By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Reports of domestic assaults have risen in St. Joseph, but it is unlikely domestic abuse has been reported as much during coronavirus stay-at-home orders as before.
St. Joseph Police Chief Chris Connally says police are fielding more domestic disturbance calls of late.
“Since coming out of the lockdown the last month we’ve seen an increase in reports of domestic assaults, close to a 10% increase,” Connally tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.
But, Connally suspects a lot of domestic abuse went unreported during shelter-in-place orders and even now. That could result in long-term problems.
“A lot of people that have had major issues with child abuse and child neglect have ended up involved in the criminal justice system in other ways,” Connally says.
Connally says during stay-at-home orders, children who might be vulnerable to abuse could not get out of the house and see others, some of whom are mandated to report suspected child abuse.
Connally says the government-imposed isolation could have long-range effects.
“We’re generally social beings and so that has a big effect on the human condition,” Connally says. “I’m not a mental health expert, certainly not, but based on observations there’s longer-term impacts.”