Maria had just survived a severe beating from her estranged husband when she arrived at the Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center Inc. in Bel Air.
“The layers of bruising apparent on her body were clear indicators that her life was a constant struggle for survival,” a SARC lawyer said. “Her terror held her prisoner.”
But with SARC?s help, Maria (her name was changed to protect her identity) received free legal help that led to a protective order, sole custody of her 1-year-old son, a criminal prosecution of her husband and, finally, a divorce.
Groups like SARC and Sexual Assault Legal Institute provide free legal aid for battered and assaulted women in civil court, where high costs and confusing bureaucracy keep many from seeking justice.
“We want to take the barriers down for people living with abuse so they can grow, develop and live an abuse-free life,” said Cristie Kahler, SARC?s outreach director.
But suspicion of assault allegations and a lack of specialized lawyers keep many women out of the court system, said Lisae Jordan, a lawyer with SALI, a division of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault in Arnold, which works with women who were sexually assaulted and going through the civil courts.
Officials said women often fail to realize that civil courts are available. The groups help in lawsuits, breaking lease agreements, divorces and even child custody issues ? in Maryland, rapists have paternal rights.
“A lot of folks never access the civil court system, and a lot of attorneys aren?t specially training in sexual assault issues,” said Jennifer Pollitt-Hill, MCASA?s executive director. Groups like SARC and SALI not only employ lawyers, but also advocates who help victims maneuver through the court system and as provide emotional support.
SARC and SALI recently received a combined total of $800,000 from the Department of Justice, with the help of Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., to keep this service afloat for several more years. Both groups recently took on more lawyers and advocates.
“But where the next dollar is coming from so these services don?t disappear is a lingering concern,” Pollit-Hill said.
YOU CAN HELP
The Sexual Abuse Legal Institute is at 1517 Gov. Ritchie Highway, Suite 207, Arnold. It can be reached at 1-800-983-RAPE or www.mcasa.org. The Sexual Assault/Spousal Abuse Resource Center?s mailing address is P.O. Box 1207, Bel Air. It can be reached at 410-836-8340 or www.sarc-maryland.org.Both groups are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have Spanish translators.
