No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us

On a December night, Snyder is in Washington, DC—a city she says has embraced the communication and collaboration model. DC Safe is a 24-hour response line that finds short-term safety and immediate solutions for victims. Its advocates are able to access court dockets and see if the abuser has warrants or protection orders against him or other cases pending. They can get locks changed, forensic nurses scheduled, groceries delivered, attorneys retained, and taxis and hotels booked within minutes. Advocates also ride along with officers to help out in person.

Natalia Otero and Elizabeth Olds co-founded DC Safe to help victims make smart, informed decisions in the heat of the moment. Otero says her initial approach was to serve as a clearinghouse for domestic violence calls, but through numerous partnerships and programs, DC Safe now does much more and serves more than 8,000 clients a year.

Snyder wants to be optimistic about the work that is being done to stop domestic violence, but it is difficult given the political climate in which she is writing (2018). The news is rife with mass shootings, domestic homicides, cultural misogyny, rampant gun violence, and an ever-increasing number of guns per capita: