwork, provide information about the criminal justice process; and find resources for them such as clothing, food and housing. Everyone has a different specialty and perception of what they want to do for someone. For me, I always want to find out where the perpetrator is, where the children are if any and the best and safest way to serve the EPO," says Lucci. "I'll look at the alleged perpetrators history, if they are on probation or parole and what type of crimes they have committed. This is a huge part of safety planning ... knowing where the perpetrator is and where the kids are. Then I want to know what the survivors support system looks like, does she have friends, family, etc.? If not, then after getting the EPO served I assist in safety planning based on the perpetrators history and what the survivor tells me. What I see and know as abuse might not be seen and interpreted the same way by the survivor I let them know what's okay and what's not, and what she needs to do to be safe. Sometimes they have no idea of the abuser's legal problems, such as whether or not he is on probation, so I get a picture of what's going on and whom the players are. I might want the survivor to go to the shelter before we serve the EPO, find out how much the survivor is on board with this and then I can kind of gauge how that's going to go. I reiterate how important it is for the victims' children to be safe."
"Jealousy, unemployment, and substance abuse are key factors for high lethality cases that can play a role in the recent homicides in Tulsa, the rage of jealousy ... when the victim leaves, that's when lethality goes up," said Lucci. "We tell survivors if you're going to leave you need to have a plan because that's when the lethality is the highest. Most of the women killed here in Tulsa over the past few months were in the process of leaving. If you can get the word out to people who are thinking about leaving, make sure they talk to someone about leaving first."
The FSC advocates let survivors know they can get help for free. Many EPO cases will be consolidated into a paternity or divorce case so they can also prepare survivors for that. "We tell them they can get an EPO, which is in effect for two weeks, but they need to think about what happens after that," said Lucci. "The EPO does not stop there because in two weeks they will need to come back for a full hearing, and if they have children on the EPO they may need to get an attorney for which often they may not have the money."
When we are fully staffed we can take the most serious cases to our legal department to be reviewed by our attorneys. We also have a list of attorneys who take some cases pro bono or at a reduced fee. We also provide clients with information on Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Neighbor for Neighbor, etc. Many times they might need counseling, mental health treatment, and substance abuse treatment and we will provide those resources to them. Many times they aren't ready to leave the relationship, so we try to get them into counseling at DVIS. But here at FSC our clients are in crisis mode and many aren't ready to make those types of decisions. Sometimes they may just need shelter, clothing and food."
"We're not here to split everybody up. If we have a career criminal we're going to look at that case differently than a couple who has been married for 15 years and has three children. Sometimes when we're talking to people we might find out they don't even need an EPO, then we come up with a plan that's better than filing an EPO. There are always other options. People know that we're here, the police, attorneys, professionals in the community, have made many referrals This is a good place to come, sit down, talk about the resources and come up with a plan."
The two courthouse advocates are focused on getting the protective orders filed, and sometimes while at the courthouse they run into people who need help. "If they see someone sitting at the courthouse crying and ask if they can help them sometimes they can lead them to the FSC or they may do what they need to do for them at the courthouse. If they don't have an attorney and the perpetrator has one, our advocates can help them with those communications," says Lucci.
Before coming to the FSC, Laurie supervised the men's program at DVIS where she facilitated men's groups. "A lot of the men were married or in committed relationships with children and wanted to stay together. Our goal was to teach the men about the cycle of violence, healthy relationships, parenting, ways in which to handle stress, how to be accountable for their behavior." said Lucci. "Most of them are still with their partner and want to stay with their partner."
"DVIS and FSC communicate back and forth and collaborate with each other on lethal cases to do what's in the best interest and safety of the survivor, at the counseling and advocacy level. We make referrals for the children and we might have someone who needs immediate counseling so we refer them to DVIS by making a phone call and getting them right in. The best-case scenario is that the survivor comes here for an EPO, they already have their children and important necessities with them and have already been in counseling at DVIS for a while and are ready to leave. Usually that's not the case though."
As for the biggest challenges facing the advocates in 2015, Lucci says they need more resources for Spanish-speaking clients at the Tulsa County Courthouse and a Spanish-speaking advocate on staff.
